On Malevolent Workings: Part 1

Time to talk about the darker side of Magick; Malevolent Workings, known as such because they are spells or ritual workings conducted to bring about malicious or unpleasant ends. They are most effective when charged with spite and ill-feelings, and may be lauded by certain people or communitues as a form of catharsis or release for those emotions; and while they may be an outlet, the implications of these workings are more complex than this, and should be taken into consideration.

THIS IS NOT A POST ABOUT THE ETHICS OF CURSING.

While I am not an advocate of Malevolent Workings, I also acknowledge that there is a time and a place for such things, and using them or not is a personal choice, which is none of my business; I aim to inform people about the types of Malevolent Workings and their repercussions, so that they can make an informed decision or protect against these spells.

I see a lot of misleading information on malevolent workings, especially around the internet, despite an increasing number of curse advocates, and endless websites displaying curses rituals. But the information about curses themselves is extremely limited, including a lack of discussion on exactly what a curse entails. Frequently, the words Curse, Hex and Jinx are thrown around, yet their only difference is their duration and severity, as I will explain.

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JINXES

A Jinx is the one of the weakest categories of Malevolent Working, lasting for the shortest definite duration. The effects are not dangerous, but merely unpleasant to the tune of humiliation, emotional upset, or inconvenience. Often, the effects are similar to a mean-spirited practical joke, or a deliberate obstruction. They are fast-acting, fast-dissipating, and do not require an anti-jinx, or counter spell; due to the low levels of negative energy required to cast them, they can be performed quickly, and without many ingredients to boost their effects (they can be cast without a Taglock/Spell Anchor). As often they are cast with small ceremonies or intentions alone, they also have limited energy, which can be absorbed or dispelled by most simplistic wards, shields or talismans. As the spell is not cast in multiple stages, or with multiple repetitions, they produce one burst of negative energy; Jinxes radiate limited negative energies into the Caster’s space, which can be easily removed via ordinary cleansing methods.

HEXES

Hexes are stronger than Jinxes, and somewhat longer, having a medium duration; they produce somewhat unpleasant effects, such as causing minor injuries, damage to property and even damage to reputation or credibility. The effects dissipate in time, however the duration is dependent on the amount of negative energy and effort put in; usually they are cast with a ritual or ceremony, and will often make use of a taglock or representation of the intended target.
To increase effect, week days, planetary transits, weather or other external conditions may be harnessed, although it is not required to do so. In addition, certain types of Hexes can be recharged after a period, without being recast, but require some components of the original spell to do so (for example, a poppet or taglock). The result is that whilst they may not be necessary in all cases, use of an anti-hex, counter-spell or banishing ritual can be very helpful in getting rid of them; methods such as energy shields, mid-level wards and talismans are also ways to protect against them in advance.
Most Hexes are not cast in stages, but their effects can be amplified by continual charging with energy or intent; a Caster should prepare and shield/ward their space when casting such a spell, and should perform a few repetitions of cleansing to ensure the negative energy does not cling to the space.

CURSES

Curse is often used as a generic term for Malevolent Workings, however this is actually inaccurate; they are a specific type of working, and denote duration and severity, much like Jinxes and Hexes.
Curses are extremely powerful, long term workings, which depending on the spell can be potentially permanent without taking measures to reverse or break them. Once cast, they may have dangerous side-effects, such as serious injuries, health problems, loss of job or security, permanent damage to relationships or reputation; due to their severity, a Caster should always be able to reverse the spell and break the curse, in order to maintain control over the circumstances.
Curses cannot be performed by intentions alone, and require rituals or ceremonies that need to be performed in stages; they require advanced preparation, and may also take a specific duration to carry out. In order to be powerful enough to be classified as curses, they always use a mixture of ritual items, ingredients and taglocks, and may be further amplified by being cast under certain moonphases, planetary transits or other conditions.
Protecting against Curses can be difficult, because of the powerful intent required to cast them; strong energy shields, talismans, high-level wards, banishing and cleansing, and anti-curses or counter-spells or even ritual decoys are effective in riding of curses, however multiple repetitions may be required to fully clear the energy.
A Caster should always take precautions to avoid drawing the energy back to them, and should perform a ritual to put the feelings to rest; they should also perform ritual cleansing both of the area and the self. Multiple cleansings and banishings may be necessary to entirely clear the energy, and a Caster may wish to protect themselves prior to casting the ritual, especially in case the Curse is rebounded.

