"The secret of all this is one's attention...."
-- Castaneda
The Robotic Mind
Most people live out their days as if they were robots! The
stranger or more excentric someone is, the more obvious this
robotic behavior is to other people. The human mind and body
is a wonderful machine. Unfortunately, most people are asleep
at the switch, and their personality repeats the same patterns
day after day, all by itself; a collection of habitual
behavior. I should point out that there is really no way
to avoid this completely. We all do it to some extent. However,
awareness of what we are doing, when we are doing it, is the first
step to changeing our behavior, if we want to.
Are you one of the unbedazzled?
Most of us are over-concerned with ourselves--or in what we conceive
of as ourselves (the ego). That over-concern can isolate us from our
natural energies and reduce our efficiency. The ego colors perception
so that we see (and experience) what we expect--not necessarily what is
true--and everything becomes very subjective.
The ego is an automatic animal-like part of our being. It resides
mostly in the subconscious, so that it is all too easy to forget it
there, and what it is doing. But it is there. It is alwyas there.
The ego is simply a mechanism concerned with physical survival.
This mechanism, which is designed to protect us, often results
instead in stilted, mechanical behavor, causing most people to
indulge in the same moods and compulsions over and over again.
Thus, we constantly experience the same emotions and behavior
patterns. The ego cannot (and should not) be destroyed. Anyone
who claims to have destroyed his ego is lieing. There is little
we can do to radically change outer personality, anyway. Nor is
such change usually needed. But you can learn to control the ego.
Control of the ego requires self-discipline.
The Subjectivity of Experience
Whenever you look at something you play the role of an observer.
If you look at yourself, you still play that role. Even when you
look at your own thoughts, you play that same role of an observer.
You play that role when you think about anything you can
experience.
The role of an observer is subjective, because you play it
against/through your ego. Doing that biases and colors your
observations to conform with your expectations. Your five senses
(hearing, sight, smell, touch, taste) continually send information to
your ego, and it is up to your ego to select and interpret them.
If you could not do so, your senses would overwhelm you and be
meaningless.
Selection and interpretation of your sensory inputs is
essentially an automatic, mostly subconscious function.
The program or map which the ego follows as its reference point is
called a 'model'. The model is a subconscious mental photograph of
how you believe the world looks (ie. worldview, mindset, egregore,
or belief system). It was built up from an early age by your
religious and cultural background through interaction with family and
others. It contains your experiences, attitudes, and habits. And
whether you realize it or not, most of your behavior, thoughts,
feelings, and habits are based upon and conditioned by that model;
even personality. The model is one of the mind's master programs.
You can think of the ego operating with the model as a censor or
gateway.
Change in behavior generally requires a change in the model,
although there are exceptions. These limitations built into our way
of thinking cause our perceptions to be subjective. That is why Hindu
philosophy looks upon the world as illusory (maya); the world itself
(object) is not an illusion, however from our viewpoint, playing
the role of an observer, through perception and the ego (subject) it is.
Behavior runs deep. Thus, we are all conditioned by experience. Except
that our perceptions, hence our experiences, are first conditioned and
limited by the model. Our perceptions and experiences tend to conform
to what we expect. We tend to misinterpret or ignore things which do
not match our preconcieved notions about them. This is automatic.
Outside Influences
Some writers (one in particular) think we are heavily programmed by outside
influences. Whether or not this is true, the process is the same (affecting
our conditioning). Some people also think there are adverse environmental
influences from radio waves and other sources which interfere with the healthy
functioning of our brain and body. However, that seems to be a pretty extreme
viewpoint.
The True Will
There is a separate reality within each of us which is often ignored
unless we seek it. This inner self is in magick called the 'true will'.
The true will is the center of consciousness and identity. It is the
'real you'. It is the center within the circle; the settlement
within the citadel. That which surrounds it is a barrier to it.
Everything besieds the true will is an interface or link to it from
the outer (illusory) world. Since that interface is based upon our
model, it is conditoned and may sometimes produce false information.
'Do what thou wilt' (Crowley) is an axiom of magick; for the true will
expresses our exact desires. And what we truly want ('down deep') we
tend to automatically get. This isn't always in our best interests,
since the true will can be conditioned (tricked) by the illusion; and
then we might desire and obtain that which is not ultimately good for us.
(Karma strikes again!) The task of the magician therefor is to awaken
his awareneess of the true will, to be free of conditioning of the
ego and the model, and thereby to transcend maya.
"My will unconditioned is magical."
--Spare
The Modality of Consciousness
Normal waking consciousness is in terms of the senses (modality).
Alterned states of consciousness are achieved by turning down the
senses through concentration and imagination.
Concentration is the purest thought.
Concentration is will unconditioned.
The Discovery of Freedom
Each pattern or 'role' is a sub-personality which feeds other sub-
personalities and is fed itself. The circular, reinforcing nature
of sub-personalities forms a behavior complex. Behavior complexes
require mental energy to run. When a behavior complex is
shattered, energy is released. Elementals and demons correspond with
sub-personalities.
