Post by swampiewolfess on Jan 22, 2008 18:48:10 GMT -5
How Does Magic Work?
"Do we, holding that the gods exist, deceive ourselves with insubstantial dreams and lies, while random and careless chance alone control the world?"
-- Euripides
Before proposing any particular mechanism, it would be proper to first define what Magic is and what a practitioner might expect from the practice.
In Bill Whitcomb's excellent book The Magician's Companion, he describes four levels at which magic operates: physiological, neurological, mental/linguistic and material.
At the physiological level, the results are manifested in the body of the magician. Yoga and other physical regimens focus strongly on this level. Most meditative practices involve breathing exercises that facilitate altered states of consciousness. Shamanistic healing practices are also concerned with effects on this level.
Yoga is a good case in point. Much of the criticism of the "reality" of magic arises from the inability of the tools of science to quantify it. But most of the effects derived from Yoga practice (or Tai Ch'i, or several other meditative mind/body disciplines) are such things as a general sense of well-being, heightened alertness, fewer and less severe illnesses, more "energy", more restful sleep, etc. -- things that cannot be easily quantified by technical measurements. But they are unequivocally real to anyone who practices these disciplines.
Furthermore, just about anyone who takes up serious practice will manifest almost identical results; it is not a case of "purely subjective" effects. They are predictable and repeatable across a wide range of human subjects -- and have been for thousands of years. But you can't measure these effects as an outside observer. The only way to "prove" that this is the case is to take up the practice yourself and judge the effects for yourself. The same can be said for all four types of magical effects.
The neurological level refers to those parts of the deep mind where the sub-conscious, the non-verbal, the instinctive is to be found. At the neurological level, magical practice can give one far greater control over one's emotional, "gut level" reactions to that great experience called Real Life. Ritual or sigil work can be used to overcome phobias and to counter obsessive states, or do exactly the opposite and induce such subconscious reactions that the magician might find useful. Sigil Magic (explained later in this book) uses simple techniques to implant deliberate subconscious cues in your own mind to access a given mental state at will.
Magicians are psychonauts that explore the fringes of inner space. (Please excuse my somewhat poetic description here.) Chaos Magic often involves the use of sorcerous techniques culled from various forms of shamanism, and altered states of consciousness are of great importance to both. The premise is that magic can only be effective if the subconscious (or "pre-conscious") mind is doing the magicking. This level can be most readily accessed via altered states.
Various psychoactive drugs can be used to access the neurological level of the mind, and again this is common to almost all forms of shamanism. The works of John Lilly, Terrence McKenna, Robert Anton Wilson and Timothy Leary can be instructive to the magician wishing to learn to navigate these inner regions.
It should be pointed out that techniques exist to access these states without pharmacological assistance (which is of dubious legality in most parts of the world.) Most forms of meditative practice can be directed toward altered states via mental inhibition. Sensory deprivation can also be used to access this level. Chemognosis is not without it's dangers, both physical and psychological, and should be approached with respect and care.
Mental/linguistic operations involve the rearrangement of belief systems and world-views, and they are crucial to the entire operating paradigm of Chaos Magic. The power of belief is undeniable. Beliefs not only have the power to shape one's own perceptions of the world, but to affect the perceptions of others as well -- this is the foundation of using meta-belief as a magical tool. The universe seems to have a way of providing experiences that tend to reinforce any given belief -- witness the great variety of fundamental world-views, both past and present. Psychological literature speaks of "The Stockholm Effect", named after an incident in that city in which persons kidnapped by terrorists were constantly bombarded with "propaganda" by their captors, and ended up adopting the captors belief-system. The kidnapping and "conversion" of Patty Hearst in the late 1970's by the Symbionese Liberation Army is another prime example of this effect -- she not only became sypathetic to their cause, but joined their ranks and helped them rob banks and plant bombs!
The point being that we adapt our "reality" to fit our belief structure, not the other way around. If one is forced to adopt the lifestyle and daily practices of a fundimentalist Christian, a soldier or a submissive "slave", one will eventually come to adopt the belief structure that goes along with it, regardless of previous beliefs. Some modern psychological techniques such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming work on this level have much in common with Chaos Magic.
This effect is sometimes referred to as "the power of positive thinking", although it can also encompass negative thinking as well. Much ritual work, especially invocations (where the operator assumes "godforms" of archtypical icons) function at this level. Pathworkings, long-term magical operations involving a slow process of building on consciously developed psychological structures, are useful as a means of "meta-programming" the mental state.
