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vaxjediMagick has been defined in a variety of different ways. Crowley defined it as 'the causing of change in accordance to the will'. Bonewits defined it as the activity of using psychic ability to enact change. L. Ron Hubbard defined it as anything that science isn't. A lot of these definitions has always seemed lacking to to me, so I have attempted to look at a manner of categorizing magickal paradigms in an attempt to understand how they work. This is a first attempt to write some of these thoughts down. Now I don't think this is particular complete or anything. Comments, as always, are welcome.
The most important concept in magick is the division between the natural and the supernatural. Nature is that which is metaphysically ordinary, part of the standard order of reality and our experience in it. This stretches from the flora and fauna to the experience of the human condition in its myriad of manifestations. While there are great many events in that range that are not probable or even incredibly unlikely, they are still a part of a 'natural order'.
Supernature, however, comprises of those things that exist outside of that natural order. This is the realm of magick, interacting with those elements or events that do not fall within the boundaries of the ordinary universe. And it is the purview of the magician to interact and exist with this supernature.
A magician's or magickal tradition's paradigm defines its world view and its interaction with that worldview. The paradigm's worldview consists of a schema that is the metaphysical roadmap that outlines the boundaries of nature and supernature. It defines which events are outside of the realm of the ordinary, as well as the models and specific mechanisms with which those events occur.
There are several basic types of models in describing the magickal universe.
* The animistic model purports that all things in the universe have a soul, that is a metaphysical nature that is distinct from matter. These generally indivisible souls form a sort of supernatural ecology that is interconnected with that of the ordinary.
* The spiritual model relies on the existence of a purely non-material dimension to the universe and emphasizes the interaction with the spiritual denizens of that reality and how they can effect the natural world. These entities could be called gods, loa or just simply spirits.
* The energetic model supposes an underlying energetic supernature in which the material world is fueled and given form by magickal essences or energies that can be used, moved and transformed.
* The materialistic model denies the existence of supernature entirely. Those things which fall outside of the ordinary are simply those things which are not understood enough to be explained using the parameters of the ordinary world.
* The cybernetic model explains that the supernatural is defined by the belief of the observer or the consensus of humanity, that it is mutable to the will (or at least to the change of belief) and the ordinary is a state that is individually relative.
A particular paradigm can use any one of the models, or several in conjunction. Our current scientific paradigm is largely a materialistic one. However, there are some significant energetic models, especially in the realms of quantum mechanics. And most of the soft sciences utilize heavy doses of the cybernetic model. Postmodern occult paradigms tend to rely heavily on the energetic or cybernetic models, with a variable sprinkling of the other models.
The specifics of the contents of the supernatural are often culturally or religiously-based, defining aspects of the supernatural, everything from entities to geography to ethical and moral reality.
But the paradigm also defines the mode or modes through which the magician perceives and affects with the supernatural.
There are a few fundamental modes of interaction with supernature (really what we think of as 'performing magick').
* The mechanistic mode of interaction describes that this interaction is independently deterministic. That is, a particular impetus will trigger a particular response given a particular environment irregardless of the intent or state of mind of the magician. Indeed, the impetus does not even need to come from a magician - it can come from anything that can generate the proper conditions. Perception is equally mechanistic - data is received by those perceptions capable of detecting the medium in which it is encoded.
* The gnostic mode of interaction requires the impetus to come from a magician in an altered state of mind that provides the bridge in which the ordinary can affect the supernatural. Without a mind/soul to provide the bridge, there cannot be an interaction. Perception of the supernatural requires that bridge as well. Note that this state of gnosis can be a state achieved for a short while through a particular action (ritual, application of chemicals, or other activity) or it can be the result of the magician's development or circumstance (enlightenment, state of grace or clerical investment). It can even be an inherent property of the magician, due to talent, lineage or happenstance.
The most important concept in magick is the division between the natural and the supernatural. Nature is that which is metaphysically ordinary, part of the standard order of reality and our experience in it. This stretches from the flora and fauna to the experience of the human condition in its myriad of manifestations. While there are great many events in that range that are not probable or even incredibly unlikely, they are still a part of a 'natural order'.
Supernature, however, comprises of those things that exist outside of that natural order. This is the realm of magick, interacting with those elements or events that do not fall within the boundaries of the ordinary universe. And it is the purview of the magician to interact and exist with this supernature.
A magician's or magickal tradition's paradigm defines its world view and its interaction with that worldview. The paradigm's worldview consists of a schema that is the metaphysical roadmap that outlines the boundaries of nature and supernature. It defines which events are outside of the realm of the ordinary, as well as the models and specific mechanisms with which those events occur.
There are several basic types of models in describing the magickal universe.
* The animistic model purports that all things in the universe have a soul, that is a metaphysical nature that is distinct from matter. These generally indivisible souls form a sort of supernatural ecology that is interconnected with that of the ordinary.
* The spiritual model relies on the existence of a purely non-material dimension to the universe and emphasizes the interaction with the spiritual denizens of that reality and how they can effect the natural world. These entities could be called gods, loa or just simply spirits.
* The energetic model supposes an underlying energetic supernature in which the material world is fueled and given form by magickal essences or energies that can be used, moved and transformed.
* The materialistic model denies the existence of supernature entirely. Those things which fall outside of the ordinary are simply those things which are not understood enough to be explained using the parameters of the ordinary world.
* The cybernetic model explains that the supernatural is defined by the belief of the observer or the consensus of humanity, that it is mutable to the will (or at least to the change of belief) and the ordinary is a state that is individually relative.
A particular paradigm can use any one of the models, or several in conjunction. Our current scientific paradigm is largely a materialistic one. However, there are some significant energetic models, especially in the realms of quantum mechanics. And most of the soft sciences utilize heavy doses of the cybernetic model. Postmodern occult paradigms tend to rely heavily on the energetic or cybernetic models, with a variable sprinkling of the other models.
The specifics of the contents of the supernatural are often culturally or religiously-based, defining aspects of the supernatural, everything from entities to geography to ethical and moral reality.
But the paradigm also defines the mode or modes through which the magician perceives and affects with the supernatural.
There are a few fundamental modes of interaction with supernature (really what we think of as 'performing magick').
* The mechanistic mode of interaction describes that this interaction is independently deterministic. That is, a particular impetus will trigger a particular response given a particular environment irregardless of the intent or state of mind of the magician. Indeed, the impetus does not even need to come from a magician - it can come from anything that can generate the proper conditions. Perception is equally mechanistic - data is received by those perceptions capable of detecting the medium in which it is encoded.
* The gnostic mode of interaction requires the impetus to come from a magician in an altered state of mind that provides the bridge in which the ordinary can affect the supernatural. Without a mind/soul to provide the bridge, there cannot be an interaction. Perception of the supernatural requires that bridge as well. Note that this state of gnosis can be a state achieved for a short while through a particular action (ritual, application of chemicals, or other activity) or it can be the result of the magician's development or circumstance (enlightenment, state of grace or clerical investment). It can even be an inherent property of the magician, due to talent, lineage or happenstance.
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Date: 2003-10-06 10:07 am (UTC)Perhaps my view is better described as an amalgam of the materialistic and the energetic, but that's not completely accurate. To my view nature is the sum of all that is. Therefore, nothing can be beyond nature, even if it is currently beyond most people's understanding.
That being said, I really like what you've written here. It's a very useful way to categorize perspectives on magic.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-11 12:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-06 10:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-06 10:00 pm (UTC)I'm mostly spiritual+energetic+cybernetic. But sometimes materialism gets involved in there, too, because even though all is maya, even maya is some manifestation of God.