Shadow Magic

The main source for this post comes from a book called Shadow Magic Compendium. The author of that book is Raven Digitalis a Neopagan Priest of the coven Opus Aima Obscurae.

Thanks to him and that book I will make this post and try to pass his knowledge to future students who are willing to learn and embrace this form of magic and magical path.

INTRODUCTION TO SHADOW MAGIC

Throughout the ages various cultures, religions and individuals have approached this idea in various ways. Many religions have recognized The Shadow as a major role in human spiritual development and understanding. Even modern religions view Shadow as spiritual force. The very aspects of shadow of the psyche brought our magical reality into vision. But these lessons are not enough to capture the whole meaning of shadow. After a practitioner learns these he personally has to move on and explore his own aspect of shadow. Shadow magic is the spiritual force that guides the practitioners through their lives, helping them in every task they need. However in order to use it properly the practitioner needs to import his shadow magic practice to his everyday life as much as he can. He needs to form a lifestyle based on shadow magic as much as he is being capable. Only then it will work properly. I practice this form of magic and I can say from personal experience that it's helpful when many things fail to help. I use it everyday to start my day with good luck. By using the very shadow of mine i get loose of negativity and get up full of energy ready for the day.

THE NATURE OF DARKNESS AND THE COLOR BLACK

Shadows are darkness, and the darkest color of all is black. To put it simply, black color plays a role in Shadow Magic because of its embodiment of dark energies. But should we be afraid of it? No, because neither light nor darkness is inherently evil. There is no way anyone can say that something or someone is entirely good or evil. But good can't exist without evil, and so can also dark without light. Dark and light form a polarity of each other. One is positive and the other is negative, but the polarities exist to depend on each other. In example I can take the Taoist symbol of Yin-Yang. It exemplifies the philosophy that nothing can exist without its equal but opposite balance.

One more good example is life and death. If we are not born we can't die.

Most creation myths begin with darkness. Even the biblical Let there be light implies that, yes, darkness was prior. From the darkness, the light of spirituality the light of life springs forth. Black is the color of the cosmos whence we came and whither we go again upon death. The sun and other stars act as beacons in a vast expanse of black nothingness.

In occultism, black is most often associated with two things in addition to creation: energetic protection and the destruction of negativity. When banishing harmful influences, Witches burn black candles to vanquish the energy into the Abyss, and magicians of all types use black as a general protective shield. Black is the combination of all colors and is the lack of color.

Nowadays, the color black is most often associated with death and dying, and it is the color of preference worn at wakes and funeral services. It is certainly a color of mourning, as it draws on energies shrouded and obscured.

Black represents nothing, nothingness the Abyss or the void into which anything unwanted can be tossed (or drawn from). Black stones, candles, and fabric are best used in spells of banishment and releasing. Black is said to help remove hexes and also aid in binding or cursing when need be. Black is associated with the womb of the earth in some cultures; it may be used for grounding and reconnecting with humankind's roots by way of ancestral communication and past-life regression. Just like white, black is an all-purpose color. It is associated with the night, rebirth, divination, and the eternal journey of awakening to spiritual truth.

Black has different associations for every culture. For some, like most Western cultures, it's a color of mourning, sorrow, and despair. For others, it's the color of rebirth and coming back to the center of the soul. It is both a symbol of release and cultivation and may be seen as a neutral color. Black not only represents nothing, but also paradoxically represents everything.

VARIATIONS OF SHADOWS

In its most obvious, physical guise, shadow is a phenomenon we see on the physical plane: the darkness cast by a lit object, the darkness of the night sky, the color black, and so on. However I will interpret shadow in five basic ways dividing it later in smaller parts to explain every one of them. Taking the initiative to face the shadow allows a fuller view of self to emerge, and working magick with these elements of darkness can be invaluable. When doing so ritualistically, however, remember that a securely structured energetic circle is a must. It can protect a practitioner from external astral vibrations and entities, giving a space of clarity and discretion regarding which aspects of the shadow should be worked with and how.

