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Combat Magick

05:09 / 07.03.04

Hey all. I'm a soldier currently stationed in Iraq and have been for the last ten monthes or so. During my time here,I've noticed something about combat magick. Combat magick is very well and good when being employed against a defenseless, unaware target, but it's goddamned ineffectual when being used against, say, someone running at you with a knife or an AK-47. The techniques lose their usefulness in spur of the moment encounters, mostly because the mind is far more concerned with survival than with recalling/casting any beneficial sigils or mantras.

Auric workings don't do very much either. I find that I'm just as exhausted as everyone else at the end of a long day. Invocations to Mars and red gnosis workings don't really help me win any wrestling matches. Am I missing the point of combat magick? Or am I completely doing it ass backwards? Anyone have any input on how to effectively increase one's vigor, vitality and aggression during combat? Also, I'd like to know how to trigger bezerk rage at will, like the Viking Bear Shirts did, but I don't want to take a bunch of magic mushrooms. Anyone know any good books or rotes?

08:53 / 07.03.04

My understanding of combat magick is that it is usually employed against another mage. You are absolutely correct that combat magick doesn't work well in the situation that you are in, at least not in a ritual sense. One of the best things to learn, IMO, in your kind of situation, is to learn to visualize in real-time, in other words, with your eyes wide open. That way, you can draw energy for aura fortification, and to provide mental calm on the spot. In any situation where events are moving quickly, on the spot is good. You need to be able to keep your attention focussed on the situation at hand, and the only way to do that is to be able to "super-impose" your magick on your surroundings. Given a choice between going into a magickal state, and paying attention to your surroundings, you should choose paying attention to your surroundings. Mental calm is good, I'm not sure that a berserker rage would be the best thing. Those mental states where designed for persons wielding swords. Today's weaponry demands precision. Another thing that can help is to work on relaxing when possible. Relaxation helps you to build energy that can be called upon to get you through hard times. When you are in a situation where you are not in danger, release the threat from your mind. I know that it can be hard in your situation, but it can help you to get through. Magick that utilizes the manipulation of an opponents energy field usually works best when in hand to hand combat, and requires a lot of pre-training. Trust your instincts to get you through. Good luck.

Nietzsch E. Coyote

11:20 / 07.03.04

Some kind of blessing of your weapons might be a good way to have the magick with you even when your mind isn't.

Dances with Gophers

11:42 / 07.03.04

Have you tried Mithras? He is local to the region you are currently stationed. His cult was adopted and spread across the Roman Empire by the Legions. One of the levels of initiation was that of Miles (Soldier). Another solar warrior deity is Sehkmet, she is also fiercely protective. She is the Egyptian Lion headed goddess and has a taste for beer.
Remember a Berserker's job was to create a hole in a shield wall for the rest of his army to exploit, they were essentially suicide troops.

Also Mercury (or equivalent) to ensure all the Comms kit etc is working.

Good luck.

05:54 / 20.03.04

there's a time for magick and there's a time for good ol' marksmanship/trench spraying, just get the fuck down and spray with whatever weapon is at hand and hope you hit something.
Sempre Fi,
Achilles

17:22 / 20.03.04

Although I agree that not getting shot should stay on the top of your list, it would be a shame not to take advantage of the fact that you have been sent to a warzone. If you can't get your magic to work when bullets fly past your head and people try to stab you, then why bother?
That would be the point where you need it the most.

Maybe you could find something more suited to in-action magic than visualisation. Perhaps a servitor to help you stay alert, or enchantments on your weapons and uniform, like Coyote mentioned.

Keep working at it and let us know if anything interesting happens. And keep your head down.

17:35 / 07.04.04

Hi there, I wouldn't try to give advice on this but I suggest you start looking into the magics of the more tribal style martial arts like indonesian silat or filipino kali or for that matter good old ninjutsu. There is for example the magick stuff (which I haven't read, only seen the covers) written by William Sanders (www.cimande.com).

I also have a book recommendation that i love and that might do you some good in putting togheterh your own viking style stuff (but I doubt that you can get hold on the book given your circumstances):

Neal Price, The viking way: magic and war in iron age scandinavia. (Uppsala, 2003?)

Its his doctoral thesis and he is obviously mad, because he has managed to put in _all_ the information about viking magic that you can possibly think of from icelandic literature, archaology, circompolar shamanic cultures and you name it and hes got a reference list thats... impressive to say the leas. Did you know for example that vikings probably grew marijuana, that most viking magicians were women, but that there were cross-dressing men who did magic too... that they used magical staffs made from iron with a sharp point at one end and a wrought iron basket at the other. The bad thing is that it probably only can be found in some top university libraries, unless you order it from the dept of archaology in uppsala.