Post by Rik Wallin on Apr 5, 2007 17:42:58 GMT -6
From: walkea@vccnortha.its.rpi.edu (Alexander Spencer Walker)
Subject: Ceremonial Magick and Daily Life
Date: 4 Oct 1993 01:34:45 GMT
Notice: I wrote this essay for newcomers to magick and browsers of
this channel. It contains some things that have helped me in the past
years on the path.
A person desiring to practice magick that either doesn't have
the luxury or the desire to join an organization and/or gain personal
instruction can still learn this art/science safely and effectively.
The only limits are the excuses that come from daily life that neither
afford time nor resources to practice any sort of spiritual living.
Studying, work, and stress always seem to conspire together to
disallow anything but a mundane and embittered outlook on life. For
those solitary practitioners (and perhaps those who aren't can gain
something from this) who find time and resources hinderances in their
practice, I have found some things that have been a great help to me:
[1] Never allow excuses. If you make an excuse to skip
practicing no matter how dire the circumstances, it
can and will degrade into a slump.
[2] If time truly is short, simple daily practices such
as the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram can
be done imagining the temple, the tools and the garb
[3] If you have to do the above often, schedule a time
at least once or twice a week where the ritual is in
full garb.
[4] In class or at work, practice one's asana. I don't
mean any fancy contorted positions, rather simply
being aware of one's posture, keeping the spine erect,
both feet flat, your mind attentive (i.e. not day
dreaming), and your breath simple and regular.
[5] Practice the adorations described in Liber Resh vel Helios
or as re-presented in Donald Kraig's "Eleven Lessons
in the High Magickal Arts". They are excellent reminders
during the day for keeping focused on the Great Work.
[6] If you can, try to love everything and everyone you
come in contact with remembering not to condemn,
paraphrasing my favorite liber, for how do you know
that you would be any different given the same
conditions (many of which you could never know not
being that person/group).
[7] If 6 is too difficult to do on a truly sincere level,
try simply appreciating everything's and everyone's
place in the scales and balance of the universe.
Train your will by making oaths (starting small at
first). Ones I've used are not eating any junk food
for one week, not arguing with so-and-so no matter
what they say for 24-hours,etc,etc. Creativity helps
here (and truly everywhere).
[9] Affirm daily that the goal of all these practices and
more that you are doing are nothing less than the Great
Work. And that the enlightenment and spiritual
development that hard work in these areas make available
are truly the only things in existence that really matter
when you boil everything down.
Meditation, consuming fewer chemicals, and reading about
magick, religion, philosophy, and other topics from many different
points of view are also great assets to the solitary ceremonial
magician. Remember, in the last analysis, your path is between you
and you (you and your True self, your Holy Guardian Angel) and though
others can suggest helpful things, its your responsibility to
enlighten yourself.
Blessed Be, May all attain, Love is the Law,
Live without Restriction,
Alex Walker
===
From: vrauls@crl.nmsu.edu (goddess)
Date: 3 Oct 93 22:17:47
[Quoting point 6 and 7 from above.]
I am not too involved with ceremonial magick, but these two points
struck me as being something that lots of people could benefit from.
I would like to add a third point:
Be happy. If you are actively and deliberately happy
(even if it's hard) you not only get in the habit of being
that way, you affect other people around you. They tend
to be happy in return and treat you with more kindness and
respect than they would normally. This is potent magick...
just try it in the post office or -- if you are a seriously
dedicated mage -- the DMV (this one's way beyond my meager
powers).
Venus
Subject: Ceremonial Magick and Daily Life
Date: 4 Oct 1993 01:34:45 GMT
Notice: I wrote this essay for newcomers to magick and browsers of
this channel. It contains some things that have helped me in the past
years on the path.
A person desiring to practice magick that either doesn't have
the luxury or the desire to join an organization and/or gain personal
instruction can still learn this art/science safely and effectively.
The only limits are the excuses that come from daily life that neither
afford time nor resources to practice any sort of spiritual living.
Studying, work, and stress always seem to conspire together to
disallow anything but a mundane and embittered outlook on life. For
those solitary practitioners (and perhaps those who aren't can gain
something from this) who find time and resources hinderances in their
practice, I have found some things that have been a great help to me:
[1] Never allow excuses. If you make an excuse to skip
practicing no matter how dire the circumstances, it
can and will degrade into a slump.
[2] If time truly is short, simple daily practices such
as the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram can
be done imagining the temple, the tools and the garb
[3] If you have to do the above often, schedule a time
at least once or twice a week where the ritual is in
full garb.
[4] In class or at work, practice one's asana. I don't
mean any fancy contorted positions, rather simply
being aware of one's posture, keeping the spine erect,
both feet flat, your mind attentive (i.e. not day
dreaming), and your breath simple and regular.
[5] Practice the adorations described in Liber Resh vel Helios
or as re-presented in Donald Kraig's "Eleven Lessons
in the High Magickal Arts". They are excellent reminders
during the day for keeping focused on the Great Work.
[6] If you can, try to love everything and everyone you
come in contact with remembering not to condemn,
paraphrasing my favorite liber, for how do you know
that you would be any different given the same
conditions (many of which you could never know not
being that person/group).
[7] If 6 is too difficult to do on a truly sincere level,
try simply appreciating everything's and everyone's
place in the scales and balance of the universe.
Train your will by making oaths (starting small at
first). Ones I've used are not eating any junk food
for one week, not arguing with so-and-so no matter
what they say for 24-hours,etc,etc. Creativity helps
here (and truly everywhere).
[9] Affirm daily that the goal of all these practices and
more that you are doing are nothing less than the Great
Work. And that the enlightenment and spiritual
development that hard work in these areas make available
are truly the only things in existence that really matter
when you boil everything down.
Meditation, consuming fewer chemicals, and reading about
magick, religion, philosophy, and other topics from many different
points of view are also great assets to the solitary ceremonial
magician. Remember, in the last analysis, your path is between you
and you (you and your True self, your Holy Guardian Angel) and though
others can suggest helpful things, its your responsibility to
enlighten yourself.
Blessed Be, May all attain, Love is the Law,
Live without Restriction,
Alex Walker
===
From: vrauls@crl.nmsu.edu (goddess)
Date: 3 Oct 93 22:17:47
[Quoting point 6 and 7 from above.]
I am not too involved with ceremonial magick, but these two points
struck me as being something that lots of people could benefit from.
I would like to add a third point:
Be happy. If you are actively and deliberately happy
(even if it's hard) you not only get in the habit of being
that way, you affect other people around you. They tend
to be happy in return and treat you with more kindness and
respect than they would normally. This is potent magick...
just try it in the post office or -- if you are a seriously
dedicated mage -- the DMV (this one's way beyond my meager
powers).
Venus