1st -The Internal Shadow

This is considered as the darker side of human nature. When we deny some thought it is pushed back to the mind into unrecognized internal shadow. When darker emotions arise, such as sadness, anger, and apathy, it may be considered a conscious surfacing of the internal shadow.

Awareness of these darker characteristics is the first step in working with ones inner shadow.

2nd - The External Shadow

Ones external shadow is simply a projection of the internal one. Gone unrecognized, the external shadow can manifest through projection. For example, we may believe that no one finds us attractive, when the truth is that we do not accept our own attractiveness ourselves. Such projection can happen in countless ways, arising from any repressed belief. The external shadow also includes the shadows of others. In other words, any aspect of shadow that is not your own can be considered external. This chapter explores types of magick that rely on external forces, yet connect with and influence ones internal reality.

3rd - The Astral Shadow

The astral plane is a reflection of the physical world and carries energies that are generally invisible to the untrained eye. The astral is the realm of guides, guardians, and ancestors. Thoughtforms, deities, dreams, and everything possible to be believed exist on the astral plane. Naturally, it carries currents of darkness that are directly linked to the shadow of the human psyche and the natural world.

4th - The Shadow of Nature

Nature has many shadow aspects: for example, the food chain in which one life form must feed on another to survive. Destructive acts that we call murder, rape, and theft are natural crimes of the animal kingdom, existing in the primitive aspect of the animal psyche. While animals cannot always choose to control these survival-driven instincts, humans have the unique gifts of morality and ethical discretion, allowing us to choose against these behaviors. Consider, too, the destructive aspect of nature herself, such as natural disasters and even poisonous plants. Nature also has other shadowed aspects such as eclipses, the dark seasons, the dark moon, and other mysteries that will be explained later.

5th - The Shadow of Society

The unseen, hidden, suppressed, or overlooked aspects of our culture and society belong to this guise of shadow. The shadow of society is predominantly not a positive one. Skewed cultural worldviews, underhanded corporate crime, religious fanaticism, and self-serving politics can be considered a part of society's shadow. The social shadow is greatly shaped by the internal shadow. For example, even the most devastating sociopolitical crime is often no more than horrid projections of certain people's inner fears and psychosis.

THE INTERNAL SHADOW

Witches do not claim their power from darkness, as the dominant culture tells us. Witches claim their power through darkness. The word is an active one, and it implies that Witches actively pursue their power, it is not a manifestation of some external source. They honor their power from within.

TIMOTHY RODERICK

Dark Moon Mysteries

Understanding Negative Behavior Cycles

People attracted to both dark energies and the spiritual-magickal arts must, in some manner, work with the personal shadow daily (or nightly, as it were). Constantly monitoring the self and the mind is essential for magickal and spiritual progress. Spirituality of the shadow requires looking at behaviors, actions, and reactions regularly and objectively. One of the best ways to do this is by frequently practicing the self-evaluation exercise. It's easy to get so swept up in the drama of life that we lose focus of the vital role we play in building our experience. Objectively examining our own behavioral patterns is the most important aspect of shadow magick. From there, it's just a matter of how deep do you want to go? We can only change the external world by transforming the internal; both simultaneously co-create each other. Every single one of us has behavioral and perceptual patterns that somehow hinder our full spiritual development else we wouldn't be here! Everything in existence is linked by an ethereal web. This is not fancy New Age ideology, but a strict observation of the nature of reality. Mystical religions have always recognized that no one thing is separate from the next; even modern science seamlessly backs this ancient notion. When one point on the multidimensional web of life changes, it naturally influences the rest of it, even ever so slightly. As we examine and positively change ourselves, we change our own reality cycles and influence all others paradigms to shift. If we let ourselves see the nature of our own psyche, we permit ourselves to heal on deep levels. If we actively recognize and change harmful patterning (even if it's an incredibly painful task), progress occurs both on the level of the earth's general energetic vibration, and on the level of our own personal connections and daily experiences. It's a good idea to analyze your actions and reactions regularly. If you find it difficult to step into the moment and observe your mind, try meditating in the evening, rewinding and reviewing your day, piece by piece.

