Thursday, December 31, 2009

HERE'S TO A TARGETED,TACTICAL, AND THAUMATURGIC TWENTY TEN!

2009 kinda rocked.

Became a dad, twice in two minutes. Became an uncle. My second book hit the shelves and is getting good reviews. Finally got a professional looking website, with help from Donald Leitch. Started he Strategic Sorcery Course, now up to 78 students. Lectured on both coasts thanks to Frater POS and MyGal. Gave my first full day intensives. Serviced more clients than ever before. A solid year.

I did however fail at one thing that I made a very public vow about... I did not loose 60 pounds. I did not even loose 6 pounds. I am in fact exactly the same weight as I was a year ago.

Why? Because I didn't even try. By the end of January I realized that with the kids and everything else that I wanted to do, this was not the year to screw around with my diet. True i am overweight, but I am quite spry, can function on very little sleep, have low blood pressure and good cholesterol count.

I did however make a magical vow. I had to do a bit of work to repair the damage from breaking that one, but at least I know how to do it before it was fully broken, so I did'nt get the blow back that one gets if one does not address the issue.

This year, there will be no magical vow for weight loss. I have a plan, a good one, but I need to keep it a secret until about halfway. Its all about the right motivation. Thats all I'll say.

I have a lot of great things planned for 2010. Stronger focus on the "Strategic" part of Strategic Sorcery in the blog. Introducing Video posts and possibly cd's for sale. More media appearances. More one day intensives and hopefully a full weekend training here in New Jersey.

HERE'S TO A TARGETED,TACTICAL, AND THAUMATURGIC TWENTY TEN!

Jason


Friday, December 25, 2009

Favorite Christmas Poem/Invocation







RING OUT WILD BELLS




Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Silence of Christmas Eve

I hope that right now everyone is wrapping up their holiday shopping and winding down all the effort of making Christmas. Tomorrow morning will bring a joyful chaos to most of us, when the fruits of our labors can be enjoyed fully. Tonight though, I hope that everyone can take a few minutes before bed to just be still.

There is a beautiful silence on Christmas eve, a psychic stillness wherein one can find perfect peace pregnant with possibility.

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I urge all my readers to take a moment and step outside into that silent stillness and simply be.

Yesterday is now a memory. Tomorrow is still a projection. The present moment disappears before it can be grasped. Let all your cares rest, and you mind settle. Love and Joy shall arise spontaneously, and you shall truly enjoy the compliments of the season.

Merry Christmas to All

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Wow.


As many of you that read the Sorcerers Secrets know, my friend Matt Brownlee and I have been working on a project involving 7 new planetary sigils that capture the "force in motion" of each planet. Three of these, the only three that were done at the time, appeared in the book and have been the subject of much interest.

Matt just finished rendering the last seal on the 5th of this month. I have shared the complete set, only with members of my Sodality. One of them just gave a gift of seven plates, each with one of the sigils done in the appropriate color on a black background. One of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received. I cant wait to use these....

Monday, December 21, 2009

Happy Yule to all.

A Solstice Tune for you all.

"Ring Out, Solstice Bells"

Now is the solstice of the year,
winter is the glad song that you hear.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Have the lads up ready in a line.

Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.

Join together beneath the mistletoe.
by the holy oak whereon it grows.
Seven druids dance in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.

Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.

Praise be to the distant sister sun,
joyful as the silver planets run.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.
Ring out those bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Ring on, ring out.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Degrees and expectations


In his recent post, Frater R.O. made a post over here about degrees and whether people are actually attaining them or not. He points to two different links. The first is to a video by some crazy guy who is accusing the OTO of not producing any exempt adepts in 30 years, a term which is meaningless in the OTO as it is a AA degree, and is not what the OTO is about anyway. Still, I get the point. The second link is to a great post over at Here Be Dragons, which basically states that people are achieving the high degrees that many have always thought were extremely elite and rare or even unattainable by mortals. RO agrees in his post and suggests that the problem comes from false expectations of what those degrees mean.

It is true that people expect spiritually adept people (fill in terminology as fits your order or religion here) to have qualities that meet their expectations. R.O. gives the example of the K&C of HGA and how many treated this as a nearly unattainable thing and the entire goal in magic. The reality of course is that far from the goal of magic, it is a preliminary to doing serious magic in systems that recognize such a thing. In the AA system it would be attained at the level of Adeptus Minor. In the Chthonic Auranian Temple it is the work of those in the Lovers grade.
This type of projection occurs even more often, in the east, where the expectation is that the teacher be dead from the waist down and have no interest in "material matters" of sex or money for themselves. Strangely they are also expected to have access to perfect wisdom on such matters for others, even though they may have no experience at all. I can't tell you how many Monks get asked for advice on business and marriage - two things that, respectfully, they don't know jack about. In the case of non monastic Lamas and Guru's there are always gasps of shock and horror should they approach someone with romantic or sexual proposals.

There can also be magical expectations that out of line. Sometimes if you manage to do something for someone that they don't understand, like a very effective healing or spell, they cannot understand why you cannot cure their 85 year old Mothers cancer or save the job that they are getting fired from because of gross incompetence. Being able to do one thing magically, translates into the ability to anything with magic. Having any kind of spiritual realization at all, translates into being Jesus or Buddha.

On the other hand, there is a difference between tasting a certain level of realization and being able to stabilize it and integrate it into your living levels. If your degree that you claim has any value than it should reflect somewhere in your life. When someone who behaves with no compassion or seemingly any understanding tells me that they are a high adept I politely blow them off, because clearly that term means something to them that is different than what it means to me. If someone brags about what a powerful sorcerer they are, yet still lives in their parents' house and complains about not being able to get a date, I pretty well blow them off. If you can't kick your heroin addiction, I really don't want to hear about how you are a Master of the Temple and the Buddha Matreya.

I am not suggesting that magicians or spiritual masters need to be rich and flawless BTW. Many a great spiritual master lives below the poverty line and I know several successful magicians that really hve no interest in great wealth. The key is, are you living in accordance with your will or are you whining about how the world is always crapping on you?

