Gmar Tikkun
The magical description of the Psychocosmos portrays the development of the mind as the gradual filling of the Vessel with Light. The ultimate goal of this development is the complete filling of the Vessel with Light — known in the East as Enlightenment (Bodhi), and in the West as Rectification (Gmar Tikkun, גמר תִּיקּוּן ).
At the same time, the Psychocosmos, while still forming and developing, serves as a dwelling place for an enormous number of beings— both those that belong to its own field of mind and those that have entered from outside it.
In other words, just as the Macrocosmos is an accumulation of stars, planets, nebulae, clouds of dust, and so forth, the Psychocosmos is likewise filled with the subpersonalities of a given mind, its shadows, as well as predators and parasites.
Each such object obstructs the passage of Light, “eclipsing” it and creating dark patches and regions favorable to destructive inhabitants.
It follows that the more fragmented the Psychocosmos is, the more chaotic its inhabitants become, the more obstacles arise within it — and the more difficult it is to fill it with Light.
The aim of all Ways of harmonization and the development of awareness is to facilitate the passage of Light — that is, to render the Vessel more “transparent” to Light.
To this end, two fundamentally different approaches have been developed.
The Eastern Way is directed toward reducing the number of objects present in the Psychocosmos by recognizing their illusoriness and dispelling the illusion. The traditional metaphor depicts this as the calming of waves on the surface of a lake; in our terms, it may be described as “clearing” the road for Light by removing all obstacles — the “emptying” of the Psychocosmos. An empty Psychocosmos, from which all obstacles have been removed, is easily and evenly filled with Light, corresponding to the transition into the state of an Arhat.
The Western Way focuses on integrating all the objects that fill the Psychocosmos into a single core of mind, and on their subsequent harmonization — so as to transform this core from a cause of obscuration into a source that directs and refracts Light, much as a piece of coal, under high temperature and pressure, is transmuted into a diamond that transmits and refracts light.
On this Way, the efforts of the mind are directed along two principal vectors: on the one hand, the attainment of inner unity, the overcoming of fragmentation, and the ordering of the mind; on the other, bringing it into accord with world harmony — the purification and illumination of the very core of individuality. For this, Western Magi, on the one hand, strive to find all dissonant elements of the mind, and on the other, to reconfigure the essential elements of the mind into the “correct” order.
The identification of dissonant elements — “inner demons” — takes place in the course of investigating the Psychocosmos (for example, in the rituals of the Kolo), and of “luring” them outward (for example, in Competitive rituals). The harmonization of the system under construction then occurs through transmutations and transformations (for example, in those same Kolos).
However, regardless of the chosen Way and its particular Wyrd, the mind that strives for development must clearly understand that its Way lies in being filled with Light — and subsequently, either in dissolving into this Light (on the Eastern Way) or in identifying with it as an inseparable-yet-unconfused unity (on the Western Way).
At the final point, the result is indistinguishable: both Ways lead to the identification of the mind with the Great Spirit, and the fully realized Magus of the West attains the same state as the fully enlightened Master of the East.
Magical Practice
Sealing the Breaches
Body and Mind
Repression, Substitution, and Transformation
Overcoming Duality
The Crystal of the Mind
Shaking the Vessel
Sealing of Experience
Hello, Enmerkar!
Tell me, why do you not describe the approaches of the Northern and Southern directions?
This blog is dedicated to exploring one specific Path, one of many, and only one. All comparisons and parallels are drawn solely for a better understanding of the essence of this Path. My task was not to attempt to ’embrace the ungraspable’ and describe all possible Paths, of which there are as many as Travelers. I am also far from the thought of any advantage of one Path over others. I am just walking my Path and sharing my thoughts and feelings that arise in this journey with those for whom my direction may seem interesting or kindred.
Yes, of course, but you only compare with Eastern approaches. Is it because, for you, as a Western Mage, the East serves as a compensatory direction? It seems I have not encountered parallels with Southern or Northern approaches in your work. Why?
And what are the southern and northern directions?
There are no Southern and Northern directions in my worldview. But it so happened that I spent 12 years unconsciously devoted to the Eastern direction. Why?
You answered your own question. ‘Unconsciously’.
It seems that the Eastern path suits you better, or there were no other alternatives before you.
Other alternatives appeared when I ‘came’ from the east to the west.
Now I know of two directions. The Western direction is closer to my spirit. I love the West.
“The armored Teutonic knights moved on a Crusade to Rus’, wishing to change our faith, change our national self-awareness, subdue us and thus destroy Rus’. And Alexander had to choose what to do. And he preferred the ties with the Mongols because they needed our wallet, our stomach, while those from the West needed our soul,” noted Patriarch Kirill in his sermon.” So that alternative was good, thank goodness, there’s something to have.
Tell me, where can I find more details about inseparable-unmerged unity?