MALEDICTIONS

Maledictions are cast in day to day life, by almost everyone, regardless of their state as a Magickal Practioner. They are cast by things we often don’t feel in control of, such as directing negative thoughts and wishes against somebody, or speaking ill of them; even directing profanity against someone or something is an example.
These events are similar to jinxes, in that they are cast by burst of intention and energy, yet unlike Jinxes, Maledictions are often cast subconsciously, more from emotion than meaning. The outcome is sending negative emotions to latch onto the target, causing an oppressive atmosphere and negative patterns of thought and emotion in them. Additional complications include tiredness, apathy, difficulty sleeping, and increased stress, meaning that over time they can cause health issues.
Fortunately, this kind of working is a very mild assault, which are only effective when built up over time; energy shields, talismans, programming the aura to repel negativity, aura cleansing and mindfulness. Meditation and mindfulness activities are also very useful in controlling the impulses that drive Maledictions.

This covers the most basic and obvious forms of Malevolent Workings; these are the most commonly seen and used types, and are the most easily used.

Join me next time for a discussion on the more obscure categories of Malevolent Workings. See you soon, and stay safe out there.

Index of Enochian Enns

Use of Enns and incantations are endlessly useful when working with spirits and astral entities; they are great for evocation and invocation rituals, or any situation when you might want to call up an entity’s presence. They can also be used to banish an entity, bind it or cast out its influences, or even to empower a working.

As with any Spirit Work, you should always take precautions in using them, as these will evoke paranormal occurances in your life; you are communicating with literal entities, with thoughts, feelings and desires, and should take this into account. Remember your manners, and never promise anything you can’t make good on.

I’m providing list of Enochian Enns and incantations here, so think of it as an index of sorts.

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EVOCATION OF SHUETA (PROTOARCHE OF MIND)
Oecrimi Enai Mahorela, Iaiadix Na Teloah Oecrimi Shueta

EVOCATION OF XEPHRA (PROTOARCHE OF BODY)
Oecrimi Pir, Oecrimi Na Loholo, Iaiadix Enai Xephra

EVOCATION OF OUSAMET (PROTOARCHE OF SPIRIT)
Iaiadix Tiobl Baltim, Oecrimi Tiobl Piripsol, Zorge Exentaser Ousamet

EVOCATION OF HERESHAN (ASTEREI OF NORTHQUART)
Bvsdir Aoiveae Exoarp Iecaz Ehakal Fomalhaut Zil Hereshan

EVOCATION OF MACHZORAI (ASTEREI OF WESTQUART)
Bvsdir Aoiveae Hcoma Ragei Ieohsil Antares Zil Machzorai

EVOCATION OF REISHIREL (ASTEREI OF EASTQUART)
Bvsdir Aoiveae Nanta Beh Tayevah Aldebaran Zil Reishirel

EVOCATION OF THALUMAR (ASTEREI OF SOUTHQUART)
Bvsdir Aoiveae Bitom Aedel Pranahha Regulus Zil Thalumar

EVOCATION OF AMNESIR (ASTEREI ARCHPRINCE OF THE CENTRAL GATE)
Bvsdir Aoiveae Gah Ibadehal Azeltaeh Altair Zil Amnesir
OR: Bvsdir Aoiveae Gah Lviahe Avelalho Raselhague Zil Armoxel

EVOCATION OF AYUYATTE (SPIRIT OF GUIDANCE)
Ol Zodameta Ayuyatte, Fetharsi Niiso Lo Um

EVOCATION OF CHORONZON (AEON GUARDIAN OF TUATA)
Ol Bahal Niiso Merifri-Vovin Kenememti Faboan Saga

EVOCATION OF VOLAND (AEON GUARDIAN OF TUATA)
Ol Bahal Niiso Merifri-Vovin Amheh Loholo Vrelp Hvbaio

TO CALL A FAMILIAR OR SPIRIT ASSOCIATE
Argedco (SPIRIT’S NAME), Ivmd (SPIRIT’S NAME), Niiso Lo Um Zorge

CALL TO BANISH THE GREAT ABOMINATION
Ol Allar Telocvovim, Nor Basgimiaod, Ol Adrpan Heylel Caosga, Zacam Lonsh Zaihakos Dooiap Faonda

