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What is Magick?Divination is the attempt to foretell the future, whereas Magic or more properly Magick is the attempt 'to control the present', our lives, the lives of others, or events of nature. Magick is associated with all kinds of paranormal and occult phenomena, including, but not limited to, ESP, astral projection, psychic healing, Wicca, Kabbalah and Satanism. It uses various symbols, for example, the pentagram, as well as a variety of symbolic amulets, talismans and ceremonial or ritual behaviours aimed at achieving powers which allow the magician to contravene the laws of physics, chemistry, etc. In parapsychology, magick is often defined as 'the study and application of psychic forces and/or energy'.Although magick can contravene the laws of physics, it is not capable of violating any physical laws of the universe by producing miracles, i.e. it cannot cause a solar eclipse or the reversal of gravity, but through harnessing and using the hidden psychic forces and energy of the universe it is theoretically possible to cause any change in any object of which that object is capable of change by nature.
"What is a Magical Operation? It may be defined as any event in nature which is brought to pass by Will. We must not exclude potato growing or banking from our definition. Let us take a very simple example of a magical Act: that of a man blowing his nose. What are the conditions of the success of the Operation? Firstly, that the man's Will should be to blow his nose; secondly, that he should have a nose capable of being blown; thirdly, that he should have at command an apparatus capable of expressing his spiritual Will in terms of material force, and applying that force to the object which he desires to affect. His Will may be as strong and concentrated as that of Jupiter, and his nose may be totally incapable of resistance; but unless the link is made by the use of his nerves and muscles in accordance with psychological, physiological, and physical law, the nose will remain unblown through all eternity." If you have the slightest interest in learning more about Aleister Crowley, why not visit our partner site To Mega Therion? You will find a terrific amount of information there. The idea of being able to control such things as the weather or one's health simply by an act of will is certainly very appealing, as is the idea of being able to wreak havoc on one's enemies without having to lift a finger and thus not be incriminated. Just think it and 'thy will be done'. Stories of people with special powers are appealing, particularly if you read about the exploits of and the 'Confessions of Aleister Crowley', but for those contemplating becoming a magus consider this warning from a leading authority on the subject: ". . . magick ritual (or any magick or occultism) is very dangerous for the mentally unstable. If you should somehow 'get out too far', eat 'heavy foods' . . . and use your religious background or old belief system for support. But remember too, that weird experiences are not necessarily bad experiences." The religions based on the Old and New Testaments have for centuries associated magick with 'false prophets', based upon the belief that Satan regularly exhibits his powers to, and shares those powers with us, mankind. Using powers which contravene natural forces is classed as good if performed by or through God (white magick). Such exhibitions of divine power are called miracles by the Church, but if performed by diabolical forces, they are classed as evil (black magick). However, when prayer doesn't work, it means that the god has either chosen not to hear the prayer, or not to grant it, but when magick fails, it is because of some fault during the casting of the spell itself. Ritual is not only the magician's 'failsafe mechanism', the key to any hope for success, but also the explanation for failure. Everyone can do magick, but whichever type of magick you practice, the more you become aware of your own psychic energy and the use of actual energy flows, plus the more you actually practice your type of magick, the more proficient you will become and thus the more effective it will be. You can produce a magical effect and never even realise you have done it, one such example being 'Always think positive'. What is actually meant here is, what we truly want will always manifest itself into reality. Magick works on the subconscious level, the level we tend to ignore, and our personal environment is always changing to match what we perceive as 'reality'. These changes are subtle, but anyone attuned to their psychic energy will always be aware of them and understand why the rituals and spells they performed either worked or didn't. This is because our true will will always be expressed, thus explaining why the saying 'always think positive' is actually a helpful one. In addition to this is the concept of whatever you 'give out' will return. Who remembers Glenn Hoddle's short reign as England's football team manager, when he expressed the same theory albeit in different terminology? All magick stems from within, so any paraphernalia used in ceremonies and rituals are simply aids through which inner powers can be summoned. The best way of influencing the subconscious into creating even more powerful magick is through positive thinking, i.e. suggestion and visualisation. Advocates teach that the human mind has the power to turn wishes into reality. Visualisation is extremely important and tremendously powerful if you wish to perform effective magick. You must always visualise the desired outcome of your wish, but our subconscious minds will censor out what they believe should not be there because it doesn't conform to our beliefs! A good analogy here is the reason why a person who has been hypnotised and given the suggestion to do physical harm to another, will not harm that other person because it is not 'perceived as right', unless he is a natural thug. In other words, it is not in their nature to do so, i.e. it does not conform to that person's beliefs. Even under hypnosis, a person cannot do what he or she does not believe in! So in order to penetrate your subconscious mind you must use repetitions of suggestions until it becomes a part of your make-up, your identity, your model or belief system. Repeating such a thing as 'I will stop smoking', is simple, but very effective once it has penetrated your subconscious, thus changing your 'model' or the way you believe in something. Sigils (signs or images that are supposed to have magical power) work in the same manner. If you have designed them, you are instilling your energy into the created symbol(s), and working the idea over and over again in your mind until it works automatically on your subconscious level. But bear in mind that since your subconscious is always working, be mindful of your thoughts because your true will and desire will manifest itself, and what you send out will come back. This is because any type of magick has both a cause and effect. Elementals or familiars are thought forms which you can manifest by worked up emotion for your personal use to enhance a ritual or spell. These thought forms are taken from your subconscious and have aspects of you, although they are detached from you. They are something you create through visualisation rituals. You can communicate with your elemental or familiar either through telepathy or by talking to it, and it will perform whatever task you set it providing you believe it can do it. Because you have manifested it, it now exists! Elementals or familiars are manifested to perform tasks for you such as being a psychic guard, but they should only be used when working white magick. You can also invoke a spiritual entity or God or Goddess during a ritual. These entities or Gods and Goddesses are archetypes from your mind and will also hold aspects of yourself. You will perceive them in 'form' in the same manner in which you perceive them in your mind. This technique involves drawing from your subconscious, just as it does with manifesting elementals and familiars. It is the drawing of energy and creative visualisation from that part of your subconscious which is attuned to the astral world. Energy is flowing constantly from the astral world to this physical world, so because the mind is an extremely powerful tool, you can manifest anything you wish into a reality. We have all had times when we thought we 'saw' something, then dismissed it as illusory, but what we understand as our physical world interacts with all other worlds and dimensions as well, and thus we are all connected in some way -- maybe it wasn't an illusion after all! Return to top of page. |
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The Purpose of MagickAleister Crowley defined magick as the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will. He also provided us with two further statements about the nature of magick -- as he defined it:
Alphonse Louis Constant, known better as Eliphas Lévi, identified three fundamental principles of magic:
For Crowley, the practice of magick is essentially to be used for attaining the Knowledge of and Conversation with one's Holy Guardian Angel. As far as he was concerned, magick that did not have this goal as its aim was black magick and should be avoided. He believed this was the first vital step necessary for spiritual attainment (See Liber VIII - How to attain the Mystery of the Knowledge of your Holy Guardian Angel). To actually achieve this state with one's 'Silent Self' can be extremely arduous, so magick can be used not only to reach that particular goal, but also to clear the path for it. For example, if someone needed a specific dwelling in a particular location to perform a magical operation, he or she could use magick as a legitimate means of obtaining it. Return to top of page. |
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The Techniques of MagickThere are several ways to look at what magick is actually comprised of. To reiterate, in its broadest sense it can be defined as any willed action leading to intended change. It should also be viewed as the general set of methods used to accomplish the Great Work of mystical attainment. Magick often involves several practices and forms of ritual at the practical level, including:
Keeping a Magical RecordA magical record is a journal or similar source of documentation containing magical events, experiences, ideas, and any other information that the magician may see fit to add. There can be many purposes for such a record, such as the recording of evidence to verify the effectiveness of specific procedures (as per the scientific method that Aleister Crowley claimed should be applied to the practice of magick) or to ensure that data may circulate after the lifetime of the magician.The benefits of a magical record vary, but usually include future analysis and further education by the individual and/or associates to whom the magician feels comfortable in revealing such private information. Crowley was highly insistent upon the importance of this practice, writing in Liber IX (also known as Liber E):: "It is absolutely necessary that all experiments should be recorded in detail during, or immediately after their performance. The more scientific the record is, the better. Yet the emotions should be noted, as being some of the conditions. Let then the record be written with sincerity and care; thus with practice it will be found more and more to approximate to the ideal." Other items he suggests for inclusion in the magical record include the physical and mental condition of the experimenter, the time and place, and environmental conditions including the weather. Magick Prayers, Spells & Fetishes
Amulets / TalismansAn amulet (from the Latin 'amuletum'), meaning 'an object that protects a person from trouble' or a talisman (from the Arabic 'tilasm', ultimately from the Greek 'telesma' or 'talein') which means ‘to initiate into the mysteries’ consists of any object intended to bring good luck and/or protection to the owner. Potential amulets include gems or simple stones, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants, animals, etc. A typical Christian example might be a crucifix or St Christopher pendant.The purpose of a talisman is not simply to protect or to bring good fortune, but is used to achieve a particular objective. When unsuccessful in achieving its desired goal, the talisman is discarded, since it has proved itself not to have the powers required. The Tree of LifeThe Tree of Life is a tool used to organise and categorise various mystical concepts. At its most basic level, it is composed of ten spheres (emanations) called the Sephiroth, which are connected by twenty two paths. The Sephiroth are represented by the planets and the paths by the 22 characters of the Hebrew alphabet. These are subdivided by the five elements, the seven classical planets, and the twelve signs of the Zodiac. Each Sephirah (singular of Sephiroth) and path is assigned its own various attributes, such as gods, Tarot cards, planets, signs, elements, etc. See Liber 777 for Crowley's 'Table of Correspondences' - almost everything imaginable relating to the occult has been cross-referenced in this remarkable publication.Crowley considered a complete understanding of the Tree of Life was essential for a magician: The Tree of Life has got to be learnt by heart; you must know it backwards, forwards, sideways, and upside down; it must become the automatic background of all your thinking. You must keep on hanging everything that comes your way upon its proper bough. Similar to Yoga, it is not so much magick as it is a way to 'map out' one's spiritual universe. As such, a magician may use the Tree to choose which god(s) to invoke for what purpose(s) etc. Within the Western Magical Tradition, the Tree of Life is used as a filing cabinet, and plays an important role in modelling the spiritual journey, where the adept begins in Malkuth, the everyday material world, with the ultimate goal being Kether, the Sphere of Unity with the All. Invocation / EvocationInvocation is the ‘bringing in’ or identifying with a particular deity or spirit. Crowley wrote of two main keys to success in this arena: to enflame thyself in praying and to invoke often. Bear in mind that for Crowley, the single most important invocation, or any act of magick for that matter, was the invocation of one's Holy Guardian Angel, or Secret Self, thus allowing the adept to know his True Will.Crowley describes the experience of invocation as: “The mind must be exalted until it loses consciousness of self. The magician must be carried forward blindly by a force which, though in him and of him, is by no means that which he in his normal state of consciousness calls I. Just as the poet, the lover, the artist, is carried out of himself in a creative frenzy, so must it be for the magician.”
