The Unsorted BBS Collection/thegreatunsorted.tar/thegreatunsorted/texts/txtfiles_misc/magick01

Text File | 1990-10-01 | 9KB | 224 lines

                  ** MAGICK 1 -- WHY MAGICK **

The ability to think seems to set us apart from other creatures.
And although we are concerned with living in the physical world,
we are mental beings. The fact is we are thinking all the time.
We plan, we brood, we get depressed or elated -- all of it is
thought. But the universe is mental too, and if we could control
our thinking we would see magnificent results in the everyday
world.

Many systems have been developed over the ages to help us control
our thoughts. A great amount of dogma too has been kicked around
in an attempt to make us into better people. Magick (the occult
kind, spelled with a "k") is one of the oldest and most general
of these systems. Magick is the study and application of psychic
forces. It uses mental training, concentration, and a system of
symbols to program the mind. The purpose of magick is to alter
the self and the environment according to the will.

Most of the magick we see today comes to us from ancient Egypt
and Chaldea. The Chinese, Hindus, and Tibetans developed their
own unique types of magick. Western magick was locked up by the
Egyptian priests for thousands of years and then suppressed by
the rise of Christianity. It was not until medieval Europe that
magical knowledge was rediscovered by the alchemists and
Cabalists. Only during the past hundred years or so has western
culture been open minded enough to permit widespread
investigation of the subject. Only since the start of the
twentieth century has science shown much interest in it al all.


              PARAPSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIC PHENOMENA

Through parapsychology, we are gaining insights into the hidden
nature of man. Parapsychology is a branch of psychology which
studies psychic phenomena. It remains something of a frontier,
even today. Perhaps one reason for this is that psychic phenomena
are somewhat inconsistent.  Nevertheless, there is strong
evidence from numerous cases and experiments in support of
psychic phenomena. Somehow, under the right conditions, the mind
can directly affect the environment.

We may theorize that the human mind and body broadcasts a kind of
psychic energy or force, much like a radio station. Kirlian
photography, temperature effects, cloud chamber tests, and other
experiments tend to support this theory. Although the exact
nature of this psychic force is subtle and unknown, it is
undoubtedly the energy behind all psychic phenomena and magick.
However, it is not a radio wave, since it behaves somewhat
differently. The psychic force is too weak to be measured
directly (at least so far as we know). Everyone has some psychic
ability. There are numerous types of psychic phenomena.
Parapsychology separates them into two groups: ESP and PK...
▄j▄î
                         EXAMPLES OF ESP

ESP, the abbreviation for extra sensory perception, means the
reception of information through paranormal means (ie. not
regular physical senses of sight, sound, touch, smell, or taste).
In theory, this is accomplished by receiving psychic force from
outside the body. Here are some examples of ESP:

 Clairvoyance, or Remote Viewing -- the ability to
sense or "see" (non-physically) distant objects,
places, and people. Individuals who see ghosts and
spirits are probably clairvoyant.

Clairaudience, or remote hearing -- the "hearing" of
paranormal information.

Astral Projection (OOBE) or Traveling Clairvoyance --
Full experience at a remote location while the physical
body sleeps.

Psychometry -- the reading of information by the touch
of physical objects.

Telepathic receiver -- the ability to directly receive
thought (communication) at a distance, with no physical
connection to the sender. There are many everyday
examples of this, in which we think something just as
another person is about to say it. This is an easy one
to test for through experiment. Very dramatic cases of
telepathy have been recorded; there is often an
emotional element in such cases.

A "channel" or medium, as in a seance, who is in direct
communication with a "spirit" or entity.

Experience with a Ouija board, pendulum, or automatic
writing.

Precognition -- to foresee the future. Again, highly
emotional events are the ones most likely to be "tuned
in".

Retrocognition -- knowledge of the past, by paranormal
means.

▄\▄
                         EXAMPLES OF PK

PK, the abbreviation for psychokinesis, is the active or sending
side of psychic phenomena. The theory here is that psychic force
is sent out from the individual. Examples of PK include:

Telepathic sender -- the transmitter in the telepathy
just discussed.