There are different layers to any level of realization: faith (Pistis), direct knowledge (Gnosis), and being (Theosis). For instance we all have heard that ice is really water, thus we have faith in this. Those that have seen ice melt into water, and water freeze into ice have direct knowledge. Those that can melt ice at will or freeze water at will have being. Another example is knowing that Germany exists. Traveling to Germany for a visit. And finally moving there and getting citizenship.
In the case of the two most spoken about attainments of western magick I would break it up like the following.
In the case of the HGA, you have faith that such a thing is possible. You attain the knowlege and coveresation. Finally you integrate or unite with your angel. The Adeptus Minor has faith and sets out questing for the K&C of the HGA. The Adeptus Major has attained the K&C and sets out to do battle with the Qlippothic forces as would a knight or spiritual warrior as the Cicero's would say. The Adeptus Exemptus, begins to unite with his angel and thus retires from battle to prepare for the next stage acting as a king or "master Magician".

In the case of the Abyss, again you have faith that such a state exists. In the Golden Dawn this state and its grades are thought to be attainable only after death. In the AA they are thought to be attainable in the here and now. Still, the idea of the grade exists. Most of those claiming degrees like master of the Temple have only achieved the second stage: Gnosis. They have direct knowledge of the state. They have experienced it and left it behind upon returning below the abyss. In my opinion, the real work is to integrate that gnosis into your living levels of being. Otherwise you are just a day tripper.

In all these conversations about high states of being, I have used inexact metaphors. I just don't have any better ones at my disposal. For me, I have pretty much sworn off the idea of claiming grades and such. The times that I have sat in Rigpa, been in union with my angel, or basked in the uncreated light are still far outnumbered by the times that I have lost my patience in traffic, made a cruel comment to my wife, or ate something that I did'nt even really want just out of habit.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

I wasnt gonna comment on this but...

I wasn't gonna comment on this, but I am ill and feeling cantankerous andthis just kinda got under my skin.

Have you seen Lon DuQuette's new Holiday Song?

Really? You didn't manage to work sentiments like that out in your 20's?

While I have always disagreed with his "Goetic Demons are part of the brain" shtick, I considered him one of the moderate and tolerant voices in Thelema. I was apparently wrong.

Lon, your writing is still excellent and clear, and I have to admit that your Guitar playing is top notch, but I am so terribly disappointed in you. I know there are others who feel the same, but they aren't coming forward because of your popularity and because by all accounts are a very nice guy.

Why do Thelemites so often feel the need to piss in other peoples cups to make their own water taste sweeter? For that matter, don't you think that Christianity had just a little bit to do with Dee and the origin of Enochian Magic, that thing that you just write a book about?

Seriously. I hate the goddamn war on Christmas crap when it comes from the right wing nutz, but I hate it even more when it comes from the left who should know better. When sentiments this sophmoric come from someone of Lon's age and experience, its just terribly disappointing.

As if the world would be better if Crowleyanity was the dominant religion. It probably wouldn't even be here at all.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Tutors




Buddhism, Occultism, NLP, Finance, Guitar.
I have learned most of the skills that I value and make a living on by finding tutors rather than enrolling in schools.

Here is an article by Tynan (Herbal from "The Game") on same.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Garchen Rinpoche in Philadelphia



For those in the area that are looking for a good introduction to Tibetan Buddhism from a truly impeccable master, this is a golden opportunity.


H.E. Garchen Rinpoche Teachings

Philadelphia January 8-10



I am very excited to share that H.E.Garchen Rinpoche will be making his
first visit to Philadelphia next month!


Garchen Rinpoche is a renowned Tibetan Buddhist Master from the Drikung
Kagyu Lineage. He was born 72 years ago in Eastern Tibet and was
recognized as the incarnation of a heart disciple of Jigden Sumgon who
was previously Nargajuna’s disciple. Rinpoche was about to finish a
traditional 3 year retreat when he was imprisoned for 20 years during
the Cultural Revolution. Yet like Milarepa, Garchen Rinpoche was able
to realize the Dharma while facing obstacles. In prison he studied under
a Great Dzogchen Master and was a respected teacher upon his release.
Rinpoche now teaches Dharma around the world, touching students with his
bright love.


Milarepa is a famous 11th century yogi who transformed from a blackmagic
to an enlightened saint within one lifetime of diligent practice. His
songs and life were recorded by his disciples and have inspired
practitioners for centuries.


The teachings will be offered free of charge, the suggested donation is
$40 per session or $150 for the entire weekend. Funds raised will help
support Rinpoche’s schools in Eastern Tibet, providing literacy, food,
clothing and water to Rinpoche’s homeland.


Please contact Margaret Ferringo to register for the teachings and to
sign up for lunch. margaretferrigno@yahoo.com or 267.241.7606


The schedule is below:
FRIDAY JANUARY 8 -
7pm-9pm Ethical Society of Philadelphia (1906 S. Rittenhouse square)
Free Public Talk: Cultivating a Clear Mind and an Open Heart
Rinpoche will talk about how to practice Bodhicitta in everyday life.


SATURDAY JANUARY 9-
10am-12pm Pu Men Temple (1023 Race St. Chinatown)
Vajra Songs of Realization: Teachings from the Great Yogi Milarepa Rinpoche will bestow a Milarepa Empowerment
12pm-2pm lunch break. Vegetarian lunch will be available for $10/person.
2pm-5pm Rinpoche will teach from the 100,000 songs of MIlarepa, explaining different levels of meditation and realization.


SUNDAY JANUARY 10-
10am-12pm Pu Men Temple (1023 Race St. Chinatown)
Continuation of the 100,000 songs of Milarepa.
12pm-2pm lunch break. Vegetarian lunch will be available for $10/person.
1-2pm Presentation and Slideshow about Rinpoche’s Humanitarian projects
2pm-5pm Continuation of the 100,000 songs of Milarepa.

At the end of the teaching Rinpoche will also be offering Bodhisattva Vows and Refuge vows for those interested.

Athiest cat

Saturday, December 5, 2009

The 7th Seal has been rendered.

Brownlee has completed the drawing for the 7th and final planetary seal.

Now to get cracking on the chapbook.


Friday, December 4, 2009

This week at Mystical Tymes in New Hope


Thought Sorcery
Tuesday, December 4th,
Mystical Tymes, New Hope.

"The Ancestor of every action is a thought" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
In previous classes I have taught magick that uses herbs, and words, and energies, and all sorts of arcane tricks and methods. But underlying all of these is the power of thought. In my meditation classes I teach how thoughts can be so powerful that they enslave our minds in cycles of acceptance and rejection of trivial things. But it is also this same power that makes though t your most powerful ally for changing your life, and the lives of those around you.

