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palindroem 07-21-2004 01:27 AM

Some basic beginning skills
 
Although most will learn with time and study, I thought I'd pass along some basic skills that once learned (mastered even) can greatly increase a persons magickal skill as well as thier personal enjoyment of the craft.

This is all, of course, just my personal opinion based on only MY personal experience!

First, its my personal opinion the the real function of much practical magick is based on three or four basic functions. These being; mental focus, raising energy, directing energy, and not mentally interferring with the "magick".

Probably the first most important skill would be mental focus. Which is good because its probably also the most accessable part to work on, ie. meditation.
Meditate as often as possible, as deeply or lightly as you can at that moment.
Basic meditation is easy, you really don't have to do much. To start, just learn how to sit still for 15 - 30 minutes. Just stop the wiggling-squiggle. Stop scratching itches . . . they will all stop bothering you once you stop attending to them. Then try focusing on smooth, regular breathing. Just pay close attention to the actual process of the breath itself.
Now, all the thoughts that keep churning in your mind . . . don't worry about them. Its seems that you'd have to fight tooth-and-nail to force them out. Dont. As you sit still and focus on your breathing . . . the thought will subside on their own. Of course, if you want to "practice" blanking your mind, fine. But eventually, its happen anyway. Don't stress.

Maybe the next best thing to learn is a form of "divinition". I quote it cause what you'd really be learning isn't "How to read the Future". Its really just "How to talk to your Mind" with a tool to help you not mis-direct your process. Find any tool . . . Tarot, pendulem, runes, scrying . . anything thats a tangible object to focus your divining attention on.
Now, here's the hard part of divinition . . . just do it. You don't have to know the meaning of the card, or the "correct" interpertation of the runes. Just regularly work with them (of course, reading and researching the "ways-to-do" your tool is fine). You WILL start to develop a capacity to talk and listen to your deeper mind just by working with them.

One of the most often offered recommendation, and one of the least developed in early magickal practices is the journal . . . or often journals. Start at least one journal. Write about what you did today in magick . . . what you thought . . . how you meditated. Write as often as you can make yourself. Write down exercises, spells, rituals. Write corrospondances (there can be butt loads). Anything you can about your magick. Also, write what you dream at night. This is often done in a seperate journal simply because it can start to take a lot of space. I find that magick journals work best for me, that are spiral-bound. They don't look cool, or mysterious . . . but they hold open to a specific page nicely when I'm reading an exercise or ritual while I'm doing it. Having to pin back pages of a spine bound journal or having it constantly closing while I'm "working" magick is a huge pain. Frankly, sometimes I get more out of my journal writing then I did out of the ritual I just did that I'm writing about. Don't underestimate the value of the mental digestive process. It can take time for your sub-conscious (deeper mind) to get, process, and respond.

I am an eclectic magician. I have studied and practiced many different forms of magick, and am still a beginner and newbe at the wider scope of the art and science. Find what you like, what you understand, what works . . . but allow yourself to study any and everthing around. Some say "If you don't focus on one field or another you'll never progress" or " Such-and-such type of magick is detrimental to your personal/spiritual/magickal development". Bull shit! Find, study, research every and anything you feel comfortable with. Occasionally look into area's your not quite at ease with, expand your bubble a little at a time.

Well, I'd like to talk on some other basic subjects; energy raising, energy directing, specific magickal exercises . . .
But I may need to do that later (work :( ). Would anyone be interested in more?

