Basic Magick Concepts.

Ok, time for another post. Continuing our list, next is body movement.

The third Law on the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistos is the Principle of Correspondence. It states, basicly, "As above, so below." So, it makes sence that if you want energy to move, you must have movement on the physical world. As I believe I have stated earlier energy follows thought, breath and movement. Just like in martial arts, when you punch you send ki with it. There are entire arts, Tai Chi and Aikido in particular, which direct energy flow via movement into your opponent. It's all intention, breath and movement. Chi Kung is another example.

In magic, quite often we trace out images such as the pentagrams, hexagrams and other magical symbols. That tracing, as well as intention and breath, focus the energy into the specific purpose you are working toward. By physically traveling in the circle, or by tracing the circle, we cast it to mark off the sacred space and prepare it for ritual and magical work.

In Ceremonial Magic, there are two common poses called the Sign of the Enterer, or the Projecting Sign, and the Sign of Horus, also known as the Sign of Silence. The Projecting Sign is used to send forth energy, and the Sign of Silence is used to stop the flow, and at times to repel or prevent the return of energy. Also, it is common to make circumambulations, our clockwise circles, in opening a temple and widdershins, or reverse circumambulations, when closing.

Trance postures are used in many shamanistic traditions as means to direct energy to specific purposes, to "travel" to various places and times, and to heal specific conditions. Yoga postures do the same thing. Actually, if you are going to do yoga properly, you have to practice meditation and breath control as well. Never is it just "hold this position". By moving into a position that a particular deity is represented in, you can connect to the deity and, with practice, "assume the god-form" of that particular deity.

Having the proper body position and moving in the proper way is very important. Energy does not flow well through tense muscles, which is why relaxation is so important. You have to move in a relaxed manner. This is difficult to do, as all movement is done by the combined contraction and relaxation of muscles in the body. However, when you start directing energy with the movement, the energy will aid the movement, requiring less muscular tension.

Ritual dance is another example of movement directing energy. Through movement, energy is generated and you are taken into a trance state, similar to hyperventaliation. Dizziness and slight confusion are common, but these aid the conscious mind to get out of the way and let the subconscious mind work. When energy is generated, it is then released by the practitioner or the group towards the purpose. This can be a very powerful process.

LVX,

Shawn.

Never underestimate the power of movement and vibration. This plays into sound as well and when you get a whole coven into it you can get some pretty powerful magick.

Ok, time to one of my favorite topics...

Let's talk about sex!

Now, I want to say first off that this will be entirely PG. So it will be safe for everyone to read. If anyone posts on here afterwards, please keep the same level of decorum.

Sex, like every thing else we have mentioned, is a very powerful magical tool. It is also one of the most dangerous. So, before I start talking about it in terms of magic there are some things I want to address. Most importantly, in this day and age we all know about sexually transmitted diseases. If you are going to use sex as a component in your magical practice, do so responsibily. Sex is also the most abused of the magical practices for a very simple reason. It's fun! It is very easy to lose focus on the magic being worked and be swept up with the act itself. From a magical standpoint this can be bad. IT takes away from the work that you are doing, and focuses your energy on what you are doing. If you are not having sex with your husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, you may have problems in your relationship shortly. Be careful what you put your energy into. You just may get it.

In my opinion, sex is the least important of all the principles we are discussing. Sex is used to create altered states of cosciousness, generate and direct large ammounts of energy and serve as a vehicle for worship and enlightenment. If this sounds familiar, it should. It does the same things that as all the other things that we have discussed. What makes it unique is that it is the joining of two practitioners energies. With this there is a very important union, that being the union of masculine and feminine.

Now, a word of notice for what I am about to say: I am speaking about sexuality in magic. With all my comments I am not making judgement about anyone's sexual orientation, choice of partner, or lifestyle.

Magic is about life. If you do not believe in magic, walk outside. Look at everyting. trees, grass, plants, insects, birds, fish, animal and people. What about all the things you can not see? All forms of life. How could there not be magic? Now, look at that life and learn from it. 99% of all plant life is asexual. The plant itself has everything it needs for reproduction for the species to continue. I say 99% because biology is not my strong suit, and if I said 100% someone who is more knowledgable than I would come back and point out my error. As life moves from the Vegatable Kingdom to the Animal Kingdom, the same asexual reproductive cycle continues. But then, somewhere beyond, something amazing happens.

The process of reproduction divides into two seperate polarities. Male and female. Throughout the Animal Kingdom, this process is repeated. Now, we are at the beginning of the Human Kingdom. The process is again continued. In magic, the Gnostic Mass celebraes this cycle of Creation. The insertion of the Spear into the Chalice. Or in the ritual of the Marriage of Shiva and Shakti. It is expressed in the Law of Polarity written on the Emerald Tablet. These rituals are between male and female. This is where the magic works.