On the physical or material level, the goal is to effect changes in noumenal or "everyday" reality. This is what most people mean by "magic", though in fact it is only a part of the picture. Many psychic disciplines, especially Eastern styles, downplay the importance of these effects to the point of actively discouraging them when they do occur. These practitioners, and most serious magicians in the West, realize that physical manifestations are not the only goal of magical practice, and perhaps not even the most important one. Furthermore, without the at least some experience of the previous levels described, one can expect little in the way of results that effect the material world.
A distinction should be drawn here between supernatural effects and what are called preternatural effects. Supernatural is defined as that which occurs entirely outside the physical laws of the universe -- in short, miracles. Preternatural, on the other hand, is defined as that events that, while they may be on the edge of the curve of possiblity, the mechanics can be explained by physical processes. In my experience, this is how most magical effects manifest -- as uncanny "co-incidences", flashes of illumination or events that would appear to be (and are explainable as) "pure luck". In my practice of magic I have experienced uncountable preternatural effects, while the "supernatural" ones -- things that defie my best efforts to explain by "natural" means -- could be counted on one hand.
Though other metaphysical practices may see physical manifestations as something to avoid, Chaos Magic regards material results as being very important to the practice of magic, and should be actively sought after rather than repressed. For one thing, there is something about the experience of encountering an event that, because it is so weird and seemingly impossible, it impresses upon the mind that magic is REAL in a way that no amount of theoretical discussion or deep meditation can ever do. This increases one's confidence in what one is doing, and thence makes magic easier to accomplish on all levels, in a self-perpetuating loop.
"Results Magic" deals with largely non-reproducible effects, or particularly timely synchronistic events, or non-ordinary perceptions that can be explained by the functions of the previous levels, or by "pure luck". But it is the romance of this strange world of improbability and unexplainable phenomena that gives most magicians the inspiration to follow the path of occultism. There is no way to "prove" the existence of this level of magic, but the same can be said of the other levels as well. Like the Yoga student, the only way to "prove" it is to prove it to yourself; the only way to experiment is by using your own mind and body as the laboratory. And whether they seek material results or not, I know of no magicians who have spent any appreciable time in practice who don't have a collection of experiences that call the strict materialist view of the universe into question.
So what, then, is Magic? One of the best definitions ever offered comes from Aleister Crowley: "Magic is the Science and Art of causing change to occur in accordance with the Will." He elaborated further with his "Postulate of Magic," as follows:
"Any required change may be effected by the application of the proper kind and degree of force in the proper manner through the proper medium to the proper object."
If an act of Magic succeeds, it is because it conformed to all parts of the postulate. If it fails, it was because one or more parts of the postulates were not conformed to. This definition is obviously very broad, but as such is serves to illustrate an important concept: Any willed act is, by it's nature, a "magical" act.
Another important concept was put forward by science writer Arthur C. Clarke: "One man's magic is another man's engineering. Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. 'Supernatural' is a null term."
Consider that "technology" in it's purest definition, is simply the application of technique. If I wish to speak to a friend who is not physically present, I may choose to use the following "magical" operation:
I consult a large book of arcane numbers, and determine the specific formula for my friend's name. I take my magical tool in hand and place it against my head. With my other hand I trace the magic number for my friend into the special tablet made for this purpose. A series of distant sounds like birds or insects ensues, and ends abruptly when I suddenly hear the voice of my friend issuing from the magical tool!
If you haven't already guessed I was making a phone call, look over the preceding paragraph again. But it fits the strict definition of the magical act; I caused a change to occur (in this case, I summoned my friend to hear my voice and speak with me over a great distance) in accordance with my will. Had I performed this act in the presence of a scholar from Queen Elizabeth I's time, he would have instantly accused me of sorcery!
It also conformed to the postulate. If I had entered the wrong number (improper kind), or punched the buttons with a hammer (improper degree) or dialed them in backwards (improper manner), or looked up the wrong name (improper object) or tried to use a toaster instead of a telephone (improper medium) the "magic" would have failed.
The preceding example might be considered a bit trite, but it serves to illustrate the point.