He discusses three main categories of invocation, although in the great essentials these three methods are one. In each case the magician identifies himself with the Deity invoked."
Another invocatory technique the magician can employ is called the assumption of god-forms. This is where, "by concentrated imagination of oneself in the symbolic shape of any God, one should be able to identify oneself with the idea which that god represents." A general method involves positioning the body in a manner that is typical for a given god, imagining that the image of the god is coinciding with or enveloping the body. This is accompanied by the practice of vibration of the appropriate God name(s) (see below). Unlike what happens with invocation, involving a ‘calling in’, evocation involves a ‘calling forth’, most commonly into what is called the triangle of art. Crowley explains the distinct difference between invocation and evocation as such:
The triangle of art is the protected space outside the magick circle, into which spirits are compelled to appear in Solomonic Ritual Magick. The central circle is usually inscribed with the sigil (seal) of the spirit to be evoked. The usual form is of a triangle, circumscribed with various words of power, containing an inner, blackened circle. The purpose of the triangle is to contain the manifested entity.
Banishing / PurificationBanishing rituals tend to be performed at the start of an important event or ceremony, often to eliminate forces that might interfere with a magical operation. The area of effect can be a magick circle, a room, or even the magician himself. The general theory of magick suggests there are various forces represented by the four classic elements, air, earth, fire, and water, the planets, the signs of the Zodiac and adjacent spaces in the astral world where various spirits and non-corporeal intelligences can be present. A ‘banishing’ is performed to clean out these forces and presences. Some believe that the banishing ritual is more psychological than anything else, used to calm and balance the mind, but the effect is ultimately the same, a sense of cleanliness within the self and the environment. Of the many banishing rituals in use, the majority are just a variation on two of the most common, The Star Ruby and The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.Crowley describes 'banishing' in Magick in Theory and Practice as: ". . . in the banishing ritual of the pentagram we not only command the demons to depart, but invoke the Archangels and their hosts to act as guardians of the Circle during our pre-occupation with the ceremony proper. In more elaborate ceremonies it is usual to banish everything by name. Each element, each planet, and each sign, perhaps even the Sephiroth themselves; all are removed, including the very one which we wished to invoke, for that force as existing in Nature is always impure. But this process, being long and wearisome, is not altogether advisable in actual working. It is usually sufficient to perform a general banishing, and to rely upon the aid of the guardians invoked." However, he also adds: "Those who regard this ritual as a mere devise to invoke or banish spirits, are unworthy to possess it. Properly understood, it is the Medicine of Metals and the Stone of the Wise."Purification is similar in theme to banishing, but is a more rigorous process of preparing the self and the temple for some serious spiritual work. Crowley tells us that ancient magicians would purify themselves through arduous programs, such as special diets, fasting, sexual abstinence, keeping the body meticulously clean and tidy, and undergoing a complicated series of prayers. He also tells us that purification no longer requires such activity, since the magician can purify the self via willed intention. Specifically, the magician labours to purify the mind and body of all influences which may interfere with the Great Work. Crowley recommended symbolically ritual practices such as bathing and donning robes before a main ceremony: "The bath signifies the removal of all things irrelevant or hostile to the one thought. The putting on of the robe is the positive side of the same operation. It is the assumption of the frame of mind suitable to that one thought." Eucharistic RitualThe word Eucharist originates from the Greek word for thanksgiving, but used in the context of magick it takes on a different, special meaning -- the transmutation of food and drink into divine sacraments, which are then eaten. The aim is to infuse the food and drink with certain properties, usually embodied by various deities, so that the magician takes in those properties upon their consumption. Crowley describes the regular practice of Eucharistic Ritual as:"The magician becomes filled with God, fed upon God, intoxicated with God. Little by little his body will become purified by the internal lustration of God; day by day his mortal frame, shedding its earthly elements, will become in very truth the Temple of the Holy Ghost. Day by day matter is replaced by Spirit, the human by the divine; ultimately the change will be complete; God manifest in flesh will be his name." There are several Eucharistic Rituals within the magical archives, two of the most well-known being 'The Mass of the Phoenix - (See Liber XLIV) and The Gnostic Mass (See Liber XV). The first is a ritual designed for the individual, involving the sacrifice of a Cake of Light (the name of the Eucharistic host found within Thelema. It contains meal, honey, and oil for the base ingredients, and is usually cooked in the shape of a small, flat wafer), to Ra (the Sun), and steeping a second Cake with the adept's own blood (either real or symbolic, in a gesture reflecting the myth of the Pelican cutting its own breast to feed its young) and then consuming it with the words, "There is no grace: there is no guilt: This is the Law: Do what thou wilt!" The second ritual, The Gnostic Mass, is a very popular public ritual (although it can be practiced privately) involving a team of participants, including a Priest and Priestess. This ritual is an enactment of the mystical journey that culminates with the Mystic Marriage and the consumption of a Cake of Light and a goblet of wine (a process termed communication). Afterwards, each Communicant declares, "There is no part of me that is not of the gods!" ConsecrationConsecration is an equally important magical operation. It is essentially the dedication, usually of a ritual instrument or space, to a specific purpose:"The ritual here in question should summarise the situation, and devote the particular arrangement to its purpose by invoking the appropriate forces. Let it be well remembered that each object is bound by the Oaths of its original consecration as such. Thus, if an object has already been made sacred to Jupiter, it cannot be used in an operation of Venus." A common element in ritual consecration is anointing with Oil of Abramelin, a ceremonial, magical oil blended according to the recipe found in Mathers' translation of The Sacred Magick of Abramelin the Mage - one part myrrh, two parts cinnamon, a half-part galangal (a root with a hot ginger/pepper taste used primarily as a seasoning in Thai cooking), and half the total weight of the best olive oil. YogaYoga, although discussed here, is not considered to be magick per se. It is essentially the necessary training of the mind and body to allow for certain types of magick to be performed. Simply put, the aim is the control of the mind, i.e. to increase concentration and to be able to enter different states of consciousness. When developing his own basic yogic program, Crowley borrowed ideas from other yogis such as Patanjali and Yajnavalkya. Patanjali, who lived around the 2nd century AD, was the first person to systemise and document yogic practice, the Yoga Sutra’s. Patanjali is often considered the father of yoga and his Yoga Sutras strongly influence all styles of modern yoga. Sage Yajnavalkya of Mithila (circa 1800 BC) advanced a 95-year cycle to synchronise the motions of the sun and moon. He is also credited with the authorship of the Shatapatha Brahmana.Yoga and Ceremonial Magick are the arts of uniting the mind to a single idea, using four methods:
To these can be added:
These are united by the supreme method of Silence. “If this idea be any but the Supreme and Perfect idea, and the student lose control, the result is insanity, obsession, fanaticism, or paralysis and death (add addiction to gossip and incurable idleness) according to the nature of the failure. Let then the Student understand all these things and combine them in his Art, uniting them by the supreme method of Silence.” We shall not elaborate on the subject here, but simply say that Aleister Crowley has published numerous works on yoga as follows:
DivinationThe art of divination is generally employed solely for the purpose of obtaining information that can guide the magician towards furthering the Great Work. The underlying theory is that intelligences exist (either outside of or inside the mind of the diviner) which can offer accurate information within certain limits using a language of symbols.Divination within magick is most certainly not the same as fortune telling, which is more interested in predicting future events. However, as Crowley tells us, it is also well known that divination is imperfect: "In estimating the ultimate value of a divinatory judgment, one must allow for more than the numerous sources of error inherent in the process itself . . . . . " Return to top of page. |
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Types of MagickMagick comes in various forms and it often seems there are endless types. Many of these types overlap and intersect each other, but each has its own properties, uses and definition as described below.
