Magick is a connection to a Source of life and energy and the directional focus of those energies according to the desire of the Magick practitioner. This may or may not involve what is known as ‘spell casting’ at the mundane levels, for the change sought by the Magickcian is firstly of an internal nature involving transformation and alignment.
Magick is thus a yoga, or a yoking, of self with Source and enjoying the creativity that ensues. This elevates the Magickcian beyond merely being the effect of a cause; it enables the practioner of the magickal arts to enjoy and to partake in the Universal creativity itself. Magick takes us away from the idea of being a victim, whether that may be a victim of the world’s evils or from being a ‘victim’ of a Force for good through the non-participation in the creative process. Magick is empowering and liberating and thus has a definite role to play in the kingdom of the 9 to 5 box of space and time.
The only danger in modern magick is the habit of discarding past techniques and transformational process for ‘modern’ versions of classical magickal practice. The setting may be modern but this does not mean we should discard ancient technique; they do still work! Of course, developing technique that is more modern is perfectly fine, but why invent new magick when ‘old’ magick is functional?
Qabbalistic workings suit the modern world simply because these ‘old’ methods are timeless. They are intended to elevate the practioner form linear thought and dimension and in this Light we can therefore see that Qabbalistic theory and practice, tarot practice and other ritual is valid for use in modern magick.
The danger is also in the discarding of the old for the sake of it and then replacing the old with made-up formulae merely because Mind is everything so it does not matter what we do. To a point yes, however, if the practioner really knew that premise fully, why would he need to practice magick?
Modern magick needs to be set on solid foundations; you learn the rules first so that you can break them later. Improvisation works best when fundamental technique is engrained and in this way, fundamental magickal technique is essential so that one can explore.
An ocean voyage is a wonderful adventure, yet the captain needs to know about wind direction, basic seamanship and how to read a map; there be dragons!
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