Internal Shadow Magick: A Self-Evaluation

I would like to propose a simple psychological self-evaluation, one that will deepen your self-knowledge. This exercise helps expose our most ingrained and deep-rooted patterns, opening us to understanding and healing them. Please grab a piece of paper and a pen, or get to your computer and keyboard. This exercise is powerful, and the resulting material will be worthy of everyday reflection and expansion, if you wish. Over time, more observations will naturally come to you, especially if you do this self-reflection regularly. Then you can perform the magick you deem necessary to regain balance, even if it requires searching the deepest, most repressed portions of the mind. Start by dimming your environment. Get some candles and incense going, turn off the phone, unplug the television, do whatever you have to do to reach a comfortable and serene state of being that is at least somewhat different from the everyday. If it means getting some tea, turning on some music, and wrapping up in a warm blanket on your bed, go for it. If you do play music, make it light and instrumental perhaps darkwave, ethereal, classical, ambient, or New Age, with few or no vocals. If you feel that this exercise would best be performed in a properly cast circle, have at it. The deeper you go within, and the more time and effort you devote to this exercise, the more meaningful the results.

ELEMENTAL ALIGNMENTS

Even if you are already familiar with the common Neopagan and Hermetic concepts of elemental associations, first review them here, taking a few moments to center each elements qualities in your mind.

Earth - concerns structure: Stability, security, sustenance, materials, and physical reality (plant, animal, and mineral).

Air - concerns the mind: Perception, ideas, intellectuality, study, science, communication, society, and information.

Fire - concerns activity: Motivation, invigoration, lust, sexuality, sensuality, passion, confidence, and transformation.

Water- concerns intuition: Emotions, love, empathy, compassion, healing, psychic ability, astral travel, sleep, and dreaming.

Now consider what harmful cycles in the human psyche are suggested by these divisions, resulting from either an overabundance or a lack of the associated qualities. A person with hard-to-control anger issues could be seen as having too much Fire energy, whereas a person who has difficulty remembering things might lack Air energy.

The four lists to follow show some such possibilities, in statement form. Browse these lists now with yourself in mind, reading each item with an honest, analytical eye. On your paper, write the headings Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, and below copy any statement that you feel applies to you. If you think of others not listed here, simply write them under the element that seems most appropriate. Take it slow, and let yourself detach from your ego as you contemplate. If you're like most people, you'll probably have a relatively large list of harmful behavioral cycles. If you cant recognize yourself in any of these patterns, there's a problem. Remember that insults or critiques are always subjective, and therefore may or may not be accurate assessments of your character. At the same time, our own self-perceptions are subjective, too, and it often takes another persons perspective for us to finally see our cycles.

Contemplate not only what others have said about you, but behaviors that you often beat yourself up about. You may be surprised by the list you create as you go deeper within. Also, there's no shame in patting yourself on the back if you discover things about your character that you hadn't recognized before, or had chosen to ignore in the past! The further you immerse yourself in the shadow of your mind, uncovering that which is repressed or ignored, the deeper you allow self-awareness and healing to enter.

EARTH: SHADOW TRAITS

I am often unmotivated in life.

I often forget the borderline between fantasy and reality.

I often turn to certain vices, and I may be an escapist.

I tend to be neglectful of other peoples needs.

I tend to give too much, being neglectful of my own needs.

I feel that everyone always hurts me in the end.

I may be addicted to role-playing games.

I stress about the order and structure of things.

I disallow anyone from getting too close to me, for fear of hurting or getting hurt.

I could say that I live a double life.

I only feel secure if Im in a romantic relationship.

I am very resentful toward my family and friends when I feel wronged by them.

I sometimes think that people of a certain ethnicity, religion, orientation, age, class,

gender, social identity, body type, culture, disability, and so on are inherently flawed.

Money is always the first thing in my mind.

I often imagine myself having supernatural powers.

I rarely follow through with plans I make.

I frequently hold grudges.

I stress about my obligations and requirements more than I should.