Personal MagickAs its name suggests, this is what we call magick used to affect the self. This will often involve self-suggestion and self-hypnosis, otherwise known as 'positive thinking'. Each and everyone of us possesses some limited degree of magical and psychic potential which really can be developed with the correct training and practice, but above all, dedication. The whole aim of training is to develop an integrated personality, one no longer at the mercy of its surroundings.There are two distinct types of personal magick:
Most people are usually more proficient in one kind of magick than the other, i.e. active or passive. However, some people are especially gifted, and can be proficient in both. Irrespective of this, what must be borne in mind is that magick is simply the use of the energy either within each of us or that available in nature, or both. Everyone can do magick, but whichever type of magick you practice, the more you become aware of your own psychic energy and the use of actual energy flows, plus the more you actually practice your type of magick, the more proficient you will become and thus the more effective your magick will be. You can produce a magical effect and never even realise you have done it, one such example being 'Always think positive'. What is actually meant here is, what we truly want will always manifest itself into reality. Magick works on the subconscious level, the level we tend to ignore, and our personal environment is always changing to match what we perceive as 'reality'. These changes are subtle, but anyone attuned to their psychic energy will always be aware of them and understand why the rituals and spells they performed either worked or didn't. This is because our true will will always be expressed, thus explaining why the saying 'always think positive' is actually a helpful one. In addition to this is the concept of whatever you 'give out' will return. Who remembers Glenn Hoddle's short reign as England's football team manager, when he expressed the same theory albeit in different terminology? All magick stems from within, and any paraphernalia used in ceremonies and rituals are simply aids through which inner powers can be summoned. The best way of influencing the subconscious into creating even more powerful magick is through positive thinking, i.e. suggestion and visualisation. Advocates teach that the human mind has the power to turn wishes into reality. Visualisation is extremely important and tremendously powerful if you wish to perform effective magick. You must always visualise the desired outcome of your wish, but our subconscious minds will censor out what they believe should not be there because it doesn't conform to our beliefs! A good analogy here is the reason why a person who has been hypnotised and given the suggestion to do physical harm to another, will not harm that other person because it is not 'perceived as right', unless he is a natural thug. In other words, it is not in their nature to do so, i.e. it does not conform to that person's beliefs. Even under hypnosis, a person cannot do what he or she does not believe in! So in order to penetrate your subconscious mind you must use repetitions of suggestions until it becomes a part of your make-up, your identity, your model or belief system. Repeating such a thing as 'I will stop smoking', is simple, but very effective once it has penetrated your subconscious, thus changing your 'model' or the way you believe in something. Sigils (signs or images that are supposed to have magical power) work in the same manner. If you have designed them, you are instilling your energy into the created symbol(s), and working the idea over and over again in your mind until it works automatically on your subconscious level. But bear in mind that since your subconscious is always working, be mindful of your thoughts because your true will and desire will manifest itself, and what you send out will come back. This is because any type of magick has both a cause and effect.
You can also invoke a spiritual entity or God or Goddess during a ritual. These entities or Gods and Goddesses are archetypes from your mind and will also hold aspects of yourself. You will perceive them in 'form' in the same manner in which you perceive them in your mind. This technique involves drawing from your subconscious, just as it does with manifesting elementals and familiars. It is the drawing of energy and creative visualisation from that part of your subconscious which is attuned to the astral world. Energy is flowing constantly from the astral world to this physical world. So because the mind is an extremely powerful tool, you can manifest anything you wish into a reality. We have all had times when we thought we 'saw' something, then dismissed it as illusory, but what we understand as our physical world interacts with all other worlds and dimensions as well, and thus we are all connected in some way -- so maybe it wasn't an illusion after all!
Left-Hand & Right-Hand MagickThese forms of magick are considered opposites. Some occult practitioners use these terms, especially for ceremonial magick. Left-hand magick is viewed as black magic that's malevolent while right-hand magick is considered to be benevolent white magick.In Western esotericism the Left-Hand Path and Right-Hand Path are the dichotomy between two opposing approaches to magick. This terminology is used in various groups involved in the occult and ceremonial magick. In some definitions, the Left-Hand Path is equated with malicious black magick or black shamanism, while the Right-Hand Path with benevolent white magick. Other occultists have criticised this definition, believing that the Left-Right dichotomy refers merely to different kinds of working and does not necessarily connote good or bad magical actions. In more recent definitions, which base themselves on the origins of the terms in Indian Tantra; the Right-Hand Path is seen as a definition for those magical groups that follow specific ethical codes and adopt social convention, while the Left-Hand Path adopts the opposite attitude, espousing the breaking of taboo and the abandoning of set morality. Some contemporary occultists, such as Peter J. Carroll, have stressed that both paths can be followed by a magical practitioner, as essentially, they have the same goals.
High & Low MagickHistorians and anthropologists have distinguished between practitioners who engage in high magick, and those who engage in low magick. In this framework, high magick is seen as more complex, involving lengthy and detailed ceremonies as well as sophisticated, sometimes expensive, paraphernalia. Low magick, on the other hand, is associated with peasants and folklore and with simpler rituals such as brief, spoken charms. Susan Greenwood writes that "Since the Renaissance, high magick has been concerned with drawing down forces and energies from heaven and achieving unity with divinity." High magick is usually performed indoors while witchcraft is often performed outdoors. Aleister Crowley sometimes referred to magick as a ‘high art’, but he never used the term ‘low magick’. Instead of these terms, he compared magick (which he saw as the essential method for achieving enlightenment and doing one's sacred Will) with such practices that he referred to as sorcery or witchcraft. He considered the essential difference between the two to be one of intent, where the purpose of a magical event is either in service to the True Will, i.e. the Great Work, or to the individual ego. Vanity/ego-driven practices such as love charms, fascinations, or fortune telling fell into the latter category within his personal framework of magick. Due to the natural complexity of this subject, this very comprehensive section within the suite of pages relating to magick tries to provide some background to as well as explaining each separate topic. Click on any of the links below to go directly to that specific section, or simply scroll down the page until you reach it.
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White MagickAmong most occultists, 'magick' is a fairly neutral term which has various connotations, for example, white magick and black magick. White magick follows what is termed the right-hand path, and is used for good intentions, for example, to heal someone, to make someone fall in love, to get a job etc., whereas black magick is used for evil purposes, e.g. to make someone ill, to kill someone, to make a person lose a job, to cause a fire etc. You will come across other terms used for white and black magick, these being 'constructive magick' and 'aversive magick' respectively.The actual 'forces' governing magick are neutral, but different systems adopted by a practitioner may take on qualities of 'good' or 'evil', as mentioned above, so-called white magick or black magick, with an element of 'grey' in-between. There are many people on the occult fringes who claim to be 'black magicians', but most of them are charlatans who have not served their apprenticeship (or even begun it), i.e. they simply dabble in the art but neither understand what they are doing, or trying to do, nor the consequences of such actions. However, a genuine magician is different and should be respected, even feared! He will have dedicated his life to learning the secret traditions, and can invoke supernatural forces to act on his will. You should always remember that any act of magick is likely to produce some side effect or other, irrespective of whether or not the actual desired result has been achieved. Such side effects do not generally cause a problem with white or constructive magick since they are also beneficial. Conversely, black or aversive magick, being used to work against the universe's natural forces, can produce aversive side effects which, on occasions, will cause harm to the magician! Some words from Chapter 65 of The Confessions of Aleister Crowley seem very apt at this point: "Good work is priceless and bad work is worthless." White magick is the magick of good purposes and often dubbed a selfless practice and should never be harmful to anyone or anything. Spells cast using white magick are for the betterment and benefit of others -- supernatural powers are often part of this practice. White magick is categorised as high magick meaning white magick is performed for higher spiritual purposes (not ritual or ceremonial types of magick). Practitioners of white magick have been given titles such as wise men or women, healers, white witches or wizards. Many of these people claimed to have the ability to do such things because of knowledge or power that was passed on to them through hereditary lines, or by some event later in their lives. White magick was practiced through healing, blessing, charms, incantations, prayers, and songs. With respect to the philosophy of the left-hand path and right-hand path, white magick is the benevolent counterpart of malicious black magick. Because of its ties to traditional Paganism (nature worship), white magick is often also referred to as ‘natural magic’. Pagans believe that White Magick pursues the ethics of kindness and goodness and represents the self-effacement of the will of the individual toward acquisition of glory and power. Many people view witchcraft as a low magick that deals with practical matters. This magick focuses on spell casting and often includes blood magic, which can be either white or black depending on the person or witch. Witchcraft (or witchery) is the practice of magical skills, spells, and abilities. It is a broad term that varies culturally and societally, and thus can be difficult to define with precision. Historically, and currently in most traditional cultures worldwide, notably in Asia, South America, Africa, the African diaspora, and Indigenous communities in the Americas, the term is commonly associated with those who use supernatural means to cause harm to the innocent. In places such as the Philippines, witches are viewed as those opposed to the sacred indigenous religions. In contrast, anthropologists writing about healers in Indigenous communities either use the traditional terminology of these cultures, or broad anthropological terms like 'shaman'. In the modern era, some use "witch" to refer to benign, positive, or neutral practices of modern paganism such as divination or spell-craft, but this is primarily a modern, western, popular culture phenomenon. Belief in witchcraft is often present within societies and groups whose cultural framework includes a magical world view.
HistoryIn his 1978 book, A History of White Magic, recognised occult author Gareth Knight traces the origins of white magic to early adaptations of palaeolithic religion and early religious history in general, including the polytheistic traditions of Ancient Egypt and the later monotheistic ideas of Judaism and early Christianity.In particular, he traced many of the traditions of white magick to the early worship of local "gods and goddesses of fertility and vegetation who were usually worshipped at hilltop shrines" and were "attractive to a nomadic race settling down to an agricultural existence". He focuses in particular on the nomadic Hebrew-speaking tribes and suggests that early Jews saw the worship of such deities more in terms of atavism than evil. It was only when the polytheistic and pagan Roman Empire began to expand that Jewish leaders began to rally against those ideas. Early origins of white magic can also be traced back to the Cunning Folk. The cunning folk in Britain were professional or semi-professional practitioners of magick, active from the Mediaeval period through the early twentieth century. As cunning folk, they practised folk magick -- also known as "low magick" -- although often combined with elements of "high" or ceremonial magick, which they learned through the study of grimoires. Primarily using spells and charms as a part of their profession, they were most commonly employed to use their magick to combat malevolent witchcraft, to locate criminals, missing persons or stolen property, for fortune telling, for healing, for treasure hunting and to influence people to fall in love. Belonging "to the world of popular belief and custom", the cunning folk's magick has been defined as being "concerned not with the mysteries of the universe and the empowerment of the magus (as ceremonial magick usually is), so much as with practical remedies for specific problems." However, other historians have noted that in some cases, there was apparently an "experimental or 'spiritual' dimension" to their magical practices, something which was possibly shamanic in nature. Click here to read a very basic typical Magical Rite.
