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Useful Techniques for a Well Rounded Sorceror

  
  

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Less searchable M0rd4nt
09:24 / 03.04.05
Damn, I love this thread. I'm bumping it and you can't stop me.
 
 
nyarlathotep's shoe horn
19:24 / 03.04.05
Gabrielle Roth wrote a lovely tome on Ecstatic Dance - which is one of my preferred rituals for communing with a group of people on a dance floor. When conditions work out, verbal communication gives way to non-verbal, and energy flows between and around the assembled.

she identifies and names five rhythms:
flow, staccato, chaos, lyrical, stillness
which facilitate entry into entrancement.

Personally, after a sweaty half-hour warm up, the ego slips away to energized movement and immersion in the moment.

it's difficult to get into much detail, but find music that inspires you to move, a group with whom to prance around, and shake it like you want to.

a few hours of this does a body, mind and soul good. It has been a helpful exercise in practicing enchantment, energy work, and non-verbal communication - I feel these are invaluable tools to develop.

by the by,
this thread is greater than the sum of its parts.
thanks all

ta
pablo
 
 
Phex: Dorset Doom
15:47 / 04.04.05
Summary: Evoke Batman

What you will need: A powerful torch, card, sellotape, a rooftoop or balcony (though a window will do)

Those of you who have read interviews with Grant Morrison may have heard him talk about the idea of comic book characters being modern 'Gods'. This seems fair enough to postmodernly inclined folks; Comic book characters were here before we were born and will probably be here after we die, they'll evolve as new chapters in their histories are written just as a diety will evolve in it's relationship to a religious practicioner. Unfortunately unless you work for Marvel or D.C you'll never get to interact with the characters in a meaningful way, but there's no reason why you can't use these huge and powerful archtypes for Magickal purposes.
The idea is to evoke the idea of the 'Batman' character to increase the justice in one's life. To prepare, read up on Batman from the comics, watch the films/tv series, listen to the soundtracks. Pick one Bat-Era (the campy 60s or the angsty modern batman) so your image is as clear as possible.
Now, typical evocations, such as those in the Keys of Solomon, require a ritual of some kind to get the spirit's attention. And what attract's Batman's attention? The Bat Signal! So, cut some card into the bat-logo (get an adult to help you with the cutting out ) and place it on the lens of one of those ultra-powerful torches you can buy from camping stores, the type where you can see a clear beam when you shine it. Experiment with different sized pieces of card to find one that gives the most defined logo.
Next, wait until nightfall and find a location from which to shine your Bat-signal into the night sky. The roof of a large building is good, or a balcony, though you can easily shine it out of an open window. Use your favourite meditational technique to get into a state where you're half-here-half-there, not complete detachment but not regular conciousness either. Visualise your home city/town becoming Gotham- overwrite your mental map of your 'hood with Gotham landmarks, rewrite it's history with Bat-history. Now feel Batman out there in your city, an awareness of the character is essential here. If you're working with the Adam West Batman then you might like to sing the theme-tune as a mantra.
Do this until you have an rapport with your internal image of Batman. This doesn't have to be, and almost certainly won't be, anything visual or auditory, more like a deeper version of those internal conversations where we re-edit conversations that went badly. Try to learn what the Batman archtype can do for you then send it on its 'mission'. This can be anything appropriate to your understanding of the character. Maybe you see Batman as symbol of order that can bring clarity to a chaotic situation, or as purveyor of justice who can make sure that you and others get what's coming.
End by reversing the ritual so Gotham goes back to being your home town. Banish if you feel this is appropriate.
 
 
gale
19:35 / 04.04.05
This is something I use to occupy my so-called conscious mind when I want my subconscious to do the work. I use it during divinations especially.

I recite "The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick," under my breath over and over. My conscious mind becomes instantly enthralled (being a lover of tongue twisters), leaving my subconscious free to do what it does.
 
 
electric monk
02:35 / 05.04.05
This is my favorite mental exercise and it comes, I believe, from Phil Hine. Can't tell you specifically which Hine book or PDF, but still...It's proven to be more valuable and usable to me than most any other exercise I've tried.

