Copyright (c) 1988 by Phil Hansford.  This article is licenced for
free non-commercial distribution only.
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** MAGICK 1 -- WHY MAGICK **
  The ability to think seems to set us apart from other creatures.
And although we are concerned with living in the physical world,
we are mental beings. The fact is we are thinking all the time. We
plan, we brood, we get depressed or elated -- all of it is
thought. But the universe is mental too, and if we could control
our thinking we would see magnificent results in the everyday
world.

  Many systems have been developed over the ages to help us
control our thoughts. A great amount of dogma too has been kicked
around in an attempt to make us into better people. Magick (the
occult kind, spelled with a 'k') is one of the oldest and most
general of these systems. Magick is the study and application of
psychic forces. It uses mental training, concentration, and a
system of symbols to program the mind. The purpose of magick is to
alter the self and the environment according to the will.

  Most of the magick we see today comes to us from ancient Egypt
and Chaldea. The Chinese, Hindus, and Tibetans developed their own
unique types of magick. Western magick was locked up by the
Egyptian priests for thousands of years and then supressed by the
rise of Christianity. It was not until medieval Europe that
magical knowledge was rediscovered by the alchemists and
Cabalists. Only during the past hundred years or so has western
culture been open minded enough to permit widespread investigation
of the subject. Only since the start of the twentieth century has
science shown much interest in it al all.


PARAPSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIC PHENOMENA
  Through parapsychology, we are gaining insights into the hidden
nature of man. Parapsychology is a branch of psychology which
studies psychic phenomena. It remains something of a frontier,
even today. Perhaps one reason for this is that psychic phenomena
are somewhat inconsistent.  Nevertheless, there is strong evidence
from numerous cases and experiments in support of psychic
phenomena. Somehow, under the right conditions, the mind can
directly affect the environment.

  We may theorize that the human mind and body broadcasts a kind
of psychic energy or force, much like a radio station.  Kirlian
photography, temperature effects, cloud chamber tests, and other
experiments tend to support this theory. Although the exact nature
of this psychic force is subtle and unknown, it is undoubtedly the
energy behind all psychic phenomena and magick.  However, it is
*not* a radio wave, since it behaves somewhat differently. The
psychic force is too weak to be measured directly (at least so far
as we know). Everyone has some psychic ability.  There are
numerous types of psychic phenomena. Parapsychology separates them
into two groups: ESP and PK...


EXAMPLES OF ESP
  ESP, the abreviation for extra sensory perception, means the
reception of information through paranormal means (ie. not regular
physical senses of sight, sound, touch, smell, or taste).  In
theory, this is accomplished by receiving psychic force from
outside the body. Here are some examples of ESP:

1) Clairvoyance, or Remote Viewing -- the ability to sense or
   'see' (non-physically) distant objects, places, and
   people.Individuals who see ghosts and spirits are probably
   clairvoyant.
2) Clairaudience, or remote hearing -- the 'hearing' of paranormal
   information.
3) Astral Projection (OOBE) or Traveling Clairvoyance -- Full
   experience at a remote location while the physical body sleeps.
4) Psychometry -- the reading of information by the touch of
   physical objects.
5) Telepathic receiver -- the ability to directly receive thought
   (communication) at a distance, with no physical connection to
   the sender. There are many everyday examples of this, in which
   we think something just as anotherperson is about to say it.
   This is an easy one to test for through experiment. Very
   dramatic cases of telepathy have been recorded; there is often
   an emotional element in such cases.
6) A 'channel' or medium, as in a seance, who is in direct
   communication with a 'spirit' or entity.
7) Experience with a Ouija board, pendulum, or automatic writing.
8) Precognition -- to forsee the future. Again, highly emotional
   events are the ones most likely to be 'tuned in'.
9) Retrocognition -- knowledge of the past, by paranormal means.