In this class I will teach the secrets of magic that relies upon thought alone. Though seemingly simple, this may be one of the most important classes I have ever taught at Mystical tymes, and one that everyoce can take full advantage of regardless of experience. Apart from the secrets of thought management, i will also teach the pitfalls of certain types of thinking, and the dangers of some of the systems of "New Thought" such as is presented in books like "The Secret"

This class teaches the secrets, that make the secret actually work.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Nybor Tarot Images

This link (NSFW) will get you to the art for the deck http://nyborart.com/tarot.php

This thing is blowing my mind. When was only able to examine other peoples decks I knew I liked it, but didnt really see the patterns established in the re-named cards or how they related to the traditional Tarot. Now that I have my own deck and have read the book, I have to say that this is really brilliant.

Elspeth was right, that it is also a very unambiguous deck. None of those issues I would have with traditional Tarot when a court card would come up in a final outcome slot.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Nybor Tarot

I just got my Nybor Tarot in the mail today.

Wow. Amazing.

I have seen the deck before, and wanted one forever, but now that I have read the book I can honestly say that I am blown away.

I will have a full review after I have done some more readings with it, but WOW.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Clavis Inferi


I got my copy of the Clavis Inferi today.

I'm happy to say that I am not disappointed. In fact as someone that relates strongly with both St Cyprian and the Angel Metatron, this is basically Grimoire heaven. I also am an advocate of the use fo specific angel names to bind demons with, as in the testament of Solomon and Dr Rudd's Goetia, so I love the circle that is protected by the four Demon Kings in Noble and Animal form, bound by the four cardinal angels.

The book is short, only 96 pages, but the plates are all in color and contain some of the most striking images from any Renaissance Grimoire. This is really great stuff.


Monday, November 30, 2009

WTF??

Ok, whats going on today. I have been contacted by four separate people about psychic attacks, and its only 1pm.

Jeesh.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Sleep spells

Blue/White energy mix puts the baby to sleep. About 30/70 ratio. Nice.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Come see me at Wicked Faire



I will be performing at Wicked Faire this year.

ASK A SORCERER, With Jason Miller. You can call in to a show and get the advice of doctors, psychiatrists, therapists, homemakers, pick up artists and just about anything else you can think of. Why not a Sorcerer!

Rather than advice, Jason Miller, author of "The Sorcerer's Secrets" and "Protection and Reversal Magic" will be doling out spells and rituals to get your mojo working. Need to find a job? Get a promotion? Get laid? Get a neighbor to move? Chances are if you have a problem, Jason knows time honored spell that can help you out. Even people that have no prior experience in magic or complete unbelievers can get results.

Click here for more details on the faire

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Friday, November 20, 2009

The Web Course

I will be changing the text on the Webpage to make this more clear, ut just so there is no confusion:

YOU CAN JOIN THE STRATEGIC SORCERY COURSE AT ANY TIME

We started in November, but if you sign up any time throughout the year, you will receive all the back classes at once. The class is designed so that you can work at your own pace, so there is no way to be left behind.

I just mention this because the last two people that signed up asked if they were too late.

You cannot be too late.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Comment Deleted

Dear Reiki Guru,

Your comment to the post "Real Phony" was deleted because you made no attempt to comment on the substance of the post or engage in any discussion. Instead you posted what amounts to a flier for Reiki products and services.

I have no problem with people mentioning or even talking up their products and services on my blog. I dont even have a problem with people mentioning and talking up products and services that compete with my own. There are however ways to do it within the context of a discussion. Supply a link to your logistical info, dont post an advertisement in my blog.

Thank you.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Correction on Patricia Crowther

I was contacted by Patricia Crowther who read the review of Witchcraft in Yorkshire that I posted a couple months back. She asked me to correct the statement I made regarding her having met Aleister Crowley.

Due to an article that appeared in Prediction magazine back in the 1970's I was under the impression that she met Crowley. This is in fact not the case. Her husband Arnold did, as of course did Gerald Gardner, but she herself did not.

She is deeply concerned about misleading statements, and wants the record of her career to be clear and truthful.


Real Phony's


"Shes a phony, but shes a real phony."

The above quote is from Breakfast at Tiffany's and was made George Peppards character regarding Holly Golightly played by Audrey Hepburn. In it she completely makes up a history and persona. The quote above affirms the way that even the made up history and persona become integral to the real person. The made up history is just as important as the real history.

The sentiment is also captured in a great quote from Neil Gaiman: "Things need not have happened in order to be true."

Last night at my class on energetic healing in New Hope, someone mentioned how much what I was teaching was similar to Reiki, which she surmised would naturally be the case since I had studied Tibetan Buddhism and "Reiki is Tibetan..."

Of course Reiki is NOT Tibetan. When I pointed this out, she kind of looked a little heartbroken. I thought about it for a second though and noted that many, if not most, traditions have fake or at least exaggerated histories. For example:

Wicca is not a lineal survivor of prehistoric practices, or even old English witchcraft dating back a couple hundred years.

The Golden Dawn wasn't really a chartered lodge of an even more secret German group.

Blavatski was not really the agent of a group of Eastern Mahatmas, nor was Hoot Koomi a Tibetan,

Lama Govinda was not a real Lama in the sense that most people understood him to mean.

Dadaji was not ordained as a Kagyu lineage holder.

The Key of Solomon was not written by Solomon nor does it accurately reflect magick that Solomon would have done.

Reiki is not a Tibetan practice. Neither are Tulpas.

Aradia was probably more of a creation of Lealand than an accurate portrayal of Strega.

Zora Neel Hurston likely made up a lot of the "Hoodoo Initiations" that appear in Mules and Men,

Karl Kellner did not get sex magick tech from three eastern adepts

The OTO does not represent a brotherhood that LaoTzu would in any way recognize.

Lets not even get into the Necronomicon(s)...

You get the idea.

There is a lot of BS out there. I myself have pledged to swear off the practice of weaving BS stories behind myself or my system of magick. That however is a personal choice. Its not a condemnation of those that do weave BS into what they do. I have come to understand that BS serves a purpose.

Most of the examples above are things that I consider good. They are useful and I am happy that they are around. Most of them would not have gained the ground that they have without the BS to promote them. Did people profit off the BS? Yes. Did people get duped? Yes. But for the most part it was harmless duping and in the end the good outweighed the bad.

The phony stories ended up being a better reflection of the material than the actual origins. So when it comes to stuff like Reiki being Tibetan, or Wicca being a survival of prehistoric goddess worship, or the OTO being a vehicle for Tantric and Sufi sex magick practices; just remember...

