reply to post by Klimhazard
Not to rag on your thread, as I myself practice the art magic, but you've got... well, almost everything wrong. To begin with, Lucifer has nothing to
do with magic, or
magick. Lucifer is the Angel of Light, and the source of pride according to monotheistic religions. Magic is far older than
anything monotheism has to offer; be it Lucifer, angels, the Godhead, or prayers. Magic is the origin of human spiritual beliefs, and is traceable as
far back as our known history. Shamans, and other prehistoric human ancestors practiced what is known as sympathetic magic; wherein a ritual was
performed with the intent of creating, on a small-scale (called the Microcosm), the effect desired on the larger scale (called the Macrocosm). One
example being the sacrifice of a hunted animals heart, to Nature, so that the animal would be reborn, and could again be hunted. The origins of magic
have little to do with love, or "godsex" as you call it.
Now, High Magic, called
Theurgia does have a relation, albeit a tiny one, with what you're espousing. In
Theurgia a magician, magus,
sorcerer, or shaman undergoes an attempt to retrace his spiritual nature, called a Higher Self, to the Godhead of the universe. By doing so, the
magician attempts to filter down through the emanations of existence (roughly grouped together into the
Otz Chaim, or Tree of Life of the
Qabalist) the Will of God to enact the desired change. This utilizes the classical Platonic elements of Fire (the spark of creation); Water (the
tempering nature); Air (the stirrings of consciousness); and Earth (solid, physical formation) all under the auspice and control of Spirit (the
eternal, fluid nature of All Things). If the magician can successfully pull his desire down through the Four Worlds then he can hope to crystallize
his intent on the physical, terrestrial plane. True High Magic has nothing to do with angels, or Lucifer, or even monotheism.
Those aspects began to come about during the Renaissance, when magical
Grimoires, books of magic, were purported to have been written. In the
1800s these same manuscripts were uncovered and translated by aspiring magical theosophists, who then began the magical secret societies so many of us
are familiar with today: the Golden Dawn, the Free Masons, the Aurum Solis, the Theosophical Society, the Rosicrucian Order, and the like. What these
groups did was begin a system of comparative religions, looking across Egyptian, Hindu, Buddhist, Greek, Roman, and Christian mythology for overlaps
in archetypal forces. For example, Horus, Ares, Indra, Mars, and the archangel Michael all shared the traits of force, and power. This fit nicely on
the Tree of Life under the sphere of
Geburah; all warrior deities then, who preserved order, and punished the wicked, were placed in this
sphere. Likewise, with all of the other spheres.
Of course, these religions were not entirely understood, so many mistakes were made. To try and clear that up, the Tree was aligned with
Judeo-Christian forces, the predominant religious affiliations of the Western world. This is where the presence of Christ, Lucifer, and God come into
play with high magic. Particular rebellious magician, like Israel Regardie, and Aleister Crowley, imagined that they understood the Laws and Forces
which governed magical intelligence better than the failing Secret Societies. Their splintering created a second generation of magical societies like
the
Astreum Argentum (A.:A.
, the O.T.O. and others. This second generation, headed by Crowley, was based not on the principles of divine
creation, but on the power of "Love under Will," as Crowley explained with his oft-quoted phrase: "Love is the Law. Love under Will." from his
work
The Book of the Law.
Crowley changed the direction of magic, which he now spelled
magick from ego, and power-based, to a force without pride, acting under perfect
love, and operating entirely without selfishness. These themes were influenced by Eastern tantric, and yogic practices like Buddhism and Hinduism. The
combination of eastern and western ideals created a "universal magickal awakening" which has not stopped at all, as it is still felt in the
Neopagan, New Age, Wiccan, Asatru Revivals, and modern Theosophical societies of the world.
I could go into detail on why the wand needs to be energized not by mental, imagined power, but instead by natural forces. Or how you incorrectly
associate magical phrases with spells and incantations. I could even go into your poor ritual outlines. But I think that your lack of understanding
the history of the subject matter you are espousing is enough.
~ Wandering Scribe