Spend a day with this thought:

Everyone but you is an ascended and elightened Bhudda and they are all waiting for YOU to get your act together and join them in enlightenment so the world can move on to a higher state. Everyone is actively trying to help you out, so listen and learn from the obtuse lessons they are trying to teach you. Those you find especially repellent are the most enlightened and have the most important messages for you.

I'm sure I've embellished here on the original. Mea culpa.

Luuuuuuvin' this thread, BTW.
 
 
FinderWolf
19:56 / 05.04.05
I love that one, monk.
 
 
· N · E · T ·
21:13 / 05.04.05
T h e I n f i n i t e P e r i p h e r y E x e r c i s e

Focus your eyes on one point.

Without physically moving your eyes from the point, move the focus of your awareness around in a sideways 8 (the infinity symbol) so that the ends of the loop caress your peripheral vision.

The point where your eyes are actually physically focused: where the loop crosses.

I have found this exercise to increase my general energy levels, but when used in excess the exercise seems to elicit funny hallucinations and paranoia. So go easy on it.

Superb l'il thread. . .
 
 
Less searchable M0rd4nt
17:01 / 06.04.05
Magick books.

Using this one a lot these days. It's cheap, simple and adaptable.

My method:

First get your book. Pick one that's appropriate for the task at hand--a book to create a glamor might be pink and sparkly, a book to improve health might be blue, ect. You can also decorate the cover to suit your needs; acrylic paints are good for this. If you feel the pages need to be a particular colour you can paint them with ink.

Next, cleanse the book. You can do this using any of your favourite ritual cleansing techniques. I like to brush salt over mine and then pass them through smoke from incense or similar.

Dedicate the book to your purpose and bind it to you. I usually make up a little verse which I read aloud over the book and also write on the inside cover. I sign the verse, then drop a blob of wax underneath and make a thumb-print. (There's always the whole body-fluid thing if you play that way.)

Now you've got your book, what do you put in it? Well, anything you want, really. I draw sigils, write affirmations or mantras, doodle, write fantasy scenarios connected with the intended outcome, write random words or sentences or little poems. One could also add other items, like articles clipped from newspapers or pressed flowers and leaves. The important thing is to add a little to the book every day until you fill it up. Then you can either dispose of it or use it as a way to refocus on your goal, thumb through it when you need a boost or whatever.
 
 
Vadrice
20:00 / 06.04.05
If anyone is a poker player, try a game (low low stakes, you know. Like with the American dollar) while doing a focus meditation.
Only do this if you most deffinatly arent interested in making money while playing poker or the results won't be nearly as interesting.

might want to play on yahoo for a few hours first so the rules and rythems of the game become more subconscious first.
Nothing can pull you out of a nice competative people oriented zoning in than suddenly having to decide whether a straight or a full house is more valuable.

Oh, and try not to watch so much television. It rots your brain.
 
 
electric monk
02:21 / 07.04.05
Vadrice, could you define "focus meditation" for us? At a guess I'd say it's focus on a single object or task, but that doesn't sound right for the context you suggest.

Before Saturday, please, if possible. I'm intrigued and really want to try this out at my monthly game.
 
 
frownland
05:56 / 08.04.05
I'd like to jump back to posts by Panda and cusm regarding Tao.
The Tao Te Ching is certainly the best known work, but there are a number of others worthy of attention (I reckon more worthy), which just never seem to rate a mention when the topic comes up.
I'd recommend The Book of Chuang Tzu (or Kwang-tzu or Kuang-tse or other variations in old versions).