Its usually difficult for me to see other peoples viewpoints.

I only feel secure when surrounded by material abundance.

I depend on others to carry me through life.

I tend to consider peoples social labels more than their character.

I overwork myself.

I sometimes starve myself or purge what Ive just eaten.

Im never really satisfied with anything.

I am often apathetic and disinterested.

I am often quite fearful and have many phobias.

I almost never leave my home.

I become fanatical and extremist about new ideas.

I usually feel responsible for other people.

AIR: SHADOW TRAITS

I have the habit of lying, exaggerating, and creating tall tales.

I have a bad memory and am usually forgetful.

I am often spacey, flighty, and ungrounded.

I always need to have the last word.

Its difficult for me to embrace new beginnings.

I am obsessed with my image and public presentation.

I almost always see peoples negative qualities first.

I feel unattractive without makeup or when naked.

I feel Im more aware and knowledgeable than almost everyone I know.

I believe I never know enough and feel shame when others know more than I.

I present myself as having more knowledge than I really may.

I look down on others when I feel more informed.

My attitude changes at the drop of a hat.

I tend to manipulate other people.

I often perceive myself as being nonhuman.

I often get lost in my thoughts.

I always doubt myself or my ideas.

Its frequently difficult for me to communicate or to comprehend certain things.

I try to appear differently to other people.

I approach things from an extremely academic standpoint.

I tend to eavesdrop on other people.

I usually believe everything that people say.

I have a tendency to overanalyze.

I am easily distracted.

I place personal worth in what others say about me.

I believe that others should be like me.

I believe that I should be like others.

FIRE: SHADOW TRAITS

I am usually nervous and anxious.

I often regret being liberal with my sexual behavior.

I have insecurities about sex and sexuality.

I often violate other peoples boundaries.

I tend to lack self-confidence.

I am fascinated by death and destruction.

I feel the need to dominate conversations and draw attention to myself.

I tend to cut myself or otherwise harm my body.

I often have uncontrollable outbursts of anger.

I have been known to destroy peoples social identities.

I have an erratic and spontaneous personality.

I often steal things instead of paying for them.

My personality is frequently bitter and critical.

I often force people to see things my way.

I sometimes have traumatic panic attacks.

I get pleasure in seeing others suffer.

I have an addictive personality.

I often put others down to make myself feel better.

I constantly seek attention from others.

It would be very difficult for me to detach from technology.

I am almost always overexcited and extroverted.

I get overwhelmed and frustrated at even the smallest things.

I am extremely rebellious.

WATER: SHADOW TRAITS

I usually just don't want to wake up in the morning.

I have difficulty escaping from certain memories.

I find myself being unable to stop crying.

I find myself unable to cry.

I tend to overuse mind-altering substances.

I am almost always introverted.

I feel that I do not deserve to experience true love, joy, and happiness.

I usually just go with the flow and am passive in life.

I have a shy personality because Im overly sensitive.

I always go with my feelings instead of logic.

I often make big deals over small occurrences.

I can usually sense other peoples emotional states to an uncomfortable degree.

Its difficult for me to tell other peoples emotions from my own.

I often misread others emotions.

I always take any insult to heart.

I have a hard time being alone.

I have difficulty letting go.

I often feel sorry for myself.

The past never really seems to heal.

I find myself reverting to childhood behavior frequently.

I may be emotionally codependent in my relationships.

I feel empty without others sympathy.

I often feel a rush to change.

What Lies Behind Behavior?

This is where things get tricky, for it is not sufficient to simply list your observations and consider the process complete. Nearly all of these negative cycles, whether directly from this list or personal variations thereof, have underlying influences. Like the layers of an onion, imbalances have the tendency to be shrouded by other imbalances. For example, a person may recognize a pattern of manipulating other people, a trait linked with Air because it concerns the mental plane. This recognition is the first step in a progressive and positive shift of consciousness... but it is still just the springboard. The next question is, why does this person manipulate others? It might be for the sake of fitting in and being accepted (Air), or to get some sort of attention (Fire), or to gain material objects or physical security (Earth), or to receive a sympathetic or emotional response from others (Water). Further, the underlying motivation itself can be traced to other influences more deeply embedded in the conscious mind, usually having come about from triggers in childhood or adolescence. For each of us, behavioral cycles come from different sources; everyone reacts differently due to their imprinted stimuli. Even though many behavioral cycles can be easily deconstructed psychologically, everyone's case is different. We all must tread across the abyss of our own mind, journeying through the psychic depths where these cycles originate.

