Frequently Asked Questions
on the Science and Art that is Magic
What Is Magic?
Your own definition of magic is likely to evolve over the course of your practice. Here is a good one to begin with: Magic is the art (intuition) and science (rationality) of using altered states of consciousness in accordance with one’s will, to bring about changes on the physical (bodily), astral (spiritual) and mental (intellectual) realm, always performed with the purpose of the acquisition of first-hand knowledge (gnosis, in contrast to the pure, passive faith of religions).
Such is usually achieved by contacting subtle beings within the appropriate framework of ritual paradigms, taking into account correspondences and sympathies. Magic is, therefore, a spiritual science, because it primarily works through the magician’s mind and will (as a consequence of invocations) or the spirit of another being (as a consequence of evocations).
Why Does Magic Work?
Different cognitive models will explain the efficacy of magic in different ways. Here is an approach that works for most Western people with an interest in the subject: The critical trigger for magical acts to happen leverages the subconsciousness of the magical operator. And this is already where things get complicated.
Even if the operator learns how to magically manipulate their subconscious, they will experience that, unfortunately, the human subconscious is by no means infallible. It is not only the storehouse of one’s entire dormant life energy, but also of all dormant blockades, neuroses, phobias, and psychoses. The latter are the first gateway of ‘devils’ and ‘atrocious demons’, which the magician has to awaken and, if necessary, also expel. This is not an easy task, which requires a lot of courage as well as strong and positive grounding in one’s everyday reality. In Witchcraft, for example, where magic is also practiced, these things are called Shadow Works and are meticulously noted in the so-called Book of Shadows.
Another magical power flows through utterances, which means through sentences, words and the vibration of the human voice. Therefore, in practical magic, affirmations and so-called mantras are widely used, accompanied by theatrical incantations, ceremonial settings, the wearing of robes, etc.. In magic symbols, sigils, gestures, letters, words, numbers, colours, fragrances, body secretions (mumia) are considered as vessels or containers of divine power which can be leveraged and combined to consciously create change. The controlled activation of one’s five senses and their mutual interplay with one’s subconscious is a critical faculty to be mastered in Western Magic. To achieve this, magicians use many effective means, for example helping one’s subconscious to take a leap, so to speak, by tuning it into archetypical signals, which especially after continued ritual conditioning can be triggered automatically.
You see, our answer is becoming quite technical. It is much more recommendable to initially make some first-hand experiences, before we get into such explanations.
Are There Any Prerequisites To Perform Meaningful Acts of Magic?
Yes, there are. First, there should be a willingness to examine, question, and if necessary modify or even overcome established one’s established paradigms (patterns of thought that shape our world view) and social behaviours. Especially when this affects traditional religions and one’s social environment this can lead to friction and tension; however, this is a common element of one’s magical maturing.
At the same time, you need to have the grit and perseverance (mentally, psychologically and physically) to continue on your path even when it feels like you are stuck and distractions offer themselves up abundantly. This also is a common experience on everyone’s magical path: Great things do not fall into your lap. On the contrary: The courage and ability to continuously evolve one’s perspective of reality is not achieved by abandoning one’s goal when faced with the smallest obstacles. Neither magical nor any other kind of growth is acquired without the willingness to also endure the related growing pains.
What Skills are Taught to Me First as a Student of Magic?
On a spiritual level, initially, we focus on Awareness. On a mental level we focus on Serenity. On a physically level we focus onRelaxation.
Through the attention of the mind, you sharpen your senses and get to know yourself and your impulses. Through calmness, you learn to assess and constructively use all phenomena, that you may encounter on the magical paths without emotional or biased evaluation. Through physical relaxation, you will learn to control your body better and to release blockades that would otherwise only hinder you.
All three factors interact with each other and are, therefore, mutually dependent. They create the essential basics of our magical training and can take some time to accomplish.
May I Talk To Other People About My Magical Studies and Operations?
Contrary to other statements, magic has nothing in common with forbidden or blasphemous practices against a monotheistic God, with secret conspiracy theories, psychotic sects, or so-called Satanism. All of the above exists, just that it has nothing to do with genuine magic that deserves the name.
Nevertheless, secrecy is one of four essential maxims in magic – albeit for a completely different reason. Our general advise at this stage is, that at least you should keep silent about your exercises and rituals to avoid that “your magic” is wrongly criticized or causes mental irritations on third parties, which can adversely affect an original objective in magic, because thoughts are subtle energy.
Can Anybody Do Magic?
Yes, but not without some homework. Humans are spiritual beings and originate from a Universal Spirit. Thus, in principle, every human can perform magic, only differentiated by talent, disposal, training and experience. All this, in turn, can be synthesised into a single aspect: Endurance; the time one has spent fully invested in a particular field.
