Naleena said:
BlackCat said:
I am a Wiccan, so I chose other. I do celebrate the sabbats, do "Magic," and I do rituals. Go me.
I consider myself more spiritual than religious. BTW, Black Cat the Wiccan religion is a very beautiful religion that combines nature, the cycles of life, and the female and male aspects of the Divine.
I agree with the above quotes. Though to me, "Magic" is spelled
Magick (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magick ), and I prefer ceremonial forms of Magick, practices that are similar to the works accomplished by Aleister Crowley.
Crowley was a misunderstood genius, demonized by the times that he lived in (1875-1947). The bass-ackwards people back then were scared of their own shadows, and they called anything that they didn't understand evil. Magick is just Magick; there is no black or white Magick. It's analogous to the concept of guns. There are no "black or white" guns; it's the people, and what they do with those guns that makes the difference between what's good and what's bad, and it's the same with Magick.
The best book that I've found so far on the subject of Ceremonial Magick is called "High Magic: Theory & Practice" by Frater U.: D.: (
http://www.amazon.com/High-Magic-Practice-Frater-U/dp/0738704717 ) . It is a book for both the absolute beginner and the wise, old sage.
A couple of examples of the kinds of things, along with actually learning the ins and outs of practicing Ceremonial Magick, that you can glean from the book:
Note: The use of the terms "high" and "low" when describing forms of magic(k) are just that, descriptions. One is not better than the other, they are just different, and this particular term usage has always been a convenient way to differentiate between them.
"Low Magic" is the term used when an individual personally works with the elements of nature in practicing their magic; much like Wiccans do, for the most part.
The term "High Magic" is used when a person actually conjures up spirits to do all the work; much like what is done with Ceremonial Magick. King Solomon is said to have been a High Magic (or Magick) worker, though theories do differ on exactly what went on with him, his Wisdom and his Magick in the distant past (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_of_Solomon ).
The other example I want to give is probably the most important aspect of this post, and if nothing else, I'd like you to know about it so that you might give it further consideration during your idle time:
In the early 1900's, Sigmund Freud (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Freud ) basically endeavored to get his followers to "tear-down" the subconscious part of the human psyche. He believed that the subconscious part of the mind was the most powerful, and that if it could be brought under control, most psychological traits that "went against the norm" could be
cured.
But there was another guy around the same time (and I can't remember his name off of the top of my head, but it is in the "High Magic" book), working independently of Freud, who didn't want to tear-down the subconscious mind, but actually wanted to amplify it. This guy was concerned with performing magic (not the "slight-of-hand" kind, but
real magic), and it was his belief that the unconscious part of the mind was responsible for accomplishing feats that could only be described as magical.
Think about the religions that get people to go into a trance and "talk in tongues."
The power of deep/intense prayer.
And Zen-type meditations that get you to mentally reach into your subconscious mind.
Even the blasted psychiatrists and psychologists are wont to hypnotize people, accessing their subconscious minds.
I could go into more detail, but basically just know that the subconscious part of the human mind is the most important component when dealing with religion, spiritualism, Freud's so called psychoanalysis (gods save us), and yes, even Magic(k). Therefore, with in our own minds, said religions, spiritualism, psychoanalysis and Magic(k) must be pretty close to being one-and-the-same.
(Though I have yet to actually practice any form of Ceremonial Magick myself, I'm well-read with it and very interested in communing with others on this subject. If there are any like minds in this matter at this forum, please PM me.)