However, this is not satisfying as an explanation of how the paranormal effects of magic might actually function. The most often used explanation is not an explanation at all -- the God(s) do it. In many, if not most, systems of magical practice, there is the presupposed existence of "greater forces" in the Universe, and magic is accomplished by entreating these forces to intercede on behalf of the supplicant. This sidesteps the question, but keep in mind that such workings of devotion can be useful when used in the proper context as a meta-belief device. Sometimes it behooves the magician to believe in certain gods, and other times that belief becomes a hindrance.
A lot of people, myself included, need some kind of plausible explanation to account for magic in a logical way. This is important, because the first act of meta-belief is the belief in magic itself, and on this all other beliefs must hinge. Otherwise, the conscious mind plays the eternal skeptic, and makes the belief states required to do magic in the first place hard to obtain. Once a satisfactory explanation of the mechanism is inculcated, the conscious mind can be induced to get out of the way and be quiet while the belief-states of the subconscious are manipulated. So the following ideas are offered to this end.
What is the actual mechanism involved? Theories abound, and there have in recent years been several that try to take into account the latest revelations of modern physics. Still, all operating theories of magic must presuppose the capability of the human mind, under certain conditions, to be able to manipulate the probability flux of existence.
The "explanation" for magic tends to conform to the dominant world-view of the period. In prehistoric times (and among a few surviving cultures today) all things in the world have a "spirit" and by controlling the spirit one may control the thing. When paganism arose, magic was the province of the gods and magical technique took the form of supplication to these gods to wield their magic on behalf of the supplicant. This approach (usually called "prayer"), continued right through monotheism in it's various forms. Though the modern Neo-Pagans think of themselves as having evolved beyond the prejudices of monotheism, their magical technique is still very much the same.
With the rise of science and the materialistic world-view, "the God(s) did it" was no longer a viable explanation for most reasonably intelligent people. So some kind of mechanical model had to be developed to explain paranormal phenomena. Most of the explorations along these lines end up with the "invisible ray" model; there are "vibrations" of a nature that makes them undetectable by scientific instruments, but they behave in a way almost indistinguishable from electromagnetic radiation. Humans, power objects or what-have-you are capable of emitting, storing and/or manipulating these vibrations to specific ends.
I have major problems with this idea, since these "rays" do not seem to follow the kind of laws that all other energy forms do, such as the inverse square law or the speed of light. They seem to be capable of assuming any properties that the practitioner requires, and these properties vary widely between different traditions. (However, as with the "gods" paradigm, it can be useful to assume the existence of "rays" as a meta-belief tool for obtaining certain effects.)
I must admit that the confusion of scientific and magical terms like "energy" is, to me, one of the most maddening things about the traditionalist magicians, perhaps even more than their absolutist belief structures and the dogmas they breed. It's all the more maddening because they think it's such a modern, "scientific" way to explain magical phenomena -- which is in fact an insult to magic as well as science!
To think that energy models can explain magical phenomena is idiotic. To quote theoretical physicist Henery Margenau, "Similarly the term energy, which has a perfectly definite scientific meaning, is constantly used in phrases such as 'mental energy' which signifies nothing unless ignorance of the laws of physics on the part of the speaker."
In recent times, the word "vibrations" has come to be used in the same manner, which is even more silly than using the word "energy". It's become almost impossible these days to talk about the paranormal or occult without resorting to these terms. The concepts of chakras, kundalini forces, astral bodies, auras and the like, make beautiful poetry and even very useful meta-belief tools. But to confuse them with any sort of pragmatic function is to make the old Zen mistake of confusing the moon with the finger that points at the moon. Such concepts are a trap, a comfortable velvet-lined cage that will surely stunt your magical development as well as your freedom of thought. Soon you'll be nodding your head in agreement when, like the courtiers who could "see" the Emporer's new clothes, you start "seeing" the vibes and auras.
But there is another explanation that allows for a "transference" of something to and from the mind of the magician that has nothing to do with "rays", vibrations, magnetism or anything of the kind. That something is pure information. It has already been experimentally proven by mainstream science that under certain conditions, atomic particles appear to transfer information about their state of existence to other particles, and the other particles act on that information! This is mind-boggling to the strict materialist types, but the experiments have been replicated many times and leave little room for doubt. There have been recent successful experiments using what is called "quantum tunnelling" to transfer instantaneous information, and it is being proposed as a basis for an entirely new class of computer systems.
(It would almost appear that the Universe is alive at the quantum level, and can express itself with almost conscious deliberation. Of course, this comes as no surprise to us magicians, as we have been telling everyone this fact for thousands of years.)
