Power in Places and Objects
We have already said that the Magi understand power as the ability to realize one’s will. At the same time, this ability is traditionally regarded as depending on two elements: the Power of Manifestation (or the so‑called “Life Force“), which determines physical health and the capacity for physical achievements, and the Power of Awareness (or the so‑called “Personal Power“), which determines the capacity for understanding and awareness, and thus the application of knowledge.
We have also discussed that the Erili, besides these two kinds of power (called Mattr and Meigin), distinguished another kind — the energy of luck (Hamingja).
Moreover, for practical activity there is the notion of the “active” power, which is traditionally called energy.
It is important to understand that Life Force and the Power of Awareness not only have different natures and manifestations; they also change differently over the course of life: Life Force generally more or less steadily diminishes, while the Power of Awareness increases. In fact, a human being (as indeed all other beings) can be regarded precisely as a mechanism that performs the conversion of Life Force into Awareness. Discussion of the causes and consequences of this fact is beyond the scope of this post; for now, I will discuss the nuances of changes in power levels.
It is well known that by “the amount of power,” it is more correct to understand not the raw quantity itself but the ability to use power, since people who possess the same absolute quantity of power can differ greatly in their ability to use it. Moreover, even a person whose absolute quantity of power is small, if they use it fully, can achieve far greater success in realizing their will than someone who has a great deal of power but does not know how to use it.
At the same time, the possibilities for changing the absolute amount of power are fairly limited: the magical path is therefore aimed not only at acquiring power but also at mastering it. What do we mean by “acquiring” power?
In fact, the only real possibility for changing the absolute amount of power is the speeding up and improving efficiency of the conversion of Life Force into Awareness (this skill in Western magic is traditionally called Authority).
This possibility becomes possible through understanding of the structure of the cosmos, of the role and place of the human being in it, and so on — in short, through the study of Myth.
At the same time, any change in the amount of power must necessarily be accompanied by an equivalent increase in one’s control over it, because otherwise, Life Force turning into Authority may be depleted while control capacity for the gained Awareness won’t grow, and thus the end of physical existence will be hastened. Such a magician (a magician who lacks understanding is usually called a sorcerer), who senselessly accumulates power, is likely to become a slave to that power after death, turning into an Elementer and possibly even a Slua.
To increase the ability to control power, the magician must not only study Myth but also know and observe the law. Whatever way we understand that word, it denotes certain rules of the game. Of course, it is possible to change those rules, but only BEFORE the game itself begins; breaking agreed rules mid-action is fraught with loss of control and, consequently, loss of power. It should be noted once more that all rules and limits to which the magician submits must be carefully and attentively chosen and set by the magician personally. Blindly following requirements whose meaning is not at least intuitively understood not only fails to increase control, but instead cultivates a false sense of power that grows into megalomania and increases vulnerability.
Thus, Myth and Law are equally necessary for the magician who wishes to be effective.
However, besides such conscious efforts, power (more precisely, its accessibility) can change as a result of actions whose outcome is uncertain. We have already spoken of this method of accumulating power — the Hunt for Power.
So, in reality, we have three possibilities: 1) Increase awareness through understanding, reflection, and intuitive insight into the Myth (whatever Myth we speak of — the magi’s myth, the myth of consumer society, etc.); 2) Increase control over existing power through strict observance of the rules of the game (established in the process of CONSCIOUS choice); and 3) the Hunt for Power (that is, following the World currents).
The possibility of increasing power during the Hunt arises because by interacting with certain currents and examining one’s reaction to that interaction, the Magus can discover new ways to control their power, as well as effective methods of converting Life Force into Awareness.
Magi have long noticed that these processes are especially activated when interacting with certain objects and places, which they came to call Objects (places) of Power.
Why do some objects have this property?
All Objects of Power can be divided into two groups — those of “natural” and “magical” origin. Objects of the first group affect those who interact with them through their chemical and natural properties: for example, various geomagnetic anomalies, faults in the earth’s crust, as well as amulets and talismans made from materials with special properties. The power of objects of the second group is connected with the history of their use, with certain magical operations performed with them; for example, objects that belonged to powerful magi (or, for instance, to saints and heroes) possess power, as do places where magically significant events occurred (for example, a shrine or a site of initiations).
It is clear that frequently objects of the first group often become the second. For example, a shrine may have been built on the site of a geomagnetic anomaly, and later events that took place there alter the character of its power.
