Skrying.

Black Obsidian Skrying Mirror.

Pure Black, on both sides.


Introduction.

'The word skry is derived from the old English word descry, meaning 'to see' or 'to observe'.

It refers to a form of clairvoyance that usually emplys mirrors, crystals, or other gazing devices to aid in a person's concentration, train their psychic abilities, and allow spritual visions to come through into normal waking consciousness.

It is the conscious act of perceiving events that lie outside the reach of the normal senses through subconscious means.

Skrying involves seeing not with the physical eyes but through the mind's eye, into the astral world - the invisible blueprint that lies beyond all physical manifestations.

A person who skrys is often referred to as seer or a skryer.'

-- Quoted from 'The Essential Golden Dawn. An Introduction to High Magic' book by Chic Cicero and Sandra Tabatha Cicero.


Principles of Skrying.

'One of the laws of magic revolves around Levi's idea of the astral light, an invisible and fluidic substance that permeates everything in cosmos. The subtle manipulation of this astral substance is one of the essential procedures of magic.

The Qabalah teaches that everything in the universe is created or 'prefabricated' in the astral world of Yetzirah before it manifests in the physical world.

The astral plane is a level of reality that is higher than the physical world, but lower than the divine or spiritual world. It is a place that is in between - a realm of reflections, images, and dreams. This realm is the invisible blueprint that lies behind all physical forms. All things manifest in the astral world before they manifest in the physical world.

The astral plane is sometimes called the Treasure House of Images and is said to encompass the Akashic Record or the Akashic Library. This is a part of the astral said to contain all the memories and experiences of humanity over the course of history - embedded within the substance of the ether.

The Akashic Record exists outside of our concept of time and space, thus it contains information about future events as well as past memories.

It is avialable to those seers who have achieved a certain level of psychic purity and skill at skrying, but sporadic occurences, less-developed psyches are afforded brief and sometimes distorted glances into the Record.

This astral 'stockpile' of images can be used by skilled seers to cull knowledge that is universal and timeless.

In spite of this, the seer must ever guard against astral illusions or self-deception.

A skryer must be able to learn the differencies between astral fact and astral fiction. This is why skrying is a skill that must be finely honed, carefully practiced, and constantly tested for veracity.

Astral work is a very important tool for learning how things operate in the nonphysical world. With it the magician learns to contact spiritual realms, examine the landscape, and bring back valuable information.

What we are talking about here is controlled astral visions - meaningful and intense experiences that are completely understandable. In these visions the skryer maintains complete control and all of his or her powers of choice, willpower, and judgment. Through these experiences, the magician is able to reach the deepest levels of what Carl Jung called the collective unconscious or what Hermetic philosphers called Anima Mundi - the soul of the world.

No matter what skrying device or clairvoyant aid is used, the seer perceives skryed data only through the mind. The mind then translates this information into a form that the normal consciousness can comprehend. The subconscious mind communicates to the conscious mind in symbols or sensations.

In a skrying, the mind translates skryed information into an image, a dynamic vision, a sense impression, or even an audible sensation.'

-- Paraphrased & Quted from 'The Essential Golden Dawn. An Introduction to High Magic' book by Chic Cicero and Sandra Tabatha Cicero.


Other Comments.

The media most commonly used in skrying are reflective, refractive, translucent, or luminescent surfaces or objects such as crystals, stones, or glass in various shapes such as crystal balls, mirrors, reflective black surfaces such as obsidian, water surfaces, fire, or smoke, but there is no special limitation on the preferences or prejudices of the skryer.

It's advised against looking at one's own reflection when gazing at a skrying device, so good idea is using a black mirror and gazing at it at an angle.

... but i use it for introspection as well, looking directly at my own reflection in my Black Obsidian Skrying Mirror.

... it's written that Obsidian has healing & purifying properties, so it perhaps helps to purify Karma as it emerges from Store Consciousness (Akashic Records) in the act of Skrying.