Witchcraft / WiccaThe old term 'witchcraft', refers to a form of sorcery, or the magical 'manipulation of nature' for self-appeasement, or alternatively for the benefit of or to harm someone. This manipulation often involved the use of spirit-helpers, or familiars and/or elementals. Public use of magick was generally considered to be beneficial, whereas sorcery was commonly practiced in private and was usually considered malevolent. European diabolical witchcraft was a form of sorcery that appealed to pre-Christian symbolism and was therefore associated by Church leaders with heresy. The origins of witchcraft in Europe can be found in the pre-Christian, pagan cults such as the Teutonic nature cults, Roman religion, and the speculations of the Gnostics and the Zoroastrians ("Zoroastrianism is the oldest of the revealed world-religions, and it has probably had more influence on mankind, directly and indirectly, than any other single faith." - Mary Boyce, Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices). These religions and philosophies believed in both a power of evil and a power of good within the universe. Certain sects were later to believe the worship of good as false and misleading.
Early students of European diabolical witchcraft viewed it alternately as an invention of those of the elite who used accusations of sorcery as an excuse to persecute others less fortunate for material gain, or as a survival of pre-Christian folk religion. Scholars today interpret it not as a single phenomenon but rather as a complex pattern of beliefs and practices that have been used in different ways at different times. For example, during the Hundred Years War, Catholics and Protestants accused each other of witchcraft. Witchcraft, therefore, in various historical, religious and mythical contexts, is the use of certain kinds of supernatural or magical powers by a witch - simply defined as a person who engages in witchcraft. The terms witchcraft and witch are both controversial with a very complicated history, as can be seen above. Consequently, witchcraft is viewed differently in different cultures around the globe, and used in entirely different contexts, and within entirely different cultural references. To this effect it can take on distinct and often contradictory meanings. Practices typically considered to be witchcraft are:
Gardnerian Wicca
Witchcraft came to be generally known as Wicca in 1954, soon after the repeal of the Witchcraft Act in 1951. It is a neopagan religion found mostly in European and English-speaking countries. Various Wiccan traditions have evolved since
Gardnerian Wicca, each with its own rituals and beliefs, most of them remaining secretive. Gerald Gardner's books Witchcraft Today and The Meaning of Witchcraft became the basis for the modern religion of Wicca, which grew in popularity during the 1960's, and spread quickly from the United Kingdom to the rest of Europe as well as the United States of America, Canada, Asia and
Australia. It has continued to grow as a religion, its followers now placing a greater emphasis on a reverence for nature, redeveloping the 'Goddess-worshiping' religion from pre-Christian and non-Christian religions, and group magick aimed at healing.
Gardner also 'revealed' the Ardains of Wicca, the 161 laws of Wicca, which are commonly known in the US as the Laws of Wicca, but which have now more or less fallen out of use except in true traditional Gardnerian circles.
Alexandrian Wicca
Alexandrian witchcraft was established in the 1960s by Alex Sanders (1926 - 1988), an initiate of Gerald Gardner's system of witchcraft. It is a tradition based largely upon Gardnerian Wicca, but places more emphasis on Ritual Magick and Kabbalah (which Sanders had also studied) than other modern varieties of Wicca.
Proclaimed by his followers as King of the Witches, Sanders and his wife Maxine became very public promoters of Wicca, and although controversial, they are particularly responsible for the increase in the religion's popularity today. However, supposedly because of Alex's homosexual tendencies, the couple separated in 1971. Maxine remained in their London flat where she continued running a coven. Despite this separation, their strong relationship continued, and the following year she gave birth to a son, Victor. In 1979 Alex announced to the witchcraft community, "I wish to make amends for some of the past hurts that I have given and many public stupidities I created for others of the Craft," and expressed his desire that Wicca in general should one day put aside their differences and unite in brotherly love before the face of the Lady and the Lord, allowing them to become great again and respected in the outside world.
Click on the following link to go to our downloads page from where you can download your free copy of an eBook relating to Wicca. Our Aspects of the Occult Download contains this eBook plus well over 300 other eBooks and documents relating to most aspects of the occult and is available should you wish to acquire a greater knowledge of this fascinating subject. Goddess WorshipThough not exclusively a female pursuit, modern white magick is often associated with stereotypically feminine concepts like that of a Mother Goddess, fae (fairy), nature spirits, oneness with nature and goddess worship.In modern stories or fairy tales, the idea of "white witchcraft" is often associated with a kindly grandmother or caring motherly spirit. The link between white magick and a Mother Earth is a regular theme of practitioner Marian Green's written work. Natural MagickThe origins of natural magick are pagan. Natural magick is considered to come under the auspices of white magick. The focus of natural magick is on Earth magick along with all of the natural forces in the universe. This includes practices, such as alchemy, herbology and astrology. Various divination arts are often included in this magical practice and can also be used in grey and/or black magick.Earth MagickEarth magick revolves around the energy of the earth. This can be ley lines, crystals and minerals, alchemy, plants, trees, animal spirits, and supernatural spirits, such as angels. It is through connecting with the energies of the Earth that healings and other amazing feats can be accomplished.Elemental MagickThe magick found in the Earth's elements (air, water, fire and earth) can be harnassed to empower you. These elements carry specific Earth energies you can tap into and reap the benefit from. This type of magick is used in healings as well as other purposes.Folk MagickKnown as a ‘low magick’, folk magick covers a wide range of magick often associated with witches. It can include chanting, spell casting, blood magic, and spirit summoning, such as conjuring demons or benevolent spirits.The cunning folk in Britain were professional or semi-professional practitioners of magick, active from the Mediaeval period through to the early twentieth century. As cunning folk, they practised folk magick, although often combined with elements of ‘high’ or ceremonial magick, which they learned through the study of grimoires. Primarily using spells and charms as a part of their profession, they were most commonly employed to use their magick to combat malevolent witchcraft, to locate criminals, missing persons or stolen property, for fortune telling, healing, treasure hunting and to influence people to fall in love. Candle MagickThe art of candle magick is fairly straightforward. > This form of spell-work can be used in any type of magick spell casting. You can make this a ritual or ceremonial type of magick or keep it simple by stating your goal, lighting the candle and focusing on that goal.Colour MagickColour magick focuses on the type of energy each colour attracts, and is often combined with other forms of magick, such as candle magic. In colour candle magic, you select a specific candle colour based on what you desire, such as a green candle for doing spell-work to attract money or health.Return to top of page. |
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Grey MagickIf you're looking to practice a neutral magick, then grey magick is just what you’re looking for. This type of practice isn't motivated by any particular reason or benefit, but is also not focused towards completely hostile practices. It falls into a grey area between white and black magick, with a purpose of eradicating evil while reaping the benefits of white magic. As a neutral magick, some practitioners like to use it purely to demonstrate what magick is, in a type of performance. Ann Finnin states that many practitioners of grey magick employ the term because of its vagueness, and to avoid having to consider ethical questions. It is also spelled ‘gray’ magick, grey magic, or neutral magick. According to D.J. Conway, practitioners of white magick avoid causing any form of harm, even to enact positive outcomes. A rather different meaning to the term was given by Roy Bowers, an influential British witch of the 1960s. For Bowers, it was a technique of baffling, bewildering, and mystifying everyone he met in order to gain power over them; by doing so, he was always surer about them than they were about him. In his article entitled Genuine Witchcraft is Defended, Bowers says the following: “One basic tenet of witch-psychological grey magick is that your opponent should never be allowed to confirm an opinion about you, but should always remain undecided. This gives you a greater power over him, because the undecided is always the weaker. From this attitude much confusion has probably sprung in the long path of history."Return to top of page. |
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Black MagickAmong most occultists, 'magick' is a fairly neutral term which has various connotations, for example, white magick and black magick. Black magick follows what is termed the left-hand path. Left-handers believe in spiritual enrichment through working on and developing themselves, and thus they are answerable only to themselves. In the minds of the masses, black magick is used for evil purposes, e.g. to make someone ill, to kill someone, to make a person lose a job, to cause a fire etc. You will encounter other terms used for black magick, these being 'constructive magick' and 'aversive magick' respectivelyBlack magick has traditionally referred to the use of supernatural powers or magick for evil and selfish purposes. With respect to the left-hand path and right-hand path dichotomy, black magick is the malicious, left-hand counterpart of the benevolent white magick. In modern times, some find that the definition of black magick has been convoluted by people who define magick or ritualistic practices that they disapprove of as black magick.
