Two Steps into the Dark

As we have already said, the development of the mind proceeds by incorporating new elements into the existing picture of the world – the description of the field of operation of that mind.

This means that, in order to bring the next element into awareness, the mind must move beyond the limits it has set for itself and find that element outside itself.

In other words, the development of the mind requires a constant venturing into realms of the unknown, the mastering and assimilating those realms.

At the same time, it is clear that the mind’s forays into the dark regions of the unknown require considerable resolve and courage.

One of the key reactions, originally intended to protect the mind from the dangers of the unknown, but long since and firmly adapted by the Parasite of mind for its own needs, is fear. Therefore, the mind usually feels very comfortable on a small, lit islet of the known amid the raging ocean of the Psychocosmos, populated by obscure and frightening beings, and is extremely reluctant to take steps toward expanding.

Nevertheless, the expansion of the mind is also necessary for the predators that feed on “activated” energy, so one cannot entirely keep the mind on the island of the known; yet the reflexive reactions of the mind, firmly embedded by the Parasite, prevent this process from proceeding fully. In other words, the mind, drawn by a thirst for expansion, makes one timid step toward the unknown and immediately recoils to the lit side in panic. Some cognitive activity still occurs, but only to the extent necessary to activate vital energy and nourish the mind’s Parasite.

Therefore, the Magus must, having mustered courage, do more than take a single step into the dark, and thus engage the unknown beyond a mere taste — simply to secure the possibility of his own development.

At the same time, the drive toward the unknown is an important motivating force in the development of the mind and can strongly influence it. Therefore, a Magus who has built up enough strength to resist the Parasite’s intimidating tactics strives to penetrate as deeply as possible into the unknown.

However, this striving contains a significant danger — if the mind becomes overzealous in plunging into the dark regions, activation of vital force is faster than its assimilation, and in practice, there may be depletion of vital energy sources up to the destruction of the mind’s conduits and the loss of embodiment.

Therefore, as we have repeated more than once, an effective Magus must strike a balance between under- and over-activation of energy, between too little and overly deep immersion into the unknown, so that, on the one hand, he still expands his mind at a significant pace, but on the other, does not overload his conduits with excessive energy.

This is summed up by the traditional formula «two steps into the dark»: the ordinary person steps once into the unknown and barely notices anything there; the madman plunges into darkness and is lost; the Magus, however, moves by the rule “two steps forward, one back,” not letting darkness engulf him and not fearing contact with it.