ALT.MAGICK Frequently
Asked Questions
( http://www.hollyfeld.org/amgkfaq )
To: alt.magick, alt.magick.ethics, alt.magick.folk, alt.magick.order,
alt.magick.sex, alt.magick.tantra, alt.magick.tyagi, alt.pagan.magick,
alt.answers and news.answers
Subject: alt.magick FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Followup-To: alt.magick,alt.magick.tyagi
References: REF Master
Summary: This is the Hypertext Edition of the alt.magick FAQ. The FAQ is
intended as an introductory file and its content may be discussed
within the alt.magick Usenet newsgroup. The FAQ is available via FTP.
Reply-to: tyaginator (tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com)
Archive-name: magick/faq
Updated: 9612
Posting-frequency: monthly or by inquiry
CONTENTS
00 FOREWORD
_______________________________________________________________
10 NEWSGROUP
11 Why do you spell (alt.)magick with a K?
12 Shouldn't there be limits to what people can post here?
_______________________________________________________________
20 SUBJECT
21 What is magic(k)?
22 Is magick real, how does it work, what influences it?
23 Is magick black/white? Should we do black magick?
24 Is magick compatible with modern Science?
25 How are magick and religion/mysticism related or different?
_______________________________________________________________
30 STUDIES
31 How should I start learning about magick? teachers?
32 What are the best books for a beginner to read?
33 Where is online information about magick to be found?
_______________________________________________________________
40 SPELL COMPILATIONS
41 Love/Lust
42 Summoning Demons/Hexing/Cursing/Death
_______________________________________________________________
50 REFERENCES AND REFERRALS
51 Archives
52 Magick-Related Newsgroups
53 Card Game Magic (e.g. 'The Obsession')
54 Role-Playing Game Spellcasting
_______________________________________________________________
60 AFTERWORD
61 Footnotes
62 Credits
63 Copyrights
=======================================================================
00 FOREWORD
The alt.magick FAQ may be obtained formatted in:
HTML and ASCII
Check out the newsgroup REF files.
=======================================================================
10 NEWSGROUP
This section pertains to the most commonly asked questions about
the newsgroup itself; specifically the newsgroup's name and its
customs.
11 Why do you spell (alt.)magick with a K?
alt.magick was created with a 'k' to avoid confusion with stage
magic. @01
'Magick' is a spelling popularly associated with Aleister Crowley,
yet the spelling precedes him by hundreds of years. @02
Many people presume a difference between conjuring tricks and
occult spells; between magic and magick. There may be grounds
for comparing them metaphorically to chemistry and alchemy.
Sr. Virakam and others maintain that it separated Crowley from
his competitors (and thus served as a marketing or elitist
scheme). @03
Symonds and Grant contend that the 'k' is a conceit of
Crowley's and that it is related to potentially dangerous
("demonic and chaotic") energies, as well as life-oriented
symbols such as 'khu' and 'kteis', for which they say it
stands, "the complement to the wand (or phallus) which is
used by the Magician in certain aspects of the Great Work." @04
12 Shouldn't there be limits to what people can post here?
There has been movement, off and on over the years, to work
toward some sort of moderated alt.magick.* forum, but this
has never been successfully carried out.
There are many subgroups of alt.magick to which specific
types of discussion should be taken if you wish to cooperate
with newsgroup regulars. Here are a few of the discussion-
oriented newsgroups to get you started:
alt.magick.ethics (philosophia:ethics)
alt.magick.folk (primitivas)
alt.magick.order (politicos)
alt.magick.tantra (eros/tantra)
alt.magick.tyagi (synthesia)
There is a comprehensive list of posting suggestions in the
document called 'alt.magick RULES'. These are quotes from
Usenet authorities regarding posting content.
In terms of limiting the *substance* or *topic*, some
copyrighted files have been under intense heat from occult
organizations to keep them from being posted to the newsgroup.
There is often a great outcry anytime someone posts a ritual
or suggestion which conflicts with the morality or maturity
level of participants, yet as alt.magick is not moderated,
complaints and savvy folks who know how to cancel posted
messages will be able to keep a single post from being seen,
discussion of it carrying over into one of the sub-forums
at most.
In short, there are no technical limitations, but there are
some factions (participants, occult groups) who have a very
sincere interest in affecting what is posted.
=======================================================================
20 SUBJECT
There are a few questions about magic(k) which arise
consistently. These concern an analysis of magick,
its workings and principles, and its relationship to
science, religion and morality.
21 What is magic(k)?
Magick has been defined by many people in many different
ways. One infamous mage defined it as "the Science and Art
of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will." @05
Some see magick as a kind of energy which pervades the cosmos.
Others see it as a psychic tool by which we may influence the
material world using symbols and ritual. Many see it as a
means of coming to unite with the divine, and some consider
it to be the exercise of will or Will.