CALL TO BANISH THE MEZOLHIM (LESSER ABOMINATIONS)
Bolp Drimini Pageip Peoel Ils Apachama Noromi Telocvovim Doopiap Faonda

CALL TO BANISH MAUSCHET (MEZOLHIM OF DEPRAVITY)
Bolp Drimini Pageip Peoel Mauschet Ils Apachama Noromi Telocvovim Doopiap Faonda

CALL TO BANISH YAUSHAR (MEZOLHIM OF DESPAIR)
Bolp Drimini Pageip Peoel Yaushar Ils Apachama Noromi Telocvovim Doopiap Faonda

CALL TO BANISH TARMIAST (MEZOLHIM OF DECEIT)
Bolp Drimini Pageip Peoel Tarmiast Ils Apachama Noromi Telocvovim Doopiap Faonda

CALL TO BANISH HAULASAOR (MEZOLHIM OF INJUSTICE)
Bolp Drimini Pageip Peoel Haulasaor Ils Apachama Noromi Telocvovim Doopiap Faonda

CALL TO BANISH NAVIVETH (THE MEZOLHIM HARLOT)
Bolp Drimini Pageip Peoel Ababalond Naviveth Ils Apachama Pasbs Telocvovim Doopiap Faonda

CALL TO BANISH NEGATIVE ENERGY
Ol Emna Allar Fifis Vomsarg Ors Amma Dooiap Faonda

Witch Tip #6: Use of Circles

When summoning unfamiliar spirits, it can be wise to bid them into the circle we have cast, to hold them in one place; this way both they and any harmful energies are held in, should things go awry. This can prevent whatever is called on from forming an attachment to your space, too.

Simply work your intent, and draw your circle (with chalk, or a gesture in the air – even a ribbon will do; it’s just to mark the boundary). Recite something to reinforce your intent, such as:

“I hereby Cast this Circle, and declare this space purified. None may enter or leave without my license.”

And remember to break the circle when you are done, to release the energies or entities within. Use intent to break your circle as you create a gap (smudge out your chalk, peel back your ribbon, or cut your invisible boundary with a hand, wand or athame), and announce your intent. An example would be:

“I hereby break the circle, and release all spirits and energies held within. Depart in peace.”

Witch Tip #5: Magickal Interference

Here’s a quick, easy tip to increase the effectiveness of your spells and workings, if you’re not doing this already.

If you’re having a stressful day, or a day where you’ve got a lot on your mind, try energy cleansing (and meditation, if you’re into it) BEFORE you begin a Magickal working, spell or ritual; it removes unwanted or contrary energies from your work, and reduces the interference, and can also improve your focus and help you get into the zone.

(This is also great for spaces that you don’t use exclusively for Magick, and may get exposed to all manner of emotion and intent. Or places you don’t use for Magick at all, but would like to clear of disturbances, as it can help you feel more rested and better at ease; but that’s a tangent for another time)

Likewise, though, if you are performing a working that makes use of negative emotions or chaotic energies, it may be preferable not to put it off until you are calmer, or try to organize those emotions into tidy boxes; chaos is a powerful tool, when used correctly, and has plenty of raw power. Just try not to exhaust yourself in the process, and remember to commit to cleansing and aftercare when you’re done.

Witch Tip #4: License To Depart

Those of us who evoke or invoke the presence of spirits, deities or other entities in our Magickal workings may often be unsure how to close such a ritual. It’s a great idea to close by releasing the energies contained, and thanking the entities for their assistance, before giving them licence to depart; just an acknowledgement of their assistance and telling them they are free to go is enough (unless something was promised in reward, in which case, carry out a little ritual of thank-offering, and let them go). In some cases, we may invite the forces summoned to stay as long as they wish.

BUT! It is ESSENTIAL to remember to release them, especially if summoned via ritual, rather than invited casually, as otherwise we can leave them effectively “spirit handcuffed” to us, or shackled to our ritual site. Not only is this very rude and ungrateful, it’s pretty distressing for an entity, who may even out not to work with you in future (I mean, how would you feel if you came to help someone move house, and they left you locked in the basement for days, because they forgot to let you leave?)