There are a couple of ways to look at these theories that satisfy my conscious mind's craving for logical explanations. One possibility is that there exists a "network", an interconnecting web of quantum-state information transference that allow matter and energy to interact acausally, or what the physicists call non-locally. Theorist Rupert Sheldrake called this the "Morphogenic Field". There is considerable experimental data that indicates that in many circumstances quantum particles can interact with each other acausally. Many writers in the recent past have suggested this is the "back door" in science that allows for the existence of occult phenomena. (See the reading list in the appendix to this book.) The scientists will point out that such experimental results have only been obtained at the quantum level of atomic particles. However, recent advances in brain scanning technology have opened up some interesting possibilities.
These technologies have shown that the brain does, in fact, function at the quantum level of reality. A brain cell, or neuron in the brain carries thought patterns by means of an electrical impulse jumping across the synapse, the connecting point between the cells. This process involves an infinitesimally small amount of electricity (only a few hundred electrons) and a equally small amount of neurotransmitter chemicals (a few hundred molecules.) This is at the so-called quantum level of reality, where randomness and probability rule, and certainty and predictability are not possible.
Advanced scanning techniques have shown that thought processes set up what could be called holographic patterns in the brain, and that these patterns first initiate in tiny sections of the brain, then spread throughout the whole organ in coherent patterns of linked neurons. It's not too much of a stretch to posit that the brain might be able to set up a "cascade" of quantum level events that can interconnect acausally with matter or energy patterns outside the brain, and transfer information across time and space in such a way as to effect the probability of certain events occurring or not occurring.
For those uncomfortable with the idea of anything being emitted from the body/brain, there are another couple of theories to consider.
One presupposes clairvoyance (the ability to perceive events outside of one's local space and/or time) and various controlled experiments performed by followers of the gods of Science have yeilded evidence of it's existence. "Remote viewing" experiments conducted by both American and Soviet government's espionage organizations gave results not easy to explain by coincidence or "lucky guessing". Accounts of near-death experiences (NDEs) by persons lying comatose on operating tables have strikingly accurate descriptions of what was going on in the room -- including visual perceptions that were far out of the range of their point of view and conversations in nearby rooms they could not possibly have heard even if they were fully awake. Judith Hooper and thingy Teresi's The Three Pound Universe (Tarcher), an excellent book about the human brain written by two well respected neuroscientists, includes a chapter that details such well-documented events that the authors admit have no "scientific" explanation.
This theory makes use of the idea of the famous "butterfly effect", the element of Chaos Theory derived from the study of turbulent systems like weather patterns. One of the postulates of Chaos Theory is called extreme sensitivity to initial conditions -- the idea that a very small change in conditions can cascade into very large scale effects. The classic example is that even the flapping of a butterfly's wings at a particular point in time and space can be the determining factor of whether or not a hurricane develops over a spot thousands of miles away. So therefore, applying this theory to magic, the goal of the magician is to know when and where to "flap the butterfly wings".
Let's say I do a working to increase my chances of getting a particular job I'm applying for. On the day of my interview, I get the urge to drink tea instead of coffee in the morning. On arriving for the meeting, the interviewer asks if I'd like some coffee. I reply that no, but I'd like some tea if that's possible. The interviewer then reveals that she is a tea drinker herself, and how nice it is to meet another tea drinker. This creates a favorable first impression, which leads to my getting the job! (An excellent example of a preternatural effect.)
How did I know that drinking tea would make such a difference that day? I didn't -- not consciously. But my clairvoyant subconscious did know, and made that one minor adjustment in events that cascaded into a successful magic working.
There is one other "theory of magic" that should be mentioned: the "everything is an illusion of the mind" paradigm. I have problems with this similar to the ones I have with the "gods" paradigm. First of all, it sidesteps the question. Secondly, the most dramatically effective magic workings I've ever done always have some very surprising results. If it was only my own mind creating these "effects", then I would expect them to be exactly what I expect them to be. This idea also allows for an interesting way to check one's magical effectiveness -- if the result doesn't surprise you, it is to be suspected.
Moreover, if all of our experience is in fact a creation of our own minds, then the subconscious mind has a powerful hand in this creation. Therefore, by the use of Magic one is tapping the subconscious, the wellspring of creation itself. It is bestowing the power of creation on something beyond our prejudiced, over-logical conscious mind with all of it's fears and foibles. If the subconscious is the contact point of the magical universe, then by the use of magic we are able to make our entire existence a function of that Magic.