It is also obvious that interaction with such objects will not give power always or to everyone — special circumstances are needed, including one’s own power (for power is attracted only to power), and, of course, Luck.
Thus, however we explain the effects of Objects of Power on a person — by physical‑chemical factors, subconscious sensations, or magical influence — the fact remains that by interacting with certain places and objects a person can (under certain conditions) increase their ability to enact their will — become stronger.
Can a magician convert power back – from the Power of Awareness to the Power of Life?
And how can this be interpreted – when transforming into the Power of Life (youthening oneself), does the magician forget something about the Myth (can Awareness be called Memory in this case)? And it is also interesting, if these processes are looped, could it lead to “very prolonged life” (immortality within certain frames)?
Theoretically – it can. Memory is not altered; however, the ability to realize decreases. As for “looping” – it is impossible, after all, strength diffuses (the second law of thermodynamics stems from more general patterns :))
I was really looking forward to a post on this topic. Thank you!
As we know from Soviet upbringing, once established principles (especially moral ones and especially contrary to circumstances), a person becomes stronger. He forms a “framework of personality” that makes him less susceptible to foreign will.
But these principles, executed with unrestrained zeal, deprive a person of sensitivity and mobility of perception.
The way of a magician is fraught with dangers. And sometimes there are confrontations with really serious obstacles threatening premature death or great loss. If the cycle of actions of the magician is not yet complete, can principles (rules) be altered in such a situation, even if their failure is evident?
Or should one accept their fate, and perhaps fidelity to the law will give the magician the strength of final realization at the moment of death or even avert death?
The importance of established rules is obvious. What criteria are used for their selection?
If a Magician has established unsound principles of behavior and discovers their unsoundness, they should, of course, be changed; the main thing is that the motivation for change should genuinely be a striving for perfection, and not laziness or a desire to escape from following something. Shedding, transitions from one state to another are always necessary stages of development; however, it is essential that they proceed harmoniously and in a timely manner.
The criterion for selection can only be prompted by the heart, along with an honest look at oneself, one’s capabilities, and one’s limitations.
Thank you! I really liked it! Easy, clear, concise 🙂
I found out what “The Second Law of Thermodynamics” means in Wikipedia 🙂
And the question arises – does a human represent a closed system (at least they breathe and sometimes eat :), and in general, do closed systems exist, not just as a theory? Accordingly, is this “limitation” valid in our case? After all, when we are born, some force is drawn from somewhere to Life; why can’t we access that source again?
What does “Objects of the first group of the second group” mean?
How can one understand if there is magical power within oneself?
In fact, there is no “magical” and “non-magical” Power. Power is Power. But how it is applied is another matter. That’s why I don’t believe one can “engage in” magic. I believe one can either be a Magician or not.
Enmerkar, thank you for your blog and the thoughts you share. Regarding this post, a question arose. What exactly is meant by rules? Moral, religious, or some other norms? Or is it something like a ‘personal mythology’ that a magician creates for themselves?
Thank you for the high praise. Of course, it is most accurate to say that Rules are a ‘personal mythology,’ including an overview of the World and effective ways to interact with this overview.
Enmerkar, can there be more than one myth on the Path for the magician? What to do if you find yourself, as it were, “waking up” in some foreign myth, playing by its rules, and if there is absolutely no desire to continue doing so? How to exit such a game without finishing it? How will it affect the power of awareness?
No, “multiple” myths cannot exist – then one must have multiple fields of consciousness, fragmenting the personality, which is, to put it mildly, not very effective. Merging several myths may occur, creating a new one based on them, but then the resulting myth will not reduce to a simple sum of its components. Changing the myth is always possible, though not easy; however, when an existing system is ineffective, it can and should be changed. Initially, this will lead to large energy expenditures, but over time it will pay off with increased efficiency.
Is it possible, for example, during the destruction of one object of Power to ‘substitute’ another under its Power field, or during the creation of an object of Power to use as a sacrifice another, weaker one?
Power is not a substance; it is not measured mathematically. Therefore, it is unlikely to calculate how much energy a sacrifice must contain or where the power goes. It’s all about the streams of consciousness and the ability of objects to influence these streams. Therefore, manipulations with Power should be approached not mathematically, but creatively-inspirationally.
