Sulum Factum Magus

One of the things I have noticed about the way we are driven to live in the Western world, in the early twenty-first century, is that activity, action and doing are emphasised beyond all balance and reason. It sometimes seems that we are forever rushing to do something or other – to get to work, to get home, to get to this or that event or gathering, with everything governed by the relentless ticking of the clock. Nature of course, is not nearly so regulated and driven as this. While it does have its rhythms and cycles, these are in a constant state of flux and re-adjustment. However, I digress. This is not a winge about the state of the world, but an enquiry into the response of the wise to this condition of society. 

First and foremost, instead of getting swept up in this frenetic storm of activity, the wise enter it on their own terms, and withdraw from it when necessary in order to regenerate, recuperate and recharge. This preserves inner balance, even if the human created world arround us remains seriously out of balance.

Secondly, the wise understand and develop the magic associated with opening a space. There are many levels in which the principle of opening and holding space can be manifested. For example, creative ideas enter the mind most easily when it is relaxed and free of pressure, that is when there is a space for them to emerge into conscious awareness. The ancients believed that the world of ideas existed as a more refined spiritual plane, distinct from the material realm. Accessing this refined world of ideas allowed them to be manifested in the world of sense and experience. This blessing of the Gods can come only if one makes the space for it in one’s life. Today people would perhaps be more inclined to consider that ideas bubble up from the unconscious mind. Regardless, the same principle applies – space must be made in order to allow these ideas to surface. Making space involves temporarily becoming uninvolved with the rush of material necessity, in order to do nothing. Perhaps by lying in bed, or chopping some wood, having a shower, or switching off the television and going for a walk in the evening. Space can be made in a more focussed way through meditative or contemplative practice, or through personal or group ritual, creating a sacred space and calling into it personal or group Deities or relevant energies.

Space can also be made in many more subtle ways, once one has attained some skill with visualisation and energetic awareness. For example, if you are at a meeting which seems to be floundering and getting no where, visualize a circle of light surrounding the group. Use yellow light if there is a need for focus, clarity and clear thinking, rose light if there is a need for people to listen compassionately to each other, red light if there is a need for practicality, etc. Also visualise appropriate qualities entering the circle, such as harmony, creativity, respect, positive outcomes, etc. There are many ways to do this. One way is to visualize Deities which embody the qualities desired entering the space. Another is to visualize colours that are associated with the desired qualities entering the space. Yet another is to visualize symbols, such as runes or Ogham script or astrological symbols, which embody the desired qualities, within the circle. Another method is to visualise the quality desired spelled out in English, in an appropriate colour, dissolving within the space, and infusing it with a light mist of the same colour. There are as many ways of doing this as there are people – in fact many more – as each of us is infinitely creative. However the same principle is behind all of these methods – as discussed in “The Art of Projection”. In this application of it, a space is created, and filled with a desired quality, through the use of visualisation. 

Now it may be that the space is already full of something undesirable, such as anger, conflict, stubborness, bloody mindedness, suspicion and so on. The same technique can be used to cleanse and empty the space of such qualities and energies, so that more positive energies can take their place. It may be quite difficult to empty a space of such negative qualities if they have become entrenched, and these hidden techniques may need to be coupled with more manifest techniques of conflict resolution and reflexive listening and so on. But I am sure you will be surprised at how effective the techniques I describe can be. To empty a space of negativity, visualize the space connected into the earth through conduits, pipes, or roots, and visualize the negativity being drained away. Another useful method is to visualize a fire or flame transforming the negativity into useful energy for creativity and positive change. So much the better if one works regularly with the Lady Brighid, Goddess of the triple flame.

Symbolic visualizations which work very much on the mental level, and energetic cleansing, which works at the level of etheric energy, can be made more effective by linking to the emotional level – the level of feeling. In my experience, this can be achieved through focus on the chakras, especially the heart chakra. Many new age  groups teach that transformative effects on a group or space can be achieved through opening the heart centre. 

Space corresponds to the number zero, symbolic of the great womb of the Goddess, from which all is born. In creating space, we are linking to the womb of the Goddess, and allowing her to gestate and birth whatever is necessary. It is the journey of the divine fool. To trust Her, and work with Her, knowing, without knowing. 

Blessed Be,

Robyn

There are many directions of development that the magical practitioner can take. Something that I have been working with lately is the art of projection. The word projection can mean a couple of different things in esoteric terminology. One meaning is to transfer the conscious attention to a location distant from the physical body. This meaning is found also in the term astral projection, which describes the movement of the astral body, including the conscious attention, away from the physical body. Another meaning is to describe the creation of an energy or a facsimile – a mental, astral or physical form – in order to effect some change in the outer world. In this usage, one may understand it as a similar process to projecting an image upon a screen with a video projector. The image is constructed within the practitioner’s immaginative faculty, and projected by visualisation on to the mental, emotional or physical dimension. While it is difficult to project an image into physical form, this has traditionally been the province of witches and shamans since time immemorial. While I don’t claim to have had any success in this department, I certainly believe it to be possible! More easily accomplished is to project an image onto the mental or emotional atmosphere. As with any projection, the more focussed, detailed, and charged the projection is, the more capicity it has to effect and influence others, either consciously or unconsciously.