This is often the cause of “malevolent” spirit activity, after working with a benign spirit; they will try to call your attention to their presence or even free themselves if they feel trapped. So, remember they have feelings, too, and if you experience a “haunting” after a ritual, check you’ve given licence to depart, and make sure to apologise; manners go a long way in spirit work, as they do in the mundane world.

Witch Tip #3: Cleansing Techniques

Cleansing is important to clear out negative or unwanted energies from your space, or working, and routine cleansing can have a big impact on mood, atmosphere, and the energies we attract (which is vital in Spirit Work). However, many of the most commonly used techniques are not necessarily appropriate in specific situations.

Smoke cleansing (also called Reocaning and Smudging in some circles), involved the use of burning herbs or incense that is targeted at cleansing an area, as part of a working to banish the unwanted forces. This works best in smaller, well-ventilated spaces, and is largely ineffective outdoors; it is likely to pose a health risk to those with respiratory issues, and can be dangerous if the plants used produce harmful vapours.

Soaking involves placing objects in blessed and treated formulas, such as moon water or rose water; sometimes, these involve diluted oils or cleaning products also. For larger objects, anointing with the desired potion may be more practical. It is useful when physical cleansing is coupled with metaphysical cleansing, and is great for workings that involve both, however it can be harmful when dealing with water soluble crystals or materials, if incompatible substances are mixed (bleach and vinegar, for example, which are great for cleaning separately, but produce toxic chlorine gas when mixed), or an object isn’t water proof.

Energy Cleansing is multi-diverse, and can be used to clear entire rooms, or objects, and is entirely free to do. It requires will and energy manipulation alone, and is great for closet witches or practioners. Low energy, or difficulty energy raising OT energy drawing can act as a limiter.

Sound cleansing, also known as Auditory or Sonic Cleansing, makes use of noise to drive away that which is unwanted. Use of high-pitched bells, chimes or instruments are excellent are ridding of low-frequency energy, but banging pots and pans, casting incantations, or use of irritating sounds (that would make you want to leave, instead of put of with the din) can also be repelling. Sound cleansing works well against entities, but only high-frequency sounds can rid of negative energy, not to mention causing too much noise is disruptive to the neighbors or your household.

Servitors created for this specific purpose will also spare you the chore, however there are ethical concerns and personal risks associated with the use of servitors. Servitors are also advanced Magick, and can cause effects similar to hauntings, which may also be undesirable.

So, think carefully before you select a method of cleansing; is it safe, is it practical, and are you likely to cause disturbances for others? Try to ensure you are aware of potential consequences, and consider how appropriate the method is for your current needs. And stay safe out there.

Witch Tip #2: The Spoken Word

The power of the Spoken Word is an often overlooked thing; words can have incredible impact, as can sound and song. Sound carries a lot of energy, and can be used in a myriad of ways, so we should not forget to harness it in our workings.

When casting magick, why not try using a chant, mantra, vibration, or affirmation spoken aloud; singing or speaking our intent is a great way of focusing our minds and raising the necessary energy. The power of chanting has been used in rituals, prayers and celebrations for thousands of years, and it has a proven effect in inducing trances and meditative states.

And that aside, it can make the experience more personal, and speaking aloud an incantation can make us feel more powerful. The emotional impact is possibly the most important factor, here, as it is what takes us from the Mundane channel we live our lives on straight to the Witching channel where our magick is done.

Witch Tip #1: Personal VS Traditional Associations

It’s a common misconception that a tradional or cultural association with a material, symbol or object is the only right one, but this simply isn’t true. Many of these associations differ between cultures and locations, some are born from linguistic differences in name. If the traditional associations work for you, then by all mean, use them, but bear this in mind: No matter what the alleged correspondence of a material, crystal, shape, symbol, colour or sound, it only holds as much meaning as you attribute to it.

Personal symbolism will always trump traditional symbolism, because the magick in your working takes effect in your reality tunnel… If something holds a different meaning for you, then that meaning is part of your reality filters, and that energy will apply to your working.

There is no reason to use things that have energy which conflicts with the intended result, as it certainly won’t benefit your working. Any ritual can be modified for your purposes; it exists to help you dissociate from your mundane reality tunnel, and thus be able to work your Magick. Instead of using things that don’t feel right to you, substitute them for something with a personal meaning – it will amplify your working, because it will amplify your belief.