"Do we, holding that the gods exist, deceive ourselves with insubstantial dreams and lies, while random and careless chance alone control the world?"
-- Euripides
Before proposing any particular mechanism, it would be proper to first define what Magic is and what a practitioner might expect from the practice.
In Bill Whitcomb's excellent book The Magician's Companion, he describes four levels at which magic operates: physiological, neurological, mental/linguistic and material.
At the physiological level, the results are manifested in the body of the magician. Yoga and other physical regimens focus strongly on this level. Most meditative practices involve breathing exercises that facilitate altered states of consciousness. Shamanistic healing practices are also concerned with effects on this level.
Yoga is a good case in point. Much of the criticism of the "reality" of magic arises from the inability of the tools of science to quantify it. But most of the effects derived from Yoga practice (or Tai Ch'i, or several other meditative mind/body disciplines) are such things as a general sense of well-being, heightened alertness, fewer and less severe illnesses, more "energy", more restful sleep, etc. -- things that cannot be easily quantified by technical measurements. But they are unequivocally real to anyone who practices these disciplines.
Furthermore, just about anyone who takes up serious practice will manifest almost identical results; it is not a case of "purely subjective" effects. They are predictable and repeatable across a wide range of human subjects -- and have been for thousands of years. But you can't measure these effects as an outside observer. The only way to "prove" that this is the case is to take up the practice yourself and judge the effects for yourself. The same can be said for all four types of magical effects.
The neurological level refers to those parts of the deep mind where the sub-conscious, the non-verbal, the instinctive is to be found. At the neurological level, magical practice can give one far greater control over one's emotional, "gut level" reactions to that great experience called Real Life. Ritual or sigil work can be used to overcome phobias and to counter obsessive states, or do exactly the opposite and induce such subconscious reactions that the magician might find useful. Sigil Magic (explained later in this book) uses simple techniques to implant deliberate subconscious cues in your own mind to access a given mental state at will.
Magicians are psychonauts that explore the fringes of inner space. (Please excuse my somewhat poetic description here.) Chaos Magic often involves the use of sorcerous techniques culled from various forms of shamanism, and altered states of consciousness are of great importance to both. The premise is that magic can only be effective if the subconscious (or "pre-conscious") mind is doing the magicking. This level can be most readily accessed via altered states.
Various psychoactive drugs can be used to access the neurological level of the mind, and again this is common to almost all forms of shamanism. The works of John Lilly, Terrence McKenna, Robert Anton Wilson and Timothy Leary can be instructive to the magician wishing to learn to navigate these inner regions.
It should be pointed out that techniques exist to access these states without pharmacological assistance (which is of dubious legality in most parts of the world.) Most forms of meditative practice can be directed toward altered states via mental inhibition. Sensory deprivation can also be used to access this level. Chemognosis is not without it's dangers, both physical and psychological, and should be approached with respect and care.
Mental/linguistic operations involve the rearrangement of belief systems and world-views, and they are crucial to the entire operating paradigm of Chaos Magic. The power of belief is undeniable. Beliefs not only have the power to shape one's own perceptions of the world, but to affect the perceptions of others as well -- this is the foundation of using meta-belief as a magical tool. The universe seems to have a way of providing experiences that tend to reinforce any given belief -- witness the great variety of fundamental world-views, both past and present. Psychological literature speaks of "The Stockholm Effect", named after an incident in that city in which persons kidnapped by terrorists were constantly bombarded with "propaganda" by their captors, and ended up adopting the captors belief-system. The kidnapping and "conversion" of Patty Hearst in the late 1970's by the Symbionese Liberation Army is another prime example of this effect -- she not only became sypathetic to their cause, but joined their ranks and helped them rob banks and plant bombs!
The point being that we adapt our "reality" to fit our belief structure, not the other way around. If one is forced to adopt the lifestyle and daily practices of a fundimentalist Christian, a soldier or a submissive "slave", one will eventually come to adopt the belief structure that goes along with it, regardless of previous beliefs. Some modern psychological techniques such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming work on this level have much in common with Chaos Magic.
This effect is sometimes referred to as "the power of positive thinking", although it can also encompass negative thinking as well. Much ritual work, especially invocations (where the operator assumes "godforms" of archtypical icons) function at this level. Pathworkings, long-term magical operations involving a slow process of building on consciously developed psychological structures, are useful as a means of "meta-programming" the mental state.
