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Magick can be defined in many ways by many people, and each of these
different ways may have a different spelling depending on who you ask.
For this article I have chosen the "magick" spelling, because
that's the one I see most commonly used in a metaphysical sense, rather
than referring to stage magic. This is a purely arbitrary choice on my
part, not reflecting any particular magickal tradition.
"Magick" assumes the belief in, or at least the experience
of, more subtle and unseeable metaphysical forces. As a result, a lot
of information about magick is very subjective by default, because people
perceive these forces in different ways, and often will refer to them
in different ways.
(As an unrelated example, we can only see a tiny fraction of the light
spectrum, but what we cannot see still affects us - sunburns or tans from
UV rays, for example. Different people will tan or burn, depending on
skin tone and any co-existing medical conditions or medications, but whether
you can see UV rays or not, something will happen eventually after enough
exposure.)
I will be quite blunt here, if, for whatever reason, you are convinced
magick is impossible, then this is NOT the article for you.
On the other hand, if - like most members of the vampire community -
you are at least open to the possibility, even if you haven't directly
experienced anything along these lines, then please feel free to read
on.
WHAT IS MAGICK?
Essentially, magick is about focusing the more subtle, non-physical
forces, and using them to effect change. Doing this typically requires
training in addition to practice and subsequent experience to improve
and focus that power, and more specifically, one's will. There is no
"one true path" of doing magick - what works for one person
does not always work for another, but provided they do it "correctly"
for their individual path, they will generally get the same results.
Some believe magick is a kind of energy that is present through the
entire cosmos. Others believe it to be a psychic tool by which we influence
the physical realm using symbols and ritual. Quite often it is believed
to be a means of uniting the self with the Divine, the excercise of
will (or "Will"), or even the direct manipulation of reality.
More simply, if you've ever seen the original three Star Wars movies
(from 1977 - 1983) then a valid comparison can be made between "Magick"
and "The Force", as shown in the older movies:
"...For my ally is the Force, and a
powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds
us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You
must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the
rock, everywhere, yes..."
~Yoda, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
HOW IS MAGICK DONE?
Different paths have different ways of doing magick - Wicca (to use
a fairly well-known example) uses a fairly wide variety of tools and
rituals, and other paths may use different tools, fewer tools, or even
none at all on a regular basis. Breathing excercises, chanting mantras,
meditation, movement, ritual, visualization, dance and song are also
examples of different ways to enable you to focus your mind and allow
the magick to take place.
Magick can be done by yourself (I see it commonly referred to as being
"solitary") or as part of a formal or informal magickal group.
Anyone who can do magick, can do magick by themselves - being part of
a group is NOT necessary, but rather, a matter of preference, convenience,
or if a Working is particularly complex, out of necessity. Magick is
NOT necessarily better in a group, partly due to matters of focus: Sometimes,
"too many cooks spoil the stew".
This article will be focusing more on the group aspects of magick rather
than solitary Work.
HOW DO YOU START WITH GROUP MAGICK?
Before joining a magickal group, the prospective member (or "candidate")
usually has to go through an investigative phase, where they learn about
the group and its practices, and determine whether they feel the path
of that group is right for them. In return, one or more members of the
group will also be evaluating the candidate to determine whether the
candidate will "mesh" well with the group, its members, and
its philosophy. This evaluation period may be as formal or informal
as the group prefers or requires, as long as it is successful in determining
whether the candidate will be a good fit in the group.
Once the candidate has determined that they do indeed wish to join
the group, and the group has determined that the candidate will be a
good fit in the group dynamics, then at some point there is an intiatory
process - again, as formal or informal as the group requires - this
will formally induct the candidate into the group's magickal path, and
connected to the group's egregore.
INITIATION? DOES THAT MEAN I'M STUCK WITH THAT
GROUP FOREVER?
Absolutely not! You should be able to leave the group at any time,
for any reason. You may also be initiated into more than one group at
the same time, if you like - provided you are able and willing to work
within each group's different magickal parameters without difficulty.
Just as there is a ritual when you join a group, there is also a ritual
for when you leave a group. If you choose to leave a group, do try and
give adequate time for the group's leader(s) to prepare an exit ritual
for you if necessary - not all groups have a "default" exit
ritual.
OK, NOW WHAT'S THIS ABOUT AN "EGREGORE"?
Each group, whether they're aware of it or not, has created a magickal
egregore (or "egregor" in some usages) - a gestalt construct
or force-based collective entity that evolves from the thoughts, emotions
and awareness of the group as a whole. The egregore itself is prone
to change, as its respective group changes and will evolve or degenerate
to reflect the members of the group, just as the group changes to reflecting
the changing of the egregore.
For the egregore to function properly, each group member must be totally
committed to the group and its practices (and thus its specific egregore)
with no room for dissension or conflicting beliefs/interests. (Or the
candidate must be able and willing to work within the group's magickal
parameters without internal conflict or hesitation, even if their core
beliefs differ. And yes, this IS possible.)
This gestalt may be known by any variety of names, depending on the
person, the path, and/or their perception of it; it may be referred
to as an "egregore", a "gestalt", a "current",
it may feel like a "groupmind" or "hivemind", but
no matter how it is referred to or described, it is the metaphysical
force construct that links the group together. In some cases, those
who are sensitive enough will be aware of it forming as a new group
is created, or become aware of its presence as they are initiated into
an already existing group.
It for this reason that people in a magickal group evaluate prospective
candidates as carefully as they can before admitting them into the group
- any personal conflicts with other group members, or disagreements
with group philosophies, will interfere with the effectivess and function
of the group's egregore.
Each group's egregore is - essentially - unique to the group, and thus
individuals need that group's practices and methods in order to use
that group's egregore. Tools, words, rituals, etc. that work within
that group will not work within another group to utilize the other group's
egregore. This is why groups have an initiation process - it works not
only as method of formal induction into the group, but also as a means
of getting the candidtate "properly plugged in" to that group's
egregore. Continued contact of members to the group egregore is typically
automatic, as long as the member still feels that he/she is a member
of that group.
WHAT DOES AN EGREGORE DO?
The egregore is the reservoior of magickal power that influences and
affects spells, the group as a whole, as well as each member individually.
An egregore is, effectively, greater than the sum of its parts, and
can operate more efficiently than the individuals might be able to separately.
Because an egregore is composed of bits and pieces, so to speak, of
each of the group members, it generally follows the will of the group
as a whole. However, magick CAN be fickle - with enough time and attention,
the egregore may take on a life of its own, and may decide to do things
its own way instead at that point.
Generally speaking, egregores and other metaphysical constructs do
not live in a physical body, so they do not have a first-hand understanding
of things like pain, hunger, exhaustion, and so on. This means such
considerations by a more self-aware construct are not a priority, as
they are only thought of in an abstract fashion.
~SphynxCatVP, July 2010
This article is presented as part of an ongoing
effort to present other views outside of, as well as within, the online
vampire community. As such, the views and attitudes contained in this
article are entirely those of the author(s), and may not necessarily
be shared by SphynxCatVP. The webmaster is not under obligation to update
or otherwise keep current the contents of this article. Most
importantly, only you can decide for yourself whether this article or
any of the author(s) other views are useful or applicable to you - use
your own reasoning and judgment.
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