So how do we test and share our work, or to teach by example to newbies, without violating silence?
In my dwelling. I have ultra thin walls and fored water heat registers. I have neighbors below and next to me. I have to work in absolute silence except for Invoking words in my head, to avoid others overhearing my ritual.
Rural dwellings are best.
The Law of Silence is........ complicated and often arbitrary. And it most certainly is not a harsh, cookie-cutter principle that applies everywhere at every time for everyone in a straight-forward fashion, which seems to be the perspective many modern magicians take.
You needn't cower in fear of the whispers of a ritual being heard, Providence isn't that draconian.
It isn't like our Laws, set-in-stone and ubiquitous, it is a natural principle which has an ebb and flow and can be summed up as "There's a time and place for everything".
It is one of the many natural mechanisms of Providence to keep the flow of fate from being disrupted in unintended ways, and the Law of Silence from the Magician's perspective is about self-responsibility and developing a wise, balanced sense of both discretion and boldness together. Knowing when to apply oneself and when not, knowing when to be exhibitive and when to be quiet. Knowing one's place in the flow of Fate.
Bardon speaks of this Law of Silence in the IIH - and yet, he was also a stage magician who performed feats of magic for the public for a period of time.
Is this a contradiction? Is he a hypocrite?
Nope, just an adept who knew when and where to play his cards under the watchful eye of Providence.
As an initiate grows into adepthood, he thoroughly enhances his connection to his Conscience far beyond the meager standards of the average person, and the Conscience, specifically, is said to be the finest expression of the Akasha/Ether within the Spirit.
It is our God-Compass, our direct connection to Providence.
And this is the central tool an adept uses to navigate fate and know when to do what, and where. Unlike the average person, an adept spends nearly every moment of every day focused and immersed into his Conscience - it's actually one of the components of God-Realization, becoming one with the Conscience.
With this intimate synthesis of the Conscience, the adept has a straightforward compass which directs his movements and actions at every moment down to the very second. It lets him know what he should be doing throughout his daily life and routine, lets him know what actions to take in any particular moment, all in harmony with Providence.
So when an adept like Bardon was performing as a stage magician, or when he was gathering fame as an enchanter and healer in his local Czech community, you can be sure it was entirely under the approval of Providence.
There are other aspects to the Law of Silence, such as the protection of spells and whatnot, but that's just straight up metaphysics, nothing mystical. Speaking and thinking about your spells/rituals draws away from their momentum and energy, like shooting an arrow and then trying to hold onto it while it is flying through the air.
But in the case of direct magic, such as Elemental Magic? The Law of Silence does not quite apply in the sense of this metaphysical aspect. That's why I have no qualms openly discussing or demonstrating it, because it is a technical skill like riding a skateboard or playing an instrument, and isn't affected by the same metaphysics that spells are.
However, one other important thing that falls under this metaphysical aspect of needing the protection of Silence, is
personal spiritual work.
Just like spells, your spiritual journey and personal work has momentum and tides that can be disrupted, and it needs to be coddled carefully and privately.
There is a potent intimacy to the path you are walking and your developments toward Providence, and it wants that to be protected and kept as the
Individual path that it is.
Being garrulous about it tarnishes the power of that intimacy and can derail your momentum.
Being open about the practical application of magic and discussing the technical mechanisms with your peers is entirely fine - it's just the personal side that needs to be handled carefully.
So beyond this metaphysical aspect of the Law of Silence, one must simply take careful personal responsibility of when and where they engage or exhibit their magic, so as not to act adversely against fate and invoke the ire of Providence.
Just as one doesn't bust into a martial arts routine in the middle of the store, begging for attention and public recognition of his skills like a child, a magician shouldn't be charging out his front door shouting "BEHOLD MY POWERZ" and throwing magic at people like a witch on a broomstick.
That isn't to say magic is never meant to publicly exercised, but that the application of magic in its entirety needs to be conducted wisely, both privately and publicly.
Time and place, that's all there is to it.
And for this principle of personal responsibility, the Conscience is the best compass to guide you at any particular moment.