 
EXAMPLES OF PK
  PK, the abreviation for psychokinesis, is the active or sending
side of psychic phenomena. The theory here is that psychic force
is sent out from the individual. Examples of PK include:

1) Telepathic sender -- the transmitter in the telepathy just
   discussed.
2) Psychokinesis (or telekinesis) proper -- the ability to move
   objects by means of psychic force.
3) Somewhat along the same lines are poltergeist (noisy ghost)
   phenomena in which objects move of their own accord or noises
   are heard. There is always a human agent involved -- frequently
   a teenage girl -- who appears to be the source of psychic
   energy.
4) Psychic healing -- the ability to heal various illnesses and
   infirmities. There are many documented cases of this. Usually
   it involves a healer and a subject, although there are recent
   cases invloving cancer patients learning to heal themselves.
5) Teleportation, apportation, and levitation.  Some occultists
   feel a magician producing PK effects is simply a channel for
   universal energy. Others think the force originates some way
   directly within the magician.


THE SUBCONSCIOUS 
  Postulated by Freud and others, the concept of the subconscious
mind is an important one. Basicly, this is the idea that part of
the mind normally operates below or outside of ordinary
consciousness and awareness. Dreams and hypnosis are examples of
this. Also subconscious are the many automatic functions of the
physical body such as respiration and digestion.


WHY DO MAGICK?
  Magick encompasses many things -- science and art, philosophy
and metaphysics, psychology and comparative religion. Magick is an
adventure at the borderlands of the unknown. It can fit the pieces
of the puzzel of life into a meaningful whole.

  Magick is fun and interesting.  Use magick to help raise
consciousness without drugs. Gain new experiences.  Fantacy can
come alive through magick. Psychic phenomena can be controlled and
be fun and helpful.

  Magick is beneficial.  It can help you to have excellent health,
and bring you good luck. With magick life runs smoothly; life is
good. Also use magick for personality improvement, to control bad
habits and to develop new motivations.

  Magick is powerful.  Never underestimate the tremendous power of
magick. Use magick to alter events and to achieve your goals.
Exert an influence over people and phenomena. But power for its
own sake is self defeating. The power which magick can give you
should not be your primary reason for studying it.


MAGICK AND WITCHCRAFT
  A number of other occult disciplines are prevalent today besides
magick. There are many cults and sects which profess their own
views, but there are really few differences between them. One
popular area in the occult today is witchcraft. This is far
removed from the cliche of devil worship. Real witchcraft is a
nature religion (pagan).  Witchcraft has much in common with
magick.

  Alchemy also has much in common with magick. It's heritage comes
from the middle ages. Alchemy fathered chemistry and the physical
sciences. But the avowed purpose of alchemy, turning lead into
gold, is too limiting to be called magick. Sometimes the goal of
alchemy is interpreted in another way, as the transformation of
man into a spiritual being.

  Then there are the numerous modern day seers or 'pychics', as
they like to be called, who operate within their own somewhat
unique systems. Although many of these people are deluded frauds,
some are very powerful occultists indeed.

  Of course, everything I have said here is a generalization.
Magick, witchcraft, alchemy, or any occult field are complex
subjects. Suffice it to say that magick includes them all (it is
eclectic). For magick is undoubtedly a philosophy which has, as
the late Aleister Crowley wrote, "The method of science -- the aim
of religion."


REVIEW QUESTIONS
1) Define magick.
2) Define ESP and PK. Give examples.
3) What is the subconsicous?


BOOK LIST
Hal N. Banks, An Introduction to Psychic Studies.
Annie Besant, Thought Power.
Michael H. Brown, PK, A Report on the Power of Psychokinesis.
Richard Cavendish, The Black Arts.
Alexandira David-Neel, Magic and Mystery in Tibet.
Raynor C. Johnson, The Imprisoned Splendour.
Janet Lee Mitchell, "Is Anything Out There?", Fate magazine, May
  1988.
Ostrander and Shroeder, Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron
  Curtain.

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Phil Hansford, 4/88 Mysteria (818) 353-8891 (modem)
P.O. Box 83 Tujunga, CA 91042