Psychokinesis (or telekinesis) proper -- the ability to
move objects by means of psychic force.

Somewhat along the same lines are poltergeist (noisy
ghost) phenomena in which objects move of their own
accord or noises are heard. There is always a human
agent involved -- frequently a teenage girl -- who
appears to be the source of psychic energy.

Psychic healing -- the ability to heal various
illnesses and infirmities. There are many documented
cases of this. Usually it involves a healer and a
subject, although there are recent cases involving
cancer patients learning to heal themselves.

Teleportation, apportation, and levitation -- Some
occultists feel a magician producing PK effects is
simply a channel for universal energy. Others think the
force originates some way directly within the magician.


                        THE SUBCONSCIOUS

Postulated by Freud and others, the concept of the subconscious
mind is an important one. Basically, this is the idea that part
of the mind normally operates below or outside of ordinary
consciousness and awareness. Dreams and hypnosis are examples of
this. Also subconscious are the many automatic functions of the
physical body such as respiration and digestion.


                         WHY DO MAGICK?

Magick encompasses many things -- science and art, philosophy and
metaphysics, psychology and comparative religion. Magick is an
adventure at the borderlands of the unknown. It can fit the
pieces of the puzzle of life into a meaningful while.

Magick is fun and interesting. Use magick to help raise
consciousness without drugs. Gain new experiences.  Fantasy can
come alive through magick. Psychic phenomena can be controlled
and be fun and helpful.

▄j▄îMagick is beneficial. It can help you to have excellent health,
and bring you good luck. With magick life runs smoothly; life is
good. Also use magick for personality improvement, to control bad
habits and to develop new motivations.

Magick is powerful. Never underestimate the tremendous power of
magick. Use magick to alter events and to achieve your goals.
Exert an influence over people and phenomena. But power for its
own sake is self defeating. The power which magick can give you
should not be your primary reason for studying it.


                      MAGICK AND WITCHCRAFT

A number of other occult disciplines are prevalent today besides
magick. There are many cults and sects which profess their own
views, but there are really few differences between them. One
popular area in the occult today is witchcraft. This is far
removed from the cliche of devil worship. Real witchcraft is a
nature religion (pagan).  Witchcraft has much in common with
magick.

Alchemy also has much in common with magick. It's heritage comes
from the middle ages. Alchemy fathered chemistry and the physical
sciences. But the avowed purpose of alchemy, turning lead into
gold, is too limiting to be called magick. Sometimes the goal of
alchemy is interpreted in another way, as the transformation of
man into a spiritual being.

Then there are the numerous modern day seers or "psychics", as
they like to be called, who operate within their own somewhat
unique systems. Although many of these people are deluded frauds,
some are very powerful occultists indeed.

Of course, everything I have said here is a generalization.
Magick, witchcraft, alchemy, or any occult field are complex
subjects. Suffice it to say that magick includes them all (it is
eclectic). For magick is undoubtedly a philosophy which has, as
the late Aleister Crowley wrote, "The method of science -- the
aim of religion."

▄R▄
                        REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) Define magick.
2) Define ESP and PK. Give examples.
3) What is the subconscious?

BOOK LIST

Hal N. Banks, An Introduction to Psychic Studies.
Annie Besant, Thought Power.
Michael H. Brown, PK, A Report on the Power of Psychokinesis.
Richard Cavendish, The Black Arts.
Alexandira David-Neel, Magic and Mystery in Tibet.
Raynor C. Johnson, The Imprisoned Splendour.
Janet Lee Mitchell, "Is Anything Out There?", Fate magazine,
May 1988.
Ostrander and Shroeder, Psychic Discoveries Behind the
    Iron Curtan.

========
Phil Hansford, 4/88
Mysteria
[phone] (modem)
P.O. Box 83
Tujunga, CA 91042


Copyright (c) 1988 by Phil Hansford. This article is licenced for
free non-commercial distribution only.