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# Re: PME- magical aids

#### Message 03446 of 3835

- To: BardonPraxis@yahoogroups.com
- Subject: Re: PME- magical aids
- From: "Dan" <danerebor@...>
- Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2005 19:39:48 -0000
- In-reply-to: <41DCA341.D3BE49CB@...>
- User-agent: eGroups-EW/0.82

    Thank you.

    Dan

    --- In BardonPraxis@yahoogroups.com, Ambrose Hawk <ahawk@c...> wrote:
    > extracted from a draft of my current book project, please respect
    the
    > copyright
    >
    > Ambrose Hawk
    > Introduction to Magical Tools
    >
    > 9 February 2003 (c)
    >
    > This essay is a "brief" consideration of two related questions.
    > Does the mage need
    > particular magical tools, and can tools be substituted for each
    within a
    > ritual: especially wands
    > and athames.
    >
    > What is magic?
    >
    > Obviously, this question needs to be answered first in such a
    way
    > that it may inform the
    > discussion to follow. There are many definitions such as Crowley's
    > dictum that magic is
    > change accomplished by the force of will which are simply
    inadequate to
    > provide a clear picture
    > of what magical activity is, what the mage actually does, and how
    these
    > are different from the
    > activities and actions of other people.
    > Donald Tyson, in what has been called his "New Magus" system.
    > Defines Magic as
    > follows:
    >
    > "Every creative act is magical; and every magical act is
    > creative.
    > What can be predicted is not magic; what is magic cannot
    be
    > predicted.
    > Magic in action looks like luck.
    > Magic, like water, always seeks the easiest course.
    > Magic is unbounded by time and space."
    >
    > I have a lot of respect for Mr. Tyson's work. In fact, the
    > writer expounds on these and
    > other 'Corollary's" of Magic in his work entitled, _Ritual Magic:
    What
    > It Is and How to Do It_
    > (ISBN: 0-87542-835-5). However, I am not that sure that this
    > description adequately or even
    > accurately describes magic even though it definitely evokes much of
    the
    > aura of many magical
    > workings. The famous science fiction writer, Arthur C. Clark,
    made the
    > comment that, "any
    > sufficiently advanced technology will appear to be magick to those
    with
    > lesser technologies."
    > The famous Martinist, "Papus" wrote: "The application of the
    > strengthened human will
    > to accelerate the evolution of the living forces of Nature."
    (Papus,
    > Traite' Methodique de Magic
    > Pratique) "Magic is the Science of Love." (Ibid.)
    > ,,, and ...
    > "As a ... rule, the principal director... is the human will;
    the
    > means of action, the implement
    > used, is the astral or natural fluid, and the end to achieve is the
    > realization (generally on the
    > physical plane) of the ... operation. (Papus, La Science des
    Mages).
    >
    > Perhaps the following definition may be more functional for our
    > purposes.
    > MAGIC: the deliberate imposition of distinct
    pattern in
    > the reality / probability field
    > by application of imagination and will in such a manner as to
    utilize
    > energies and/or entities
    > which seem to function in a paranormal manner and / or according to
    > divergent cosmological
    > rules.
    > Another plausible treatment of the same idea could be that
    magic
    > consists in the
    > performance of certain physical actions which enable the mage to
    carry
    > out corresponding
    > actions on other planes so that certain events on those planes will
    > result in the manifestation of
    > particular, tangible consequences.
    > Some folks may argue about the last bit about "tangible
    > consequences," but I hold that
    > without such consequences we have no means of verifying the
    efficacy of
    > a magical act.
    >
    > Nor is magic the same as religion. The essence of religion is
    > relationship with some force
    > and/or mythos greater than the individual ego. The essence of
    magic
    > is deliberate, intelligent,
    > and creative manipulation of numinous forces. These forces and
    actions
    > may or may not be part
    > of the dynamic complexes which express that relationship with "the
    > Divine." Indeed, often they
    > are quite mechanistic -- employing the subtle qualities of herbs,
    > crystals, and astrological
    > energies via the paranormal attributes of the magus, for instance.
    > Thus a mage may be involved deeply in religious activities,
    very
    > devout and pious. Yet
    > in the ultimate moment of magic, if the mage cannot authoritatively
    > express his or her own,
    > autonomous will and imagination, then the mage does not work magic
    but
    > merely prays. Some
    > mages will include a clause in their spells, such as the Wiccan "an
    it
    > harm none," or the
    > Christian "if it be Thy Will." These clauses have a value as fail
    safe
    > fall backs to protect the
    > mage and their environment from some of the consequences of
    inevitable
    > error. Yet the adept
    > should have such an harmony with the will of his or her tutelary
    that
    > they will know already that
    > their own will aligns with the will of their greater power. Hence,
