Introduction to Magick

We are concerned here with the Magic which was "considered by the sages of antiquity the Royal Art and the Transcendental Magic"⁴ rather than the magic of tricks, slight of hand and illusion. We are concerned here with the noble art of Theurgy, that is, "magic used for personal growth, spiritual evolution, and for becoming more aligned with the divine source of the universe."⁴

Magic is much misunderstood. The western reader will perhaps grasp more easily the concepts, metaphors and allegories of magic if it is framed within the modern subject of psychology.

Magic concerns itself in the main with the world of modern psychology. That is to say, it deals with that sphere of the psyche of which normally we are not conscious but which exerts an enormous influence upon our lives. Magic is a series of psychological techniques so devised as to enable us to probe more deeply into ourselves. To what end? First, that we shall understand ourselves more completely. Apart from the fact that such self-knowledge in itself is desirable, an understanding of the inner nature releases us from unconscious compulsions and motivations and confers a mastery over life. Second, that we may then more fully express that inner self in everyday activities. ³

Approaching the matter from another point of view, it may be said that Magic deals with the same problems as religion. It does not waste its or our valuable time with futile speculations with regard to the existence or nature of God. It affirms dogmatically that there is an omnipresent and eternal life principle - and thereupon, in true scientific fashion, lays down a host of methods for proving it for oneself. How may we know God? Here, as before, there is a well-defined and elaborate technique for dealing with the human consciousness as such and exalting it to an immediate experience of the universal spirit permeating and sustaining all things. ²

Much of the terminology of Magic can be directly translated into the terminology of modern psychology. For example, what modern psychology terms a complex "the ancient psychology of Magic, which had its own system of classification and nomenclature, named a Spirit".¹

Those who can see beyond superstitious nonsense and their own prejudices will find in Magic a remarkable system of self transformation.

For a theoretical and/or practical introduction to the subject of Magic, potential students could do worse than consult the books in References section.

Created by: Amadeus last modification: Saturday 07 of May, 2005 [16:48:44 UTC] by Amadeus