Magick for Cyclical Change

It is strongly recommended to meditate during making the list, for it will allow you to deconstruct and analyze all possible triggers for the behaviors that might end up on your list.When personal issues arise and beg to be conquered, spirituality and magic are our tools of transformation. We can all change our harmful patterns. When these cycles are brought into awareness, we can choose to change our everyday behaviors. Magic, meditation, and prayer most definitely assist in the process of transforming negative patterns. When we send our intention for personal change into reality, the mind shifts its own mechanisms to allow for this change. You may find yourself becoming ultra-aware of your actions and reactions, or feel a renewed sense of balance in the area you choose to work on. Still, if a person is actually unwilling to create these life changes, all the magick in the world could be cast and no change would occur. One must become keenly aware of ones own behaviors and intend to change them every single day.

There are endless ways to work with harmful behavioral cycles through magick. Because we work with elemental classifications in this exercise, the most obvious way to balance oneself is to work directly with the imbalanced element. That means we consider our list of negative patterns, and regularly research, align with, and get to know the most imbalanced element or elements on it. There are a million ways to use spellcraft, meditation, and prayer to banish an overabundance of a certain element and cultivate an equal-opposite amount of another (although the most powerful spells are those we create ourselves).

So, that's it: to uncover the deepest and darkest portions of the mind and to influence healing accordingly, you must think back, and back, and back. Replay your history, record your results, and do it all over again. Cultivate fearlessness, brutal honesty, and actual empowerment. Even if it hurts more than anything to revisit painful experiences, you must, to some extent, live the trauma all over again to really know it to really come to terms with it; to heal it.

Purging Negative Shadow: A Ritual Meditation

In many forms of shadow magick, the aim is to rid yourself of unwanted negative cycles and to use the dark aspects of your life as tools of empowerment. Shadow magick is all about navigating darkness, assimilating its strengths and transforming it into something positive. This exercise is best to perform at or just before the dark moon, ideally around midnight. If you are able, abstain from food at least 3 hours beforehand. Nonalcoholic liquids are fine to use. While doing this exercise use one black candle. First magnetize the candle by stroking it from the center both upward and downward, alternating strokes, whilst thinking of the emotional, spiritual, and physical habits you wish to shed. Imbue the candle with thoughts of the changes you wish to make.

You might like to use some birch oil for this: its incredibly evocative and smells like autumn in a bottle. For an incense that also helps set the atmosphere, try a blend of rue and dragons blood resin, which will bring focus and protection to your shadow magick.

The following exercise may be done however you wish, either by someone reading what to do or memorizing the steps or simply reading and doing step by step on your own. Before actually doing this read through it and allow some time to pass between steps.

STEP 1.

Construct sacred space around you by casting a circle and calling the quarters as you normally would. Sit comfortably to start the journey. Begin by clearing your mind. Take three deep breaths in through the nose, letting them out through the mouth. Let the thoughts of the day drift away like moving clouds. This is not the time to focus on what happened today or what you need to do tomorrow let the common world dissipate as you enter the sacred terrain of the mind. For several minutes, sense the oxygen entering your nostrils and exiting your lips. Bring absolute focus to your breath.

STEP 2.

Close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting in a black egg, the egg of your own nativity. Envision blackness all around you; you can sense the eggs shell containing you. Push away all daily concerns and thoughts of yourself; let your mind float in the nurturing darkness, losing all sense of your small life as you would when looking up at a starry night sky. Sense this egg and solidify it around your body. Around you is nothing, just darkness; the same above and below you.

STEP 3.

