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To: alt.magick.tyagi,alt.magick,alt.pagan.magick,talk.religion.newage,alt.religion,wicca From: nagasiva@luckymojo.com (nagasiva) Subject: Practical Aspects of Ceremonial Magick Date: 23 Jul 1999 23:32:43 -0700 49990620 IVom # 93! :) E6! a correspondent writes: # What are the practical aspects of ceremonial magick? ceremony beginning preparation resolution work initiation climax closing consolidation sealing magick intentionality desire vision means cause ritual (ceremonial or other method) will linkage the practical aspects beyond this vary with each tradition and culture. in what I've seen of the 'Thelemic' community there is a fondness for beginning ceremonial magick with a banishing rite of some kind. preparation often allows that urban domiciles and synthetic substances are components of the event (as compared with some neopagans, for instance), and mystical or religious objectives are usually preferred over materialistic and sociopolitical goals. the styles of ceremony appear to vary based on the subgroup and interest in traditional frameworks (Golden Dawn and Enochian styles being somewhat more popular at conservative venues, whilst innovative and spontaneous or intuitive styles are popular in experimental and/or solitary workings). symbolism tends to revolve around sexuality for hard-core Crowleyites, but this can range from iconography and representation to more direct and shocking actualities invoking entities or using sex for a variety of purposes. some ritualists will prefer again to use banishing to terminate their working, perhaps with traditional or experimental variations. others always ground and protect against collateral damage using a stock formula derived from their favorite religious perspective. sealing appears to be accomplished within the community to which I have been most often exposed by scribed geometrics in the air (like crosses, pentagrams, hexagrams, only very rarely septagrams). # What is ceremonial magick used for? name it. the attainment of power, knowledge, wealth, fame, glory, love, sex, wisdom, spirituality, immortality, evil, good, anything your heart desires. # To attain what? it is common to hear ceremonial magick described as a predominantly mystical enterprise, especially amongst those who have been reared by a certain group or tradition. often this enterprise has certain phases or stages which are described mythically using a model or map such as a diagram of a 'Tree of Life', the sequence of cards in a tarot deck (sometimes integrated to or within the forementioned Tree), a series of experiences described by scripture or the reputed history of a saint or magician, or the stipulated dictation of a mystic. whether it actually causes this to occur is something that few can answer with any surity by virtue of their limited experience with ceremonialists and a sociological study of any depth. I think that volition is underestimated as the cause of change in conformity Will without regard to the form through which this Will is made manifest. # I know that Magick is the art of causing change in # accordance with one's will. according to whom? it is possible that some 'Thelemites' would quibble with this on account that it is instead 'the Art and Science of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will' and that your phrasing tends to reduce magick to both an art and a direction of the personal will. # But, what kind of change? any you can imagine. willed change of profound significance. willed change of little significance. # I've read tons of rituals, and ceremonies, but they don't # seem to have a clear cut purpose. the rituals of the old times are black. # what is the purpose of more ceremonial rituals? depends on the individual. for some they apparently satisfy, suffice, sate, and stir. for others ceremony per se is like walking through peanut butter. blessed beast! 333 nagasiva@luckymojo.com -- emailed replies may be posted; cc replies if response desired
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