palindroem 07-21-2004 09:23 PM

Ok, assuming you've gotten meditation, divinition and writing till your fingers are bleeding . . . a bit of the fun stuff. Keep in mind, many of the basic skills overlap to form a complete magickal process.
I need to interject some side-notes.
First is a concept of altered-perception or altered state of mind. This is something of a cross between suspention of disbelief and a flexibility of your mental state to allow mental-energy to move. Its the state one is in while in trance or deep meditation. Its also the state you want to be in while raising and directing energy. There are about as many description of this state as there are people talking about it. Some will say it a state of absolutely Knowing that you are creating magick. Some describe a tingling feeling or buzzing (inside the head) feeling. Tunnel vision (mentally) or unusually focused are common.
The crux is, is that often raising energy PUTS you in an altered state. And that you need to be in an altered state to effectively raise energy. This is a bit of a paradox.
My trick . . . what I can't manage initially, I fake. :)
Thats not really as bad as it sounds. Part of the process of faking it helps to put yourself into an altered state. As you go, you start to accept that what your faking is real. Eventually (actually fairly quickly) just the regular exercise of meditation can give the necassary beginning of altering the state of mind. And once you move into the energy raising "phase", altering your state is almost unavoidable.
Second side-note is about visualization. This is probably one of the most important skills a magician can develop. Its one of the things that can pull many (if not all) the other skills together. Its also one of the innate skill we all have. Everyone, at some level, thinks visually. We all daydream or just plain dream. All of us have some degree of artist ability. I personally am one of the worst artist, but I know that if I try to draw even a stick-person, before I even put pencil to paper . . my mind has already created a picture (I just can't reproduce it as well on paper).
The point is, exercise this skill. Work it. Regularly put it to task. Startout with exercising it with your eyes closed. Picture simple shapes or forms and hold them as long as possible. Periodically change them, different colors, turn them, morph them into new forms, progress them into move complex forms. Then try the same exercises with your eyes open. I find this part easiest if I start out by visualizing the shape as resting in my (real) held-out hand. Eventually you should be able to play with visualizing fairly complex objects in a moving, real environment.
Visualization is important because: its part of the process of mental focusing; its action can start to process of altering perception; it is often an important part (at least to begin with) in the raising of energy and certainly important in directing energy. All of these are either dependant on or facilitated by being able to sustain a visualized perception of them.

Raising energy. There are lots of ways to raise energy. Most are through a process of making your body or mind aware of or by something stimulating. Just a few are
breath work: while breathing in visualizing energy coming into and filling your body, while breathing out visualizing the energy circulation around. As well hyperventilation and near-asphyxia can create an altered or trance state, but they can be safety concerns.
(if you use any form of near-asphyxia, always use only you hands to achieve it, this always allows the asphyxiation to end if you blackout)
chanting: this is the repetition of a key word or phrase, or a "power" word (mentally or vocal). Its usually assumed that this method works by causing the magician to enter a trance state.
Physical exercise: this is pretty obvious, you work your body to raise muscle energy, then through visualization, translate that into magickal energy. This is a common component to the wiccan Cone of Power, and is part of the High Magick circumambulation. They physical energy creates an environment of magickal energy.
Intense concentration: yep, just staring and concentrating (focused) stimulates mindbody energy. This sounds easy, but to a large degree this is effective at the point that the focused concentration turns into a trance state. That take some effort, believe it.
Intense pleasure or pain: just to be on point, this is basically the function of sex magick or "cut" magick. Both use the natural sharp increase in mindbody energy at the moment to peak intensity to provide the magickal energy. This works with masterbation, coitus, pin pricks, burns, etc . . . . (this is probably more advance then beginner and can be dangerous).
Trance: this is a bit hard to describe concisely. Primarily its the inherent energy of being in a deeply mind altered state. Many things either contribute to this or constitute it. Some of the more common approaches are above. This is a state where your natural mindbody energy is most able to flow, offering you energy to use. IMO, this is one of the reasons for rituals as well.

Its very common to combine several methods together, like energy breathing combined with chanting to enter a trance state then (squeemishness aside) masterbating or dancing in a circle. Or chanting a phrase and intensely concentrating on a symbol while intentionally hyperventilating.

As well there are external ways of raising energy. Some of the more common ones are candles, oils, herbs, crystals and the overall ritual performance. There are also specific ritual techniques such as Drawing down the Moon, Middle Pillar, or Chakric exercises, and load of others (I can go into some of these more if anyone wants).

