Honestly, you probably don't want to know what I think. It's not going to be what you want to hear nor am I going to pull punches (but I’ll end up doing so to a degree anyways), so stop reading this post after this paragraph. I'm a blunt person and say things how I see them. If you decide to keep reading, don't say I didn't warn you.
No one else likes being the bad guy, so I'm elected which is likely why you haven't been getting many responses to your other queries/posts. Many others are going on the “if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all”, which I can appreciate. While I would say your perspective is more like a typical natural mage, based on your application that isn't obviously the case (ie. learning from silver ravenwolf books, etc.), which means it's a result of being a solitary (which is why natural mages are the way they are, because they have a hard time explaining how they do their magic to others, and therefore generally don't bother). The result is an air of arrogance based on the belief that they know better than everyone else, where the reality is usually the opposite, mostly simply from inexperience or naivety. This is typical of almost any individual since if one is comfortable where one is, why would they seek knowledge elsewhere, or even knowledge that may counter what they already know and hurt their comfort zone? In a typical long term solitary, it's far to easy to start believing in one's own BS, and taking everyone else's confusion as to what one does as confirmation of one's own superiority because if they were up to one's level, they'd understand. Without a fresh external peer group keeping one grounded, it's far too easy to believe one's own BS. I say fresh, because even a small group can stagnate and end up with the same problem without fresh influences (ie. new people).
This was first evidenced when you became a self-proclaimed guru in the thread with Hunny-Kun (
http://www.omnimancy.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... =5975#5975 ). Wisdom is demonstrated by listening and then giving wisdom(usually when asked), not by proclaiming having wisdom and expecting everyone to instantly see it in you simply from your statement. One's actions/statements should show of your wisdom, not an announcement of your own awesomeness with a fortune cookie wisdom trailer. It is also further evidenced by certain self-important/entitled PMs that I've gotten from you detailing everything from how bored you are with the public stuff and therefore feel entitled to more, to giving me advice on how to deal with entities unsolicited. Get over yourself. If you are so cool and know so much, why are you here trying to be a student in the first place?
Now let’s get to the thread.
Magick is just a code word for me. The things I have truly learned can barely be expressed, but i do naturally have a way around this. Forget what I have included in my magick code...it hardly really matters...besides, I could just be using that to confuse or misinform...though this may not be the case. Instead lets look at commmon traits amongst the magickly inclined. First off an ability to manipulate reality through understanding and will and such.
The foremost thing that stands out is the capability to remotely manipulate things. Wether it be through seeming coincidence or vulgar means all Magus have the ability to manipulate reality to some degree. This would seem to be the premise of modern magick, but most of us here know that is not the case. And the feeling...oh the feeling of success. It is a very intoxicating thing. Unfortunately for all but the most determined and powerful Magus this feeling can bleed over towards awakening the ego more and makes the abilities weaker as far as I have seen.
I don't get the orgasmic overtones with the "feeling of success", nor do I know anyone who does other than beginners first learning. Sure it's nice to have what you do work, but it becomes expected for it to work so very quickly it simply becomes a tool, not some aphrodisiac or intoxicant. This isn't some hollywood story where the intoxication of magic slowly corrupts you to move the story along. Magic simply is. If I need to remove a screw from a box, I get a screw driver. If I need to make sure it's sunny on a day of my picnic, I use weather magic. If I'm late for work, I use something more impressive to get there on time, etc. But it's a tool, nothing more. The people that I've met that have used magic for a while don't find it any more special than I do (for the most part). It's simply a part of everyday life and simply another tool in their toolbox to apply to life.
It's like your other thread about secrecy, I was surprised you asked the question (and stated such). Your reactions here come off more like some teenager with a magic book surprised that it actually works rather than someone who says they've been doing magic for over half their life and pushing 30.
The next thing that bears to mind is the feeling that comes from having energies flow through you. This is better then any other ecstatic thing in existence as far as I am concerned. But to just use the energies for the feeling of them has a tendency to take away from the actual benefits. One can become stuck on this and end up in a world of hurt because they are addicted.
Again, this sounds more like the hollywood perception of magic and energy rather than the reality of it that myself and anyone I've come across' perception of magical energy. Yeah, it feels nice but it's not ALL that. I get the same high off a candy bar (which is to say I don't actually). It's good to help wake one up when tired certainly. I've also noticed it work as a mid-aphrodisiac on the ladies, but that's another story. The only thing that comes close to your description to that reaction is when a friend of mine nearly died from his life energy being removed (long story), and when it was replenished, it was orgasmic for him, but I akin that reaction similar to a dehydrated man getting water or a starving man finally getting food. Now I've seen religious ceremonies that involved magical energy move people similarly, but that was from the religious meaning of the ceremony versus the energy itself.
Now perhaps it feels this way for yourself, and more power to you if it feels like that for you. But it seems you are making the common mistake of "if it works like this for me, it must for everyone else". I would think if the reaction you were describing was the common reaction people would be running energy brothels.
Lastly is the feeling of that perfect sincronisity, that feeling of total unity with the universe. This is both the most dangerous and beneficial trait I know of. For if one falls into the ego game here they shall lose what they have come to know. Some may never know the way back and succunb to a dark path, but this is completely and easily avoidable.
This is a religious perspective, not a mage perspective. Or more accurately, a theurge perspective versus a Thaumaturge perspective. A Theurge might seek to become "one" with the universe, a Thaumaturge is simply trying to control the universe (or their piece of it).
As for the rest of it, it's flowery thought fragments. You aren't explaining yourself well here. The danger from my perspective is that one is all powerful and nothing can knock you off your block (which is false of course, there is ALWAYS something bigger). The other thing is from the perspective of believing one can get away with anything (which is also false of course, because there is always repercussions of one's actions, and not always as expected or wanted).
The strange thing for me is that I ever really found the magick in any of the books I have read, but in the magick of simply being, and seeing the world from a perspective of love and trust. At least as far as me and My God are concerned.
Well, I'll agree with you there, I've never found much use for magic from books. Books don't tell you if you are doing it right or not. Books don't give a sense of character or know when you are ready to learn something. As far as looking at the world with "love and trust", I'll leave that for the religious people and skip my comments on that. I will just say that my perspective is more based around how things are and in some respects, how to change it.
And one last thing, though this is off topic, whats up with it being god and goddess....why not godder and goddess and have god be the androgynous one?
Because "godder" is a made up word. Because in the English language it is VERY common to use the male version as the androgynous version, such as actor/actress. You'd do better to use what is in place to keep the confusion down. Such as using "deity" as the androgynous, and keep god as the male version. I didn't make the language, but we are speaking writing in it.
Tell me what ya think.
Just did. Why did I bother? Well, while most people feel it's better not to say anything for fear of insulting or stirring the pot, I believe that sometimes it's needed. If a person isn't aware of how they present themselves and no one tells them (or tells them what they want to hear), they are doomed to repeat their mistakes to others. If it makes me out looking like an asshole, then so be it, but if it makes someone actually take a good hard look at themselves, then I've been successful, and I'll take the hit. I like polite society but there are negatives sometimes.
Originally, I was debating weither I should post this, but your latest PM to me just sent me over the top with my patience at it's end.