Your consciousness is germinal; your thoughts move in images now rather than words. Focus on this, allowing your mind to become more and more abstract. Visualize yourself freed of the negative cycles you no longer wish to participate in. Review these patterns in your mind, sending them out of your body and into the womb like atmosphere surrounding you. Eventually, as your anointed candle burns down and your senses are soothed by the incense and the candles subtle smell of autumnal decay, the egg begins to slowly turn from black to dark purple, then to indigo.

STEP 4.

Recite your own dark affirmation, or say these words: By the Power of Night, by the Power of the Abyss, by the Power of Duality to create its equal and opposite reaction, I hereby shed my unwanted negative traits and replace them with knowledge, Gnosis, and compassion.

STEP 5.

At this point, you might like to paint, write, chant, or sing something that affirms the termination of these patterns, but try to sense this transformation rather than being overly intellectual about it. If you do decide to create art of any kind, have any needed supplies at hand so you can remain in a trancelike state. Following that, slip back into the meditation and see the indigo-colored egg surrounding you.

STEP 6.

Now visualize the Grim Reaper, as seen in your favorite Tarot deck or painting, riding toward you on horseback, scythe in hand. Sense his presence from far in the distance as he gets closer and closer to you. Hear the rhythmic percussion of the horses trotting hooves, nearing you even more. Feel fear if that's what the image naturally evokes. Some may even feel a sense of comfort or relief.

STEP 7.

The Reaper reaches you, swings his scythe at you, shatters the egg that surrounds you, and rides away from the scene as quickly as he came. An eerie illumination floods in from above, highlighting the shards. Look at these images in your mind and remember anything that occurs to you. Perhaps some of the broken shell looks like a symbol, a person, or an animal. Just gaze at it in your minds eye and record what you see.

STEP 8.

When you have gathered the information you were supposed to receive, emerge from your shattered past refreshed and reborn, and once the flame has burned past the symbols you have carved into the candle, burn a bit of your own hair in the flame to signify the transformation. Afterward, blow it out, saying So mote it be.

STEP 9.

When finished, smudge yourself with sage, frankincense, or a purifying incense blend. Deconstruct the circle and dismiss the quarters as you normally would. Relax, unwind, and take it easy for the rest of the evening.

Mystical Experience: The Paradox Behind the Veil

Mysticism is an invaluable part of spirituality and magick. For modern spiritual seekers particularly the magicians and Witches of our time mysticism can serve as the mechanism for driving the spiritual journey home, solidifying our philosophies through personal experience. Its one thing to think and speak about oneness, another to actually experience it. Spiritual paths require that our worldview shift to a more expanded state of operation. The mystical experience accomplishes this, giving the practitioner (regardless of tradition) a connection to both the self and the surrounding world that simply cannot be captured in mere words. I consider mystical experience an aspect of shadow magick because the practitioner emerges internally, perceptually into the subtle planes, that is, the dimensions of reality that ordinarily remain hidden to waking consciousness. Mysticism can be defined as the quest to attain union with the divine. The best-known and best-documented mystic traditions are the Kabbalism of the Jews and the Sufism of the Muslims, both of which I will review here. (The term is also spelled Cabbalism and Qabalism, among other ways.) A variety of Christian mystics through the ages have also had their experiences and philosophies well preserved.

Mysticism has always occurred within indigenous and Pagan cultures. Ancient and modern shamans can easily be called mystics because their practices reach into the Otherworlds for purposes of healing, divination, journeying, and magick.

Mystical thought often plays a key role in modern magickal practice, though many practitioners might not call it that. Unfortunately, a number of people drawn to the esoteric, occult, and magickal realms seek to alter the external world to their fancy rather than focus on the internal mechanisms that actually shape it. In classical times, those who subscribed to Gnostic thought emphasized ones own transcendence into mystical states of awareness as a means of escaping the material world. Gnosticism is a classical religious movement and philosophy that holds that we, as humans, must escape our current mundane situation and return to a union with Spirit. Gnosis, meaning saving wisdom, implies the reunification of man with God, so that we may understand our true nature and awaken from the dream that is common reality. Modern-day Gnostics also emphasize this ideology, as do some neo-mystical systems such as chaos magick and ceremonial orders. By the same token, many adherents of Eastern religions speak of experiences of oneness, enlightenment, and transcendencebthough more often than not, these terms describe a perpetual state of being rather than an ephemeral one.