They are phony's, but they are real phony's.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

This weeks lesson

This weeks lesson on Zone Rites is REALLY long. Took me all day to write it, but I have to say it kicks some butt.

I decided to finally put in print a ritual called The Adamantine Temple. I have been doing this rite for a few years now, but have kept it as a sort of Ace in the Hole. I do hope people dig it.


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Halfway through the Secret ...

Ok, I am halfway through the secret. I changed by mind. While it does have its good points, it is chock full of suck as well. Indeed it could actually be harmful to people that take it too literally.

Basically it is your typical though IS reality, see it happening and it will happen, nothing happens without you bringing into being, rap. Lots of good stuff in there about how to manage thoughts to not self-sabotage your efforts, how to make gratefulness into a creative process (something that I meant to weave into Sorcerers Secrets, but kinda forgot) and other decent tidbits.

The downside is that there is no concession to reality whatsoever. The book actually states that Fatty Foods will only make you fat if you THINK they will... They point to people who seem to be able to eat anything they want without loosing weight as the proof of this.

Seriously? WTF!

Are there people who can eat junk and not gain weight? Yes. I know several. They all either exercise intensely or have digestive problems. Otherwise they have managed to make "all they want" into half a plate of everything. They are not downing 12 white castles every day, laying about all night and staying perfectly healthy.

Thought is a thing, It does indeed have a power all its own, but unless that power is harnessed through skill, it just doesnt do the kind of things that the Secret claims it does.

That said, I think that the good outweighs the bad with the book and can see why it has sold so many copies.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Tomorrow in New Hope.

Mystical Tymes http://www.mystickaltymes.com/

127 South Main Street New Hope, PA 18938

(215) 862-5629

November 10th 2009

7:00 pm – 9:00pm

Energetic, Psychic, and Magical Healing

There are more methods of energy healing than Reiki. In this class you will learn healing methods drawn from Jason's studies of Buddhism, Taoism, as well as western Elemental and Angelic Magic. Learn to channel different types of healing energies and how to apply them to patients either in person or at a distance. Beyond just merely healing disease, this type of healing can go a long way towards healing the spiritual being and even the outer circumstances of a patient.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

The Secret


After a couple years now of people blathering about the secret like it is the worst (or occasionally the best) possible thing on earth I am finally going to read it. I just picked up a hardcover for $6 at the used book shop in Doylestown PA.

I'll share my thoughts on it when i am done, but I expect it to be like most "New Thought" derived products - good mental tech that equates to rudimentary mental magick, but lacks any emphasis on real world work. This flaw is no big deal though, its the flaw in most books on magick, and even most magical systems. That flaw, more than anything else is what caused me to write the Sorcerer's Secrets; to show that workings need to be followed by work or they dont work.

Some people hate New Thought products lile this because they can also lead people to the unfortunate conculsion that if good things happen to people because they are positive, than bad things happen to people because they are negative. This is a serious flaw, but again is present in most asian cultures that accept "karma" and also Calvinist cultures. People suffer because 1. They are negative thinkers 2. are experiencing karma from previous actions 3. god pretty much hates their guts. All three are a cop-out of course.

Some people, a lot in the occult community I would bet, hate the Secret because of the packaging and the high price tag. Something that is slick and appealing to the mainstream couldnt possibly have as much value as the hard to find, leatherbound edition of a book written 300 years ago that only the "elect" can understand right?

Like I said, I havent even read it yet. I dont have any opinion of it. Just doing a bit of marketing research here, but I do find the reasons that people like/dislike things to be very interesting.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Religion is not about belief

This is a great article on the nature of belief in religion and how the idea of Faith did not, until the modern day, have anything to do with the sort of blind belief that it does today.

Great stuff

http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/rdbook/1930/religion_is_not_about_belief:_karen_armstrong’s_the_case_for_god/

Saturday, October 31, 2009

The Course Begins

I just sent off lesson zero for the course, with Lesson One to follow on Tuesday morning.

If you signed up for the class and did not receive your first post this morning, did not receive it at the right address, or do not know your student number, please write me and let me know asap so I can get it straightened out.

Thanks,

Jason

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Regarding Recent Interviews

Some of the links that I have posted to recent interviews have been dodgy.

The first interview, I still cannot find online. Those listening live told me that the end of it got cut off so maybe he didn't post it.

The second interview with Marla at Stirring the Cauldron can be heard here

or here

http://www.stirringthecauldron.planetparanormal.com

The interview with Thelema Now, will be posted somewhere around the 15th of November. Links will be posted.

The interview that I am most excited about is happening tomorrow night.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Thelema Now Podcast


I am going to be interviewed tonight for the OTO's official Podcast: Thelema Now.

6pm tonight. I dont know when it makes it onto the site.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

One More Week to get in on the ground floor of the Course

The Strategic Sorcery Correspondence Course kicks off in just one more week, and I have been totally blown away by the response. We are now approaching 50 students and climbing.

Though you can sign up after it starts and receive all the back lessons, only those that sign up before Halloween will receive the personalized talisman.

For more information send me an e-mail at inominandum@gmail.com and put the words STRATEGIC SORCERY COURSE in the subject line.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Modern Goetic Grimoire - A Review

Often you expect something to be really good and it winds up sucking eggs. Sometimes you expect something to suck and it turns out better than expected. Occasionally you expect something to be really good and it actually meets those expectations. Rarely though, you expect something to be good and it completely beats the crap out of those expectations with a tire iron, leaving "good" in the dust and arriving at "Great".

I am happy to report that Frater Rufus Opus’s new Opus, The Modern Goetic Grimoire, is one of those rare times when great expectations were met and exceeded.

What I expected was basically what he delivered in the Modern Angelic Grimoire; a clear and concise guide to the classic ritual presented in the Grimoire, but given a modern spin and detailed info on how to pull off all the “arts and crafts” aspects of it. What I got was so much more.

The good Frater goes into deep territory here. Far from just a text about the part of the Lemegeton that is called Goetia, this book covers the art of Goety itself: not just demons, but spirits of the dead and spirits of place. He covers the essentials of the Lemegetons ritual, stresses the importance of the circle, and need for initiation, and than actually gives several techniques for using the spirits in magic, not just conjuring as per the evocation but using the seals in spells and exorcisms.

I think that the best part is that he re-drew everything for the book in his own hand, and rather than just re-post the descriptions of the spirits as given in the Grimoire, he summarizes them in his own words and shares his own insights and experiences. This kind of material is the stuff that makes a huge difference to the practicing mage.