Magick Theory: Lesson #2

Nullification Theory

Hello again; welcome to lesson two, where I’m going to talk about Nullification Theory and Amplification Theory. If you’re new here, you may want to check lesson one (unless you’re familiar with reality tunnels and the Theory of Subjective Reality), as today’s lesson is based on our previous session; I’ll try to keep it brief.

Alright, so let’s start with a recap; because of the way our brains filter information, combined with our limited sensory abilities, we are unable to access Absolute Reality, and instead rely on our Personal Reality Tunnels to construct the fragments of reality that we are able to perceive/concieve in to a whole image of reality. However, since people are able to perceive different things due to differing sensory abilities, and can conceive differing things based in culture, education and imaginative ability (among endless other factors), two people’s Personal Reality can vary by a considerable amount. What most people consider to be “Reality” is a series of collectively held beliefs, which may be backed by evidence, ease of perception and ease of explaining or sharing an idea or experience (yes, language plays a large part in shaping this); this is known as Consensus Reality, and is is built on shared perceptions/conceptions, and that which can easily be related to. We rely on these overlaps in order to have common ground with others, and thus often look to others to confirm our thoughts, experiences and even emotional states (Eg: “Do you know how I feel?” “Is this normal?” “Did you hear that?”).

A person is not limited just these two Reality Tunnels, and somebody can have as many as they can sustain, or as many as serve them (some may even have Partial Tunnels or Temporary Tunnels, which are based on existing Reality Structures with minor modifications; an example of when these may be used could be by a lawyer when defending a client that they need to believe is innocent in spite of evidence). Just some of the tunnels we may have include Religious Tunnel, Political Tunnel, Career Tunnel, or Cultural Tunnel. It is also possible for us to hold conflicting beliefs in different Reality Tunnels, depending on how able we are to dissociate from one Tunnel to access another; all of our individual Tunnels will overlap to a certain extent, and we will continue to hold certain understandings, ideals and morals regardless of which Tunnel we are tuned in to (this is our core personality, and it also acts as a nexus for our Reality Tunnels, allowing us to access them; it is impossible to access a Reality Tunnels that the mind cannot accept or believe in); in fact, this becomes a very useful tool for adaptation, as it allows us to separate different areas and aspects of our lives, and to behave appropriately in any situation without compromising ourselves. In my life, this allows me to separate the Mundane from the Magickal, by being able to limit Magickal thought and ability into a Ritual or Magickal setting, whilst also allowing me to shut mundane thinking out of my Ritual Space; this avoids contamination of intent, or colouring my Magick with doubt or distractions. It also confines allows us to confine secret or sacred art to appropriate settings. This does it for our recap; I hope you’re following me so far.

So, then, what is Nullification Theory? Well, for one it’s the reason I’m concerned about unhelpful intentions bleeding through into my Magickal Workings. You see, since our Reality Tunnels are constructed purely by our beliefs and our interpretations of the world, being in the wrong Tunnel can completely Nullify any intended effect, because it is essentially occurring in a location where the laws do not work that way. But there is so much more to Nullification Theory than just that; let’s take a look at what happens when we add an observer. Our observer is Linda, who is a pragmatic person, who holds no belief in metaphysics; whilst she loves magic shows, she believes they are all stunts performed by an illusionist, and doesn’t believe in Magick. Linda has decided to watch me attempt to jinx my flatmate, Alex, who recently humiliated me (let’s not focus on the ethics of this, alright?); I intend to ensure that he knocks an eggbox onto himself, breaking the eggs down his shirt when he next goes to the fridge. This is something that Linda, Alex and myself will be able to perceive, as the eggs exist in a way that we can all sense them, and we all believe in them (we don’t think they are a hologram or trick of the light, for example). This jinx will work by increasing the probability of knocking down the eggs, and increasing the probability that they will break. Alex doesn’t know anything of what is about to happen, however he believes that eggs shatter when dropped, because they are delicate; he is only able to influence that the eggs are fragile, which is subconsciously confirmed by his past experiences with eggs. I believe fully in my abilities, and my faith is supported by extrasensory experiences during my ritual, along with my previous experiences with Magick; I am able to increase the probability of the eggs falling and breaking. Linda does not experience anything extrasensory during the ritual, and she disbelieves in Magick; she is able to cancel out my impact, rendering the probability of the eggs falling equal to it would be without my ritual. Linda has successfully Nullified my working, with her subconscious alone, due to the way her Reality Filter is programmed. If I had invited Julie, who believes in Magick, however, then she would have increased my effectiveness; this is called Amplification Theory, and it relies on group intent. Many covens utilise Amplification Theory in order to carry out large workings, or reduce the improbability of something; this is also the Theory behind group seances, faith healing, and even group prayer.

