From: shaman@cix.compulink.co.uk (Leo Smith)
Newsgroups: alt.magick
Subject: Re: Ritual magick experiences
Date: 12 Apr 92 17:04:32 GMT
Reply-To: Leo Smith <shaman@cix.compulink.co.uk>
Organization: Gated to News by demon.co.uk

mascdb@gdr.bath.ac.uk (C D Burdorf)
writes..

        Personally, I find the subject of magick quite fasinating,
        but I've been quite bored with this newsgroup, because it's
        just loaded with a bunch of intellectual details.

That is sad. I find the 'intellectual details' quite interesting.

        I thought is might be interesting if people would be willing
        to share their experiences instead for a change. One charge
        that people make of magick is that its just a bunch ranting
        and raving and no action.

I tend to agree.

        All the secrecy is just to cover up that there isn't anything
        behind it. I hope it does something for you to act holier
        than thou, but it doesn't do anything for me but bore me.

I accept that as well. I don't do ritual magick, so I didn't
contribute to this thread. My experiences are more divinatory than
evocationary (is that the right word?) as the last thing I actually
want is to change anything before I understand it.

But would you be interested in hearing about some kooks mystical
visions? And what would my colleagues around the 'net whom I have to
do ordinary business with think if I told them that I 'did a ritual
to invoke Astaroth every Thursday'. Last bit of business I would get
for a while :-)

While we are discussing the _possible_ natures of magickal realities,
we are on safe ground "Sure officer, I dabble with mysticism as a
hobby, those are in fact baby rabbits from Sainsbury's [for those
across the puddle, a UK supermarket] in my deep freeze officer, not
Human Foetuses for immoral purposes".

Ninety nine percent of 'Magick' requires that you g#have to at least
temporarily suspend disbelief in the ultimate reality which everybody
agrees is 'normal, everyday reality' Although you can come up with a
bastardised magick that says that you are 'manipulating psychological
symbols' or 'experiencing paranormal communication' which is
borderline acceptable in current cultural concepts, saying that you
'stepped into the etheric plane in order to divine the future from a
crow' is *not* going to impress your non-magickal friends.

This 'net is very physical and very material. All that can be done
here is to point the direction towards which interested parties can
progress to experiment and judge for themselves. I could cite ten
anecdotal cases of paranormal or psychic events - but what would that
prove? I might be lying to you completely. I feel it is more
instructive to point at the areas of human experience that border on
the magickal, yet are still just about acceptable, and let people
decide for themselves.

If you want a simple magickal ritual, that in fact I have done [this
will be a dud!] go to a little church overlooking Guildford called St
Martha's - which is on the site of an old Pagan Shrine. Go inside,
and empty your mind of all thought etc. Avoid the vicar who haunts
the place and make out like you are praying (you are).

See what images thoughts and feelings arise in your mind, once the
mundane has been deliberately excluded or put to rest. Concentrate on
feeling, listening and sensing where and when you are, rather than
thinking.

If nothing at all happens give up and become a logical positivist.
Newsgroups: alt.magick