Whatever the word means, 'magick' is the subject, generally,
of the newsgroup, and will likely be given many differing and
contradictory meanings during discussions there.
22 Is magick real, how does it work, what influences it?
Many have suggested the differentiation of magical 'currents'
or 'energies' based on style and/or intent. Some posit the
notion of principles, a la scientific structure, 'laws of
magick' and whatnot. Others approach it more subjectively,
considering all knowledge about the elements of magick to be
personal and therefore particular only to the individual
condition, variable of form.
All of these are popular responses to this question, though
more inventive theories would be welcomed. Conventional
approaches may be cross-posted to sci.philosophy.meta.
23 Is magick black/white? Should we do black magick?
For discussion about the ethics of magick, see alt.magick.ethics.
24 Is magick compatible with modern Science?
An oft-asked question, particularly with reference to
Heisenberg and chaos theory. Hang around a little before
getting into one of these discussions. They can take quite
a while to untangle.
25 How are magick and religion/mysticism related or different?
There have been a number of different discussions on these
subjects. The hypotheses I can remember are the
magick/individual:religion/group model, and the idea that
religion is the devolution of magick. Some do not seem
to discern between magick and mysticism at all, and many
have never considered the subject, being unexposed
to the latter.
Thelemites might equate magick with will and mysticism with
love, and the association has been made 'tween mysticism
and theurgy, magick and thaumaturgy.
For more on mysticism, see the Mysticism section of the
_Mage's Guide to the Internet_.
================================================================
30 STUDIES
How to learn about magick and what ought be considered the
best sources are frequently discussed topics in the newsgroup.
Occasionally someone will compile a REF file of newsgroup posts
for a common topic. Make a collection of posts and assist in the
project yourself by adding to them.
31 How should I start learning about magick? teachers?
As CHenningsson writes:
"Books are one answer. There are actually books which
try to take you from your first tentative attempts
at relaxation into holding a ritual....
"Other than that.... Just do it! If you like to, you
can see this as one of the very first exercises in Will;
you Will yourself into making a ritual."
Some recommend the use of particular mechanisms or tools,
such as tarot, a magical diary, meditation or dreamwork.
Some recommend specific books or teachers, others place more
emphasis on the aptitude and imagination of the student.
Robin provides marvelous advice:
"Resist the temptation to believe what anyone else
tells you. Try to invent ways to find out things
for yourself. Remain skeptical.
"Look for ways in which you have may have been
doing magick without realizing it. Think about
what it might mean if you could use it with
intention, and how you might go about that."
MKampe offers:
"if you have clear notions of what magick is all
about, it might be better for you to pursue your
inner course and avoid outside contamination
[from teachers/books/etc.]."
There are REF files on such things as the Kabbalistic Abyss,
Chaos Magick, Wicca, and the Golden Dawn. Teachers, masters
and adepts are often a topic of discussion in the newsgroup,
and magical organizations may wrangle out their political
issues in alt.magick.order.
I would echo Lilith Darkchilde:
"Take heed of those who say that they can teach
you all about what is magickal. Especially if
you must join their 'coven' or group to do so....
"I hold the key to my own self knowing."
32 What are some books for a beginner?
There's are a few different booklists available.
33 Where is online information about magick to be found?
Try the MaGI, especially the 'Occult' subsection.
================================================================
40 SPELL COMPILATIONS
Spells may be obtained from several offline sources, the folk
and ceremonial varieties maintained at times with diligent care.
The spells contained within the following sites may be dangerous
to your health.
41 Love/Lust
I collected a file of spell responses in alt.magick.*
over several years and placed them in a REF file.
Other contributions would be welcomed.
42 Summoning Demons/Hexing/Cursing/Death
Demon-summoning, curse- and death-oriented spells were
collected from alt.magick.* over the last few years and
these have been placed in a REF file (again, additional
contributions welcome). Also see the following newsgroup:
alt.paranormal.spells.hexes.magic
================================================================
50 REFERENCES AND REFERRALS
After consulting the various resources listed in this FAQ
and lurking in the newsgroup for a few weeks, feel free to
bring up any relevant subjects there.
51 Archives
There are Usenet Archives within the Hollyfeld Internet site.
52 Magick-Related Newsgroups
See the MaGI for much occult-related information.