HistoryLike its counterpart white magick, the origins of black magick can be traced to the primitive, ritualistic worship of spirits as outlined in Robert M. Place's 2009 book, Magic and Alchemy. Unlike white magick, in which Place sees parallels with primitive shamanistic efforts to achieve closeness with spiritual beings, the rituals that developed into modern black magick were designed to invoke those same spirits to produce beneficial outcomes for the practitioner. Place also provides a broad modern definition of both black and white magick, preferring instead to refer to them as ‘high magick’ (white) and ‘low magick’ (black) based primarily on the intentions of the practitioner employing them. He acknowledges, though, that this broader definition of high and low suffers from prejudices because good-intentioned folk magic may be considered ‘low’ while ceremonial magick involving expensive or exclusive components may be considered by some as ‘high magick’, regardless of intent.During the Renaissance, many magical practices and rituals were considered evil or irreligious and by extension, black magick in the broad sense. Witchcraft and non-mainstream esoteric study were prohibited and targeted by the Inquisition. As a result, natural magick developed as a way for thinkers and intellectuals, like Marsilio Ficino, abbot Johannes Trithemius and Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, to advance esoteric and ritualistic study (though still often in secret) without significant persecution. While "natural magick" became popular among the educated and upper classes of the 16th and 17th centuries, ritualistic magick and folk magick remained subject to persecution. The 20th century author Montague Summers generally rejects the definitions of "white" and "black" magick as "contradictory", though he highlights the extent to which magick in general, regardless of intent, was considered "black" and cites William Perkins posthumous 1608 instructions in that regard:"All witches 'convicted by the Magistrate' should be executed." He allows no exception and under this condemnation fall "all Diviners, Charmers, Jugglers, all Wizards, commonly called wise men or wise women". All those purported "good Witches which do not hurt but good, which do not spoil and destroy, but save and deliver" should come under the extreme sentence. In particular, though, the term was most commonly reserved for those accused of invoking demons and other evil spirits, those hexing or cursing their neighbours, those using magick to destroy crops, and those capable of leaving their earthly bodies and travelling great distances in spirit (to which the Malleus Maleficarum "devotes one long and important chapter"), usually to engage in devil-worship. Summers also highlights the etymological development of the term nigromancer, in common use from 1200 to approximately 1500, (Latin: Niger, black; Greek: Manteia, divination), broadly "one skilled in the black arts". In a modern context, the line between white and black magick is somewhat clearer and most modern definitions focus on intent rather than practice. There is also an extent to which many modern Wicca and witchcraft practitioners have sought to distance themselves from those intent on practising black magick. Those who seek to do harm or evil are less likely to be accepted into mainstream Wiccan circles or covens in an era where benevolent magick is increasingly associated with new-age beliefs and practices, and self-help spiritualism. There are many types of magick that fall under the umbrella of black magic. Many of the divination tools of the dark arts were used in various combinations for spell-work. Historically, witches were lumped into this practice, although most were white magick practitioners. Pagans believe that Black Magick seeks the selfish advancement of an individual. In its most hateful aspect, it is vindictive and destructive. They believe that White Magick pursues the ethics of kindness and goodness. It represents the self-effacement of the will of the individual toward acquisition of glory and power. NecromancyNecromancy is the practice of magick involving communication with the dead, either by summoning their spirits as apparitions, visions or raising them bodily for the purpose of divination, imparting the means to foretell future events, discover hidden knowledge, to bring someone back from the dead, or to use the dead as a weapon. Sometimes referred to as "Death Magick", the term may also be used in a more general sense to refer to black magick or witchcraft.The word necromancy is adapted from the late Latin 'necromantia', itself borrowed from post-Classical Greek, a compound of Ancient Greek 'dead body' and 'divination by means of'; this compound form was first used by Origen of Alexandria in the 3rd century CE. The Classical Greek term was from the episode of the Odyssey in which Odysseus visits the realm of the dead. It became known as necromancy in 17th-century English.
SatanismSatanism, like the word witchcraft, is another term that is often misused, referring to a religious, semi-religious, and/or philosophical movement. The term is normally applied by non-Satanists to those individuals or groups who worship an entity called 'Satan', advocating the triumph of evil forces over good in the universe. Satanism is supposedly represented by two separate groups, the traditional and the secular. Traditional Satanists have been accused of conducting rituals which are specifically aimed at attacking Christian beliefs and practices (particularly the Roman Catholic Church), rituals in which they recite the Lord's Prayer backwards, or desecrate and use the host and wine stolen from a cathedral! This is pure fiction which can be traced back to the Inquisition and to books written during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. Examples of traditional Satanism are extremely rare, and testimonies of 'alleged former Satanists' and Satanic ritual abuse have long since been discredited. Secular Satanism on the other hand, as opposed to Wiccan beliefs of divine laws or naturistic principles, focuses in general upon material or physical advancement of the self instead of submission to a deity or set of moral codes. It is for this reason that secular Satanists shun traditional religious worship and beliefs, preferring self-centred ideals, for example, survival of the fittest, and practices such as materialism, using magick to attain them. Secular Satanists tend to be highly critical of all other faiths, and are particularly opposed to Christianity, because of its major position in Western society and its historical persecution of Satanists and other religious minorities. Followers of the now various forms of Satanism recognise Satan either as an archetype, a pre-cosmic force, an actual living entity, and/or some aspect of human nature. Two of the more renowned 'Satanic groups' are discussed below, but you might also be interested to read about an underground movement that goes by the name of the Order of Nine Angles.
The Church of Satan
The Church of Satan was founded by Anton Szandor
LaVey who was its High Priest until his death in 1997. He wrote The Satanic Bible and several other books including The Compleat Witch. Before the foundation of his 'Church', he had been building a reputation for himself by holding lectures on the occult to a selected circle of friends and associates. One of these intimated that he could/should form a new 'religion' based on his 'teachings'. As a consequence, on Walpurgisnacht (30th April), 1966, he 'ritualistically' shaved his head and declared the founding of the
Church of Satan, proclaiming 1966 as 'Year One, Anno Satanas' (the first year of the Age of Satan).
Anton LaVey's Nine Satanic Statements from The Satanic Bible
The Church of Satan is now the most organised of the Satanic groups (there are reputed to be more than 8000 members in San Francisco alone), and it refutes the common association mentioned in the introduction, as it does not actually believe in a being called Satan, and uses the name merely as a symbolic allusion to certain materialistic and individualistic values. Satanists of the Church of Satan follow the Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth:
“LaVey's teachings are based on individualism, self-indulgence, and 'eye for an eye' morality, with influence from Friedrich Nietzsche and Ayn Rand, while its rituals and magic draw heavily from occultists such as Aleister Crowley. They do not worship - nor believe in - the Devil or a Christian notion of Satan. The word 'Satan' comes from the Hebrew word for adversary and originated from the Abrahamic faiths, being traditionally applied to an angel. Church of Satan adherents see themselves as truth-seekers, adversaries and skeptics of the religious world around them." The full interview can be found by clicking HERE.
The Temple of Set
In 1975, Michael Aquino (pictured left) and certain members of the priesthood of the Church of Satan left that Church and established The Temple of Set, which was incorporated in California in that same year as a non-profit making church. They left because of administrative and philosophical
disagreements with its founder, Anton Szandor LaVey. Michael Aquino’s claim for leaving was because he was disgusted with the amount of corruption within the Church of Satan.
The Temple of Set is an initiatory occult society claiming to be the world's leading religious organisation devoted to the Left-Hand Path, professing Setian philosophy and magical practice. Set/Seth is the Egyptian god of chaos, evil, drought, thunder and storm, and destruction, embodying the principle of hostility, even outright evil. Seth tore himself from his mother's womb in his hurry to be born, and is associated with the murder of his brother, Osiris. Varying degrees of expertise, experience, and understanding of metaphysics (a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the nature of the world) are recognised among members. There are six levels or degrees of initiation, with Setians identifying their members by their degree, these being:
The Priesthood of the Temple of Set is restricted to those members holding the Third Degree or higher. Full membership only comes about on achieving the second degree, which has a time frame of around two years. Recognition is only performed by members of the priesthood, although it is up to the individual to find a priest to work with towards this end, but there are no actual set criteria for recognition, and no obligation for the priesthood to work with new initiates towards recognition. All officers and workers within the Temple are volunteers, some receiving reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Temple, but none receive a salary. All officers are selected from within the Priesthood. The Temple of Set holds an annual assembly, normally lasting for about a week and held in various global locations (although it usually takes place within the USA), where members of the Temple can meet to exchange ideas. There is also the occasional regional gathering, organised and attended by interested Setians, at their own initiative. These local groups, referred to as Pylons, tend to explore a range of metaphysical topics and exercises, their members sharing locally selected interests. The Temple also makes a variety of informational resources available to members for individual reference. The Temple of Set has never stated or confirmed its membership numbers. It maintains strict selective membership policies, proof being that fewer than half of all its applicants are accepted for membership within the two-year recognition period. The Temple's membership does, however, have a large turnover rate; most members (who pay an annual membership fee of about $80.00) leave for a wide variety of reasons, only a minority remaining with the Temple for more than a decade. The Temple’s philosophy can be summed up as enlightened individualism, i.e. the enhancement and improvement of an individual by personal education, experiment, and initiation, a different and distinctive process being required for each individual. This is referred to by the Egyptian god Khepera, symbolised by the scarab beetle, significant of personal rebirth and immortality within the Temple of Set. The term is deemed central to Setian philosophy and practice, having been introduced at the founding of the Temple. To date, Michael Aquino remains an active member of the Temple of Set, although he no longer holds any office within the organisation. N.B. In addition to Setianism, there is also a type of Gnosticism called Sethianism (after the third child of Adam and Eve (Seth) in the Book of Genesis), who date their existence as pre-Christianity. Ceremonial or Ritual MagickWhile some form of ritualised Ceremonial Magick has been present in cultures going back thousands of years, most current practices stem from the middle ages or later. Ceremonial Magick as we know it developed from Christian Kabbalah (a philosophical system adopted from Jewish mysticism), Mediaeval Alchemy and Gnostic/Hermetic philosophy, basically a System of Initiation and Mastery of Consciousness. It includes, amongst others, Goetic and Enochian Magick and Thelemic Ritual. Ceremonial Magick is by far the most complex form of magick, using magical theory drawn from a great body of literature amassed during the centuries, and always incorporates strict ritual. It is certainly much more elaborate than other forms, probably because the magician draws strength from ethereal entities and the divine.The general distinction between ritual and ceremony is that a rite is something done, while a ceremony is the way in which that something is done. However, in general usage, these two terms are usually employed together. Any act whatsoever performed on a regular basis is a ritual. For example, if you set your alarm clock for 6.55 a.m., then switch it to 'snooze' for 5 or 10 minutes every day before getting up, that is a ritual. Should you decide to get up one morning without putting it on 'snooze', you may well feel 'ill at ease', as if something 'isn't quite right', for the rest of that day. It is exactly the same in Ceremonial Magick - a certain ritual is followed each time a ceremony is performed, but if the ritual is not followed strictly, something will not feel right! One of the most important factors to consider when performing Ceremonial or Ritual Magick is self-protection. Here, intuition might well come into play. If something doesn't feel right - DON'T DO IT! Using the example in the previous paragraph (we'll assume it is an electric radio alarm clock), let's suppose there has been a power cut in the middle of the night. You would still tend to wake up with a start at around the normal time the next morning knowing intuitively that something is wrong. The first thing most people would do would be to check the time, at which stage you discover exactly 'what is wrong'. The alternative, despite the fact that you know it doesn't feel right, is to ignore your intuition and simply go back to sleep to wait for the alarm NOT to go off, thus ruining the rest of the day, by being late for work and so on. Ritual is the magician's failsafe mechanism, the key to any hope for success, and also the explanation for failure. Ceremonial magicians use rituals which may include preparing an area (normally a circle), donning robes, chanting, lighting candles, arranging amulets or talismans in a certain order on an altar and/or themselves, and saying prayers prior to performing the ceremony. If something 'doesn't feel right' the novice may well continue and suffer the consequences, but an adept knows instinctively that something is wrong and will either abandon the ceremony or repeat the process until it does feel right. Four traditional ceremonial tools are associated with Ceremonial/Ritual Magick, Wicca and related traditions, believed to derive from the Four Hallows (four holies) of the Arthurian Romances, in which the items are used as symbols of metaphysical ideas. In turn, these are derived from early esoteric and Gnostic Christian ideas. These four tools of magick are: the Cup or Chalice, a watery, female symbol; the Sword or ritual Dagger, a male, airy symbol; the Coin, Disk, or Paten, also known as a Pentacle in most Wiccan and Ritual Magick traditions, a female, earthy symbol; the Baton/Wand, a masculine, fiery symbol. In some systems, the sword and the wand/club are reversed. See also Magical Weapons. In magick, these tools represent the four classical elements, the four directions, and the four archangels. They comprise the four suits in a pack of Tarot cards, and the four worlds of creation outlined in the Kabbalah. They also correspond with the four syllables of the Tetragrammaton (the sacred four letter name of God). The sword/dagger and the baton/wand are weapons of destruction, symbolising archetypal male passion, power and dominance, i.e. aggression, which if properly channelled, propels human endeavour. They are a compulsive, ever moving force, the dark, primitive expression of this force being destruction, violence, frustration, and ill-will. The cup/chalice and the pentacle or paten/disk/coin, are symbols of 'feminine' traits, i.e. receptive, nurturing, and welcoming when correctly used but cruel, lazy, and cold when abused. The masculine power seeks knowledge and progress, the feminine provides restraining wisdom, guidance, and grounding. Where the masculine moves and expands, the feminine forms, shapes, and channels. It really cannot be stressed enough just how vitally important it is to create and tailor your ritual individually, although it is also appropriate for the aspirant, student or apprentice to learn and practice tried and tested historical ritual. The purpose of all Ritual Magick is to perfect what is known as the microcosm - you as an individual - in order to connect with the macrocosm - the Divine, to create within yourself a perfect mirror image of the Divine (as above so below), what mystics have termed Union with God, and in magick, the Great Work. Should any of you have been practicing Ritual Magick for any length of time, you will no doubt have noticed subtle changes in your life already - your focus will be much sharper and your 'perception of what is considered reality' will have changed completely, indicating you have laid the necessary foundations on which to begin building the next stage of your development/enlightenment.