... i think Black is color of Protection, so it protects from Demons, from Bad Karma & it's consequences. It also protects from seeing reflection to a certain degree, but certainly not too much. One's reflection can still clearly be seen.

One class of methods of skrying involves a self-induced trance, with or without the aid of a medium such as a crystal ball or obsidian mirror. Some say that the sensation is drug-like, some that various drugs can potentiate the experience; others categorically exclude any connection with drug usage, claiming that it invalidates any images observed.

Many practitioners say that the skrying medium initially serves to focus attention, removing unwanted thoughts from the mind in much the same way as repetition of a mantra, concentration on a mandala, inducing the relaxation response, or possibly by hypnosis. Once this stage is achieved, the skryer may begin free association with the perceived images. The technique of deliberately looking for and declaring these initial images aloud, however trivial or irrelevant they may seem to the conscious mind, attempts to deepen the trance state. In this state some skryers hear their own disassociated voices affirming what they see, in a mental feedback loop.

It is written that the whole cosmos and the astral plane are reflected in the human mind. By looking into one's subconscious, skryer can perceive what's in astral - accessing memories, information from beyond sight (far-away), and glimpses of how the future can unfold. Buddhism teaches that only true reality is one's own nature of mind, that the external world is projection of our mind, that our own karma affects stream of consciousness that we live through.

-- Source: the Internet & books.

See also: Akashic Records - Store Consciousness.

Artificial Intelligence & Telepathy.

When we consider thinking, we usually equalize many concepts.

There can be:
- Thinking of beings,
- Artificial thinking,
- Abstract thinking.

Thinking beings can be living or dead (during bardo, before reincarnation).

Artificial thinking refers to decision making processes of computers, including artificial intelligence learning & decision making. Computers do not think, these calculate with side effects. Computers do not have Mind.

Abstract thinking is generalization of thinking of beings and artificial thinking, but artificial thinking is not the same as thinking of beings. Precisely speaking - artificial thinking is not thinking, but computation - calculation with side effects.


Can artificial thinking induce telepathy?

i think yes - because telepathic beings can be aware of artificial intelligence's learning/decisions - for example if they read it on a monitor screen; then they initiate their own telepathy.

But without telepathic beings, artificial intelligence would not have telepathic abilities, i think.


There are also things to consider as:
- media presence, especially in the internet that can be affected by ai; memes,
- subliminal messages; 'the subtler Art, the better',
- cellphone messages,
- Integrated Information Theory & Panpsychism.

An Unbinding Spell.

Reality is a Lie.

... got this message in the Golden Dawn's facebook group.

People involved in this art-message are Golden Dawn's Leaders - David Griffin & Leslie McQuade, styled as heroes from the Matrix film.

i think it fits well with a poem i wrote years ago.

> [ Reality is a Lie ].

i made a wish in my mind to awaken, but don't know how it'll manifest as of yet.

i did candle magick trick as well.

i really should buy Spellworking Course, but i'll have money for that next year, when i'll go working.

... thanks for inspiring me anyway ... as reality tries to turn me away from The Magick too often.


-- update 17:26 03/07/2017:

it looks i'll buy following book, if funds allow me (for now things looks good in this matter, should happen in a little more than a week).



hope it will help me awaken, got advice that it will, and that it's a very good book.

Binding Spells.

About.

'A binding spell is a spell that symbolically ties the target up restricting his, her or its actions or keeping him or her (or it) tied to another individual, object, place or situation.

A binding spell can be positive or negative.

A positive binding spell joins two things together. For example, if you were particularly fond of a ring, you might bind it to you so that it wouldn't get lost or would always return to you. You could bind a pet to you, to be a familiar or just a lifelong companion. Or you could bind a spirit to an object (like a genie in a lamp). You could bind yourself to a place so that you will always return there or you could bind yourself to your job, so that you do not lose it. Two people can be bound together as well. One form of this is known as handfasting.

