posted January 26, 2005 10:28 AM         

Ritual Magic(k)? Well if you mean doing magic in a ritual setting.. I did attend a Full Moon Esbat at a friend's home the other night.. and we did raise a bit of energy.

If you are talking about Ceremonial Magic(k) or the Invocation of otherworldly spirits... I'm not a big fan.

I believe that if one really looks at a Catholic Mass (and I'm guessing other religious services as well, but can only speak for the Catholics as that was how I was raised) you will see a fine show of ritual magic.

First there is the sprinkling of Holy Water to cleanse the sacred space. Then the priest walks around the altar with incense (Air element), casting a circle as it were. There are candles upon the altar to invoke Fire, Water and Wine, a Chalice and bread which represents Earth. Prayers are intoned, which is the same as casting a spell, and Healing is invoked and sent out during the course of the Mass.

Does that really differ in any significant way from what we did at the Full Moon circle? I think not.

Always remember though, that the RITUAL itself is not magical. It is simply a trapping to set the tone for us to evoke our own Powers as Co-Creators. The magical intent is really the only necessary element... but there's something to be said for the drama and evocative nature of the ritual.

During ritual, all of one's senses are called in to play, adding to the experience no doubt.

Is it essential to do ritual to work magic... absolutely not. But it can be fun!

Does that help at all?

In the Light...
A

posted January 26, 2005 11:14 PM         

Why don't you like Ceremonial Magick?

Do you think I ask you too many questions?

How is the snow up in Peabody?

posted January 28, 2005 01:17 PM         

OK – say someone like myself wanted to get together with other individuals/entities who actually live in the physical realm – say I wanted to get together on another plane/different dimension. I’ve tried this on my own and I believe in works VERY well – what would you suggest is the best way for me to get some participants together in this realm for such a project?

posted January 28, 2005 03:11 PM         

Star,

Ceremonial magick, as I understand it, may be used for many purposes, however, I think alot of practitioners enjoy attempting to "raise demons". I had run into a group such as this many years back, and I asked them why they would want to do such a thing?

Their response was, to assert the strength of our Will. Now, these happened to be college students who were smoking, drinking and doing various drugs from time to time.

My response was basically, until you can control your own will to the extent that you don't need drugs, booze or cigarettes... when you are not addicted to certain foods, then I might buy that your Will is strong enough to conjure and control a demon.

Again my question would be, to what point is "raising a demon"? Seems sort of silly and unnecessary to me... I think we have enough trouble in the world as is without conjuring demons to do our bidding!

So.. not saying that Ceremonial Magic is bad.. but its construct tend to be more of the Intellect, the Will and shaping or controllong forces by imposing structures of our Will on to them. It is not organic, natural, nor does it flow with the harmonies of Mother Earth. (such as in American Indian ritual, witchcraft or other such shamanistic forms of "magic")

No, you don't ask too many questions!

The snow in Peabody and Salem is mounting up, I hear we may be in for another dumping on Monday, and I have no idea where we're going to put it all!

In the Light...
A

posted February 04, 2005 09:10 PM         

What kind of magic(k) do you perform? Do you like doing spells or just image/ordain?

posted February 05, 2005 01:20 AM         

Well Star, personally I think that doing a spell is exactly the same as using the Image, Ordain, Manifest formula.

The whole point of using a spell is that you might burn some incense, candles, compound some herbs or charge some crystals... it very much calls on the Law of Correspondence as explained in The Kybalion.

I like both methods. I think that it is probably easier to I/O/M than it is to do a spell. But as I said, there is something about ritual that is appealing. I think that when working with a close-knit group a ritual or spell, will help the different members to "focus" and be on the same page, as it were.

The bottom line is that INTENT is the key to success regardless of which format you use. Moving energy to manifest your desires is shaped by your individual Image, your God given power as a Co-Creator. So is there really all that big a difference? I'm not so sure.

That make any sense?

In the Light...
A