A would-be apprentice will be questioned at length as to why he/she wishes to learn the ways of 'High Magick' before being taken under the wing of an adept and 'taught' the methods. One of the first exercises he/she must practice until it becomes automatic is known as Reverse Meditation. This is an exercise most apprentices tend to neglect, but in every case, should they choose to do so, they will certainly have to return to it. Every night, on retiring to bed, the apprentice must go over the events of the day in reverse order, i.e. starting with the last thing said or done that day, working backwards until reaching his/her first thought or action of the day. Each event must be considered impartially, i.e. regarded as an impersonal record. The results of each action, thought or word must be considered separately, and the apprentice must then try to ascertain why these thoughts, actions or words were the cause of particular effects, back to the starting point of the day. Reverse meditation is extremely important for two reasons:
Many esoteric schools of the Western Tradition use the mandala, the meditation glyph known as Orz Chiim (Tree of Life), ‘the mighty, all-embracing glyph of the universe and the soul of man’, as a symbolic picture or image placed before the apprentice as a reminder of his/her work. Other basic exercises include:
The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the PentagramThe Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP) is a Ceremonial Magick Ritual devised and used by the original order of the Golden Dawn that has become a mainstay in modern occultism. It is considered by many to be a basic preliminary to any other magical work, so much so that it was the only ritual, beside initiation rituals, taught to members of the Golden Dawn before they advanced to the Inner Order.The ritual is highly dynamic, using gesture, visualisation and the pronunciation of certain words of power, combining prayer and evocation as well as clearing and preparing a space for further magical or meditative work. The ritual is perceived as banishing any "chaotic" and "impure" forms of the elements from the magician's circle tracing the Pentagrams in the air and by the power of certain Divine names followed by an invocation of the spiritual forces ruling the elements to fortify and guard the circle. The principal components of the Qabalistic Cross and the LBRP are drawn from the works of the French occultist Eliphas Lévi, which originated as a traditional Jewish prayer said before sleeping as documented by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch in The Hirsch Siddur, which reads as follows: "In the Name of God, the God of Yisrael: may Michael be at my right hand, Gabriel at my left, Uriel before me, Raphael behind me, and above my head, the presence of God." What follows explains the Complete Golden Dawn Version to invoke the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. You will need to know the following two signs during this ritual:
Components of Ritual MagickMagical WeaponsAs with magick, a magical weapon is any instrument used to bring about intentional change. As Crowley wrote in Magick in Theory and Practice:"It is my Will to inform the World of certain facts within my knowledge. I therefore take 'magical weapons', pen, ink, and paper; I write 'incantations' --- these sentences --- in the 'magical language' i.e. that which is understood by the people I wish to instruct; I call forth 'spirits', such as printers, publishers, booksellers, and so forth, and constrain them to convey my message to those people. The composition and distribution of this book is thus an act of magick by which I cause changes to take place in conformity with my Will. By 'Intentional' I mean 'willed'. But even unintentional acts so-seeming are not truly so. Thus, breathing is an act of the Will-to-Live." With that said, in practice, magical weapons are usually specific, consecrated items used within Ceremonial Ritual. There is no hard and fast rule as to what constitutes or does not constitute a magical weapon. If a magician considers it to be a weapon, then a weapon it is. However, there does exist a set of magical weapons with particular uses and symbolic meanings. Some such common weapons/tools include the dagger/sword, wand/baton, cup/chalice, disk/coin, holy oil, lamp and bell.
Magical FormulaeA magical formula is generally a name, word, or a series of letters, the meaning of which is used to illustrate principles and degrees of understanding that are difficult to relay using other forms of speech or writing. It is a very concise means of communicating abstract information through a word or phrase, usually concerning a process of spiritual or mystical change.For example, common formulae include YHVH, INRI, and IAO. These words often have no intrinsic meaning in and of themselves, but when broken down, each individual letter may refer to some universal concept found in the system in which the formula appears. In addition, by grouping certain letters together one can display meaningful sequences considered to be of value to the spiritual system utilising them.
Vibration of God NamesIn magical rituals involving the invocation of deities, a vocal technique called vibration is commonly used. This was a basic aspect of magical training for Crowley, who described it in Liber VI (also known as Liber O vel Manus et Sagittae). According to that text, vibration involves a physical set of steps, starting in a standing position, breathing in through the nose while imagining the name of the deity entering with the breath, imagining that breath travelling through the entire body, stepping forward with the left foot while throwing the body forward with arms outstretched, visualising the name rushing out when spoken, ending in an upright stance, with the right forefinger placed upon the lips. Crowley tells us that success in this technique is signalled by physical exhaustion, and"though only by the student himself is it perceived, when he hears the name of the God vehemently roared forth, as if by the concourse of ten thousand thunders; and it should appear to him as if that Great Voice proceeded from the Universe, and not from himself." In general ritual practice, vibration can also refer to a technique of saying a God name or a magical formula in a long, drawn out fashion (i.e. with a full, deep breath) employing the nasal passages, such that the sound feels and sounds vibrated.
“By the light of a single candle placed on the edge of the coffer I began to read the invocation. But as I went on I noticed that I was no longer stooping to hold the page near the light. I was standing erect. Yet the manuscript was not less but more legible. Looking about me, I saw that the King's Chamber was glowing with a soft light which I immediately recognised as the astral light. I have been accustomed to describe the colour as ultra-#8d8145, from its resemblance to those rays in the spectrum - which I happen to be able to distinguish. The range varies, but it is quite noticeably beyond that visible to the normal human eye. The colour is not unlike that of an arc lamp; it is definitely less coloured than the light of a mercury lamp. If I had to affix a conventional label, I should probably say pale lilac. But the quality of the light is much more striking than the colour. Here the word phosphorescence occurs to the mind. It is one of the mysteries of physics that the total light of the sky is very much greater than can be accounted for by the luminous bodies in the heavens.” Even so, Crowley realised that paranormal effects and magical powers do have some level of value for the individual. In Magick Without Tears he tells us: ”My own experience was very convincing on this point; for one power after another came popping up when it was least wanted, and I saw at once that they represented so many leaks in my boat. They argued imperfect insulation. And really they are quite a bit of a nuisance. Their possession is so flattering, and their seduction so subtle. One understands at once why all the first-class Teachers insist so sternly that the Siddhi (or Iddhi) must be rejected firmly by the Aspirant, if he is not to be side-tracked and ultimately lost. Nevertheless, 'even the evil germs of Matter may alike become useful and good' as Zoroaster reminds us. For one thing, their possession is indubitably a sheet-anchor, at the mercy of the hurricane of Doubt -- doubt as to whether the whole business is not Tommy-rot! Such moments are frequent, even when one has advanced to a stage when Doubt would seem impossible; until you get there, you can have no idea how bad it is! Then, again, when these powers have sprung naturally and spontaneously from the exercise of one's proper faculties in the Great Work, they ought to be a little more than leaks. You ought to be able to organise and control them in such wise that they are of actual assistance to you in taking the Next Step. After all, what moral or magical difference is there between the power of digesting one's food, and that of transforming oneself into a hawk?”
