Message #97 - MAGICKNET 
   Date: 11-18-95 06:47
   From: Lewis Cypher
     To: Zsig
Subject: magickal questions??????
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@MSGID: 1:102/943.0 30adf20a
@REPLY: 93:9190/6.0 88C512CD
Z> Hello to everyone.  I have been studying magic for a few years, yet I find
myself still a novice.  Lately, I have been beginning to wonder if I have any
idea what I am doing.
     
I say welcome to anyone who has come to this point. I assume you are not
doing some kind of 'humble student knows nothing forever' psudo humility
trip, so I take you at your meaning to be that its time to get serious.
     
Z> I read the other day on a BBS that doing magic when your particular
planets are out of whack can get you into deep trouble.  I know next to
nothing about astrology.  I have a program that can generate a chart,but so
what---it is all meaningless to me.  Is knowledge of astrology necessary to
performing magick?
     
It has been my experience that some manner of 'finding out,' whether by
meditation, tarot, astrology, or I Ching, is useful. You do a rite. You get
an effect. Then later you explore that effect first in a journal, then with
an oracle of your choice and familiarity.
     
IMHO, most of what is written about astrology, including everything about
natal charts, is B.S.. I find knowing the phase of the moon, keeping track of
eclipses of the sun and moon,  and the classic chart in the 'secret things'
section of The Magus, by Francis Barrett (only the 1967 fist reprint has this
section), and a good Tarot divination before while planning, is all the
oracle and astrology I need. 
     
I Also wait for when the moment is right. Sometimes the moment get right, and
I do one of the needed works in my head. Mind magic, worship magic, chaos
magic.
     
Z> I mainly use my intuition for spelling and making rituals.  Often in the
midst of ritual or spell it seems to fall flat, as if something more is
needed.  
     
I also experience this, at times. I use the momentum of a familiar ritual, a
master ritual, and the sorroundings of my temple to carry me through. I build
a master generic ritual, then modify it according to what I am doing. With
practice, the ritual builds to a peak, and my fears, doubts, and second
thoughts are washed in the water of familiarity-which carries it through.
     
Z> Sometimes I cast a circle and sometimes not.  I have noticed
when I cast a circle I have more focus.  I rarely use salt and water,and
always use oil and incense (or a boiling pot of herbs).  I use a lot of
visualization and burn candles.
     
But as you say, something is missing. Maybe its just experience with your
chosen method. Maybe its a friend to share with.
     
Z> Is it best to continue by intuition?  I do have considerable success.  I
do read, but I find I have toss a lot of what I read out.  It just doesn't
apply, or feels wrong.  The books that I have found the most helpful are
Starhawk's The Spiral Dance and a little paperback called True magick (that
keeps disappearing every time I buy a copy.)  I have tried to read some of
Aleister Crowley's works, but they are over my head for the most part.
     
Crowley's stuff is only good if you have the same intrest in tarot, Quabala,
and Yoga, that Crowley did.
     
A much better book is Initiation Into Hermetics, by Bardon. Its available in
occult sections. Its an excellent step by step course in magic, with very few
frills or need for outside study. I have found it valuable, even when I just
began. In fact, you can use just that one book.
     
Z> At this time I am low on cash and can buy no books, (this will change in
the very near future) but I have access to the Broward Public Library,
Dade Public Library and Florid International University library.  FIU
has a pretty good selection on magic and spells.  That is where I
checked out The Spiral Dance.
     
A very poor book to start with. Its very light reading. 
     
Try going to HER source material-Idrides Shah. Start with Oriental Magic,
which is a historical tracing of the origins of magic. Don't miss his souce
translation and commentary on medieval grimoria-The Secret Lore Of Magic.
Most good city main branch libraries have books by Shah. He is a Sufi Mulla-a
holy man.
Here is a magic phrase in library research: "Source Material." Us it, and you
will see the fabrications of Starhawk and most of the shallow neopagan crap
being printed these days.
     
If you find yourself lost, you are not alone. We all flop about untill we
learn to do research at the library.That is real power. In the land of the
blind, he who has one eye is king.
     
 

--- Maximus 3.00
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