    the
    > adept is, in the final
    > analysis, imposing the patterns of his or her own imagination
    willfully
    > upon the cosmos, not
    > pleading with another autonomous being to fulfill wishes.
    >
    > Do you need tools?
    >
    > Many writers proclaim that tools are not really necessary for
    the
    > proficient mage. They
    > hold that all magic is really accomplished by the mage's own aura or
    > imagination anyway and all
    > that tools really do is to reinforce the mage's visualization and
    > unconscious commitment and
    > expectations. I hold that this is patently false.
    > Frankly, a tool which functions primarily as a psychological
    > prompt is not well designed.
    > We are a tool using species, and our fundamental nature has evolved
    with
    > the assumption that
    > we will design and manipulate tools which will amplify our impact
    and
    > effect our desire far
    > more effectively than our naked bodies ever could.
    > When one considers the rule, "as above, so below," then any
    > spiritual action should be
    > mirrored also by a physical impact as well. Indeed, this is one of
    the
    > fundamental principles in
    > magical practice, we do a physical act which has its spiritual
    impact
    > which in turn engenders
    > effects which eventually manifest on the mundane.
    > Furthermore, appropriately designed tools can affect a
    plethora of
    > poorly understood
    > energy fields, such as those several kinds found in the aura.
    Indeed,
    > almost any kind of
    > tool will impact your aura and modify it to some extent ... from a
    > living branch to a socket
    > wrench. Deliberately studying and incorporating these features
    should
    > clearly enhance the utility
    > of our ritual tools as well.
    > Obviously, while it is true that your aura and imagination are
    > absolutely key to the
    > operation of magic; they work by manipulating very real energies or
    > communicating with very
    > real entities. You can observe this mundanely by simply noticing
    the
    > effect you have on radio
    > and T.V. reception when you walk into or through the area in which
    it is
    > playing. Some folks
    > find that they destroy electric watches, others can't keep spring
    driven
    > watches running. More
    > advanced equipment will reveal the Kirilian field which surrounds
    you an
    > all living or even once
    > living things. Other gear can examine the infrared field generated
    by
    > your body. Extremely
    > expensive high tech equipment conducts C.A.T. and M..R.I. scans of
    your
    > body, relying upon
    > the magnetic and other energy fields which your body generates and
    > affects.
    > Therefore, it is obvious that just as your muscles can
    accomplish
    > many tasks but simple
    > tools make those muscles much more effective, likewise when your
    > imagination and auric
    > patterns begin to become effective; you can enhance their effect by
    > using appropriate tools.
    > Furthermore, while it is true that you could pass the electric
    > energy through your body to
    > light a light bulb; such behavior is risky, Moreover, your body
    cannot
    > sustain the kinds of intense
    > energy levels needed for modern society. Equally, as you advance in
    > your magical work, you
    > will find yourself accessing much more massive flows of energy and
    > vastly more intense entities.
    > Obviously, the simpler actions and charms would be just as easy for
    such
    > a practitioner with or
    > without tools. Equally obviously, there are situations in which
    proper
    > tools and procedures are
    > necessary as simple safety precautions.
    > Nor should one overlook the simple advantage of having tools
    which
    > are specifically
    > designed to accomplish the particular task. In every craft,
    esoteric or
    > exoteric, having the right
    > tools and being practiced with them causes the work to be better
    done.
    > Such tools also enable
    > you to exercise your creativity more freely, and ultimately, your
    > creativity is the root basis of any
    > magical accomplishments you hope to attain.
    >
    > What do tools do?
    >
    > Tools are impacted by and depend upon the old rule, "As above,
    so
    > below, and vice
    > versa." Every act on any plane will echo and resonate on the other
    > planes. Thus your magic
    > involves physical actions and materials which are linked to
    > corresponding esoteric forces and
    > events. By increasing the material component in your rituals, you
    > create a larger effect in your
    > environment. The physical tool accesses more of the mundane and /
    or
    > psychological patterns
    > and energies in such a way as to also enhance the forces being
    involved
    > and manipulated on
    > other planes.
    > Secondarily, tools do aid psychological reinforcement. Your
    > emotional control and
    > intensity as well as your psychological states and subconscious
    > expectations have repeatedly
    > been proven to directly affect the efficacy of your magical or
    > paranormal work. The use of
    > special tools, garb, and symbols are all intended to evoke and to
    > reinforce those conditions.
    > However, this is hardly the limit of a truly magical tool's
