Post by shawnhartnell on Jul 8, 2016 11:28:48 GMT -6
t you want and means is how you get it. Here's a simple chart which puts everything you've learned into neat order:
[Ends:Intent/Desire/Keter] → [Means:Cause and Effect] → [Ends:What You Get/Malchut]
Always, always, always keep your Keter wedged up your Malhut! [Keter] → [Malchut]
...if you do, you will stay focused, even as the means dynamically change. (Means should always be more flexible than Ends.)
With that said, onto this post's traditional definition of magick: “Making things happen by other than ordinary means.”
The first part is “Making things happen.” This is total sum of the effects we trigger through invoking causes; it's the end or “outcome”[1] we want.
The other part is “by other than ordinary means.” Means, as I said before, regards cause and effect. But “other than ordinary?” What could this possibly mean? Supernatural means? You can think of it that way, but ultimately – no matter which model of magick you use – it means “ordinary” and also “obvious.” In other words, the way considered the normal way to do things – the one everyone thinks of first. (Remember: common sense leads to common results!) If the front door isn't open, use the back door. If there is no back door, use a window. If there is no window, take the hinges of the front door off with a screwdriver and hammer. (It's true that where there's a will, there' a way, but it's equally true that everything can be hacked.)
Make no mistake about it: magick is the domain of the (reverse) engineer, the creative problem solver, and the hacker. There are times when we do things and have no idea what we're doing beyond the cause and it's effect. That's what most people think of as the supernatural element of magick but, actually, we do this it all the time. How does a microwave cook food? It has something to do with microwaves, right? But, if you're like me you only have a vague idea of how these magical microwaves actually do the cooking. And yet, I know if I put my coffee in a microwave for 30 seconds the reliable result is hot coffee.
The difference between a mage and a non-mage is that we know that we really don't know much. And knowing that we know next to nothing makes everything possible. Alas, that's next post.
[1] That word was used intentionally. More on that later.
[Ends:Intent/Desire/Keter] → [Means:Cause and Effect] → [Ends:What You Get/Malchut]
Always, always, always keep your Keter wedged up your Malhut! [Keter] → [Malchut]
...if you do, you will stay focused, even as the means dynamically change. (Means should always be more flexible than Ends.)
With that said, onto this post's traditional definition of magick: “Making things happen by other than ordinary means.”
The first part is “Making things happen.” This is total sum of the effects we trigger through invoking causes; it's the end or “outcome”[1] we want.
The other part is “by other than ordinary means.” Means, as I said before, regards cause and effect. But “other than ordinary?” What could this possibly mean? Supernatural means? You can think of it that way, but ultimately – no matter which model of magick you use – it means “ordinary” and also “obvious.” In other words, the way considered the normal way to do things – the one everyone thinks of first. (Remember: common sense leads to common results!) If the front door isn't open, use the back door. If there is no back door, use a window. If there is no window, take the hinges of the front door off with a screwdriver and hammer. (It's true that where there's a will, there' a way, but it's equally true that everything can be hacked.)
Make no mistake about it: magick is the domain of the (reverse) engineer, the creative problem solver, and the hacker. There are times when we do things and have no idea what we're doing beyond the cause and it's effect. That's what most people think of as the supernatural element of magick but, actually, we do this it all the time. How does a microwave cook food? It has something to do with microwaves, right? But, if you're like me you only have a vague idea of how these magical microwaves actually do the cooking. And yet, I know if I put my coffee in a microwave for 30 seconds the reliable result is hot coffee.
The difference between a mage and a non-mage is that we know that we really don't know much. And knowing that we know next to nothing makes everything possible. Alas, that's next post.
[1] That word was used intentionally. More on that later.