Nullification Theory is the origin of the practice of not speaking about a spell once it is cast, or not allowing a non-believer to witness or participate in a ritual setting. Another person’s perceptions can contaminate our intent, and alter the ways in which our will manifest; when our workings take place on a wholly personal level, it doesn’t mean it only manifests in our Personal Reality, either. Something which can be perceived and experienced by anyone (such as a cake, or a relationship) will be accessible to their senses, and therefore it will be just as real to others. An extrasensory experience, such as communication with spirits, will occur only in those who do not filter out those perceptions as white noise (which is something everyone can learn to do with patience, practice and faith). This is also why many do not believe in Magick, even in the absence of other explanations; their Reality Filters naturally block out any evidence, or Magickal capabilities from their perceptions, and therefore from their worldview.

That’s all for this session; join me soon for more Magickal Theory. In the mean time, feel free to ask any questions you may have. See you soon!

Magick Theory: Lesson #1

Subjective Reality Theory

The human body is a limited structure, with only so many senses to interpret the environment; for example, a human has on average 5-6 million olfactory receptors, compared to the 220 million in most dogs, and the Deep Sea Shrimp posses 12 retinas in each multi-faceted eye, whereas we have only one in each (and sadly, no additional facets). The result is that a dog can smell things a human can’t perceive the scent of, and the Deep Sea Shrimp can see parts of the electromagnetic spectrum that we need computers to detect (and can see colours we can’t even imagine existing). Then, there is the human brain; as remarkable as it is, it’s pure myth that we use only 10%, (actually, that’s the percentage that we fully understand the function of), instead most of our brain function is actually taken up by regulating our senses and body systems, rather than dedicated to conscious thought (which shouldn’t be surprising when you consider that we have 100 billion nerve cells in our bodies, and can smell up to 1 trillion different scents even with our limited noses). And so, the brain has become a pro at filtering out distracting or irrelevant information from our conscious mind, (which is why it may take us a couple of seconds to notice the absence of sound for example) such as background noise in a busy street being filtered out of our conversations. This is a type of sensory filter, which protects us from mental overload, and stops our brains being clouded with white noise, however it also impacts our awareness of our surroundings; as a result, it shapes the glimpses of the world that we perceive and expirence, and thus shapes our views of reality. This forms the basic foundation of our Reality Filter; are you following me so far?

Reality Filters are also made up of our preconceptions. An example of this would be when speaking to an adult who is confident that they understand the way the world works, they would suggest transforming into an animal is impossible, because they have never seen any compelling evidence; a child, who has no preconceptions about the world, is far more likely to believe in a werewolf, because they have little experience with reasons it should be an impossibility. If we are taught in schools that the Greenhouse Effect is responsible for Climate Change, and it shapes the way we are taught to interact with our environment, then there is a very low chance we will accept that an Ice Age was predicted a decade before the Global Warming theory emerged; we are also unlikely to accept other theories which account for the variety of changes to the global climate, such as the switching of the electromagnetic poles. In short, established facts or experiences will also build up our Reality Filters, along with confirmation bias (the ability to recall events which confirm or support our preconceptions) and cognitive dissonance (the need to integrate any conflicting idea into our set of pre-existing beliefs, rather than change our beliefs all together). Still following?