The Tao Te (or Teh) Ching is, to me, poetry - grand beautiful poetry, but not easy to digest. I find I have to read a chapter slowly, carefully, and then sit and contemplate. It's elegant, simple, austere stuff.
The Chuang Tzu, by contrast, is rambling, rambunctious, wacky, chaotic, full of goofy characters. It's a collection of stories, anecdotes, and poems, aranged in themed chapters. One of its main themes is the mocking of self-important sages and overly-earnest scholars such as Confucius.
Another important difference between the two is that the Tao Te Ching is (at least partially) aimed at the above-mentioned sages and scholars, as well as kings and would-be political leaders. Check out chapters 58-61 for example.
The Chuang Tzu is aimed at all people. In Chuang's world, the great sages and adepts are fishermen, butchers, beggars, cripples, and farmers, and he has no concern for government. There's another important theme - great ruler is stressed out, hears about great sage, and goes to him, begging to abdicate his throne and hand over power and wealth to sage. Sage says bugger off, and goes back to his fishing.
There's some common material too, for example the bit about the tiny baby in chapter 55 of Tao Te Ching crops up in the Chuang Tzu, but overall they're very different.

This concludes my fairly dodgy attempt at book reviews. If that was interesting to anyone, I'll post more Tao-related stuff later.
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
09:05 / 08.04.05
And don't forget the Lieh Tzu, which is even more overlooked than the Chuang Tzu...It also is a collection of little tales and recurring characters...It makes much less fun of Confucius, though he still comes in for a bit of ribbing for being a pompous overimportant fool now and then. It is, strangely enough, the mopst accessible and easily digested of the three books, but for some reason the least known...

My recommnedation, sticking to this Taoist theme, is not something you can easily do or quickly run through...It takes at least a whole lifetime, possibly more, depending on aptitude : Learn, and love, to play a musical instrument. Really, really well. Not just thrashing out popular tunes; really get to understand the mechanics of harmony, dissonance and why the two are essential and co-dependent, and how you can manipulate them to create mood. It'll take diligence and lots of practice, every single day. But it's one of the most magic rituals there is, IMO.
 
 
frownland
12:10 / 08.04.05
I didn't want to comment on Lieh Tzu, because I don't own a copy - it's certainly on my to-read list.

Here's some more books and ideas for folks to consider:
Sun Tzu's The Art of War doesn't specifically mention Tao, but its emphasis on flexibility and adaptability shows us the foundation of the Taoist principle of Wu Wei (trans: non-action, non-ado, not striving, actionless action etc - it doesn't mean doing nothing or being lazy)

So a military force has no constant formation, water has no constant shape: the ability to gain victory by changing and adapting according to the opponent is called genius

Another great warrior-sage, Bruce Lee, referred to "quiet, choiceless awareness" , "non-graspiness", and"no-mindedness" as the foundations of Wu Wei (rent one of his movies; watch his eyes when fighting multiple opponents)
That awareness is also what I Ching is about - a symbolic and ritualised way to tune yourself into the ebb and flow of your Tao. It converts this flow directly into little graphical thingys that show you how yin and yang are moving in your body and your life right now.
 
 
EvskiG
17:42 / 08.04.05
Want a quick but profound little mental exercise along the lines of those in Liber Jugorum?

Take a dollar bill (or a low-denomination pound note, etc.) Examine it carefully, front and back. Pause.

Tear it up. At least four or five rips, so it never can be used as money again. Examine the scraps. Then toss them in the trash, or find something interesting and decorative to do with them. Note your reaction to the exercise.

For bonus points, do it in front of someone else and note his or her reaction. Then explain why you did it.
 
 
Vadrice
18:15 / 09.04.05
people should learn not to give me deadlines.

No. I meant exactly that. focus on something anything. But just one thing.
It can be a chip or a card or the ideal of oneness or whatever.
 
 
Vadrice
19:19 / 09.04.05
I love the tao.

The story about it I know is that lao zi came to a border and was told by the border guard that he didn't have permission to transport anything across, but was allowed to travel.
So lao zi sat down, wrote the Tao (highly believable, given it's length), gave it to the guard and walked on (into the sunset).

I love that story.
 
 
Seth
07:22 / 10.04.05
I know a guy who tried that trick with a tenner in front of someone who was really poor, who I also know.

I know their opinions about each other, too. Be careful who you do this around, people.
 