Nero 07-22-2004 12:07 AM

Palindroem, I love your idea about absolute beginner advice. While I agree 100% with what you said I still think it might be a little hard for the absolute beginner.
Example: Mental focus, ok so how do I do that?....

Anyways no offense but I am going to chip in my two cents on starting. This will be overly simple and that is the point.

Advice:
You only have to do two things to begin. Do these two things everyday for at least two or three months and you will have a good start to move on.
1. Learn and preform the LBRP everyday.
2. Keep a journal about all your thoughts and ideas about the ritual.

It sounds simple but it is not. IMO the LBRP is the cornerstone of all CM as well as other paths. The LBRP will get you started with the routine of daily ritual. It will teach you correct vibration and visualzation. It will teach you the basics of a protective circle. It will also in time build up your aura and open up your astral senses that you will need later.

The daily journal will get you in the habit of recording everything and it will allow you to examine your feelings and the effects of daily ritual. Plus it will allow you to look back and see growth which will keep you moving on the path.

It may sound boring or pointless but trust me. Do this for two or three months and then look back at your oldest journal writings.

palindroem 08-01-2004 08:09 PM

Thanks Nero. Your cents are always appriciated.

Mental focus is difficult without any method to start with. My hope is that I'm presenting a simple and experiental approach to start the process of understandind how to focus the mind . . . through meditation.

Although the LBRP ritual is a fine place to start, I found when I started in magick that it was a bit intimidating. I wasn't necassarily looking to start my practice on the ceremonial path. As well, the ritual it self seemed complex. Its really not. As Nero suggested, there are a number of benefits the the newcomer can gain from it. As well, daily practice can't be over appriciated. But . . . its not a necessity.
Three of the most important benefits that a new student can get from regular practice of LBRP'ish work are:
  • Practice visulising and creating a circle.
  • Practice clearing and creating a personal space.
  • The opportunity (as often as wanted) to just practice magick.
(yep, practice practice practice :) )

Although I certainly don't suggest that the ONLY thing you need to do is LBRP style work and I can understand if you don't want to or are leary of this kind of work, I feel like I need to present some LBRP alternatives that might be more comfortable.

Circle Visualization Exercise:
(You may lie down, sit comfortably, or get up and enact this exercise. Face each direction either physically or mentally.)
Ground and center. Face East. Visualize. Using either your athame, or your pointing finger of your strongest hand, and draw an earth banishing Pentacle. See it burning with a pale, blue flame. Say, "Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, Powers of Air."
Walk through the pentacle, and see (imagine) a great wind sweeping across a vast plain, waving grass. Breath Deeply. The Sun is rising, in its rays a golden eagle flys towards you. Fill yourself with the power of Air, then say, "Hail and farewell, Shining Ones." Walk back through the pentagram.

Turn slowly to the South, using your same finger (or athame) to draw a white circle-line with you. There, draw a pentacle again. Say, "Hail Guardians of the Watchtower of the South, Powers of Fire."
Walk through the pentacle. You are on a vedlt (plateau) under the hot sun. Its high noon. The suns fire is strong on your skin . . . absorb its power. In the distance, red-gold lions sun themselves. When ready say, "Hail and farewell Radiant Ones." Walk back through the pentacle.

Again turn, drawing the circle to the West. Draw the pentacle and say, "Hail, Gaurdians of the Watchtowers of the West, Powers of Water."
Walk through the pentacle. Visualize you are on a cliff above the pounding sea. Feel the salty spray and the throbbing force of the waves. Its twilight, the blues and greens and violets of the the water and sky mix as the sun disappears. Dolphins and sea creatures play in the surf. When attuned to the West, say, "Hail and farewell, Flowing Ones."

