Alternative Religions Profiles: Ritual Magic (High Magick, Ceremonial Magic)

History/Founder/important persons/saints: While some form of ritualized Ceremonial magick has been present in cultures going back thousands of years, most current practices have their roots in the middle ages or later. Ceremonial Magick developed out of several sources:

• The practice of Christian Kabbalah,* a philosophical system adopted from Jewish mysticism
• Medieval Alchemy
• Gnostic/Hermetic philosophy

The basic idea behind Ceremonial magick lies in the Hermetic philosophy of vibration: all things on earth emanate from the divine and carry properties of these emanations; that man is a microcosm of the divine; things that affect the microcosm also affect the macrocosm (the universe/divine nature), and by influencing the microcosm, one also affects the macrocosm.

You can read more about the process here: Basic Principals of Ritual Magick

Current leader/governing body: None, although there are several large organized groups operating around the country, the majority of practitioners are solitary or members of small local groups.

Number of Adherents: Unknown. Many practitioners are secretive about their beliefs due to social pressures and misconceptions. Also, many magicians adhere to the principle of silence, that is, they do not openly declare their spiritual work.

Clergy: Some groups have acting clergy, and many choose ordination in non-denominational groups for purposes of legal convenience, as RM is not a legally recognized religion.

Requirements to join: None. Some become involved by initiating into an established group, others through solitary practice.

Church/temple: Varies widely, although use of a masonic style temple or ritual vault is fairly common.

Scripture: There is no canon of RM scripture, although the writings of The turn of the century order the Golden Dawn (as well as the works of its members and ex members) are esteemed, as are many Renaissance writings, the first century “Corpus Hermeticum,” and important Kabbalistic works; more modern authors include Israel Regardie, a student of Aleister Crowley, and Donald Michael Kraig, whose recent book has sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Medieval grimoires and alchemical texts are often sold to the curious or studied by seasoned magicians, but on the whole are ignored as archaic. The practice of so-called Enochian Magick is based on the work of John Dee, astrologer to Queen Elizabeth, and the first agent of the Crown to use the “007″ moniker.

Required observances, dietary restrictions: Varies from person to person and group to group. Members of the OTO practice daily awareness exercises, and pray at sunrise and sunset. Some eschew the consumption of animal products or other practices believed to impair psychic faculties. Most magicians make some regular practice of ‘orientation’ rituals such as the LBRP.

Code of Conduct: Varies from tradition to tradition, but the majority follow a standard code forbidding the harming of another human being. Many reject current social mores regarding sexuality, and acceptance of homosexuality, polyamory, and premarital sex is common.

Holidays: Also vary, and are generally not a major part of RM practices; however, some do celebrate or mark the solstices, and there is no restriction against celebrating other cultural or religious holidays.

Basic teachings and Beliefs: It is nearly impossible to define a set of beliefs that is common to all Ritual Magicians. However, most accept Aleister Crowley’s definition of magick as “the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will.” Ritual Magicians are primarily concerned with “transcendental” magick (conciousness raising) rather than natural or sympathetic magick (folk magic designed to achieve worldly ends).

Ritual magick itself is the concious application of willpower to achieve spiritual objectives. Many have likened Ritual Magick to Eastern practices- Dion Fortune, a twentiesth century Magician, called Magick the ‘Yoga of the west.’ One of the core beliefs in most magical traditions is that diligent an applied practice will allow the practitioner to establish contact with one’s genius, or higher self- sometimes referred to as the “Holy Guardian Angel.” The ultimate goal of magick is likened to the Eastern Samaddhi…union with the infinite. Magicians employ a hodgepodge of metaphysical techniques- many, like the Jewish Kabbalah, divested of their traditional dogmatic faiths.

It is generally held that there are two basic ‘paths’ in Rm: the ‘left’ and ‘right.’ These refer to the goal of the magician’s spiritual work. A “Left hand path” magicician usually seeks physical and/or spiritual immortality and magnification of the ego; a right hand path magician seeks union with divine energy and dissolution of the ego/personality.

Symbols: Vary immensly, but one might spot a Ritual magician wearing a five, six, or seven pointed star, a device known as a “Unicursal (or inverted) hexagram,” or any of a number of modern or ancient talismans or glyphs. Practitioners of magick make use of many emblems, symbols, tools, and talismans as practical aids, teaching tools, and as practical objects.

You can explore some occult symbols here: Symbols of magick and the occult or check out our Gallery of magickal images.

Myths and misconceptions: Some of the most popular (as well as most damaging) myths are that RMs worship Satan (some are Satanists, please see the article on Satanism, here.), sacrifice animals or human beings, or commit sexual perversions. While allowing that a certain percentage of any religious population is inclined toward criminal or immoral acts, the vast majority of Magicians are ordinary, ethical people. Ritual magicians do not make sacrifices, animal or human. Many or most are agnostic or monolatrous in belief. (Rumours that Aleister Crowley sacrificed babies stem from a tongue in cheek quip made about his practice of ritual masturbation.)

Famous Magicians: Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith, Rocket Scientist Jack Parsons, Julius Evola