On the physical or material level, the goal is to effect changes in noumenal or "everyday" reality. This is what most people mean by "magic", though in fact it is only a part of the picture. Many psychic disciplines, especially Eastern styles, downplay the importance of these effects to the point of actively discouraging them when they do occur. These practitioners, and most serious magicians in the West, realize that physical manifestations are not the only goal of magical practice, and perhaps not even the most important one. Furthermore, without the at least some experience of the previous levels described, one can expect little in the way of results that effect the material world.
A distinction should be drawn here between supernatural effects and what are called preternatural effects. Supernatural is defined as that which occurs entirely outside the physical laws of the universe -- in short, miracles. Preternatural, on the other hand, is defined as that events that, while they may be on the edge of the curve of possiblity, the mechanics can be explained by physical processes. In my experience, this is how most magical effects manifest -- as uncanny "co-incidences", flashes of illumination or events that would appear to be (and are explainable as) "pure luck". In my practice of magic I have experienced uncountable preternatural effects, while the "supernatural" ones -- things that defie my best efforts to explain by "natural" means -- could be counted on one hand.
Though other metaphysical practices may see physical manifestations as something to avoid, Chaos Magic regards material results as being very important to the practice of magic, and should be actively sought after rather than repressed. For one thing, there is something about the experience of encountering an event that, because it is so weird and seemingly impossible, it impresses upon the mind that magic is REAL in a way that no amount of theoretical discussion or deep meditation can ever do. This increases one's confidence in what one is doing, and thence makes magic easier to accomplish on all levels, in a self-perpetuating loop.
"Results Magic" deals with largely non-reproducible effects, or particularly timely synchronistic events, or non-ordinary perceptions that can be explained by the functions of the previous levels, or by "pure luck". But it is the romance of this strange world of improbability and unexplainable phenomena that gives most magicians the inspiration to follow the path of occultism. There is no way to "prove" the existence of this level of magic, but the same can be said of the other levels as well. Like the Yoga student, the only way to "prove" it is to prove it to yourself; the only way to experiment is by using your own mind and body as the laboratory. And whether they seek material results or not, I know of no magicians who have spent any appreciable time in practice who don't have a collection of experiences that call the strict materialist view of the universe into question.
So what, then, is Magic? One of the best definitions ever offered comes from Aleister Crowley: "Magic is the Science and Art of causing change to occur in accordance with the Will." He elaborated further with his "Postulate of Magic," as follows:
"Any required change may be effected by the application of the proper kind and degree of force in the proper manner through the proper medium to the proper object."
If an act of Magic succeeds, it is because it conformed to all parts of the postulate. If it fails, it was because one or more parts of the postulates were not conformed to. This definition is obviously very broad, but as such is serves to illustrate an important concept: Any willed act is, by it's nature, a "magical" act.
Another important concept was put forward by science writer Arthur C. Clarke: "One man's magic is another man's engineering. Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. 'Supernatural' is a null term."
Consider that "technology" in it's purest definition, is simply the application of technique. If I wish to speak to a friend who is not physically present, I may choose to use the following "magical" operation:
I consult a large book of arcane numbers, and determine the specific formula for my friend's name. I take my magical tool in hand and place it against my head. With my other hand I trace the magic number for my friend into the special tablet made for this purpose. A series of distant sounds like birds or insects ensues, and ends abruptly when I suddenly hear the voice of my friend issuing from the magical tool!
If you haven't already guessed I was making a phone call, look over the preceding paragraph again. But it fits the strict definition of the magical act; I caused a change to occur (in this case, I summoned my friend to hear my voice and speak with me over a great distance) in accordance with my will. Had I performed this act in the presence of a scholar from Queen Elizabeth I's time, he would have instantly accused me of sorcery!
It also conformed to the postulate. If I had entered the wrong number (improper kind), or punched the buttons with a hammer (improper degree) or dialed them in backwards (improper manner), or looked up the wrong name (improper object) or tried to use a toaster instead of a telephone (improper medium) the "magic" would have failed.
The preceding example might be considered a bit trite, but it serves to illustrate the point.
However, this is not satisfying as an explanation of how the paranormal effects of magic might actually function. The most often used explanation is not an explanation at all -- the God(s) do it. In many, if not most, systems of magical practice, there is the presupposed existence of "greater forces" in the Universe, and magic is accomplished by entreating these forces to intercede on behalf of the supplicant. This sidesteps the question, but keep in mind that such workings of devotion can be useful when used in the proper context as a meta-belief device. Sometimes it behooves the magician to believe in certain gods, and other times that belief becomes a hindrance.