Such projections can also be conduits or keys for contacting and inviting in particular energy currents and vibrations, such as the seven rays, astrological energies, numerological energies, archetypal energies, Deity presence, and spiritual energy of any nature. In some ways it is like projecting a door upon the fabric of the subtle atmosphere in a place or gathering, and then opening the door to allow in the desired energy which is behind it. This may also be accomplished by the use of various symbols, such as runes, planetary symbols, or the symbols of the astrological zodiac, or geometric shapes linked to numerological energies, or indeed any symbol that has meaning and association for the practitioner. Such symbols can also be associated with Deities, and used to contact  Deity presence.

A way of working with this mode of projection in daily life is as follows. Whenever you are in a situation which you would like to change for the better, decide what energy you feel would positively transform the situation. Select a symbol that embodies that energy, and project it onto the subtle atmosphere with as much brilliance and clarity as you are able. Usually visualisation is done with eyes closed. However projection is done with your eyes open. Superimpose the symbol or image with your immaginative facility over the visual sense impressions you are receiving from your eyes. Make the projected image as clear and as real as you can. This can be done in meetings, sitting on buses, walking along the street, sitting at a table for a meal – in fact anywhere. Always have the intention of working for the highest good of all concerned. And observe how things arround you seem to change for the better. With a little practice, you will be able to set up and hold the projection in place almost automatically, leaving you free to fully participate in whatever way is appropriate for the activity at hand.

BB,

Robyn.

After a certain amount of magical development, one will begin to notice that at certain times there appears to be another self that swiftly comes to the fore to achieve some purpose, and as quickly retires again to the background. Appearances of this other self are often unexpected and at first, can be deeply shocking. The shock comes from a number of factors. Firstly, it comes from the appearance of otherness. In our normal waking state we have a somewhat limited concept of who and what we are. I have described this previously as the locus of self identity being lodged in the seat of reason. The appearance of this other self is outside our normal experience and sense of self. Thus it is shocking to us, at least until we get used to it. The second reason it is shocking is that it acts without or beyond our usual ethical or moral boundaries, which form part of the baggage of our seat of reason. It does not consider, deliberate, evaluate or judge. It acts. By the time we have caught up with it, and realised what it has done, in our limited rational perceptions, we may be shocked. Thirdly, the magical body is powerful. It is as shocking as suddenly discovering we have grown another arm, which is twice as muscly as our usual two, and insists on shaping up to all comers for a fight, in spite of our protestations!

The magical body can naturally be released under conditions of great stress or danger, but with concerted magical training to loosen the locus of self identity, the magical body can be released at will, or be provoked by more minor annoyances.

For example, I was walking along the street in the city the other day. A young man with a pile of leaflets fixed his attention on me, and started in my direction. Of course anyone with magical training will feel this as energy directed at oneself. I was in a hurry, and had no wish to be distracted. There was a movement like a small shock through my arm, and an almost imperceptible jerk of the index finger of my right hand. The top few leaflets fell off his pile, and he bent to pick them up, by which time I was passed and out of the way! This was an example of the magical body responding and acting. Of course, to the mundanes, it is no more than a coincidence. However this is the way that the magical body works – instantly, and without direct conscious volition.

The magical body is very protective, and may emerge if one is astrally threatened by a presence or by a person’s projection or energy signature, especially if they mean you ill.

The magical body can also be harnessed in ritual work, especially those kinds of rituals which induce the conscious mind to step away from its illusion of control over the greater being. The magical body may be empowered and exercised by frequent use. The magical body has no doubts or fears, and never wonders whether it is misjudging someone. It simply acts. Yet those who choose to walk a magical path are certainly responsible for the magical body and its actions. The secret lies in allowing the locus of self identity to be free to wander within the wider sphere of one’s being. When the instantaneous action of the magical body is married with the instantaneous knowing of the magical perception, then the magical body will be employed appropriately. Neither of these states are possible if the locus of identity is locked into the seat of reason.

How does one loosen the locus, and broaden the horizon of self? Most paths of magical development achieve this in one way or another. For example, regular practice in movement of the attention through focus and concentration, and training of the inner eye through visualisation, which leads to the opening of the inner window, will act to loosen the locus. My book “The Great Work” provides a series of exercises that can be pursued over a number of months to set one going on the right direction.

Blessed Be

Robyn