By Power field, I meant ‘the ability of objects to influence these streams’; some have more, some have less, but indeed there is no need to calculate where the power goes if such a method is realized through inspiration. Thank you for the advice on manipulations with Power.
I read that one can take the power of awareness from other people. I am not advocating theft or vampirism, I am just hypothesizing. For example, can a dying elderly person’s power be taken, preventing it from being offered to Baphomet? Or is it possible to take this soul’s power from the deceased… before it is consumed by the Supreme Predator? What is the difference between the awareness of a living being and that of a deceased being (organism)?
I understand that this may lead to the termination of this substance’s incarnations. And if there is no termination, then one will have to start accumulating experience anew. And for a Mage, it probably makes no sense to take weak experience. Therefore, primarily, there is a transfer of developed Power of awareness to a weaker one. So when a teacher transmits their power to a student just before their (physical) death, does that mean they are refusing to exit the gilgul? I dare to suggest that the Mage considered their awareness insufficiently strong for this and therefore decided to continue accumulating Power and experience in another’s consciousness. Thus, to avoid giving one’s awareness to Baphomet, it is not at all necessary to move one’s consciousness into stones or animals, but it is possible to continue accumulating one’s Strength in another’s adire. What is the difference between a Mage transferring awareness to another human and transferring it to other kinds of consciousness?
I apologize, I will adjust the last question a bit – Why do Mages keep their consciousness in other kinds of consciousness that are different from humans? After all, essentially, only preservation occurs there, but not development. Or does development take place there as well, but in a different way?
Yes, when the evolutionary status decreases, development stops. But the magicians who chose this path were simply too afraid of death and its consequences for themselves, so they wanted to avoid it at any cost.
‘So, when a teacher passes their power to a student before death (physical), does that mean they refuse to exit from the gilgul? I dare to assume that the magician considers their consciousness not strong enough for this and thus decides to continue accumulating Power and experience in someone else’s consciousness.’ – so, is this thought correct?
Yes, that is true. This may contradict some Laws, but it is possible.
The fact of the transformation of Life Force into the Force of Awareness is confirmed by observation – there is an expression: If only youth knew, if only old age could. Nevertheless, the myth of consumer society, inscribed on the tabula rasa (clean slate) of manifested consciousness, ignores this fact. Force is measured in monetary equivalent, and Authority is understood as one’s status in society.
A strong, authoritative person cannot be a poor beggar, as means of existence are necessary, but the emphasis on possessing as many items as possible shifts the focus of attention outside of the Subject.
Harmonious development is possible with equal fixation of attention both within Consciousness (Psychocosmos) and outside of it (Macrocosmos), respectively, and the ability to realize one’s will is directed towards both external and internal changes.
The substitution of concepts and the rearrangement of accents are beneficial for the consumers of the Force of Awareness, or rather the activated Life Force at the moment of its transformation into the Force of Awareness – this indicates the inefficacy of the myth of consumer society, the involvement in which provokes the dispersion of force and obstructs its accumulation.
Involvement in the Myth means living in the Myth. Anyone can create their own system of description, but not every system of description allows one to realize their will or change both external and internal reality.
Now the question arises: What is reality? If the visible world is merely a product of description – how does a correct description differ from an incorrect one? – By the presence of components that have a direct relation to a human being (in all complexes of their possible manifestations). For example, components: life and death and their interrelation – one can of course deny them, but the fact remains – they are present. A real system of descriptions relies on the Being of man; it is hard to dispute that ‘Being determines Consciousness’.
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Now the question is: Who determined the Being of man? – The primordial soup (within the Myth of consumer society), that is, chaos unconsciously and causelessly organized itself (which is an unproven but fitting theory for the Myth). At the same time, the existence of a self-aware Absolute, which is the Creator of manifested worlds, is also impossible to prove experimentally. However, the world is not chaos, but order, existing according to Laws. The existence of the Laws of Being confirms the existence of the Demiurge, who gave them inception. That is, the correctness of the system of description is higher the closer individual consciousness gets to the knowledge (both rational and with feeling (intuition)) of the fundamental Laws of Being.
“At the same time, the existence of a self-aware Absolute, which is the Creator of manifested worlds, is also impossible to prove experimentally.”
I’m not sure I understood exactly. But it seems to me that the creation of various virtual worlds in the cosmic space (for example, fantastic ones) actually proves the necessity of a Creator to set the initial vector. The layman is confused by the fact that the fiction supposedly remains somewhere in a book, on a screen, or in the mind, it is not visible to the eyes, and supposedly does not affect anything. But people involved in fiction think differently.