Turn now to the North, bringing your circle line with you. Draw the pentacle and say, "Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, Powers of Earth."
Walk through the pentacle. Imagine you are in the middle of a lush, fertile landscape like a rainforest . . . on the side of a mountain. Around you are green, growing herbs nourished by fresh springs, and tall, silent trees fed by the minerals and nutrients of the earth. In the distant valleys below are waving feilds of grains. Although it is deep night, you can see wild goats on the mountain side, and wild cattle thundering across the plain below. Above you is the star filled sky. Say, "Hail and farewell, Silent Ones."

Turn once more, drawing your circle line back to the East. Visualize that the line ends connecting to the point were you started it. Around you, the four pentacle flame in a protective circle. Above and beneath the cosmos . . . above your head and beneath your feet is a six pointed star. Breath deeply, drawing in the power of the pentacles and stars. Let the power flood and fill you. Give quite thanks and open the circle by imagining the pentacle flying off into space.

(This exercise if adapted from The Spiral Dance, Starhawk (pg. 94, ex 35)

Any of the words or imagery could be changed to suit your particular style or preference.

-----------

Banishing Ritual
Begin facing east and stand, with your arms by your sides, breathing slowly and deeply. Clear you mind of thoughts.
1. Inhale, and reach upwards with your right hand, visualinging a point of light just beyond your fingertips.
2. Bring your hand slowly down the centerline of your body, to point between your feel. Exhale, and visualise a beam of white light passing down your body, from above your head to below your feet.
3. Inhale, and stretch out your arms so that they form a Tau-cross (just a cross). Exhale and visualize a beam of white light running across your body, fingertip to fingertip.
4. Inhale, and fold your arms across your chest. Exhale, and as you do, visualize a blaze of light spreading across your body, expanding from the two axis previously formed. Breath in and out deeply, feeling yourself to be charded with energy.
-This is the first stage of banishing and is generally know as a Cross of Light.-
5. Next, inhale and trace a pentagram in the air before you. Begin at the lower left apex, drawing it up to the top/center apex. Follow this through until you return back to your original starting position (earth banishing pentagram). Exhale saying (vibrating) the letters I A O (eee-aah-ooh), visualizing the pentagram glowing brightly with white light.
6. Draw (visualize) the circle line with your stronghand pointing finger from the center of the pentagram around to the South. And repeat set number 5.
7. Repeat number 6 and 5 in the West and North cardinal directions, finishing by bringing your circle line back to the point it started at in the East.
-This is the second stage of banishing and is generally known as The Circle of Pentagrams-
7. Raise your arms to a cross and declare yourself.
"For about me flames the pentagrams"
"Above and below, the infinite stars"
"Behold, a circle of Stars!"
"I AM A STAR!"

(This ritual is adapted from Condensed Chaos, Phil Hines (pg. 113)

-----------------

But let me make my personal opinion very clear. As beginner basics go, the above procedures are entirely UN necassary. The entire scope of the LBRP type practice is beyond beginner-or-basic skills.
I am including it in this thread, but really only because its been so widely alluded to in the general. In the scope of initial basics its a bit advanced. If your not comfortable with LBRP'ish work . . . don't do them. Work on other exercises.
This entire post is off-topic and only an explanatory aside to the original topic purpose . . . basic beginner skills.
(although I personnally think banishing/circle casting is one of the most important skills/rituals)

Niether of the two above examples are intended as wholesale replacements for or compitition to the standard LBRP as presented by the G.D. In my opinion, the best example of that ritual is provided in Modern Magick by Don Micheal Kraig. I AM NOT going to reproduce it. :)

(Basically any of the wording or visualizations in the above examples can be changed to make better fits. But, these rituals are designed to have a certain visual and wording flow, as well, they often are designed to represent certain topics, ie solar movement, traditional elemental corrospondance, traditional calling/invoking verbage. If you feel you need to make changes, try to maintain as much of the original "flow" as possible. And try to make changes that don't deviate much from the overall design. Usually, a little bit at a time is the best approach if you really feel you need to make any changes.)

(I'll post soon on some other beginner basics skills. :) )


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