If you have considered using the Goetia, are just curious, you need to make like Aaron Burr and drop a Hamilton over to Frater R.O. for this book.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Please keep your damn dieties out of my Tarot cards!


At my Necromancy class in New Hope this month, Eric, the owner of Mystical Tymes, gave me a copy of the Heindel tarot. I told him I always admired the art, but was always turned away by something. Now I know what. Its the use of Gods instead of Court Cards. For instance the Queen of Wands is Kali.

This turns me off big time. First because the deck flits between four mythologies for no compelling reason
. Why Hinduism, Native American, Egyptian, and Celtic? Why not Norse, Slavic, Shintoist, and Persian? I dunno.

The bigger issue though is that by using dieties to play th
e roles of the elemental court cards, you are downplaying the importance of the Major Arcana, who should be the stars of the show. The magnitude of say the Tower or Death is greatly diminished when Kali is sitting there as the Queen of Wands. Just doesnt work for me.

The shame of it is, that the Haindl isnt the only great looking deck to be ruined by this. One of my favorite decks of all time is the Barbara Walker Tarot. If you ever want to scare the bejeezus out of someone, give them a reading with the Barbara walker tarot
. Its very 70's dark-occult. Every card is people in dark robes stabbing things.

Sadly Walker also takes mythological figures and places them in court positions. Here is Kali again, this time as the queen of swords. She also does Atargatis with a vagina dentata, a really Satanic Baal and some others.
Anyway. My point is, if you are designing a tarot deck with awesome art, please please please. just dont make the court cards into random deities.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Real Magic Gets Wacky.

I have been having a number of discussions about the ways in which magic can, and often does, present itself in strange, even hokey ways.

Vortex Healing for instance is a cluster of bad New Age Clichés. Yet, the person I first learned about it from, a very serious occultist, was floored at its results. After checking it out I found other people who didnt buy into the whole new age history of "Merlins" and such, but who attested to its absolutely shocking effectiveness. After looking at some of the tech, a bit of it seems to mirror things I have been taught by angels (a new age cliché in itself). One of these days I will investigate further.

Another topic that has gotten a lot of attention recently in some quarters are old Parker Press books like The Miracle of New Avatar Power. These books are 25% tech and about 75% hokey testimonials like "How Charles F made $10,000 after performing the invocation to give secret knowlege". But heres the thing: the modern mages that are using this book and others like it, are reporting exactly that kind of success on their boards. They aren't selling the book. The tech is pretty simple, solid kabbalistic root - but just a bit different in terms of names and such. Different enough that those who cleave steadfastly to the standard will be turned off, but those that recognize how little actual instruction from angels and spirits actually sticks to those standard will see that it is a sign of validity rather than not.

Even some standard mages have made these changes. For instance William gray has most of the Sodalities invoking Jivroel instead of Gabriel because it tones down the martial elements of this angel, which was important in the days after the world war. Should we still be doing it that way? I suppose somebody should ask Gabriel or Jivroel, but instead we mostly just follow Grays lead so that we are all on the same page.

Anyway, as my own course in magic is about to start up, and is already approaching 40 students, I am becoming aware that a few of the things that iI will be teaching in later lessons, wont necessarily follow the standard because they have been taught to me by spirits or discovered through experimentation. I hope that they dont come off sounding like Vortex Healing does, but I am also proud that the material doesnt just fit snuggly into the mold.


Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Interview with Marla Brooks

I will be interviewed by Marla Brooks on her show Stirring the Cauldron

On

October 15, 2009

At

9:00 pm EASTERN


Show website: http://stirringthecauldron.mypodcast.com/

www.para-x.com

Monday, October 12, 2009

Crowley Mass

Do what keepest thou from Willing shall be the loophole in the Law!


Whether you view him as a Prophet, a source of profit, or like me one just a very influential and prolific magician; today should be a day for all modern occultists to reflect upon his works.




Friday, October 9, 2009

Crucible

Going to Crucible tomorrow.

If you live near Princeton, than you should be going as well.

I'll be speaking on Financial Magick and listening to lectures on Psionics. Black Magick, and Astral Biology among other things.

Cthulhu Ftagn!!


Go click on it to see it larger in all its eldritch glory.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Double Hitter Tomorrow.

Tomorrow night is a double hitter.

At 7 I am teaching in Longbranch and at 9:20 I am giving a radio interview!

ELEMENTAL HEALING AND MEDITATION

Sacred Circle New Age Center
http://www.sacredcirclenewage.com/

57B Brighton Ave. - Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 229-1119

Wednesday October 7th, 2009

7:00pm - 9:00pm

The five elements of Fire, Water, Air, Earth, and Spirit/Space are fundamental properties in both western alchemy and eastern mysticism. In this class Jason Miller draws upon his experience in both Tibetan Tantra and the Western Mystery Tradition to present a complete system of meditations, visualizations, and breath techniques related to the five elements that promote health, clarity, and expanded awareness.



At 9:20 pm EASTERN

I will be interviewed for one full hour by

David James, host of Psychic Wisdom with David James Radio Hour


www.psychic-wisdom.net

Monday, October 5, 2009

Discounted copies of Protection and Reversal Magick

As many of you know, Protection and Reversal Magick now has a new cover. This week, I started selling the copies with the new cover when people ask for the book.

I still have copies of book sporting the old cover, so I am discounting them down to $10 a copy until they are sold.

If interested, contact me at inominandum@gmail.com

Of course, I also have copies of "The Sorcerer's Secrets" and "Protection and Reversal Magick" with the new cover for sale at the full $16. For those that want them.

My Children have started a blog.

Apparently my twins have started a blog reviewing the places that my wife and I drag them to.

I assume they get a little help from Mom in writing it up. If not than I should probably push them into an advanced pre-school as they are not even three months old yet.

If you wanna check it out, its HERE


Sunday, October 4, 2009

More on RHP and LHP

Wow. What i thought was basically a junk post generated a lot of commentary. Most of that commentary travels far from the original post though and into areas that just don't interest me much.

I do have a few points though.