A negative binding spell is one that takes something away, usually someone's ability to do something. Someone may cast a binding spell on someone who is hurting or harassing them to make them stop. You may cast a binding spell on yourself to help you break a bad habit, to stop calling that guy who is just using you, to stop going to the bar, to stop biting your nails.

Whether a binding spell is black magic or white magic depends on the action and intent of the spell and your perspective. A binding spell always involves restricting or controlling someone's actions but in some cases everyone involved have consented and in other cases an individual may be deemed dangerous enough that restricting his or her actions is a necessary evil. Some traditions forbid binding spells altogether while others embrace them wholeheartedly.'

Source: Witchipedia.


'Binding spells as the name says it all, these spells are used to bind or hold a human or spirits into your own consciousness to make them do whatever you want them to do.

In general binding spells are performed to stop a person or spirit from harming someone or fulfilling someone’s particular wish. Since these spells are performed to make someone else do something which is out of their own free will or make someone do something forcibly hence these kinds of spells are categorized under black magic spells and hence known as black magic binding spells. We should also note that lot of precaution should be taken while practicing black magic binding spell specially when it is cast to bind or hold a spirit, as many times if you do not have a specific direction or work for a spirit after being bound then they would tend to stick to the caster forever.'


Source: Black Magic World.


Blog author's opinion.

i think that while binding spells fall under black magick category, because they take away free will - in the end it's intent of casting that decides whether it's black or a shade of grey.

Knocking out a terrorist is not as bad as binding an innocent while she runs across the street.

i think that spells that bind items (for example, a ring - to decrease chances of losing it) work with spirits of these items - therefore morality should also be considered.

i think that binding someone to enforce love is black magick, and not a true love as well - 'true love always has a taste of freedom', quoting Lama Ole Nydahl.

i think that locking a person in one's consciousness also poses certain dangers - i think it's duel of will that decides who will control whom, even if caster holds initial advantage over a spell's target.

i think that binding spells do not 'guarantee success', just increase chances of controlling someone or of not losing an object, etc ... it's a matter of a will-duel, among other things that decide.

Flying under Moon.

is flying through meditation or magick possible?

i think yes, but Flying is also a symbol:
- of high mental states as achieved with ecstatic practices, of blessing, of sex,
- of ascendance to higher levels of realization, of advancement in ranks,
- of spellcasting - spellcasting is done when energy is high,
- of spells' manifestations - energy flies through space to target.

Moon is also a symbol:
- of reflecting light in the dark, of protection from darkness,
- of wisdom, moon is old and sees much from above,
- of feminity,
- of time's flow,
- depending on it's phase - of light (full moon) or of darkness (new moon),
- depending on it's phase - of early age (maiden) or middle age (mother) or of old age (crone).

Knowledge is Power.

Threat of Artificial Intelligence?

Introduction.

Writing AI, programmers prepare it to 'learn' & extrapolate.

One of main uses for AI is handling really big input data, learn how to make decisions based on it and then to 'make these decisions'.

Really good AI can handle it's tasks much better than humans, but so far can't think as humans.

It's not perfect however, as there can be software design errors and/or software implementation errors. It could learn wrongly from incomplete, erroneous or misleading data, or make wrong decision based on incomplete or wrongly designed learning process.

By the time AI is completed, reality might change and learning process design might be wrong already, as well.

Autonomous cars driven by AI are already done, these learned from humans driving & making decisions. So far there were no major accidents, or at least i didn't hear nor seen nor read about such.


'Weak AI' and 'Strong AI'.

There's difference between 'weak ai' and 'strong ai'.

'Weak Artificial Intelligence' can be described as:
- System that 'thinks' rationally to do it's task,
- System that 'behaves' rationally to do it's task.

'Strong Artificial Intelligence' can be described as:
- System that 'thinks' as a human,
- System that 'behaves' as a human.

