Basic Magick Concepts.

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Re: Basic Magick Concepts.
By: / Novice
Post # 21
So, next on the list is breath control.

Breath control is very important in magical work. In fact, many systems of meditation include breath control with them. Spiritual energy follows intention and breath. In general, you bring in energy as you inhale and send it out as you exhale. As one practices breath control the level of spiritual energy increases. Yoga, Tai Chi, Chi Kung and other practices are great for increasing this spiritual energy.

This energy is very subtle. You have to be relaxed to be able to feel it. It is usually precieved as a warmth or tingling. with practice you can learn to feel it in others and to send it to others at great distances. In martial arts you are taught to exhale when you strike. This is because you are focusing your energy with the strike. Same principle.

Many people use chanting to do magic work. We'll talk more about sound later. But this too is breath control. Part of chanting and "vibrating" is sending energy with the chant, which means sending energy with the breath.

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Shawn.
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Re: Basic Magick Concepts.
By:
Post # 22
When you are inhaleing your breathing in the energy around you. In the forest, nature, you are touching life. You can also connect with the elements in this way. See yourself as the earth, water, air, fire, sun, moon, ect. Breath in the energy. Notice its effects.
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Re: Basic Magick Concepts.
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Post # 23
The next one would be isolation. Taking journeys into the wilderness to fast ect. I don't see this as necessary but I'm sure it does work. This could also include staying home and devoting time to solatary study. Or a religious retreat.
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Re: Basic Magick Concepts.
By: / Novice
Post # 24
I agree that isolation is not a requirement for magical practice, but it can be helpful. Isolation helps us to be less destracted. Most people are so involved in the things going on around them that they are not able to hear the subtle messages of the Spirit. You need to be free of distractions to make contact with the Holy Guardian Angel. Such a prescribed course is found in the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage. This kind of isolation leaves us alone with our inner thoughts so we can quiet them, and open the way for spiritual communication.

A type of isolation that I would say is important to magic is to be free of distractions when working magic. That means nothing that will cause the mind to focus on anything other than the work presented it. A well trained mind is able to resist distractions, but having a place in isolation makes it so much easier.

Also, idealy you would want a seperate room devoted entirely to magic workings. This should be an area seperated from the rest of your life; i.e., isolated. When you do magic you do not want influences from the rest of your life interfering with your work. So, using the living room or the bedroom as a temple is not always the best idea. Doesn't mean you can't. Just make sure that you cast a circle or open a temple strong enough to seperate it from the vibrations already in the room.

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Shawn.
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Re: Basic Magick Concepts.
By:
Post # 25
As a Druid I like to make nature my alter. A rock or stump. The fresh air is my incense. The leaves and trees my reminders. In nature their is a primal vibration. Its easy to seperate the mind from everyday blah out there.
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Re: Basic Magick Concepts.
By: / Novice
Post # 26
There is one other thought on isolation that just occured to me. The study of magic is often a lonely one. It can be very time consuming, and if you do it the way it is meant to be done it becomes your whole life. I have had relationships break up because of the time I spend on magic studies. I have other friends, heads of magical lodges, who lost their marriages because of their practice. Fortunately, I am am given the gift of the love of a wonderful woman who also studies magic, Reiki, hypnosis and most of the other "wierd stuff" I do. Everyone should be so blessed.

I am not saying that you will have to choose magic over your family, your partner or your friends. I am saying that you will more than likely have to make a decission at some point between your practice and one or more of them. You must follow where your heart leads you. Sometimes the gods demand a heavy price for their blessings. But, with all the sacrifice, I have never heard of it not being worth it in the end.

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Shawn.
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Re: Basic Magick Concepts.
By:
Post # 27
Very well put my friend. Remember all also that love is a magick all its own as is emotion. Next we have intoxacation. Does not give free reign to go out and get high or drunk. I personally don't think it has a place but as a well versed lady recently put it it does. To a very small and well kept extent. Moderation of certain things is always the key.
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Re: Basic Magick Concepts.
By: / Novice
Post # 28
I would go a step further and say that Love is magic. All magic. "Love is the Law, Love under Will."

