That said, I formatted an essay I wrote for Comic Book Artist back in early 00s which delves into Beardy and Baldie's magical practices and their works, but also into the larger issue of magic and creativity, one of my long-running fixations.
So you don't need to be a comics fan to get some vital information from this paper.
Click here for full paper
9 comments:
Part 2, continued.
Magic and comics, especially manga are alive and well with the college-university youth lately, especially young women and tarot. It is also a creative type, they do music, art, theater, dabble in film making follow the dream.
Sometimes though the magic, becomes magick of the real kind. Frightening synchronicity, coincidence, the proverbial -dark or glowing figure at the foot of the bed appears. Chances are few people will continue the 'ride' after the 'truth' of 'real' world comes their way. It was fun to 'see' a possible 'future' in tarot, to know what dream symbols mean, but when -real paranormal f/x, of lights, poltergeists, -frightening coincidence and shady people enter their lives...-most people run back to the world or 'religion' they grew up with.
The sad reality is not everyone is ready to be unplugged as that classic 1999, Matrix film so lets us know.
In the end your take on Crowley and Ceremonial magic(k) is the right one, because many people into the occult, as Peter Levenda, and other occult writers realize are just collectors. They research and have every book, but fail to put into practise any of that knowledge. The artist's are the ones that enter this world, and do leave a trail a legacy for others to follow, sometimes living by very frugal means, until they are 'discovered', meaning someone is going to exploit the work for gain, but so be it.
Christopher you write from the heart and inspire the soul.
The kids should not just 'soak' the art in but create their own. The true work of the imagination, causes the person experiencing it, to 'touch' on that other world, to sense the 'real' world of energy, and information in them. It usually starts with the 'heart' then the 'gut' or chakra's. It is the experience of the sacred in a museum, or cathedral, on watching the moon appear through clouds, golden light of sunrise and sunset. The 'symbols' and the feelings, the energy experienced in the mind that makes us think there is more than the scientist or the skeptic realizes. It is this unknown creative spark that also so frightens the gatekeepers, of reality. Paranormal experience, quantum entanglement, the power of belief, imagination and 'emotion' to cause something to happen -good or bad is relative to the dreamer, it is 'distinctly personal' the result.
Hollywood's real purpose on 'magic' movies is that -the kids will try it and realize, that -at least how it is shown in the movies, it will not work. The 'special f/x' to most psychics and magicians are a sign -something went wrong.
Yet every ancient school said 'know yourself' because the magic(k), in the end changes you as much as the 'reality' you interact with. Hollywood's definition of the occult and religion is God is the guy you pray to as a kid, that does not give you want you want, or conversely makes happen what you were afraid of.
Instead of the concept of focusing, on what you wanted, seeing it already done, and feeling the 'force' leave you, emotion and 'seeing' yourself experiencing what you wanted. What mystery schools and religions have guarded was that -you are the sole author of your 'reality'. The world really does revolve around you but the secret must be hidden in order that the unlimited potential within every man and woman is not unleashed. This is also a warning. Crowley like most artist's, magicians are sometimes destroyed by that very creative serpent energy they unleash. The study of art, and writing the arts is the study of work created, because there was a 'shamanic' need to transcend the ordinary. Most of the greats Phil K Dick, Jack Kirby, put almost any known scifi-modern-writer-artist of the last century here, and there was a struggle to survive. Until it got to the point the 'industry' was making so much money off the work they had to start paying the 'creator'.
So dying broken and poor -is not a sign of a bad magician, it is most likely a sign, -they did not care anymore about living in this 'reality'.
Now back to some riffs on magic(k).
There is a difference in how 'meditation' prayer, ritual, chant, dance whatever form inspires you that brings the desired result into your life. With the added warning that the gods will screw you, if you make a mistake, because in the end the universe is all about experiencing new things. If the soul is the spark of 'creation', and we have atoms of ancient stars and galaxy's in us. Man what a trip that is, our failure is not just in 'this' life, but it's a failure -in the seething sea of stars and galaxy's out there.
End of Part 1, 4096 character limit:)
Beautifully, brilliantly put, Anony. Thank you for your thoughtful feedback.
I pulled my copy off the shelf, and - Jeeeez - it was from 1988. I remember buying it in a comic book store in the village when I lived in The City - 22 years ago.
I was (as always) amazed at Brian Bolland's illustration work.
That guy knows how to draw wrinkles on clothes - WOW!
Ummm... I tend to repeat myself lately but let me if I have not before, give props to Nancy A. Collins, a Subgenius-connected writer of SWAMP THING back around '93... meeting her at the Psychedelic Solution Gallery as introduced by Ellen Datlow, Nancy in her Gothic lace vampire gown hugging her plus-size curves, flaming red hair and Arkansas accent... I felt that finally my fantasy-world had begun to merge with mainstream Pop Culture...
"And ultimately Crowley’s magical prowess did little to save him from dying broke, despised and addicted."
Died broke? So did Jesus. Despised? By some yes (which to me says he was doing something RIGHT), but also loved by many. Addicted? So what. Not exactly a rarity among artists and visionaries... or shamans for that matter, nor does it say anything about the quality of his person. On the other hand, Hitler was a tee-totaler vegetarian. How's that for wholesome?
I assure you Crowley took it very seriously. So much so that he dedicated his life to it. And if you get beyond the hype and actually read his stuff-- deeply not superficially-- you might find that he has some very interesting and intelligent things to say about the nature of reality. All the garbage about sacrificing children and satan IS for the rubes... In the same way that Zen monks turn seekers away when they come knocking on the monastery door.
i am reading AS Byatts 'The Childrens Book',
it is a strange, beautiful and disturbing magical tale from the turn of that same century,
worth reading
Great post, Chris, as usual.
As for Crowley, I'm very wary of his teachings, as I think too much sex and drugs opened some doors better left closed (in the Lovecraftian sense). But his erudition cannot be doubted.
His definition of magick (as he spelled it) is very useful: to produce a change in consciousness according to the Will.
But he also could be very funny, though his humor was rarely understood. Here's my favorite ditty of his:
"We place no reliance
On virgin or pigeon.
Our method is science,
Our aim is religion."
Works for me anyway! ;->
-- Weirdload
Loved reading your post.
Glad to hear I am not the only one who has an odd time of it. 'Moments (sometimes weeks or months) of some strange kind of grace' is a great way of putting it. It is something that can be very humbling. I have recently been drawn to search for the Holy Grail. It has lead me to study many things and the bottom line of it is magic. The Holy Grail being a cauldron that once belonged to Isis. Who incidentally discovered what Ra's 'true name' was (being Re) which gave her power over him - magic again. Look up black magic on wikki.
Father xmas (Saint Nick) sits in a grotto. So do a lot of Saints even today. Just like witches apparently did.
Magic magic magic. The whole world is based on magic. Life itself is very magic.
So if the Holy Grail is a cauldron why has Pope Benedict had what is thought of as the Holy Grail remade? What is his game? And what is Benediction all about? Very strange to me.
Then there is "The Book of Dead" the "Spells of Coming" (or "Going"). Magic!
These sites are nuts...
http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix2/commissionsa.htm
Whats that all about?
http://www.churchhouse.org.uk/art/art-07.shtml
This place is in London. With lots of references to the holy grail and even has Jesus walking on the river Thames in London. Can someone please explain?
Strange things are going on.
Post a Comment