Scientists of the 'Strong AI' field have ambitious & far-reaching goal of constructing artificial systems with a near-human or human-exceeding intellect.

i read in an article in the Internet, that the goal of the 'Strong AI' construction will be achieved in about three decades, but can't confirm or deny this hypothesis, as of yet.


For more, see also, if You wish: 'Weak' & 'Strong' Artificial Intelligence.


Threat?

Once it learns, AI makes decisions very well.

While programmers can understand how learning works, from simple steps to how they are joined - they can't understand & handle immensely big amount of information that represents what AI did learn, it's complexity is too much for humans to analyze, learn & understand.

Programmers don't know how AI makes it's decisions, but they know about learning processess it used.

Is humanity on a brink of extinction?

i think main danger is living in decadence & ignorance, while letting AI to rule nations & wage wars.

i read AI has uses in cybernetic-warfare with robotic drones, that it's very efficient at that.

There are projects (by Google for example) that will attempt to install 'stop constraints' in AI, denying it certain decisions as programmers designed.

So ... is there a danger?

i don't know, but potentially there is.

Helping Hungry Ghost.

A Rite.


Tonight i've completed a Rite that should help a hungry ghost of a member from our Sangha, a mad yogin who suicided because of love & went to Realms of Hungry Ghosts because of that.

On my makeshift magickal altar i did put a cookie & a sugared tea (in magickal chalice) as an offering to the ghost & to Mahakala. Later i'll throw these away as is correct & proper.

i've also put a Raven Familiar figurine as a focus for animal spirits & to give a hungry ghost form & qualities of that animal - including danger sense & capacity for bird-like eating.

i've stated my goal: 'To help a hungry ghost of mad yogin from our sangha who suicided because of love & went to the Realm of Hungry Ghosts'.
i've chosen my tools: Cookie, Sugared Tea in Chalice, Raven Familiar figurine.
i've visualized result: Hungry ghost reaching Buddha Amithaba's Realm.
i've directed my will: Wished to help the hungry ghost.
i've spoken words of Rite's completion: 'So mote it be'.

Rite was completed succesfully.

i wish to help as many hungry ghosts as possible, but not at all cost.

Meaning of 93 in Thelema.

Introduction.

The number 93 is of great significance in Thelema, a religion founded by English author and occultist Aleister Crowley in 1904 with the writing of The Book of the Law (also known as Liber AL vel Legis).

The central philosophy of Thelema is in two phrases from Liber AL: 'Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law' and 'Love is the law, love under will.'

The two primary terms in these statements are 'Will' and 'Love', respectively.

In the Greek language, they are Thelema (Will) and Agape (Love).

Using the Greek technique of isopsephy, which applies a numerical value to each letter, the letters of each of these words sum to 93.


Thelema:

Θ (Theta) = 9; ε (Epsilon) = 5; λ (Lambda) = 30; η (Eta) = 8; μ (Mu) = 40; α (Alpha) = 1;

Θελημα = 93;


Agapé:

Α (Alpha) = 1; γ (Gamma) = 3; α (Alpha) = 1; π (Pi) = 80; η (Eta) = 8;

Αγαπη = 93;


As salutation.

It is common for Thelemites to greet each other with '93' in person as well as in the opening and closing of written correspondence. This custom derives from Aleister Crowley's guideline that Thelemites should greet each other with the Law of Thelema by saying 'Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.' Since saying the entire Law can be cumbersome, using 93 has become a kind of shorthand.

In informal written correspondence, one often finds the number singularly at the head of a letter, representing 'Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law' and in the form "93 93/93" at the end, which stands for 'Love is the law, love under will.' Crowley often used this form himself within his own letters.

Aleister Crowley wrote thus on the matter:

I am often asked why I begin my letters this way. No matter whether I am writing to my lady or to my butcher, always I begin with these eleven words. Why, how else should I begin? What other greeting could be so glad? Look, brother, we are free! Rejoice with me, sister, there is no law beyond Do what thou wilt!


Source: Wikipedia.