A lot of people, myself included, need some kind of plausible explanation to account for magic in a logical way. This is important, because the first act of meta-belief is the belief in magic itself, and on this all other beliefs must hinge. Otherwise, the conscious mind plays the eternal skeptic, and makes the belief states required to do magic in the first place hard to obtain. Once a satisfactory explanation of the mechanism is inculcated, the conscious mind can be induced to get out of the way and be quiet while the belief-states of the subconscious are manipulated. So the following ideas are offered to this end.
What is the actual mechanism involved? Theories abound, and there have in recent years been several that try to take into account the latest revelations of modern physics. Still, all operating theories of magic must presuppose the capability of the human mind, under certain conditions, to be able to manipulate the probability flux of existence.
The "explanation" for magic tends to conform to the dominant world-view of the period. In prehistoric times (and among a few surviving cultures today) all things in the world have a "spirit" and by controlling the spirit one may control the thing. When paganism arose, magic was the province of the gods and magical technique took the form of supplication to these gods to wield their magic on behalf of the supplicant. This approach (usually called "prayer"), continued right through monotheism in it's various forms. Though the modern Neo-Pagans think of themselves as having evolved beyond the prejudices of monotheism, their magical technique is still very much the same.
With the rise of science and the materialistic world-view, "the God(s) did it" was no longer a viable explanation for most reasonably intelligent people. So some kind of mechanical model had to be developed to explain paranormal phenomena. Most of the explorations along these lines end up with the "invisible ray" model; there are "vibrations" of a nature that makes them undetectable by scientific instruments, but they behave in a way almost indistinguishable from electromagnetic radiation. Humans, power objects or what-have-you are capable of emitting, storing and/or manipulating these vibrations to specific ends.
I have major problems with this idea, since these "rays" do not seem to follow the kind of laws that all other energy forms do, such as the inverse square law or the speed of light. They seem to be capable of assuming any properties that the practitioner requires, and these properties vary widely between different traditions. (However, as with the "gods" paradigm, it can be useful to assume the existence of "rays" as a meta-belief tool for obtaining certain effects.)
I must admit that the confusion of scientific and magical terms like "energy" is, to me, one of the most maddening things about the traditionalist magicians, perhaps even more than their absolutist belief structures and the dogmas they breed. It's all the more maddening because they think it's such a modern, "scientific" way to explain magical phenomena -- which is in fact an insult to magic as well as science!
To think that energy models can explain magical phenomena is idiotic. To quote theoretical physicist Henery Margenau, "Similarly the term energy, which has a perfectly definite scientific meaning, is constantly used in phrases such as 'mental energy' which signifies nothing unless ignorance of the laws of physics on the part of the speaker."
In recent times, the word "vibrations" has come to be used in the same manner, which is even more silly than using the word "energy". It's become almost impossible these days to talk about the paranormal or occult without resorting to these terms. The concepts of chakras, kundalini forces, astral bodies, auras and the like, make beautiful poetry and even very useful meta-belief tools. But to confuse them with any sort of pragmatic function is to make the old Zen mistake of confusing the moon with the finger that points at the moon. Such concepts are a trap, a comfortable velvet-lined cage that will surely stunt your magical development as well as your freedom of thought. Soon you'll be nodding your head in agreement when, like the courtiers who could "see" the Emporer's new clothes, you start "seeing" the vibes and auras.
But there is another explanation that allows for a "transference" of something to and from the mind of the magician that has nothing to do with "rays", vibrations, magnetism or anything of the kind. That something is pure information. It has already been experimentally proven by mainstream science that under certain conditions, atomic particles appear to transfer information about their state of existence to other particles, and the other particles act on that information! This is mind-boggling to the strict materialist types, but the experiments have been replicated many times and leave little room for doubt. There have been recent successful experiments using what is called "quantum tunnelling" to transfer instantaneous information, and it is being proposed as a basis for an entirely new class of computer systems.
(It would almost appear that the Universe is alive at the quantum level, and can express itself with almost conscious deliberation. Of course, this comes as no surprise to us magicians, as we have been telling everyone this fact for thousands of years.)