    > contribution.
    > Even within this largely psychological realm the very presence
    of
    > the tool acts as a focus
    > for the unconscious participation. Hence using appropriate tools,
    which
    > you have drilled your
    > unconscious to recognize, triggers particular associations. In
    > consequence, it then will more
    > readily assist your whole personality to cooperate in the magic.
    Such
    > a focus also enables you
    > to be able to access those magical states even when you are
    physically
    > or emotionally impeded
    > by illness, stress, grief, or other condition.
    > Beyond the direct effect of the tool upon your own psyche,
    properly
    > consecrated and
    > designed tools will provide the symbolic talismen which will attract
    > notice and response from
    > entities whose existence is more noticeable on other planes. In
    fact,
    > because of this attraction of
    > the entities or energies connected with the tool, the tool also
    creates
    > a milieu which inhibits the
    > activity or presence of energies or entities which are not in
    harmony
    > with those you've selected
    > for consecrating and charging your tool.
    > Such entities are often quite volatile and require quite
    specific
    > handling. Just as
    > sometimes you find it difficult to tune your radio to the right
    station,
    > many times you will find it
    > difficult to bring your mind and spirit into the proper frequency
    for
    > communion with the forces
    > which you wish to evoke. Your creation of, consecration of,
    charging
    > of, and practice with your
    > magical tools will drill your mind into assuming those special
    states.
    > Such an aide is obviously
    > invaluable to direct the Beginner into proper relationship and
    > attitude. As you acquire more
    > practice, you may feel less need for such aides; yet if you
    continue to
    > recharge your tool, you
    > will find it will still enhance your practice noticeable in this
    way.
    > Not only will the presence of the tool enhance your ability to
    > enter quickly into the
    > magical connection, your frequent practice with it will cause it to
    > become an accustomed means
    > of access for those forces, entities, and/or energies which you
    > consistently evoke. As such, your
    > favorite tool can become a true nexus for the passage of magical
    reality
    > and beings. Just as it
    > aids you, it also comes to aid those with whom you work. Further,
    as
    > the tool provides an
    > exterior focus for the unconscious, it provides a kind of
    psychological
    > breaker between the
    > mental and spiritual stresses of your work and your own psyche. As
    a
    > result, tools facilitate your
    > releasing the spell so that the work will be free to manifest.
    > Ultimately, those forces which you have evoked and manipulated
    > through your tool
    > change the nature of the tool itself. Just as your body can cause
    such
    > changes in the reception of
    > the radio and generate such large fields of energy and special
    > environments, the tool will acquire
    > its own aura, fields, and patterns of energy. Some would even say
    it
    > acquires an intelligible
    > spirit with which you may communicate.
    > This acquisition of special energy fields is vital to the
    > importance of the right tool.
    > While you could use a bullet to replace a fuse in your car, as some
    > folks in Arkansas once did;
    > the probability is that when you do, your balls will get shot too.
    When
    > you use a tool to fashion
    > the pattern you have imagined and to direct the energies, you can
    create
    > vastly greater effects. I
    > do not think that muscle and bone alone could ever have created the
    > Mount Rushmore
    > Monument. You could try to pull together downed high power lines
    and
    > tie them together to
    > restore power, but I suspect that attempting to do so without proper
    > tools, garb, and technique
    > would be a trifle risky!
    > All too often, occult writers hasten to assure the reader that
    > everything is perfectly safe.
    > Balderdash! You can seriously injure yourself while sound asleep
    in
    > your own bed! You are
    > acquiring the skills to wield those powers which flow through and
    even
    > define your own soma /
    > body and psyche. Moreover, you encountering beings of a truly
    alien
    > nature. Such a being may
    > be perfectly friendly and love you intensely, but it may have a
    > metabolism based on nuclear
    > fusion or some such. Moreover, I don't care what your favorite
    > mythology is, predators,
    > parasites, and bullies are blatantly part of the cosmos. Imagine
    such
    > beings magnified into the
    > greater magical entities! Compare the spark you can create with
    your
    > body to the spark which
    > can jump from the generator or accelerator. If you can wield
    magical /
    > paranormal forces with
    > just your own body, what will those more enormous bodies and forces
    do?
    > Yes, you need tools for advanced work.
    >
    > --
    > IN HOC MODO MILLIS FRANGITVR .

- References:
  - Re: PME- magical aids
    - From: Ambrose Hawk <ahawk@...>

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