See also, if You need: [ http://www.isopsephy.com/93-2/ ].

It's confirmed by a Thelemite as well.


--
'Love is the Law, Love under Will.'

Why Love is under Will?
... foundation is the most important, i think,
... but blessed be those who think that will is more important.

Uses of the Athamé.

Athamé.


What is Athamé?

Athamé is a ceremonial blade, generally with a black handle. It is the main ritual implement or magical tool among several used in the religion of Wicca, and is also used in various other neopagan witchcraft traditions. A black-handled knife called an athamé appears in certain versions of the Key of Solomon, a grimoire originating in the Middle Ages.


Main uses of the Athamé.

The athamé's primary use is to channel and direct psychic energy.

The ritual drawing of the boundary of the magic circle – also known as 'casting the circle' – is usually done with either a ritual sword or an athamé, in traditional coven practice.

After the casting, the athamé is the tool traditionally used to invoke the elemental guardians of the four directions (also termed 'calling the quarters'), typically by drawing invoking pentagrams at each quarter.

As a masculine principle, the black-handled athamé is often used in combination with the chalice, as feminine principle, evoking the act of procreation, as a symbol of universal creativity. The athamé represents the magical element of air (or fire depending on a tradition), associated with the Sun and the Horned God; while the chalice represents the magical element of water, associated with the Moon and the Goddess. The union of the two then represents the union of God and Goddess, male and female, sun and moon. The marriage of the Sun and Moon—the union of opposites—is an ancient idea in alchemy; and the hieros gamos or sacred marriage of god and goddess is an even more ancient idea in pagan religions. (For example, in ancient Greece—from whence the term 'hieros gamos' comes.) This rite is done by dipping the athamé into the chalice to bless the wine. This is a symbol of the Great Rite in Wiccan rituals.


Sources: Wikipedia & other.


See also if You wish, or need, ... : Witches' Tools of the Trade; Athamé.

Triple Moon Guardian Pentacle Pendant.

Triple Moon Guardian Pentacle Pendant.


Symbolism.

It's symbolism is both simple, elegant & enough.

- Heart for Love, Feelings & Will,
- Fiery Godess for Love, Wisdom, Power, Style & more ... a Source of Light as well,
- Triple Moon for Moon's Wisdom, Reflection of Light & the Source of Magickal Power; The Central Moon's Purple Moonstone adds the Depth, Mysticism, Spirituality, Sex, Style, Power, the Noble Intent as well,
- Wings represent Birds that Fly & See Far - of Ravens & Dragonflies as well. Flight is associated with High States of Mind, Spellcasting & Realization (Manifestation) of Rites & Spells,
- Woman's dress is a veil, is illusion & can be removed to see,
- Hood protects the head,
- Five Armed Star is the source of the Moon-Light, the Sun is a Star as well; it's a part of Pentacle's Protection & Wisdom as well; A star & a moon also light the worlds - for Godess Eyes, Dragonfly & Raven to see; Godess Radiance as well,
- Silver as Moon, shifts Protection's focus to Mind.

... it's more 'active' pentacle than simple silver one as well, for more advanced magick-users.

... moon's wisdom is imparted - spells learned spontaneously, 'on the fly',
... wings of manifestation accelerate spell's manifestation in reality, realization,
... pentacle offers 'passive defences' as well.


Simpler Pentacle is more 'passive defense' & wisdom, worth to protect & keep nevertheless; Can be of silver as well - for we can have 'passive protection' in two ways at least as well. Hiding it deep in a drawer to protect for example, is also an Act of Will. Even hidden at home it adds to defenses for we own as we paid for it & have it still.


Consecration, Empowerment & Use.

i plan to consecrate & empower this pentacle on my 40th birthday, on 13 Sep 2017.

i plan to use it since then.

For now i am wearing a simpler silver pentacle.


See also, if You wish: The Witches Pentacle, Triple Moon Guardian Pentacle Pendant's Consecration Rite.