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So, how exactly does one [do magick], if not through visualization? -Arthur
I’ve talked before about why I don’t use visualization in magick, and what I do instead, but I’ve never done justice to the topic. This is truly the key difference between direct magick and other forms of magick, even those based on rituals rather than visualization, so it’s worth at least one more discussion.
This series will span a lot of topics. Conscious vs unconscious magick. Automation vs precise control. Commands, perceptions, and underlying mechanics. And more. It’ll actually take a while before we talk about visualization or rituals, but that conversation will work much better once we lay this groundwork.
Today, we’ll start with sending instructions vs receiving sensory feedback.
Directing vs Perceiving Magick
If you’ve been here for any length of time, you’ve read about mental muscles. That’s my term for the parts of your mind that drive magick. Note: That’s the mind, not the brain — the mental muscles connect to your brain, but they are not part of it.
And that’s one of the keys to understanding magick: Your brain doesn’t drive it. Non-physical parts of your mind do. They take guidance from your brain, but they are separate.
This means that information needs to flow two ways: From your brain to your mental muscles (to direct them to do what you want), and from your mental muscles to your brain (to perceive the world and how you’re interacting with it).
If the information only flows from your brain to your mental muscles, you can ask for things, but you can’t watch your magick operate. And if your magick doesn’t work, you won’t know why, and so you won’t be able to debug it.
If the information only flows from your mental muscles to your brain, you’ll be able to receive intuitions, but won’t be able to guide the intuitions, ask about particular topics, or ask for further details. I’ve met psychics like this, it’s usually more terrifying than it is useful.
So, we want information to flow both ways. Next, we’ll explore some ways to make that happen.
Other posts in this series:- Visualization is Overrated (August 25, 2012)
- The Many Substeps of Magick (August 25, 2012)
- Some Magick Won't Come Naturally (August 28, 2012)
- Why We Need Unintuitive Magick (August 29, 2012)
- Directing vs Perceiving Magick (September 2, 2012)
- Visualizations Direct (But Don't See) Magick (September 3, 2012)
- What I Do Instead of Visualization (September 5, 2012)
- The 3 Ways I Direct My Mental Muscles (September 8, 2012)
- How I Develop New Techniques (September 12, 2012)
Tags: Mental Muscles, Visualization