 
Less searchable M0rd4nt
11:57 / 10.04.05
Yeah. There have been times in my life where I had fifteen quid a week to live on after rent and stuff. If you'd torn up a tenner in front of me back then, I'd probably have ripped out your septum.
 
 
electric monk
11:06 / 11.04.05
Vadrice - "people should learn not to give me deadlines."

No worries. I'll try it at the next game.
 
 
EvskiG
15:21 / 11.04.05
As for ripping up money in front of someone who could use it -- well, that violates the first rule of group workings (or any workings involving other people): Don't Be an Asshole.

There are rare exceptions to the rule, but ideally they should require a bit of thought and consideration beforehand.
 
 
Seth
00:14 / 12.04.05
If that's anything to go by I reckon you should start a thread listing your complete rules for group working!
 
 
Vadrice
03:05 / 12.04.05
my rules for group workings.

1) don't be a jackass.

2) if you don't understand rule #1, follow different rules and don't bother me and bother someone else. please.

3) if you're still reading this, give up now and die.
 
 
ThePirateKing
23:54 / 29.04.05
-bump -

Anymore?
 
 
Unconditional Love
01:33 / 30.04.05
an alternative to sigilisation through masterbation, which only really creates blind idiot god spawn,dont it?

inspired by william burroughs.

burroughs uses this is several places in his novels, a description of sticking candles up his arse, this got me thinking.

take a suitably sized candle (you decide),choose an appropiate colour to the work you are performing, choose an appropiate oil to the undertaking you are performing, nothing that will burn the skin.

take a knife or pin cut the sigil you have created prior to the performance into the candle, oil the candle, visualising it as an appropriate penetrator to the insertion.

it may well be advisable to lubricate the anal hole at this point.

insert the fully prepared candle/phallus into your anal passage.

lay face down on a hard surface removing all flamable materials.

light the candle, and concentrate on the dripping of wax.

do not fall asleep.....
 
 
Seth
12:27 / 01.05.05
Why even go to the trouble of crafting a sigil, wolven?
 
 
Less searchable M0rd4nt
16:40 / 01.05.05
Sounds good and kinky, dude, but have you tried it? Does it work?
 
 
Unconditional Love
16:47 / 01.05.05
it works.

another point i wouldnt advise having a heavy meal anytime during the performance, empty your stomach first. 1 clove of garlic blended in a cup of water will do that trick.
 
 
ThePirateKing
17:32 / 03.05.05
Obviously I don't have any problem what so ever with sticking a candle up my arse, but err... is their an effective alternative?
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
08:01 / 04.05.05
Man, its pulling this kind of stunt that gives magick a bad reputation.

200 years ago, that's a surefire way to get yourself tied to a stake in the middle of the village standing on a lot of tinder. With the candle still inserted.

'Concentrate on the dripping of the wax' indeed. Start a new thread!
 
 
Olulabelle
08:29 / 04.05.05
Wolven angels of clay, repeat after me:

Useful techniques for a well-rounded sorceror. That's useful techniques for a well-rounded sorceror.
 
 
Unconditional Love
14:11 / 04.05.05
well its plainly obvious your not sticking enough things up your arse at present, why dont you experiment and keep a diary and get back to me. in through the out door.

and a pirate king......
 
 
ThePirateKing
00:20 / 05.05.05
I know. I just can't seem to find the time.
 
 
Olulabelle
01:21 / 05.05.05
You too?

Ooooh. I so wanted to do the bad Olulabelle thing, and write a whole list of possible things which may or may not have been up my arse. It could have been a whole guessing game...

But I'm nice, so I shan't.

Wolven Angels of Clay, really my point was that there are far more useful techniques to magick than worrying about burning your bottom on a regualr basis. But if it works for you, you know, who am I to disagree?
 
 
Less searchable M0rd4nt
07:49 / 05.05.05
I hate to say it, but the candle thing isn't really a seperate technique, is it? You're still basically using sigils, just charging them by another means.
 
 
Unconditional Love
13:53 / 05.05.05
uncomfortable enough for this to be dropped yet, as its turning into rot.
 
  

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