The essential axiom of the magical paradigm is simple: Truth is always relative, and not infrequently is it dependent on what is perceived by our natural senses. What we sense determines the way we think, act and live, as well as what we consider common sense. In most cases humans are not masters of their senses (which includes their thinking faculty); but instead we are torn back and forth by the many different storms that we call our everyday lives.
This ‘confusion’ must first be brought into consciousness. It is possible to unlearn all of this. However, for some it is a long, difficult, and painful journey, depending on how far these processes have already progressed and how much you already bring with you from previous reincarnations (if you believe in it). Some wish for an experienced teacher to guide them (by the way: it can never be more than that!), others master this path auto- didactically. In the end, it is necessary to bring one’s self again to the surface of one’s consciousness.
Can I Start My Training At Any Time?
What Does The Term ‘Magick’ Mean?
Well, it’s not a typo. Instead, it’s intended, although we don’t use this word because we’re not ‘Thelemites’.
The word magick was allegedly introduced and established by the Anglo-Saxon magician Aleister Crowley. It is a modification of the original word magic, intended to stand for real magic, and in differentiation to stage-magic or superstitions.
How Do I Best Learn Magic?
Like every path, the magical path begins with a first step. For most people this first step consist in books on magical topics. Establishing theoretical basics is a critical foundation. It provides the framework for one’s magical thought patterns. You can – and should – do this alone.
So, at the very beginning, best look for an esoteric bookstore near you and examine their selection on that subject. Yes, there will be some books that will catch your eye. This is no coincidence, and if you can afford it, you should try to buy these books. It is an occult law that when one deals with a topic in a particularly intensive way, certain things (synchronicities) will happen that open doorways. This applies in this case both to discovering relevant literature, as well as to finding a magical teacher or organisation.
Many interested people nowadays learn the art and science of magic in an autodidactic way. Others prefer to have a teacher. Let your intuition guide yourself! If it is right for you to have a teacher, you will meet one on your way; the same is true for occult organizations, of which there are many these days, thanks to the internet. For most seekers, however, this path is already over after a few months of theory and practice. Because – as mentioned above – magic is not an easy path. After all, it is not for nothing that the rule applies: “Many are called, but not all are chosen.”
What’s The So-called “Keeper Of The Threshold”?
This term is an archetypal principle with which everyone who is seriously involved in magic is confronted sooner or later (and not just once). Astrologically, the planets Mercury and Saturn are assigned to this principle, which should already say something to the astrologically versed. Saturn, for example, stands for fate, karma, fatality, illness, infirmity, and death, but also for the knowledge required to overcoming these things! Saturn is the principle that sets limits, in order for them to be overcome.
The one who is put off by such limits, or who thinks they can break through them with brute force, is not yet ready for more steps on this path, and the world behind these limits. Now, that is precisely what the guardian represents. This spirit confronts you – the seeker – with your limits and difficulties. But before the threshold behind the veil can be crossed, the seeker must find the appropriate key for the gate.
This happens through a continuous confrontation with the most inherent fears and shortcomings during the practical occupation with magic, which often manifest themselves through personal repressions. These can be unresolved conflicts that suddenly reappear (e.g., parent-child conflicts), repressed fears like “fear of darkness,” neuroses, or various other previously suppressed problems. Sometimes, not always, the Keeper of the Threshold also appears in personified form, e.g., in dreams.
The Keeper of the Threshold is a gatekeeper, a guardian at the gate to a “purely magical,” non-dualistic world... Whoever wants to overcome this being must first overcome themselves.
What Are Archetypes And Why Are They Important In Magic?
They are forces that are effective in the collective psyche of humanity and can manifest themselves in individual mental states, e.g., in dreams or trance and can convey specific contents (see: morphogenetic, morphology).
Thus, for example, the pictures of the 22 major arcana of the Tarot represent such archetypal forces, as far as divination practices are concerned. But “angels” and “demons” are also archetypes in a certain way, for they embody essential qualities and forces, often only within the framework of a manifested, lived dualistic monotheistic paradigm. There are also such paradigms, especially in magic, that are only functional if one knows how to contact their archetypes.
What Is Meant By The Term “Black Magic”?
Well, given this important and unfortunately frequently misinterpreted term we want to be a little more detailed here. You asked a complex question, prepare for a longer answer:
We are all familiar with the expression of so-called black-and-white thinking. Like, for example, Who is not for me, is against me or Good and evil magic. So-called black magic, as well as also white magic, exists for the most part (more detailed below) only in the minds of those who strive to base their ideals and dislikes on orthodox dogmas. As complex as it might seem, but there is no white magic or black magic. All there is is magic. This becomes most obvious, when the term is compared with the antique Greek concept, meaning, and significance of the words daimon, agathodaimon, or cacodemon.