Valuable Usenet alternatives include:
(occult-related)
alt.astrology
Ref: FAQ
alt.astrology.asian
alt.chinese.fengshui
Ref: FAQ
alt.divination
alt.lucky.w
alt.magick.chaos
Ref: FAQ
alt.occult.kabbalah.golden-dawn
alt.pagan.magick
alt.tarot
Ref: (Tarot FAQ)
Ref: Layouts (REF)
alt.virtual-adepts
(darkness and power)
alt.evil
alt.horror.cthulhu
alt.necronomicon
alt.satanism
talk.philosophy.humanism
talk.philosophy.objectivism
(eastern and mystical things)
alt.consciousness.4th-way
alt.consciousness.mysticism
alt.fan.rumi
alt.hindu
alt.islam.sufi
alt.meditation
Ref: Meditation FAQ
alt.meditation.moderated
alt.meditation.quanyin
alt.meditation.shabda
alt.meditation.transcendental
alt.philosophy.taoism
alt.philosophy.zen
alt.sufi
alt.yoga
alt.zen
alt.zen+budo
soc.religion.eastern
soc.religion.gnosis
soc.religion.hindu
soc.religion.islam
soc.religion.quaker
soc.religion.sikhism
soc.religion.unitarian-univ
soc.religion.vaishnava
(psychology and consciousness)
alt.consciousness
alt.drugs
alt.drugs.chemistry
alt.drugs.leri
alt.drugs.pot
alt.drugs.psychedelics
alt.psychoactives
alt.psychology.jung
alt.psychology.mistake-theory
alt.psychology.nlp
alt.psychology.personality
alt.psychology.synchronicity
alt.psychology.transpersonal
rec.drugs.psychedelic
sci.psychology
sci.psychology.consciousness
sci.psychology.digest
sci.psychology.misc
sci.psychology.personality
sci.psychology.psychotherapy
sci.psychology.research
sci.psychology.theory
(shamanism/neopaganism/witchcraft)
alt.folklore
alt.folklore.gemstones
alt.folklore.herbs
alt.legends.king-arthur
alt.mythology
alt.mythology.mythic-animals
alt.native
alt.pagan
alt.religion.asatru
alt.religion.orisha
alt.religion.shamanism
alt.religion.wicca
alt.shamanism
alt.techno-shamanism
soc.religion.paganism
soc.religion.shamanism
(ufos/parapsychology/spiritualism)
alt.consciousness
alt.consciousness.near-death-exp
alt.folklore.ghost-stories
alt.folklore.suburban
alt.hypnosis
alt.mindcontrol
alt.out-of-body
alt.paranet
alt.paranet.abduct
alt.paranet.metaphysics
alt.paranet.paranormal
alt.paranet.psi
alt.paranet.skeptic
alt.paranet.ufo
alt.paranormal
alt.prophecies.nostradamus
alt.psychology.transpersonal
alt.skeptic
alt.soulmates
talk.religion.newage
53 Card Game Magic (e.g. 'The Obsession')
There are many newsgroups in the rec.games.trading-cards
hierarchy from which to choose. Also see MOXPERL.
54 Role-Playing Game Spellcasting
If you are looking for role-playing game magic, you can find
it in the Great Net Spellbook.
================================================================
60 AFTERWORD
Thanks to all the fine authors of files I came across during my
sift for networking documents to fill out this edition of the FAQ.
May it remain unblemished by violence or imprisonment.
61 Footnotes
@01 - See alt.magic (stage magic).
@02 - Due to his many publications and the orders
he crafted, Aleister Crowley is revered by many and
despised by as many more, and his magical treatise
(_Book Four_, recently reissued assembled by Samuel
Weiser) may likely prove his most popular text.
@03 - "Aleister Crowley (if Soror Virakam may be relied upon)
is said to have adopted "the old spelling of MAGICK...
in order to distinguish the Science of the Magi from
all its counterfeits."
(_Magick_, eds. Symonds/Grant, p. 45 note).
@04 - _Magick_ eds. Symonds/Grant, p. xvi.
@05 - Magick in Theory and Practice, by Aleister Crowley; p. 7.
62 Credits
Those that assisted in reviewing the FAQ whose ideas and/or
networking were utilized in the construction:
ashton@netcom.com (AShub)
oispeggy@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu (Peggy Brown)
burkard@kodak.com (Kim Burkard)
dshoem@aol.com (Dshoem)
kdavidso@library.uwaterloo.ca (Karen)
kim@newton.apple.com (peter kim)
robin@winternet.com (robin)
yronwode@sonic.net (catherine yronwode)
If you have suggestions for changes or additions to document,
send them to the Editor (tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com).
Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem. -W. Occam
63 Copyrights
This document is Copyright (c) 1996, tyagi nagasiva.
All rights reserved. Permission to distribute the collection
is hereby granted providing that distribution is electronic,
no money is involved, reasonable attempts are made to use the
latest version and all credits and this copyright notice are
maintained. Other requests for distribution should be directed
to the Editor or to the individual authors of the quoted materials.
=============================================================================
tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com (tyaginator)
Editor, alt.magick FAQ
FIN 9612