In Qabalah, the Divine Principle divides into Chokmah, the Primordial Masculine, and Binah, the Primordial Feminine. In the Pagan path I was taught, the Divine Principle divided into the God and the Goddess. In both these instances, it is the interplay of these forces, the masculine and the feminine, are what result in creation of existance. This is also the key to enlightenment through sexual alchemy. I and other leaders of temples, lodges and orders have had cases where men said that they were very connected to their feminine side, and the same thing with women and their masculine energies. While that may be, and these energies should be balanced in you, you were born either male or female, and those are the energies that flow through you. The divine does not make mistakes. Magic is about creation.

Earlier in this post I mentioned what could happen with sex in magic. Now, I would briefly describe the process. (Don't worry, it's still rated PG.)

A temple would be opened as normal. Invocation of deities, dedication to the purpose, and the normal temple workings are done, and then the raising of the power. In this instance, this is done through sex. Now, as part of the preparation there should be symbols of the desired outcome in every direction, on the floor and ceiling. When the sexual activity starts, from the foreplay through to the end, the attention and direction must remain on the outcome, not the sexual activity, your partner or the physical enjoyment of the act. During the sexual activity, energy is generated, exactly as it is done through ritual movement, until to point of climax. This climax is delayed through breathing techniques and other methods to build more energy. And still, the focus is on the desired outcome. Finally, at the climax, instead of the energy being focused through the genitalia as normal, it is directed through the awareness toward the desired outcome. Again, I reiterate the danger: if your attention shifts from the outcome to the act of sex, that is what you are putting your energy into. That could be detrimental to other relationships in your life. You can see how sex magic would require the utmost concentration, focus and dicipline. I would be at fault if I did not say that very few have that level of dicipline. I am sure that many will say they do. Those that do, do not need to say anything.

Again, I would like to agree completely with what Dillon said in the beginning. Sex is the least necessary elements of magic, and I believe that it is one best left to those who are properly trained and diciplined to practice such techniques.

LVX,

Shawn.

In addition to what Gaggs so wonderfully put forth I believe that sex magick can be used for that which it was originally intended. The fulfillment of each other in a mutual relationship. In other words to increase the pleasure for both parties. It is a healthy outlet for love and I believe that it is possible through techniques such as the Kama Sutra and others to manipulate not only your own but your partners energies as well to enhance pleasure. This requires a lot of discipline and focus on you partner which we seem to lack especially sometimes us men.

I agree Dillon, and true love is a magical thing. But as you said it is difficult to maintain that focus. The Karma Sutra, the original one, not the one you would find in most book stors today with all the good, juicy pics in it, is a very detailed yoga manual which shows their method of sex magic. It is very powerful stuff, but also very difficult to do. And practically no one truely understands yoga anymore.

LVX,

Shawn.

Yes sex magick is very tough but extremely powerful not to mention fun Lol! Ok so any questions on what we have talked about?

Before I make a post towards the final topic I just wanted to say that I have found the best way to spend Labor Day... Jeff Dunham marathon on Comedy Central!

Ok, our final topic is pain. Now, pain is my least favorite thing in this list. It may very well be my most unfavorite thing in existance. Magically speaking, I think the only thing less important than pain is intoxication.

Throughout our list we have been going over, we have talked about various methods of producing altered states of consciousness and shifts in perception. Pain does exactly that. Pain has the effect of causing a state of shock as a self preservation method. Blood pressure drops, especially to the area that is in pain, and your awareness changes. It also lets you know that something is wrong with your body, and you better pay attention to it.

Pain is common in Rennisance and Victorian Magic. Apperantly according to several magical books, beeting the snot out of your assistant while he or she is trying to scry improves the results. I think some of my karate instructors read these books. The Victorians obviously hated their bodies. If you read Crowley's instructions on how to train the consciousness he talks about slicing your arms with a razor when you do wrong, think wrong or anything else wrong. Regardie advocated this method also. Not for me, thanks.

For once, I honestly don't have a lot to say about a magical topic. Pain is absolutely not necessary. I enjoy magic, and it is my way of life. I think there is enough ways to to be in pain without inflicting it on myself, or letting someone else do it. I really don't want anything painful connected with my magical practice. Just my humble opinion.

LVX,

Shawn.

I agree pain is not needed. But it can be benifical. In Wu Shu we use methods to prepare our body and mind for pain during combat. But these are not done to extremes and under careful supervision. Again they are for concentration and focus not for pleasure.

In karate we do a similar thing, where we condition our body to be able to take the punishment of physical combat. But that is more of a physiological conditioning. It toughens the skin, get's the nerves use to that kind of abuse, and helps you to learn to keep going even if it hurts. But I think that is different from pain in magic. With magic you don't want to get use to the pain. You would want to experience it so that it is producing a different state than normal.

I practice Yoga as well as tantric magic and can say that both for me are extremely useful in keeping my chakras in line as well as having a balance diet. I believe only 7 of the eight are nessacary. I too agree that breath control is apart of meditation.