Enochian Magick
What site relating to the occult can fail to mention this form of magick, re-popularised by the Golden Dawn, and then Aleister Crowley? Enochian Magick is used for the evocation and commanding of various spirits. It is a system of Ceremonial Magick based on the writings of Dr John Dee and Edward Kelley (also spelt as Kelly) in the 16th century. According to Dee and Kelley their information was delivered to them directly by an angel (the Great Angel Ave), after which they created the Enochian Script (see right). Their claim was that it embraces secrets contained within the Book of Enoch (a title given to several attributed to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah, as opposed to the other three characters named Enoch in the Bible: the son of Cain, the son of Midian, and the son of Reuben. The latter two are written as Hanoch in the modern translations). Enochian Script is often referred to as the Angelic Script, and is used in Ceremonial Magick when working with angelic beings, particularly so in the Calls or Keys used to summon them (see below).
Enochian Magick, or at least the great body of raw knowledge of the system that Dee and Kelley had uncovered and which was lying dormant, was given some form and brought to 'life' more than 200 years later by Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn . Subsequent to this, Aleister Crowley worked with and wrote about this system extensively thus contributing much to its growing popularity and comparatively widespread use today. Some years later in Chicago, Paul Foster Case, after his expulsion from the Golden Dawn in 1921, pursued the creation of his own occult school, the School of Ageless Wisdom, and led a crusade to convince fellow students that Enochian Magick was ‘volatile and dangerous’. This organisation failed within a few years. However, he moved to Los Angeles, abandoning a lucrative career as a musician, and established the Builders of the Adytum. In its Inner Order Teachings, Case had all reference to Enochian Magick removed. Others followed in his footsteps, claiming Enochian Magick was too dangerous and should be avoided. Enochian Magick is certainly considerably more complex and difficult to understand than most other forms of magick. This has caused numerous interpretations to arise, some of which have developed into schools of thought with individual bodies producing their own interpretative literature. Despite this, almost all of these schools agree that Enochian Magick is a particularly powerful and dangerous form of magick. Some of its practitioners even go so far as to suggest that Enochian Magick is inherently destructive to the magician. Its use is forbidden not only for members of Builders of the Adytum, but also for those of the Servants of the Light. Without entering into this ongoing debate into the dangers of Enochian Magick, when it is used with caution, and in accordance with Second Order Teachings, it is reputedly not only safe, but utterly effective in the physical world, and very illuminating in the area of Spiritual development!
The Enochian Tablets
Dee and Kelley were the two pioneers who brought Enochian Magick to the world, but somewhere along the trail of lost knowledge since their being given the information the Four Watchtowers of the Universe lay hidden. These Watchtower Tablets were later adapted by Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers to represent the Four Elements of Fire, Water, Air and Earth.
There is a hierarchy to each of these tablets, although the hierarchy in its highest form is not to be found on the tablets, but comes from the study of the Kabbalah. It is the Divine Name of the element in Hebrew that one must first intone and invoke. The reason behind this is because Hebrew represents the Celestial influence and governance, and the Enochian hierarchy represents Assiah or material governance. Contained within each tablet are three Secret Holy Names of God, which can be extracted from the horizontal cross bar of the central cross of each tablet. In all there are twelve Holy Names on four tablets. These infer a serious connection and bridge between the Macrocosm and the personal Microcosm of one's own sphere of sensation. The Elemental Tablets are introduced one at a time. In the Grade Initiations of the Golden Dawn, these Secret Names are invoked during the four Elemental Grade Ceremonies (initiations) by the Hierophant of the Outer Order. Through the power of the Secret Names the general nature of the element involved in the initiation is filtered through the tablet into the aura or sphere of sensation of the advancing initiate, thus resulting in the establishment of a magical link and affinity with that element, serving to empower him or her as its new elemental powers are made available. The process is reported as depending upon a trained and empowered Hierophant, and can, in fact, even be performed in astral form in full Temple to allow the elemental link to exist for members who live hundreds or even thousands of miles from a Temple. There is an important initiation that is not depicted on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, known as the Portal Initiation. It is attributed to the topmost point of the pentagram, which is Spirit. Thus, in the Portal Initiation of the Order, the Tablet of Union is introduced as it represents the building Spirit or actuating 'adhesive' between the elements.
The Tablet of Union
The highest name of Spirit in this Tablet is EHNB (shown in the left-most column), the purest of Spiritual forces, and is only invoked when some empowering is required from the direct force of spirit.
The Tablet of Union is placed on the centre altar to act as the central hub from which the Elemental Tablets are its spokes.
The Elemental Kings
The King is invoked when lower elemental forces on the tablet are to be utilised. There is one King per Elemental Tablet, which is extracted from a spiral whirl around the Central Cross to be found on each tablet.
The Seniors
In all workings where the King is invoked, so are the Seniors in that they work in a kind of collaboration with the Elemental King. In rituals such as the consecration of an Elemental Tool the powers of the Seniors are called upon, thus allowing the Elemental Tool or Weapon to receive the Planetary powers in the charging phase through the Elemental Nature of the planet. Later when needed by a trained Adept, the tool can then project this force for the purpose of magical and alchemical workings. There are six Seniors on each of the four Elemental Tablets, making a total of 24. The Seniors follow the King in the order of hierarchy. Reference to the Seniors can be found in the Book of Revelations - the 24 Elders who bow down before the Throne of God. They act as a kind of funnel for the specific forces of a particular planet, the King relating to Sol. The planetary forces of the Seniors are configured and transformed within the specific Elemental Nature of the tablets.
The Sephirotic Cross Angels
There are two angels per cross; one calls forth a servant angel and the other commands the angel. These angels are only invoked when an Adept wishes to work with a specific subservient angel.
There are four Sephirotic Crosses on each tablet, often referred to as Calvary Crosses. There is one cross in each sub-element, thus, on the Fire tablet, there are four sub-elements of Air, Water, Fire, and Earth. There is a cross in each. On a coloured depiction of the tablets these crosses are white, which like the Seniors denote a spiritual nature rather than an elemental one.
The Kerubic Square Angels
These angels work under the Angels of the Sephirotic Cross helping to regulate and balance the forces employed. They may be utilised for pyramid working and other important elemental considerations. The Kerubic Angels are formed from the first letter in each file above the Calvary Cross and permutated to provide (4) in total per sub-section.
The Enochian KeysEighteen Keys (or Calls) given to Dee by the angels were intended for use with the Enochian system as a whole, but they can be used on a stand-alone basis as powerful prayers or ritual invocations. Consequently, they should be used extremely wisely and cautiously, showing the appropriate reverence as befitting a mighty Force. Versions of all of the calls or keys are readily available both on the web and in published books - they are perhaps too readily available in the opinion of many Adepts.A nineteenth key is known as the Call or Key of the Thirty Aethyrs. Aleister Crowley was the first known person to decipher all of these 30 Aethyrs and wrote his experiences in The Vision and the Voice (Liber 418 - Aerum vel Saeculi). Crowley tells us about his invocation of the 30 Aethyrs during a trip to North Africa in 1920 in chapter 66 of The Confessions of Aleister Crowley. The table below shows details of the Thirty Aethyrs, the brief descriptive passages against each of them being taken on the whole from Crowley's Liber xxx Aerum vel Saeculi Sub Figura 418 (The Vision and the Voice):
Very little is known about the 30 Aethyrs, except that there is a distinct hierarchy, and that each Aethyr should be visited in numerical order, starting with the highest, 30, TEX, and ending with the lowest, 1, LIL, at the very highest spiritual level. Within Dee's writings, we find specific warnings about accessing 10, ZAX, containing the infamous demon known as Choronzon (other spellings have been used by other writers). Crowley's preparation for, and his battle with Choronzon is considered a classic in magical literature (see below). Choronzon is the 'Dweller in the Abyss', the final great obstacle between the magician and true enlightenment. With the proper preparation, he is simply there to destroy the ego, thus allowing the magician to move beyond the Abyss. However, if he is ill-prepared, the unfortunate traveller will be utterly dispersed into annihilation. Crowley's Oath of the Abyss is reproduced below:
Oath of the Abyss
And if I fail herein, may my pyramid be profaned, and the Eye closed to me. Choronzon is known as the 'Demon of Dispersion', and described by Crowley as "a temporary personification of the raving and inconsistent forces that occupy the Abyss." In his system, Choronzon is only given form in evocation, simply to enable its mastery. Crowley states that he and Victor Neuburg (an English poet and writer, particularly on theosophy, remembered for his early association with Aleister Crowley) reputedly evoked Choronzon in the Sahara Desert, but from his account it is unclear whether Choronzon was evoked into an empty Solomonic Triangle while Crowley sat elsewhere, or whether Crowley himself was the medium into which the demon was evoked; most writers take him to mean the latter. He describes the demon throwing sand over the triangle in order to breach it, following which it attacked Neuburg in the form of a naked savage, forcing him to drive it back at the point of a dagger (a potent magical weapon). Crowley's account has been criticised as unreliable because the relevant original pages were torn from the notebook in which it was written. Both the evocation of Choronzon and the Abyss are discussed in chapter 66 of The Confessions of Aleister Crowley: "The name of the Dweller in the Abyss is Choronzon, but he is not really an individual. The Abyss is empty of being; it is filled with all possible forms, each equally inane, each therefore evil in the only true sense of the word - that is, meaningless but malignant, in so far as it craves to become real. These forms swirl senselessly into haphazard heaps like dust devils, and each such chance aggregation asserts itself to be an individual and shrieks, "I am I!" though aware all the time that its elements have no true bond; so that the slightest disturbance dissipates the delusion just as a horseman, meeting a dust devil, brings it in showers of sand to the earth."