To simplify things, because this theory is pretty complicated to people new to the topic (don’t worry, in time it becomes second nature), a Reality Tunnel (also called Reality Channel or Personal Reality) is effectively the way that we as an individual view the world. It’s the set of rules and beliefs we have for the way the world works and is at present. Simple, right? But there’s more; you may have noticed there are some things that more or less everyone agrees on, like cultural norms, and social theories. This is because we have access to multiple Reality Tunnels, such as Consensus Reality; those of us who go with the crowd more or are more influenced by others spend most of our time tuned in to the Consensus Channel, and revert to our Personal Channel. Then, there are those of us who tend to be more independent and less interested in the way other people live; these people live tuned in to their Personal Channel, and switch to the Consensus Channel when needing to relate to others (these people may also seem eccentric or disconnected, due to the fact that social norms impact their perspectives less as a general rule). Those of us with strong religious beliefs, particularly those which are not considered part of the cultural norms for where we live, may also have a Religious Channel that we can switch into, in festival or temple settings, or around those who share our beliefs; this is useful because it means we can conform to the necessary behaviours and beliefs depending on our situations and environment, and can relate to others more easily. This is important for more than just social harmony, it’s necessary to confirm our own perceptions, and give us grounding rather than uncertainty.

And there is a lot of uncertainty about perceptions, because we all have differing abilities, which change just what we can pick up on (after all, some of us have perfect vision, or perfect hearing, whereas others are extremely sensitive to colour or texture). And that’s before you consider the existence of qualia. In short, qualia are incommunicable because they are by definition, indescribable parts of an expirence; they cannot be compared to something else, so there is no point of reference that would allow you to describe it (these qualia are also extremely subjective, and we cannot know that everyone experiences them in a consistent manner). For example, someone who can see colour would still find it impossible to describe the colour green to a person who has been blind since birth. This is often the way that extrasensory abilities present themselves, and as a results, are very difficult to explain to those who do not experience them; so, it is often assumed that a perception that cannot be confirmed by another person is merely imaginary, or a phantom sensation, especially when the experience cannot be fully communicated. We require the perceptions of others to confirm our own experiences. But since Consensus Reality is built from the experiences which can be shared and communicated, or ones that are easily relateable, these Extrasensory Qualia can exist only as a part of the Personal Channel.

So, throwing group and personal perspectives aside, where does Absolute Reality come in to this? Absolute Reality is unknowable to the human mind (or indeed, the mind of any non-metaphysical entity), because not only do we posses limited senses which create our own reality tunnels, and limited understanding of the universe we exist in, but the state of reality itself is malleable. Although it may appear to be fixed and consistent, this is an illusion presented by our Reality Filters; we manipulate reality regularly just by perceiving it (See Observer Principal and Schrodinger’s Cat for further details). And no, I am not making this up; there are groups of theoretical quantum physicists actually researching this right now, it’s not just my crackpot opinion, and experiments taking place on the quantum level have gone a long way to proving it.

So, what do Reality Tunnels have to do with magick? By now, you should be aware that magick does not happen in Consensus Channels, but Personal Channels most of the time. And I say most of the time, because we spend most of our time in group settings dealing with the mundane world; there are times when we may use group settings to Magickal ends, such as seances or group rituals. And since often our Personal Channels are also rooted in the mundane world (although, this is highly dependent on how much magick influences your typical world view), we often have need of a different Reality Tunnel, one dedicated to Magick. Our Magickal Tunnel is built up from everything we understand about magic, and how it effects the world we live in; it’s built up by what we believe to be literally possible, and how much we can suspend belief, and it shapes what we are capable of doing with our Magickal abilities. This is the tunnel in which we tune into our unique perceptions, and embrace our qualia as that which transcends the physical, and thus we cease to filter out there senses as extraneous background noise. It is here that we shape our reality, through conscious manipulation.

But, is this real? The answer to this question is as subjective as reality; we can never actually know for certain what is real (Descartes settled for using “I think, therefor I am” to prove his own existence to himself, yet there is no way we can prove anything outside our own existence to be anything more than a dream. See Solipsism for further details.), as Absolute Reality is beyond our comprehension and beyond our grasp. All we can know for certain is our own personal experience, whether something happens in on a level that is unique to us, or whether it occurs in a Reality Channel that others can tune in to; it is a matter of personal perspective as to whether or not that which has only been perceived by us has really happened (which may be reminiscent of trees falling when nobody is there to perceive the sound, thus providing no evidence of the sound). And it is because of this that magick becomes such a personal path; it is entirely dependent on our own beliefs and perceptions, rather than collective acknowledgement.

This is the abridged foundation of my Magickal Praxis, though certainly not the whole of it don’t forget to check out our next lesson, for an explanation of the Nullification Theory, which explains external influences on Reality Tunnels, and how conflicting views can effect your workings. Thanks for reading!