There is great energy in freedom. And the task of the magician and
of the mystic is the same. It is to discover freedom. The discovery
of freedom may require a whole lifetime, or it might occur in the
blink of an eye. Freedom is funny that way.
The type of freedom I am talking about is a freedom from attachment.
However, that is not to say there is no attachment. There is
always some attachment. Even attachment to freedom from attachment
is attachment. Attachment binds and ties us down. And when the
attachment is too strong, it limits the soul's potential. When the
soul becomes unattachend it is free to soar to great heights. When
the soul becomes unattached it is surrounded by tremendous amounts
of energy.
Attachemnt uses up energy. Since the energy in a being is finite,
when more energy is used by attachement, there is less energy for
the soul. And when the energy becomes very small, we may feel
trapped. But it is all an illusion (the Hindu maya) brought about
by the attachment.
If we can decouple ourselves from our attachements we become
unconditioned by them, and we begin to live more in freedom. In
freedom there is bliss.
Happiness Is Being Happy
There is no great secret to changing behavior or
habits. It is largely a matter of determination. It
requires that you ignore the 'pull' of the model when you
strive for changes within yourself. The model is, after
all, a collection of 'habits', some of which must be
unlearned for permananent change to occur. There are two
ways to do this: direct, through will power and awareness
alone -- observing and acting out in an unattached or
indifferent manner; and indirect -- through conditioning
such as affirmation (explained later), self-hypnosis, and
magick. Meditation may help too, by relaxing tension and
conflict.
Emotions follow physical expression: smile and act
happy and you will tend to feel and be happy. The same is
also true for other emotions. Also, emotions can be
purposely used (or programed) to replace other emotions.
Using this technique, a magician is somewhat like an actor
in that he learns how to turn his emotions on and off at
will. Note that this is not 'fakeing it'; the magician is
probably more in touch with his true feelings than most
people. And for these reasons we say that happiness is
being happy.
Systems of Magick
Magick always involves self-hypnosis. However, it
may be more than that. For one thing, there are objective
forces involved (or so it would seem). Deities, spirits,
and cosmic force can have an independent existence. And the
repetitive physical movement sometimes involved in ritual
can itself generate PK force. On the other hand, it could
be argued that all of this is subjective to the magician.
Or that the deities and spirits are nothing more than
architypes or cosmic patterns which the magician energizes
with his own vitality. Perhaps all magical effects could be
produced through hypnosis alone. But the effects are
certainly real.
Great complexity is not necessary in magick.
Although basicly magick is a medieval system of symbolism
(in a modern context), any cosmological system will work
from Cabala to Star Wars. We usually use the medieval one
in magick because it is convenient and traditional, and
because it seems to fit our thought processes well.
Traditional symbols have greater emotional effect on the
magician than modern ones because of his familiarity with
them. What really matters is that the model of the magician
be understood and programmed, and thus that the model and
the cosmological system do correspond.
Self Imposed Limits
We may actually be limiting ourselves, our power, and our potential
by our own preconceived notions about our capabilities. This may take
the form of self-sabatage or limits to magical or psychic abilities.
It may be possible to accomplish much more by opening our minds
to possibilities.
Metaprogramming and the Theory of Magick
We can change the model by reprogramming it. Since to do so implies
change to one of the mind's master programs, we call this process
'metaprogramming'. Magick achieves results through metaprogamming
the mind/model of the magician. The desired magical result is impressed
on the model. Once the model has been reprogrammed, the subconsious
automatically works to manifest in reality from the new perspective of the
model. The subconscious uses whatever means are at hand to accomplish this
goal. And since psychic abilties also operate through the subconsious,
they are automatically brought into play as needed.
Review Questions
1) Contrast subjective with objective.
2) What is a 'model'?
3) Explain the task of the magician.
Counterpoint
1) What are the implications of 'Do what thou wilt'?
How much of experience must occur in conformity with
the true will? How much of this concept is solipsism?
2) The statement, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law", is
generally attributed to Aleister Crowley. However, we find a similar
statement in the writing of Rabelais, which preceeded it. Also there
are similar statements by Franz Bardon, as well as in the Wiccan Rede.
Study the origins, authenticity, and meanings of this statement.
Book List
Steven Ashe, Qabalah of 50 Gates.
Richard Bach, Illusions -- The Adventures of a Relulctant Messiah.
Eric Berne, Games People Play.
Fritjof Capra, The Tao of Physics.
Carlos Castaneda, The Fire From Within.
Guy Finley, and Dr. Ellen Dickstein, "How to Use the Power of Inner
Storms to Live Stress Free", Mystic Pop magazine, July/ August, 2006.
Vernon Howard, The Mystic Path to Cosmic Power.
Arthur Koestler, The Roots of Coincidence.
Lawrence LeShan, Alternate Realities -- The Search for the Full
Human Being.
John C. Lilly, The Center of the Cyclone.
------, Programming and Metaprogramming in the Human Biocomputer.
------, Simulations of God -- The Science of Belief.
Alan Watts, The Book (on the taboo against knowing who you are).
Phil Hansford, 12/2007
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