Ok, intoxication. This is probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of magic. Magic works are done by producing an altered state of conscious in the practitioner. This is done through various means. Breath control can cause either underoxygenation of the blood or overoxygenation, both of which have mind altering effects. Scents, colors, images, chanting, and dance can have similar effects of changing the state of consciousness. Changing the state of mind allows converastion through the subconscious mind with the higher forces, HGA, soul or whatever you want to call it. Obviously, there are many ways to achieve this state, which brings up the topic of intoxication.

First off, let me say that I am wholely against using any type of illegal drug use, under age drinking, and any type of addiction. That being said, I fully support everyones right to make your own choices and I make no judgements on anyone for anything they do. I have only had one experience with intoxicating substances with magic, which I will relate to you shortly.

Through the use if intoxicants, it is possible to be able to view higher levels of existance, widen your perception and gain knowledge of where you are supposed to making the journey to. There are, however, several downsides to doing this. The first and most obvious is the possible physical and psychological addiction. I will not dive into a discussion of these as there is plenty of information out there. As one of my teachers said, intoxicants "let you peek in at the higher levels, like letting you look in a window. It doesn't let you in the front door." Even though it may let you see the higher levels, you still have to come back to this world and do the work to get there. Many people can be obsessed with using intoxicants to get to the higher levels. This can be a great block to a person's advancement.

Another danger is that you can become lost without the proper guidance. My one experience with using intoxicants was when studying American Indian traditions, and was done under the guidance of elders and teachers who knew how to guide someone on the journey. Doing it without guidance would be frivilous at best, and one can hardly expect good results. Once the journey was done, and I had a clear view of the destination, I then had to start the work to get there without the use of said intoxicant. When you go into an altered state using intoxicants, you are not truely in control of the process, or even of your own processes. How could you direct the forces of the universe if you are not in control of yourself? Intoxication produces a false sense of control.

It is entirely possible to produce an altered state of consciousness naturally, without the use of intoxicants. This is done with all the techniques that we are describing; meditation, breath control, sound, movement, sex, symbols and others yet to me discussed. What is important is that you be in control of these processes. In my opinion, this much better accomplished through means other than intoxicants.

There is another type of intoxicatiion I would like to address. It is intoxication of the mind. Living in flights of fantasy and escaping reality though fiction. Now don't get me wrong. I love my fiction. I enjoy reading, movies, TV, RPG's, etc. But they are fiction. How can you explore and change reality when you choose not to live in reality? There is limitless possibility in this universe, but you are here, now, in this reality. Just because things are possible doesn't mean it exists. We are here, and this reality is where we have to learn, grow, live and work our magic. And I promise as soon as I find my TARDIS I'll come pick everyone up for a ride. :)

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Shawn.
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Re: Basic Magick Concepts.
By:
Post # 29
Bravo. I think Gaggs put it very well. They offer a peek. But the true wise person realizes that the journey is half the learning process. Me I'm the old fashoned hard way guy so Id rather work for it first.
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Re: Basic Magick Concepts.
By: / Novice
Post # 30
(Bows graciously) I wish I could take credit, but all of this comes from the benefit of excellent teachers. I just pass along what they beat into my head (quite literally at times). There is much to be said for a traditional apprenticship.

I agree that the journey is just as important as the destination. Being able to cast spells does not make you a great magician. It is the journey to get to that point. It is the growth and knowledge that you gain. It is the experience of learning to master forces that others are not aware of. And I am not just talking about learning to direct energy to a purpose. Anyone can do that. I'm talking about mastery of those forces within you and around you. That takes time, practice and study. Years of practice is the difference between a run of the mill spell chunker and one of the Wise. Anyone who has not met one doesn't understand. Hopefully one day I'll get there. :)

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Shawn.
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