Judaism, Islam, and Christianity have long held strict religious standards. Thus, unsurprisingly, the pursuit of mystical experience hasn't always been viewed with empathetic kindness. Still, traditional doctrinaire religions have taken a variety of views of the place of the mystic. In Catholicism, mysticism is generally an honored practice (albeit, and in my opinion unfortunately, only pursued by the few), but one set clearly apart from everyday Catholicism; many of its mystics are actually regarded as saints and venerable figures. Of the branches in the Christian movement, Eastern Orthodoxy tends to have the most respect for mystical traditions, whereas the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century did much to suppress mystical thought by maligning it in the public eye. Again, every traditions stance on the mystic is different.

In a mystical experience, a person perceives a personal unity with the divine. This is experiencing Spirit. For older, more animistic traditions, the divine is perceived as nature, or forces thereof. Of course monotheistic societies have perceived mystical union as being with God, while polytheistic societies have perceived it as being with either a number of gods or an individual deity depending on a persons spiritual alignments, such as with cults or tribes devoted to serving a specific godhead. Pantheistic and animistic societies seem to experience a unity with all things; a state of oneness with the All, due to their view of Spirit as permeating all things.

A number of the features of the mystical experience have been distinguished by religious scholars, such as the twentieth-century professor of mysticism W.T. Stace. For our purposes, I include these points to further compare our own theurgic practices with those already documented. Many of the points made here have been influenced by the teachings of University of Montana professor Paul A. Dietrich.

A number of characteristics can define mysticism and accounts of mystical experiences.

- Ineffability: The sense that the experience is beyond the realm of words and impossible to accurately conveyit is purely experiential.

- Transcendence: The feeling that one has psychologically transcended space and time.

- Unity: The feeling of absolute oneness with the divine.

- Equanimity: Feelings of absolute peace, bliss, joy, and well-being.

- Passivity: The feeling that one is being acted upon rather than being an actor.

- Paradoxical experience: Feeling the governing forces of reality and understanding the polarity of existence, often realizing that everything exists, yet simultaneously nothing all at exists.

- Persisting changes: The life -changing events provoked by the mystical experience; in many cases, this is conversion to a particular mystic tradition.

II. EXTERNAL SHADOW

One theory I favour is that the self-proclaimed "White Witches" tend to identify far too heavily with the "light"... This means that the darker sides of their nature, finding no honest expression, become suppressed into the subconsious. Since it is in these deeper realms of mind that the power of magick resides, this suppressed darkness tends to make itself known and give its force to their conjurations. Whilst such coveners are always harking on about "perfect love and perfect trust," they seem to me to spend an awful lot of time stabbing their athame into each others backs.

- NATHANIEL J. HARRIS

Witcha: A book of Cunning

Invocation and Godform Assumption

Invocation refers to the act of drawing certain energies from outside oneself into ones own body or, by some interpretations, into the magical vicinity. Shadow magic is relevant to this art, for invocation is ultimately a mystical act of merging with the unseen, as one calls forth a deity not only from the astral plane, but into ones own person. Often, Witches simply use the term invocation to refer to the act of calling forth energies. The act of calling forth energies is also called summoning , such as asking a deity or spirit for assistance. Summoning an entity into manifestation is called evocation. Journeying , on the other hand, refers to a person traveling astrally to a deity terrain. The practitioner goes into a deeply meditative state and meets the deity on the astral plane. The journeyer relays messages from the spirit, and those can take different forms, from simple colors to cryptic words seemingly nonsensical. A number of shamanic and indigenous cultures invoke deities regularly, incorporating such practices as drumming, yelling, and ecstatic dance into their ceremonies to strengthen the process.

Created by Mr.Gold