Magic
I intended to write something about magic in a little while but I have been inspired to pre-empt myself as it were by a post by Zac on his blog Alchemical Braindamage.
As far as I understand it, the discussion centres around the theory that some people apparently subscribe to that certain things currently ‘out there’ (abuse at Abu Ghraib, general ‘occult’ activity in such entities as P2, Skull and Bones etc) are indicative of a ‘Black Magic’ agenda by the powers that be and that these activities are carried out towards a certain end. The opposing view which, as far as I can understand, is suggested by Zac, is that these activities are not means to an end - rather they are an end in themselves:
Too many people think of magick as a gun. As in, freaky black magician does X and makes Y come out and smack you in the head. It doesn’t work that way. At least it doesn’t work nearly as well as what they’re really doing. If you come at this from the normal assumptions about our material universe, about causality and perception and reality, then it sure looks like they’re trying to pull the rug out from under you, makes you cling to that rug so much harder doesn’t it? And what you overlook is that the big scary trick that you’ve never actually seen is not the magick. The magick is the rug you’re sitting on.
Whilst I would agree with the first part of this (magick is not a gun) I cannot really subscribe to either view for two reasons: firstly there are certain similar suppositions underlying both views that need examining and have so far eluded consideration (which is interesting in itself) and secondly, I would dispute that magic exists in the form it is commonly conceived of.
Regarding the first of these points: clearly both these views make a distinction between the ‘good guys’ and the ‘bad guys’. Ie, the Powers That Be are the bad guys and the hapless populace are the white hats. I’m not saying the PTB are not bad guys - clearly they are to a certain degree - but it is the model that needs questioning. In fact it is exactly the same model used by Bush and Blair - merely with the black and white hats transposed.
A further point in this connection: in mystical or ‘spiritual’ terms - and that is what we’re talking about if we start venturing into the arena of ‘magic’ - life can be a journey from unknowing to knowing. That is to say - in an unenlightened state we do not know the score - and we cannot know until we reach enlightenment. For example, I firmly believe that Bush and Blair are (in my terms) bad people but I don’t know this for sure and as I know I don’t know (if you catch my drift) then I have to admit the possibility that were I ever to reach enlightenment (unlikely as it is) I may well view them completely differently. In fact this is almost inevitable.
Of course there is also the problem of God. These people are there and in control - as the bad guys always seem to be throughout human history - and if one believes everything is the will of God and rejects the concept of a ‘devil’ (as I do on both counts) then this gives one pause for thought.
Which brings me to the second issue: magic. Clearly as I don’t believe in Satan it would be difficult to rationalise Satanism (which is essentially a Christian subset anyway as it accepts Christian claims about Christ and associated theology but merely subverts them rather than deny) but I’m sure there have been (and still are) many lunatics who do believe in this. Some may well be in positions of power. My point is that magic doesn’t work (as commonly conceived) and is therefore a myth and a superstition.
I cannot think of a historical magician who actually benefitted from their ‘magic’. Crowley died in poverty after being dogged by it all his life, Agrippa was a failure, paracelsus - the list is endless. I think Zac is close to the truth with his ‘magick is not a gun’ - magic is not something you do or is ‘done’, rather a magician is something you become and then things ‘happen’.
In the light of this it is clear that a government that was carrying out abuses and instituting a totalitarian agenda could not be magicians as this sort of behaviour is the antithesis of the methodology of what is necessary to reach and maintain that status. It is possible that they might try a spell or to to achieve their ends Perhaps even likely) but the point is that it just wouldn’t work - because there is no such thing as that sort of magic. There is no doing. There is only happening - and then only to developed people.
Links
Godbothering
Techieness &
Design
Mystic Mayhem
ParaPolitics
Everything Else
Archives
Recent Entries
Meta
