Subj : [ 3/15] Newsgroups: alt.pagan.magick
To   : All
From : Rachel L. Akers
Date : Tue Feb 13 2001 10:22 pm

>... (cont)
Subject: nagasiva's alt.magick FAQ
Summary: This is a file of biased responses to frequently
         asked questions in the alt.magick newsgroup.
Keywords: FAQ, magic, magick, occult, occultism
Replaces: 500009
Url: http://www.luckymojo.com/namfaq.html
X-Newsreader: NN version 6.5.4 (NOV)
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2001 02:34:31 GMT

     ____________________________________________________________

   01.00 EDUCATION

   01.01 how do I become a mage?

>... (cont)

     be aware that all of these groups have prevalent cosmologies
     and moral standards, of variable requirement, which may or may
     not appeal to you, and they may not think of 'magic' in the
     sense that you do (for example, they may call it 'ebos' in
     Santeria, 'operations' in the Golden Dawn and OTO, 'workings'
     or just 'rituals' in Neopagan groups, 'siddhis' in SYDA,
     'psychic abilities' in the Berkeley Psychic Institute, 'making
     miracles possible' in A Course of Miracles groups or
     'medicine' amongst Neo-Shamanic groups). the common foundation
     of these is that they are interacting with or drawing from (a)
     god(s) or spirit(s) as an integral element of their magical
     practice. the mage of this categorical type may benefit from a
     penchance for dramatic ritual, prayer, meditation, and in many
     cases socializing and politics.

     in comparison, those drawn to thaumaturgy may find that there
     are few resources of an organized nature that will supplement
     hir development, but there are numerous textual references
     (grimoires, spell lists: both online and off) that can provide
     for the self-starter a very good foundation in becoming a
     mage. these practical supplements (and often those who put
     them together) tend not to rely upon the acceptance of any
     particular moral, metaphysical, or contractual perspective in
     order to completely assimilate the working style.

     cultural contexts sometimes envelope thaumaturgical data, or
     make it available to the interested student. you can find
     information about hoodoo, for example, or stregha, gypsy
     witchcraft, hexencraft, etc., without necessarily encountering
     these larger, religious, presuppositions. on the other hand,
     you may find any number of biases surrounding classical
     grimoires (e.g. Jewish, Christian and Hermetic notions of how
     and why magic should be performed). the mage of this
     categorical type may benefit from a penchance for botany,
     chemistry, craftwork, symbolism, librarianship, and solitary
     research.

     it should be said that there are sincere and successful
     attempts to create or at least *appear* to fabricate a
     realistic fusion between theurgy and thaumaturgy. many of the
     styles mentioned above may actively promote magical spells
     without the need for gods, for example, even though their
     biases include them. magical approaches such as what is called
     'Chaos Magick' may also appeal to those who are attempting to
     locate more fluid theurgic magical systems without traditional
     prejudices. syncretic magical traditions like hoodoo in many
     cases provide the best of both worlds, as they may draw
     material and ideas from classical theurgists yet have their
     foundation in natural magic and use herbs and minerals as
     essential ingredients for successful magical tools and spells.

     ultimately the best assessment of whether someone is or is not
     a mage is based upon practical considerations, and
     particularly those which satisfy the conditions of the chosen
     significance of the term. as with all labels, the plasticity
     of identifying someone as a mage is prone to vary greatly,
     especially with some in the magical community associating any
     volitional act as an act of magic. proceed at your own risk.
           ________________________________________________
>... (cont)

--- Msged/2 4.00
 * Origin: Elfwhere - The POINTy eared POINT (3:640/531.2379)

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