  • By defining LHP and RHP as how one relates to the passions in practice - I am not giving my opinion. That is what it is in Tantra, which is where, as far as I am aware, the terms come from. Its not about socizal acceptability because sex for instance is perfectly socially acceptable - its just not often thought of a sacred in the way that Chastity is. Chastity and sex Magick are both valid paths, but one is RHP and another is LHP. Any thoughts of LHP/RHP being self serving vs other serving, or socially acceptable vs. acceptable, or ego deifying vs seeking ego destruction stray very far from the real meaning.
  • The fact that some people have issues with sex and alcohol are excellent reasons not to engage in LHP practices. Those practices were never meant for the mainstream and they are dangerous for a reason. However, the fact that some have problems, doesnt invalidate the LHP for those of us who don't. Leave me my sacred substances and sex. I dont need to push them on you, please dont push the opposite on me.
  • As far as the up-coming class goes, the there will be a couple units devoted to sex magick. No homework however will be drawn from those lessons, so whether you actually put them to practice or not is up to you.
  • Ultimately the dichotomy is abandoned when the adept is ready to deal with reality as such, neither renouncing nor transforming the passions, but this is an even more difficult route than LHP itself. It is like walking the razors edge - which is probably why I dig it.

Friday, October 2, 2009

LHP & RHP


Mystically speaking there are two ways of working - the Right hand path and the left hand path. By RHP and LHP I do not mean this nonsense about being an isolate intelligence vs seeking oblivion by re-absorption into the pleroma or some crap like that. That is a false choice.

No, by RHP and LHP I simply mean how you deal with the passions of the mind: lust, anger, pride, lust (did I say that twice?). As they manifest normally, these things are an obstacle to realization. They keep one embroiled squarely in the material consensual reality.

The right hand path treats these poisons as most people would treat a poison - you avoid it, and warn others to do the same. This is the path of the majority of mystics in both the east and the west.

The left hand path treats the poison as a doctor might: they alchemically indulge the passions and use them as the path itself. This path is exemplified in the east in the many Tantric sects, and has appeared in the west at various times as well. The Carprocratians are an ancient example, Thelema would be a modern one.

Though you do personally kind of have to pick one approach or the other for yourself, at least until you can transcend the whole shibang and deal with causality as such, there is no reason to slight the people on the other side. Both are valid choices.

In the east there are many examples of Ngakpas and Tantric Yogis whose students became monks, and vice versa. There are many examples of friendships between teachers of these two approaches.

The RHP is slower, but safer. It is easier to maintain your ideas of purity and purify yourself by them. Society in general will look kindly on your efforts. Even if you remain a lay person and engage in acts of intoxication and lust - as most people do - at least you are not treating them as sacred. That is just a bot to much for most people.

The LHP is faster, but way more dangerous. Each of the passions has an immense amount of energy behind it - which is increased to such a size that is bigger than the ego that gave birth to them. You see the inherent purity of all existence. The problem is when you blow those passions up to cosmic proportions it is easy to blow your neurosis up as well. I was reminded of this this morning listening to the story about Elizabeth Smart's testimony. Her captor clearly had some kind of LHP trip, and indeed her testimony about his theology was eerily similar to the Carpocratians - that you needed to experience every low type of human experience to eventually experience the high's. The thing is that no one should ever be forced to undergo those things against their will. In fact, it completely defeats the point.

People on the LHP that cannot see the validity of the RHP would do well to keep this in mind. Clearly a lot of people that walk the RHP have a lot of ideas about Good and Evil tied to these concepts, but that doesn't mean that you should as well. Just because your path involves sex magick and religious intoxication and the indulgence of the passions - this doesnt make it a good choice for everyone. Indeed its a terrible choice for most.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Radio Interview with Yours Truly


ANNOUNCEMENT!

On October 7, 2009

At 9:00 pm EASTERN

I will be interviewed for one full hour by

David James, host of Psychic Wisdom with David James Radio Hour


Wednesday, September 23, 2009

SPECIAL DEAL FROM CHRISTOPHER WARNOCK


Christopher Warnock just let me know about this amazing deal he has going on his classes. The deadline however is tomorrow, so I thought I would help get the last-minute word out by posting about it here.

If you know of Chris's work, you will recognize what an amazing deal this is.

Here's the details from Chris himself:

We are moving in about a week and frankly I was surprised by how
expensive this move has been. I have several large repair bills due
in just a few days and I am scrambling around trying to pay them.

So my temporary cash flow problem is your OUTRAGEOUS educational
opportunity! For the next three days, since that's when the bills
are due, the next two students to register for the full Astrological
Magic Course get some incredible bonuses.

But before the special stuff, just consider the Astrological Magic
Course itself.
http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/astrologicalmagiccourse.html

This is a complete course in all types of traditional astrology and
the creation of powerful, authentic talismans, including talismans of
the planets, the Mansions of the Moon, the decan/faces, the fixed
stars, talismans based on birth charts, full house talismans and more!
It comes with 14 lessons, homework, e-books, all on CD plus 4 free
paperback books and 4 free special astrological software programs.
This course includes free: the Planetary Magic, Mansions of the Moon
and Decan/Face Mini-Courses.

Traditional astrological magic is laid out for you in the course,
clearly, step by step. You don't need to know any astrology or magic
before starting the course, it's all there! I personally teach every
student, I correct all homework by hand and I am available to answer
any questions you might have on the current lesson you are working on.

Ok, sounds good, but what's the special bonus? Again, just for the
next three days, the next four students to register for the
Astrological Magic Course get all this amazing course material, books,
software, etc., and a FREE large gold plated silver Mercury talisman
or Divine Name talisman. Just take a look
http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/images/mercurygoldfront.jpg
http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/images/mercurygoldback.jpg
http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/images/triangle-talisman.jpg

Mercury is perfect for an Astrological Magic Course student as he
rules astrology and co-rules with Saturn, magic. He is also the ruler
of study! Personally I've been on a gold kick recently and these
talismans look great. Gold plated with Nigel's amazing image on the
front, plus the sigils, symbols and numbers of Mercury, Mercury table
on the back.

The Divine Name talisman is pure sterling silver, with the most
powerful name of God, the Tetragrammaton, in the Pythagorean tetractys
pyramid, right out of Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy!

http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/images/triangle-talisman.jpg

And folks, these talismans go for $250, but for the first four
students to register for the Astrological Magic Course in the next
three days, this $250 talisman is FREE!

You'd think that was enough, but I'm really under the gun, so I'm
going to make this deal even better.. Those first two students to
register will get not only the incredible Astrological Magic Course
and the free gold plated Mercury talisman, but also a FREE copy of
Solar Fire astrological software. Normally over $300, you get a
review copy of this professional astrological software, fully
functional with an online manual, but lacking only tech support. Plus
you get my Solar Fire Traditional Page, that works with Solar Fire to
give you all the traditional chart info you need on one page.

So that's $550 worth of free stuff, the course is only $399.95 plus
shipping, I'm basically paying YOU $150!

