Ritual Embodiment in Modern Western Magic
Subtitle: Becoming the Magician
Edition: First edition.
Series: Gnostica
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2017
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 222
ISBN-13: 9780203701218
Subjects: Magic; BODY, MIND & SPIRIT; Parapsychology; General
Description: "In the Western world, magic has often functioned as an umbrella term for various religious beliefs and ritual practices that seek to influence events by harnessing supernatural power. The definition of these myriad occult and esoteric traditions have, however, usually come from those that are opposed to its practice; notably authorities in religious, legal and intellectual spheres. This book seeks to provide a new perspective, directly from the practitioners of modern Western magic, by exploring how a distinctive mode of embodiment and consciousness can produce a transition from an 'ordinary' to a 'magical' worldview. Starting with an introduction to the study of magic in the Western academy, the book then presents the author's own participant observation of five ethnographic case studies of modern Western magic. The focus of these ethnographic case studies is directed towards ideas and methods the informants employ to self-legitimise and self-represent as 'magicians'. It concludes by discussing the phenomenological implications and issues around embodiment that are inherent to the contemporary practice of magic. This is a unique insight into the lived experience of practitioners of modern magic. As such, it will be of keen interest to scholars of the Occult and New Religious Movements, as well as Religious Studies academics examining issues around the embodiment and the anthropology of religion."--Provided by publisher.
Table of contents: title: Cover; Title; Copyright; Contents; Acknowledgements; Introduction: interpreting the modern practice of Western magic; A theoretical reflection on the study of modern Western magic; A methodological approach to the study of modern Western magic; 1 Western constructions of magic; 1.1 Origins of the anthropology of magic; 1.2 Western esotericism and modern magic; 1.3 Strategies of legitimation in modern magic; 1.4 Modern magic as a participatory worldview; 1.5 Magical consciousness as a cognitive shift; 1.6 Debates on modern magic and altering phenomenal properties of consciousness.; title: 2 Liber V vel Reguli2.1 The foundation; 2.2 The ritual; 3 The Ninth Key of Gabriel and Levaniel; 3.1 The foundation; 3.2 The ritual; 4 The Blessing of WÅ#x8D;Ä#x91;anaz; 4.1 The foundation; 4.2 The ritual; 5 The Apollonian invocation; 5.1 The foundation; 5.2 The ritual; 6 The Mithras Liturgy; 6.1 The foundation; 6.2 The ritual; 7 Anthropology of ritual and the body in modern Western magic; 7.1 Magic and ritual; 7.2 Ritual as performance and mediation; 7.3 Practice of ritualisation of the body; 7.4 Merleau-Ponty, body techniques, and the ritual habitus; 7.5 Ritual embodiment and metaphysics.; title: 8 Phenomenology of ritual in modern Western magic8.1 Mundane and magical worldviews; 8.2 Ritual entextualisation; 8.3 Ritual communication; 8.4 Ritual reverberations; 8.5 Ritual embodiment; 9 Phenomenology of the body in modern Western magic; 9.1 Becoming the magician; 9.2 Reimagination and reinvention of the magician; 9.3 Phenomenal field of the magician; 9.4 Phenomenology of perception and embodiment; 9.5 Body image and body schema; 9.6 Modern Western magic as a somatic mode of attention; 9.7 Embodied pragmatics of becoming the magician.; title: 10 Ritualisation and the subtle body in modern Western magic10.1 Subtle dynamics; 10.2 Ethnographic representations of the subtle; 10.3 Subtle embodiment and imaginal perception; Conclusion: becoming the magician and the logic of Western magical ritual; Bibliography.