Magic is always one with itself, a reality beyond space, time, and causality. Dualistic divisions are fictions of the human mind.
Responsible for this black-and-white thinking, by the way, is the ancient Persian Zoroastrianism, named after its former founder Zoroaster or Zarathustra. Also, the many gods ‘known’ to us are – in Old Testamentary spelling – only Elohim (Hebrew), literally translated as sons and sisters of the gods. Thus they have to be considered neutral in gender, and as emanations of the Cosmic One, of the primordial cosmic ground, or simply put, of the incomprehensible.
Many of our students, therefore, see themselves in this context as agnostics, but not as atheists or nihilists, and can only gain little from religions concerning fundamental ideological questions and the associated dogmatic commitment. Unfortunately, for most monotheistic religions today still replacing religious believe with knowledge is considered a heresy.
It should also be noted that – as the name itself already says – black magic involves the use of the black and not the dark grey hue. What does that mean? Well, genuine black magic, which deserves it philosophically founded name, signifies the complete absence of the cosmic solar principle. It is, therefore, the opposite of light, rebels against the cosmic act of creation as well as all its creative forces, the unfolding of sight, the sustaining of life – which by the way does not yet imply a general theology, although it is assumed!
As a student of magic one should learn to distinguish between the above illustrated kind of black magic, and those magical, liminal states which are allegedly black in nature, but in reality still contain a spark, a glow that is ready to turn into a fire and light.
Here is what this means in more straightforward and contemporary terms: Genuine black magic is not at all identified by external symbols such as dressing in black, or wearing an inverse pentagram around one’s neck, or praying to a so-called Lucifer or Satan at night on a cemetery. Genuine black magic is just as rare as white magic. However, these stereotypical terms of supposedly evil and good forces are so firmly rooted into the inner and outer life of society that, until today, it hardly makes sense to even discuss them.
To put it bluntly: The qualities and intentions of a genuine black magician are far more dangerous and life-threatening than those of any invented devil and his demonic army, who, out of ontological insecurity largely remained dependent on a pathological monotheistic group soul.
A ritually active black magician is focussed on consciously advocating the spread of so-called anti-cosmic structures. Coupled to that, they usually try to promote their own survival, even at the expense of other beings and at any price (e.g., pacts with demonic entities). They work to bind other mortals to spiritual constructs, which ultimately leads the black magician to their own annihilation. All this happens, despite their conviction that they do not have to share this fate, as e.g. they placed themselves into the service of a “prince of hell”. Simply put, in the long run they will extinguish their own flame, but at great cost to others around them.
The experienced magician, on the other hand, takes little notice of theatrically staged versions of black magic, such as the Satan’s Mass, the Black Mass or a Witches’ Sabbath. That is, unless they are interested in finding suitable beginners and victims for confusing, bewitching and enchanting them: the classical vampirism.
Does IMBOLC Teach A Special Form Of Magic?
We would have to answer both yes and no. There are so many fields to be studied in magic, that we’d have to choose hundreds of terms for it. But the magic we teach can be paraphrased as holistic magic, derived from the Greek hólos, meaning whole, complete, and extensive.
By this we mean the inclusion of all magical disciplines of the Occident and not seldom Orient. Equally the pursuit of a strongFaustian will and focus, which is not to be confused with the diabolical Faustian pact in Goethe’s Faust!
We’d also leverage the term holistic magic to differentiate ourselves from:
the eclectically magical currents, often called Chaos Magick,
Luciferian or Satanic hedonism, like Anton Szandor La Vey’s Church of Satan,
propagated charismatic, magical personality cults, who put their focus more on charisma than magic. Examples in recent history would have been Crowley, Bardon, Gregorius. These should not be rejected in general, but should not be overused and treated for what they are: magical paradigms or syncretism.
Furthermore, in this context, we would also like to point out the trifold balance between head – heart – hand which we strive to uphold in our study course.
Are There Any Themes That Pervade ALL Of IMBOLCs Training?
The Liberation and de-conditioning (Dekonditionierung) of the student from physical, mental, and spiritual constraints, may these be imposed through education and/or by one’s parental home upbringing.
Becoming aware of one’s spiritual being and the associated potential to develop and establish higher powers, not only on the physical level, through appropriate exercises, practices, and rituals.
The Liberation of Western Magic from its ourobourosly bad image, mainly caused by itself or its so-called esoteric and new age representatives and maniacs.