But folks, time is money here and I just have to nail this, so I'm
going completely nuts and including a FREE copy of the Greer and
Warnock English translation of the Latin Picatrix Books I & II. This
is the ultimate grimoire of astrological magic, highly sought after,
intelligibly translated for practitioners for the first time. A
$54.95 value and again, FREE to the first two students to register for
the Astrological Magic Course in the next three days. Whoa! That's
like paying you $200 to take the course!

So let's recap, the first four students to register for the
Astrological Magic Course in the next three days, that's until
midnight Thursday, will get all of the amazing course material,
lessons, e-books, paperback books and software in the course, PLUS a
free $250 Mercury talisman, PLUS a free $300 copy of Solar Fire
astrological software, PLUS a free $54.95 copy of Picatrix Books I &
II. That's $600 of free stuff!!! And the Astrological Magic Course
itself is just $399.95 plus shipping.

You need to use the special order page for the amazing deal
http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/paymentpageamcspecial.html

Shipping is a little extra because I need to insure and ship the
talisman, outside the US this goes global express insured.

Obviously this deal is totally NUTS!!! If I wasn't under the hammer,
there no way I would be offering this much free stuff. This is not
going to happen again and if you were at all considering taking the
course you be nuts not to jump on this offer IMMEDIATELY. E-mail me
at chriswarnock@renaissanceastrology.com to see whether the Mercury or
Divine Name talismans are still available, but you'd better act fast!
Once either the 4 talismans or the time limit is gone, this deal is
OVER!!!

You need to use the special order page for the amazing deal
http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/paymentpageamcspecial.html

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Liber Novus


I cant fricking wait for this to come out.

ALL DAY HOODOO INTENSIVE THIS SUNDAY!!!

HOODOO INTENSIVE IN BUTLER NJ THIS SUNDAY


Hoodoo is a distinctly American form of Sorcery combining African, European, and Native American practices. In this all-day intensive, Jason Miller (Inominandum) will teach the history, theory, and practice of this potent tradition of magick. After a brief summary of Hoodoo overall, we will be going root by root, bone by bone, through the most widely used and potent curios of the tradition and providing spells for each of them. From the Three John Roots and Devil's Shoe Strings to
Gator Hands and Goofer Dust, you will learn to make mojo hands, baths, dress candles, lay tricks,
use powders, and all the famous methods of Rootwork old and modern. Special attention
will be paid to the way in which Hoodoo can work alone or alongside just about any religious
tradition. By the end of this class you will be able to use the formulas of old time to conjure
or create tricks of your own.

Offered on Sunday, September 27, 2009, this class will be held as an all-day intensive,
consisting of one two-hour session from 10-12pm, a lunch break (please bring your own),
followed by another two-hour session from 1-3pm.
Question-and-Answer period will follow the last session.
Tuition is $60 for both sessions only.

Jason Miller (Inominandum) has been studying and practicing magick for over 20 years. His studies have brought him all over the world, from the American South, to Europe, to the Himalayas. He is a member of several magickal orders and craft traditions as well as being an initiate
of the Nyingma and Bon lineages of Tibet.

His studies in Hoodoo began as a teenager in the Botanicas and Conjure shops of NJ and NY. More recently he increased his knowledge by graduating from Catherine Yronwode’s Hoodoo Rootwork Course. After the course he took a special interest in New Orleans-style conjure and made several
trips a year to study the magick unique to that city.

He is the author of Protection and Reversal Magick, A Defense Guide for Witches and the upcoming book The Sorcerers Secrets, Strategies in Practical Magick

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Things that are frickin awsome






David Rankine posted this link to FB yesterday. Article is a fantastic source for all those interested in the Chaldean Oracles, the Mithras Liturgy, Rising in the Spheres, the Three Levels or a host of other things. Really good stuff.

http://www.mithraeum.eu/doc/did_the_mithraists_inhale.pdf

Got turned on the this blog yesterday as well. Good posts on pretty much straight up Hoodoo magick done for clients.


Lastly everyone in NJ or Eastern PA should take their buts over to http://www.crucibleconvention.com/ and sign up for Crucible. Its basically a one day thing at a hotel with people on the fringes of an already fringe thing. I am lecturing and will have copies of my new book for sale, but there are oodles of other reasons to go. With lectures on Psionics, Astral Biology, Black Magic, and Seduction Magic how can you resist? There are also panel discussions on Theurgia vs Thaumaturgy and how the dimensions of Space and Time effect the work of the magician.

Not to mention the after party. Where else can you drunk while recieving ordination as an auto cephalos priest?

See you there...


Thursday, September 17, 2009

ACHTUNG BITCHES!




Beginning November 1st 2009

THE STRATEGIC SORCERY

CORRESPONDENCE COURSE

A ONE YEAR BOOT CAMP IN PRACTICAL MAGIC

Before I even wrote my first book, people have been asking me to present a complete and graduated system of magic as I practice it. Because I have aimed to make my writings of service to the occult community at large, usable from the vantage point of almost any tradition, I have refrained from trying to present a systematic training system of my own,until now.

Though the most of the material in this class will be useful to people of just about any background, I will for the first time be presenting the precise steps that I feel are most important in magickal training.

Class will begin the first week of November 2009 and will consist of 52 lessons, which are intended to arrive via e-mail each week. Lessons will consist of a lecture, and a Q&A section from the previous lesson. There will be one homework assignment per month, but no time limit on when those need to be completed – you work at your own pace. The only requirements for the course are access to e-mail and a copy of “The Sorcerer’s Secrets, Strategies in Practical Magick”. There will be many other books that are recommended throughout the course, but this will be the only one that is required.Those that complete the class and the homework will be eligible for special classes and activities to take place in the future.

You can sign up any time during the first cycle of classes and receive all the past classes at once. During the first cycle of this class there may be delays in classes for no greater than one week. Thus the first cycle may take longer than a year to complete. The advantage of being in the first cycle is that you will have a greater opportunity to contribute to the final course.

Because the first students will inevitably be suffering from us getting the kinks out of the class, those that sign up for the first cycle will receive the course at a discounted rate of $100 – about the price of attending only four of my live classes. Prices will increase for future cycles of the class.

If you are interested in the class please send an e-mail to inominandum@gmail.com and put STRATEGIC SORCERY COURSE as the subject line. You will than be added to the list and given further instructions

Monday, September 14, 2009

Writing


I wrote 3200 words today for the first Chapbook that I will be producing called "The Seven Seals".