Here is a short extract from Crowley's The Enochian Keys showing the First Key: AND DEE'S ENGLISH
(Pronunciation Key)
A ah as in "fAther" The First Key Click on the following link to go to our downloads page from where you can download your free copy of an eBook relating to Enochian Magick. Our Aspects of the Occult Download contains this eBook plus well over 300 other eBooks and documents relating to most aspects of the occult and is available should you wish to acquire a greater knowledge of this fascinating subject. Chaos Magick
It is unknown when the term "chaos magick" first emerged, with the earliest texts on the subject referring only to "magick" or "the magical art" in general. Furthermore, they often claimed to state principles align = "right">rsal to magick, as opposed to a new specific style or tradition, describing their innovations as efforts to rid magick of superstitious and religious ideas. This magick has been described as a union of traditional occult techniques and applied postmodernism, particularly a postmodernist skepticism concerning the existence or knowability of objective truth. Chaos magicians subsequently treat belief as a tool, often creating their own magical systems and frequently borrowing from other magical traditions, religious movements, popular culture and various strands of philosophy. Chaos magick differs from other occult traditions such as Thelema or Wicca in that it rejects the existence of absolute truth, and views all occult systems as arbitrary symbol-systems that are only effective because of the belief of the practitioner. It thus takes an explicitly agnostic position on whether or not magick exists as a supernatural force, with many chaos magicians expressing their acceptance of a psychological model as one possible explanation. The word chaos was first used in connection with magick by Peter J. Carroll in Liber Null & Psychonaut (1978), where it is described as "the 'thing' responsible for the origin and continued action of events." Carroll goes on to say that "It could as well be called 'God' or 'Tao', but the name 'Chaos' is virtually meaningless and free from the anthropomorphic ideas of religion."
Results-based MagickMagical traditions like Wicca, Kabbalah or the Golden Dawn system combine techniques for bringing about change with "beliefs, attitudes, a conceptual model of the universe (if not several), a moral ethic, and a few other things besides." ' Chaos magick grew out of the desire to strip away all of these extraneous elements, leaving behind only the techniques for effecting change; hence the emphasis is on actually doing things, i.e., experimenting with different techniques, rather than memorising complex rules, symbols and correspondences and then retaining those techniques that appear to produce results.This "pick'n'mix/D.I.Y" approach means that the working practices of different chaos magicians often look drastically different, with many authors explicitly encouraging readers to invent their own magical style.
Belief as a toolThe central defining tenet of chaos magick is arguably the "meta-belief" that "belief is a tool for achieving effects". In chaos magick, complex symbol systems like Kabbalah, the Enochian system, astrology or the I Ching are treated as maps or "symbolic and linguistic constructs" that can be manipulated to achieve certain ends but that have no absolute or objective truth value in themselves -- a position referred to by religious scholar Hugh Urban as a "rejection of all fixed models of reality", and often summarised with the phrase "nothing is true everything is permitted".Some commentators have traced this position to the influence of postmodernism on contemporary occultism. Another influence comes from the magical system of Austin Osman Spare, who believed that belief itself was a form of "psychic energy" that became locked up in rigid belief structures, and that could be released by breaking down those structures. This "free belief" could then be directed towards new aims. Other writers have highlighted the influence of Aleister Crowley, who wrote of the occult: “In this book it is spoken of the Sephiroth and the Paths; of Spirits and Conjurations; of Gods, Spheres, Planes, and many other things which may or may not exist. It is immaterial whether these exist or not. By doing certain things certain results will follow; students are most earnestly warned against attributing objective reality or philosophic validity to any of them.”
Kia & ChaosWithin the magical system of Austin Osman Spare, magick was thought to operate by using symbols to communicate desire to something Spare termed "Kia" (a sort of universal mind, of which individual human consciousnesses are aspects) via the "passage" of the unconscious -- hence the need for complex systems of symbolism. Provided there was enough "free belief" to feed them, these desires occurring in reality.Peter J. Carroll inherited this model from Spare, but used the term "Kia" to refer to the consciousness of the individual: "the elusive 'I' which confers self-awareness". The more general universal force, of which Kia is an aspect, Carroll termed "Chaos". In his own words: “Chaos... is the force which has caused life to evolve itself out of dust, and is currently most concentratedly manifest in the human life force, or Kia, where it is the source of consciousness ... To the extent that the Kia can become one with Chaos it can extend its will and perception into the universe to accomplish magic.” Later chaos magicians have stressed that this basic operating process can be explained in multiple different ways, from within different paradigms. : For example:
By their own accounts, both men became dissatisfied with the state of the Magical Arts and the deficiencies they saw in occult groups at the time, so in 1978 they published a small announcement in The New Equinox proclaiming the creation of the Illuminates of Thanateros (IoT), a new kind of magical order. It was to be based on a hierarchy of magical ability as opposed to invitation, basically a magical 'meritocracy'. The new order was to pursue Chaos Magick, focusing on practical skills, and incorporating elements of Thelema, Zos Kia Cultus, shamanism, tantra and Taoism. IoT refers to the dualism of the gods of Death (Thanatos) and Love (Eros). Sherwin and Carroll soon began to publish private monographs detailing their new system of magical practice, some of which had been articles in their magazine, others being intended as instructions to members of the order. In the 1980s they began to attract a strong following in England, Germany and Austria, including some influential occult writers and practitioners, but before the end of the decade, Sherwin resigned protesting that the IoT was beginning to resemble the hierarchical orders that were once abhorrent to the concept of the order. Carroll, however, continued and made the IoT known to occultists around the world largely through his books Liber Null and Psychonaut. Later, Carroll refined the direction of the IoT as a 'real' magical order and manifested it as 'The Magical Pact of the IoT', or simply 'The Pact'. Ice Magick Wars In the early 1990s the order experienced a schism as a result of conflicts about the doctrine of 'ice magick', a major proponent of which was Ralph Tegtmeier. Several factions broke from the group to form new orders such as the Reformed IoT (RIoT) in Germany, and The AutonomatriX in California. A German IoT member named Helmut Barthel created the doctrine of ‘Ice magick’, which is related to the myth that Germanic people originated in the icy land of Thule (a name that has historically been applied to multiple places, which have been conflated together). Ice magick is called "Eismagie" in its original German form. According to the doctrine of Ice magick, only people of Scandinavian and/or Germanic descent possess the ancient dormant genes that allow a person to use it, which is based upon qi gong (a millennia-old system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation), psionics, and martial arts. It is called 'Ice magick' because it also involves imagining large amounts of ice, and drawing power from that imagined ice. The Ice magick training regimen that Helmut imposed was exceptionally difficult. Ralph Tegtmeier (Frater U.D.) was an enthusiastic supporter of Ice magick and Helmut Barthel, and the authoritarian policies that Helmut promoted. Ralph thus made himself Helmut's top lieutenant. Helmut and Ralph promoted that doctrine in Germany, and recruited many members who adhered to it. Eventually, Peter Carroll learned more about the doctrines that Ralph was teaching, and criticised him for it. That led to an untenable conflict between Peter and Ralph, which culminated in Ralph and all of his followers seceding from the IoT. The vast majority of German and Swiss members left the order, which constituted about 30% of its total membership. Ralph Tegtmeier and a few others were subsequently excommunicated. After publishing Liber Kaos, Carroll retired from active participation in the order, though he remains on good terms with many of its longstanding members. Return to top of page. |
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Modern magick as we now understand it had its roots partly in 
Do not confuse magick with magic, which is simply the art of conjuring and legerdemain. The 'k', in the spelling of 'magick' was originally used many centuries ago, but went out of existence until it was revived by 
"To 'invoke' is to ‘call in’, just as to ‘evoke’ is to ‘call forth’. This is the essential difference between the two branches of magick. In invocation, the macrocosm floods the consciousness. In evocation, the magician, having become the macrocosm, creates a microcosm. You invoke a God into the Circle. You evoke a Spirit into the Triangle of Art."
Generally speaking, evocation is used for two main purposes: to gather information and to obtain the services and/or obedience of a spirit or demon. Crowley believed that the most effective form of evocation was found in the grimoire on Goetia (a grimoire is simply a book containing one's personal spells, rites, recipes, etc.), which instructs the magician in how to safely summon forth and command seventy-two infernal spirits. However, it is equally possible to evoke angelic beings, gods, and other intelligences related to planets, elements, and the Zodiac. The relationship between the 72 spirits of the Goetia and the cardinal points is shown to the left. As a general term, Goetia refers to the evocation of evil spirits in an attempt to force them to fulfil ones material wishes. As a specific term, The Goetia is a part of The Lemegeton, or Lesser Key of Solomon - a grimoire (which contains Goetia) translated by 
Religious persecution of supposed witches commenced early in the 14th century. After the publication of the 
Modern-day witches have even adopted their own alphabet (pictured left), the Theban script, as a cipher to protect their magical writings from others. The Theban alphabet first appeared in print in the Third Book of Occult Philosophy by Henry Cornelius Agrippa in 1531, where it was attributed to the 
Like all religions, the Wiccan religion celebrates holidays with rituals and traditions. Eight such holidays (called Sabbats and known collectively as 'The Wheel of the Year') are celebrated throughout the year, some fixed and some variable depending upon the length of sunlight on a particular day. Each of these holidays, listed below in calendar date order as opposed to importance, represents a turning of a season or some change within a season:
David Shankbone, a Wikipedia editor, Wikimedia Commons photographer, and an accredited reporter for Wikinews, interviewed Peter Gilmore, the High Priest of the Church of Satan, who has led LaVey's congregation of Satanists since his passing in 1997 (he became the High Priest in 2001). They discussed the beliefs of the Church, current events, LaVey's children and how Satanism applies to life and the world. He wrote an excellent synopsis of Church beliefs and practices:
Ceremonial Magick can be practised by a novice using suitable and appropriate documentation describing the ceremony, but normally practitioners are organised into magical schools/orders/societies such as 
A
The account Dee and Kelley gave of receiving the information from an angel is actually taken at face value by many occultists, although some have pointed out various remarkable similarities to earlier texts known to Dee. Doubts surrounding Kelley in particular have led many non-occultists to the assumption that the whole system was originally a fraud devised by Kelley as a means of obtaining extra financial support from Dee.
Chaos magick is a contemporary magical practice. It was initially developed in England in the 1970s, drawing heavily from the philosophy of artist and occultist Austin Osman Spare. Sometimes referred to as "success magick" or "results-based magick", chaos magick claims to emphasise the attainment of specific results over the symbolic, ritualistic, theological or otherwise ornamental aspects of other occult traditions. Early leading figures include Peter J. Carroll and Ray Sherwin.