Ritual Magic

Ritual Magic Societies

The Freemasons^?, the GoldenDawn, and several other major and minor ritual magic groups are floating around. You can be a member of one of these groups (or an ex-member) and use their brand of magic, but you can also be a member of one of these groups and do some other kind of magic.

Most ritual magic is about personal exploration and, in a sense, power. The effects are rarely visible, but rather deal with the numinous, unseen worlds beyond. For example, many see the universe as populated by a host of spiritual entities of various kinds, some hostile, some benevolent. The more you become aware of them, the more they become aware of you. As a result, a primary object of magical ritual is to attract the attention of desirable spirits and ward off the approaches of the undesirable.

Specific effects might include divination of occult forces active upon a person or place, warding against or exorcizing dangerous entities, and seeking out relevant information from the past lives of oneself or a client (or enemy). At considerable risk and expenditure of effort, one can even strike down enemies at range, as Abbé Boullan^? apparently tried to do against StanislasDeGuaita; unfortunately (for Abbé Boullan) de Guaita detected the attack and reflected it back at the Abbé, and while the latter escaped alive, several of his assistants were apparently killed. As a rule, ritual magic can do anything that other forms of magic can do, as it is syncretic and thus includes just about everything from the history of magic; at the same time, it would make sense to consider that specialization has its advantages.

Playing a ritual magician is tricky, because you need to be able to Fake It in a range of occult double-speak. If you can do this, of course, you can use whatever you like. But try not to be entirely consistent about anything except a few initial and closing gestures, a few stock objects (a knife, perhaps, or a wand), and remember that almost all ritual magic requires multiple participants. You can, however, deputize them on the spot, if you’re willing to take a few chances.

See RitualMagicSocieties^?

-- ChrisLehrich^? - 24 Dec 2004

A Little Background History

Important Societies

• The Freemasons^?, at least certain of their splinter-groups.
• The GoldenDawn.
• SocietasRosicrucianaInAnglia^?, a Masonic splinter-group which spawned the GoldenDawn.

Sources and Resources

-- ChrisLehrich^? - 19 Jan 2005