Divisions of magick
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93!
Mr.Eshelman,
I noticed that the magic is often divided into four types: Elemental, Planetary, Zodiacal and Sephirotic. Is there a practical reason for this division? And how do I determine which category of principles best suited for my purpose? A ritual for wealth, for example. I can associate wealth with Earth, Jupiter, Taurus and Chesed. What sould I choose? On what should be based my choice? -
Partly, that's where the art part comes in.
Partly, also, it's part of the path of your learning and development. It's generally deemed the best progress to master the elements before taking up the planets, for example.
PS - I wouldn't relate this one to Taurus - that's a misattribution that grew out of the fictitious Tropical zodiac's mislabeling of the constellation Aries as a fake sign called "Taurus." Also, Jupiter vs. Chesed is really the same thing (though I suppose you mean Kaf vs. Chesed), except for the decision of whether to go path of s'fiyrah. As rule, s'fiyroth represent states or static conditions, whereas paths (e.g., Kaf) represent energies flowing and in motion.
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"Partly, also, it's part of the path of your learning and development. It's generally deemed the best progress to master the elements before taking up the planets, for example."
Do I understand correctly that the planetary magick necessarily require the balance of the Four Elements?
" I wouldn't relate this one to Taurus - that's a misattribution that grew out of the fictitious Tropical zodiac's mislabeling of the constellation Aries as a fake sign called "Taurus.""
Well, thanks for the correction)
"As rule, s'fiyroth represent states or static conditions, whereas paths (e.g., Kaf) represent energies flowing and in motion."
I still do not understand.
Could you give some practical example? -
@Quaestor Lucis said
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"Partly, also, it's part of the path of your learning and development. It's generally deemed the best progress to master the elements before taking up the planets, for example."Do I understand correctly that the planetary magick necessarily require the balance of the Four Elements?"
I dislike being an absolutist on words like "requires." However, this would be the basis of most historic training methods, and would be the foundation of any curriculum I would put together. It's a higher level sphere.
Think of the structure of the Tree (its s'fiyroth): You start with a field of the elements. After that, planets come.
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"As rule, s'fiyroth represent states or static conditions, whereas paths (e.g., Kaf) represent energies flowing and in motion."I still do not understand.
Could you give some practical example?"The powers are in the paths. The states are in the s'fiyroth.
I try not to give (what could pass for) dogmatic examples - something that would work as a formula or rule set - because a great deal of the power of creating and executing magick ritual is in having to struggle your way through, wrestling with this sort of decision. But you can examine the same rituals in 776 1/2 and look for patterns on how I made some decisions.
Thus, #3, Health & Prosperity of the Order, is a Biynah ritual, not a Tav ritual. One reason is the level of the energies needed - this task can only be truly ensured if it emanates from Supernal sources. But also, consider the goal: continuing health and prosperity of the Order is seen as a way of being, a state, rather than an acute "point-effect."
#5, for protection, was s'fiyrothic because I specifically wanted the choir of angels - a true swarm of guardians and agents - as the guardian pool. Had I made this a ritual of Peh instead of G'boorah, I could have relied on the Angel of Mars, but that is a bit limited and doesn't hit the right parts of my own psyche (the deep levels of subconsciousness populated by swarms upon swarms of individual factors or elements0.
#9 is s'fiyrothic so far as creating the context of the subconscious gateways, but Path-driven in terms of the specific "ray" or factor of the psyche being engaged. Consider that it is working in the pool (state of context) of Y'sod, and engaging a specific fish swimming in that pool - the potency of a particular planet. (But some lines are wandered back and forth across in that one. But maybe this gives you an example of idea anyway.)
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"Think of the structure of the Tree (its s'fiyroth): You start with a field of the elements. After that, planets come."
And then comes the Zodiac (Chokmah), yes?
As I understand it, these four types of magick is something like four different points of view, considering the reality as consisting of five, seven, twelve , and ten parts. And each following point of view considering the more subtle aspects of reality. I'm right?"The powers are in the paths. The states are in the s'fiyroth.
I try not to give (what could pass for) dogmatic examples - something that would work as a formula or rule set - because a great deal of the power of creating and executing magick ritual is in having to struggle your way through, wrestling with this sort of decision. But you can examine the same rituals in 776 1/2 and look for patterns on how I made some decisions.
Thus, #3, Health & Prosperity of the Order, is a Biynah ritual, not a Tav ritual. One reason is the level of the energies needed - this task can only be truly ensured if it emanates from Supernal sources. But also, consider the goal: continuing health and prosperity of the Order is seen as a way of being, a state, rather than an acute "point-effect."
#5, for protection, was s'fiyrothic because I specifically wanted the choir of angels - a true swarm of guardians and agents - as the guardian pool. Had I made this a ritual of Peh instead of G'boorah, I could have relied on the Angel of Mars, but that is a bit limited and doesn't hit the right parts of my own psyche (the deep levels of subconsciousness populated by swarms upon swarms of individual factors or elements0.
#9 is s'fiyrothic so far as creating the context of the subconscious gateways, but Path-driven in terms of the specific "ray" or factor of the psyche being engaged. Consider that it is working in the pool (state of context) of Y'sod, and engaging a specific fish swimming in that pool - the potency of a particular planet. (But some lines are wandered back and forth across in that one. But maybe this gives you an example of idea anyway.)"
Thank you for such a detailed answer!