There are a couple of ways to look at these theories that satisfy my conscious mind's craving for logical explanations. One possibility is that there exists a "network", an interconnecting web of quantum-state information transference that allow matter and energy to interact acausally, or what the physicists call non-locally. Theorist Rupert Sheldrake called this the "Morphogenic Field". There is considerable experimental data that indicates that in many circumstances quantum particles can interact with each other acausally. Many writers in the recent past have suggested this is the "back door" in science that allows for the existence of occult phenomena. (See the reading list in the appendix to this book.) The scientists will point out that such experimental results have only been obtained at the quantum level of atomic particles. However, recent advances in brain scanning technology have opened up some interesting possibilities.
These technologies have shown that the brain does, in fact, function at the quantum level of reality. A brain cell, or neuron in the brain carries thought patterns by means of an electrical impulse jumping across the synapse, the connecting point between the cells. This process involves an infinitesimally small amount of electricity (only a few hundred electrons) and a equally small amount of neurotransmitter chemicals (a few hundred molecules.) This is at the so-called quantum level of reality, where randomness and probability rule, and certainty and predictability are not possible.
Advanced scanning techniques have shown that thought processes set up what could be called holographic patterns in the brain, and that these patterns first initiate in tiny sections of the brain, then spread throughout the whole organ in coherent patterns of linked neurons. It's not too much of a stretch to posit that the brain might be able to set up a "cascade" of quantum level events that can interconnect acausally with matter or energy patterns outside the brain, and transfer information across time and space in such a way as to effect the probability of certain events occurring or not occurring.
For those uncomfortable with the idea of anything being emitted from the body/brain, there are another couple of theories to consider.
One presupposes clairvoyance (the ability to perceive events outside of one's local space and/or time) and various controlled experiments performed by followers of the gods of Science have yeilded evidence of it's existence. "Remote viewing" experiments conducted by both American and Soviet government's espionage organizations gave results not easy to explain by coincidence or "lucky guessing". Accounts of near-death experiences (NDEs) by persons lying comatose on operating tables have strikingly accurate descriptions of what was going on in the room -- including visual perceptions that were far out of the range of their point of view and conversations in nearby rooms they could not possibly have heard even if they were fully awake. Judith Hooper and thingy Teresi's The Three Pound Universe (Tarcher), an excellent book about the human brain written by two well respected neuroscientists, includes a chapter that details such well-documented events that the authors admit have no "scientific" explanation.
This theory makes use of the idea of the famous "butterfly effect", the element of Chaos Theory derived from the study of turbulent systems like weather patterns. One of the postulates of Chaos Theory is called extreme sensitivity to initial conditions -- the idea that a very small change in conditions can cascade into very large scale effects. The classic example is that even the flapping of a butterfly's wings at a particular point in time and space can be the determining factor of whether or not a hurricane develops over a spot thousands of miles away. So therefore, applying this theory to magic, the goal of the magician is to know when and where to "flap the butterfly wings".
Let's say I do a working to increase my chances of getting a particular job I'm applying for. On the day of my interview, I get the urge to drink tea instead of coffee in the morning. On arriving for the meeting, the interviewer asks if I'd like some coffee. I reply that no, but I'd like some tea if that's possible. The interviewer then reveals that she is a tea drinker herself, and how nice it is to meet another tea drinker. This creates a favorable first impression, which leads to my getting the job! (An excellent example of a preternatural effect.)
How did I know that drinking tea would make such a difference that day? I didn't -- not consciously. But my clairvoyant subconscious did know, and made that one minor adjustment in events that cascaded into a successful magic working.
There is one other "theory of magic" that should be mentioned: the "everything is an illusion of the mind" paradigm. I have problems with this similar to the ones I have with the "gods" paradigm. First of all, it sidesteps the question. Secondly, the most dramatically effective magic workings I've ever done always have some very surprising results. If it was only my own mind creating these "effects", then I would expect them to be exactly what I expect them to be. This idea also allows for an interesting way to check one's magical effectiveness -- if the result doesn't surprise you, it is to be suspected.
Moreover, if all of our experience is in fact a creation of our own minds, then the subconscious mind has a powerful hand in this creation. Therefore, by the use of Magic one is tapping the subconscious, the wellspring of creation itself. It is bestowing the power of creation on something beyond our prejudiced, over-logical conscious mind with all of it's fears and foibles. If the subconscious is the contact point of the magical universe, then by the use of magic we are able to make our entire existence a function of that Magic.