I am frickin exhausted.

SPIRIT BOTTLE CLASS TOMORROW IN NEW HOPE


Mystical Tymes

http://www.mystickaltymes.com/

127 South Main Street New Hope, PA 18938

(215) 862-5629

September 15th 2009

7:00 pm – 9:00pm

The Naga Khang of Tibet, the Pwen of Haitian Vodou, The Goetia’s Brass Vessel, the Honden of Shinto, the Nganga of Palo Mayombe. The San Phra Phum of Thailand; all over the world human beings feel compelled to create physical places for non-physical beings to dwell within. The purpose is two fold: to give ourselves an easy way to relate to the spirits, and to give the spirits a greater foothold into our world so that their activities can achieve greater impact.

In this class Jason Miller will go over his methods for creating “Spirit Bottles” which can be put to almost any purpose. He will cover the types of spirits that can be housed, , how to attract spirits to the bottle, the various items that one might want to add to a spirit bottle, how to feed and communicate with the spirits, and more. Come explore the way in which traditional formula and artistic creativity come together in this exciting and potent type of Sorcery


The two pics here are of the first two spirit bottles that I ever made. Top is Dr John and bottom is Marie Laveau.


Saturday, September 12, 2009

Colored and Shaped Candles.

Frater RO just made an excellent post on candles. He points out that after he has made the initial contact with a spirit, much of the following work with that spirit tends to be quite similar to simple candle magick. I totally concur.

He points out that the wax makes an excellent fluid condenser and picks up the "vibe" of the spell which is patterned by the prayer or invocation, and released through burning. Another thing that helps this process along are using candles of different colors and shapes. Different colors have different vibrations that will amplify a corresponding intent. This is the same in using colored Chi or Prana in different types of healing.

Some people have pointed out that in the old days, there were no colored candles, everything was just beeswax - ergo colored and shaped candles are not necessary for magic. True enough, but nothing is necessary for magic. Tools are there to help you along and make a process easier and more effective.

Those that see magic as something that was perfect in ancient times, and which we only have mere shadows of today will want to reconstruct things to be as archaic as possible. People that see magic as a living and evolving thing that gets better as time goes on will want to take advantage of newer traditions and perhaps make some advances themselves. It should be no surprise that I fall into the latter camp.

Above is picture of a double action reversal candle that is being burned in the appropriate manner, ie: you cut the top off, turn it upside down so that the black side is up, dig out the wick and burn it that way. The black part of the candle reverses the negativity back to the sender whether this is another magician, a spirit, or just the universe itself. After that is cleared, the colored part strengethens whatever was weak: white for health, red for love or lust, green for money, etc.

Do not underestimate a simple candle spell. In the hands of a skilled worker that spell from the $2 Anna Riva book is as potent as a Goetic evocation. In fact its often more potent because the person doing the candle magic will actually do the work, whereas most ceremonial magicians talk more about goetia than they actually do goetia. Frater RO is someone who clearly understands this, and is one of those that will take advantage of both and really do the work.


Friday, September 11, 2009

An Ye Harm Some


Since this topic came up in both a "real conversation" and in the Inominandum.com forums today I decided to spin this topic off of the "Where to begin thread". Black arrow wrote:

I do admit I have wondered regarding his and many other occult writers' warnings against any "harmful" use of magick due to karma reasons, threefold law, etc. In some cases, it seems somewhat counter-intuitive. To give a more mundane analogy, I have a pistol, and a concealed handgun permit. If I or my family was attacked, I would have no problem shooting the assailant. "Harmful" use of that pistol is not innately evil. What matters is the intent and the context involved.

The issue of wrathful magic and its fallout is a bit more complex than this I am afraid. There are really two factors at play: moral and technical considerations. Most sources treat the two as one, which is a mistake.

On the moral end, you are quite correct that it is intent that matters. Great good has come from wrathful action which is why in the Bodhisattva vows, Mahayana Buddhists vow to not refrain from wrathful action if compassion demands it. Any system that suggests good for good and bad for bad that doesn't take this into account is just sophomoric.

Real Karma as understood in the east takes intent into account, as well as the performance of the action, the fallout both intended and unintended, and finally the rejoicing or regret that follows. But all of these are not judged by some karmic panel, they are just factors in the cause and effect that is karma. This brings us to the technical side of the matter, but only a fully realized being can truly know the full extent of every action.

There are however less subtle technical aspects of wrathful magic that can be grasped. Whatever work you do surrounds you with energy that patterns itself after that work. This is why when doing wealth work for others, the operator often finds himself coming into a little bit of extra cash. There is also the matter of spirits employed, and in turn the spirits that those spirits employ. Even in the case of a cosmic goddess like Hekate or a realized guardian like Ekajati, there are retinues of spirits that follow them around which are not as easily controlled; Aoroi, Empusae, and so on in the case of Hekate and Mamo's in the case of Ekajati. Beings that do dirty work, regardless of intent, are still wrathful in nature and need a firm hand to control. This is why in hoodoo you take a Hyssop bath to rid yourself of any spirits that linger after harmful work, and why you generate as a wrathful yidam in Tantra to scare the crap out of any dregs-pa (wrathful beings) that attend your guardians.

The stronger the wrath, the more prevalent the problem. Dudjom Rinpoche wrote and article called "On the bad luck of the Nyingmapa" basically detailing the ways in which many of the beings that were subjugated and bound during the importation of Buddhism into Tibet have since caused various problems when not tended carefully.

An even more drastic example is the country of Haiti. The Congo spirits were already served in the country and are themselves pretty powerful for wrathful work. To facilitate the slave revolt however, a new nation of Loa were evolved from the Congo spirits - The Petro. With the help of these beings, the people of Haiti pulled off the only successful slave revolt in the western hemisphere. One they are no longer needed though, you still have to deal with them. Because many of these spirits are really really bloodthirsty, they tend to cause problems which can be seen in the history of Haiti ever since. The secret societies have evolved yet more Nations of Loa such as the Bizango nation to deal with some of the reprecussions of this.

An analogy would be like you making friends with the local gang in order to get their help to take out your enemy. After that is done, you are still friends with a gang and may find yourself dragged into several undesirable situations.

Basically, wrathful magick is not different than any other type of magick. Even if you do not believe in retribution for the morality of the act, which I do not, you still have to deal with the wrathful energy and spirits that you atttact during the rite. This is why in many African and Asian magickal systems the darker spirits are all served outside the home or at least on a separate altar.