Theo, I meant that it cannot be proven empirically. The Absolute is Everything and It is That which cannot be separated from Everything. I am the Absolute and the Not-I is also the Absolute. It is not objectified in anything and objectified in everything.
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The rules of the game as a way of behavior followed by the player to remain in the game. The rules established by the player himself………Fundamental Laws of Being – Rules of the Game established by the Demiurge.
Man, as a being of free will, can establish “any” rules and follow them. Whether “any” rules will be effective, whether the chosen way of behavior will lead to the accumulation of strength or to loss, or provoke a backlash from actions, so that it feels like little – Unknown.
Examples of life situations of some beings vividly demonstrate that – the rules were chosen poorly, strength was lost.
If the chosen rules (Law) are based on experience and results obtained by other beings – there is a chance to achieve similar results, if the rules are new – there is a high risk of losing everything, or on the contrary – achieving a higher level.
Since man is a device for translating Life Force into the Force of Awareness, and the process of translation itself is a Rule (Law) established by the Creator of man, it can be assumed that the Creator is interested in the quality and full transformation of Force and initially gave man the rules of effective transformation and control over the Force, expressed the rules of the game through the Laws of Being.
Only the instructions for the application of men have not been left. The task of man is to comprehend the original rules of the Demiurge and based on them synthesize an effective way of behavior in the game.
The magician or group of magicians, following the Rules (Law) established by them, based on the Law of the Demiurge, are the Conductors of the Will of the Absolute and simultaneously Conductors of Their Own Will.
Why does the Absolute need transformation of Force? – Probably (according to the law of Analogies), does the Absolute also develop in a spiral?
The extremely low compliance of human Rules with the Rules of the Absolute has led to the fact that if the Force is transformed, it is immediately devoured. People die without transitioning to a higher evolutionary level. The rebirth of Ouroboros into Baphomet, the strengthening of Nahash – the consequence of the manifestation of this discrepancy.
Each of us, every lost battle to the consumers brings closer the demise of our race. – The Absolute is likely to lose this game to itself once again))).
At the same time I am more than sure that the Carrier of the Myth and the Law approximated and originating from the Law of the Absolute will live long, albeit suffering greatly due to the powerful resistance of the consumers of awareness, because he is the Chance for the Absolute to win the game according to its established Rules.
And the Absolute also gives Signs to those who can see them, so that in the end and subsequently with the Own Will of the Conductors to realize their own Will 🙂
I would like to write about the perspective from a completely different pole. About the instructions, about the will of the absolute, and what it desires) It’s clear that without theory I had no clue; I looked at what was happening in life, and everything seemed clear, but the picture did not come together, and sometimes I would get stuck on certain things and think, well, what is this, how could it be this way?) This whole magical theory allowed me to look at what is happening from above. And to understand what is happening. I studied the topic of money (and all others) on money, learning every time – ah, so that’s what it is, you can’t buy happiness with them, ah that’s what it is – sometimes they are dishonest and some are better left alone, but you also can’t make a face of “ew gross” about them. It’s strange to deny part of the Great Spirit and its way of self-knowledge, and still wish to learn the rules of self-knowledge. When it comes to money and work, my ultimate conclusion from my experiences is this – it must be an “act of love” – I saw such a definition yesterday. Probably like everything here. And I learned not from books, but I had such a strange attitude toward everything – since you live here, just live as a human – with full immersion. What’s the rush. And one day this full immersion led to the fact that I looked at myself, at all my struggle to make myself real, and looked up at the sky. And decided that here I am, and I don’t like what is, I don’t like my black heart and that no matter how hard you try – with Hydra, three new heads grow back instead of one; I looked and wished to know everything. And thus began the quest)
From my experience – magic really helps to accelerate the process of awareness, and the Absolute eagerly responds to questions asked with readiness for anything, containing no restrictions on the expected answer. The answers can be such that you say “wow”.
Hello! Tell me, what do outside observers with the appropriate gift see? The power of awareness or hamingyu? And how can it be hidden?
Every type of energy can be seen and identified. To hide it is only possible from those who ‘are glad to be deceived.’
Thank you very much, Enmerkar. All your books and articles greatly inspire me and teach me on the Path (or on entering the Path)