Activist Magick. Your Opinion

[AbammonTheGreat]

I've got some personal issues with activist magic and magic involved in politics so i'm just sharing an opinion as I know that this practice fascinates a lot of people and to them is important.

I think historically some of the biggest mistakes of occult organizations were their involvement in politics, social issues, and political agendas. The implosion of theosophy was directly tied to its involvement in the suffragette movement and there's obviously the fascist issue with the Ur group and Julius Evola. Both movements were something that have genuine value within them but were dismantled due to their incessant need to insert themselves in social movements and political philosophy.

This aside I personally see no initiation amongst the politically minded. I have to assume for some few magus and occultists political and social endeavors are their true life's purpose, however for the majority of people these things only seek to divide us from union. The great philosophers had a common progression of in their youth being engaged in political philosophy and then progressively growing distant from it in favor of mystical and metaphysical philosophy. I can only assume that as age and wisdom comes, the natural development of the soul is to awaken to the pettiness, mundanity, and divisiveness of socio-political agendas.

Utopias do not exist, a utopia would have to be authoritarian in order to be a utopia and by that fact is rendered not a utopia. Activism is a young person's sport. And activist magic in general is reinforcement of an "us vs them" mindset that is ultimately a trap for the magus. As we grow in magical practice we approach union, we approach timelessness, we approach fate and our soul's purpose. We learn that everyone is on a journey, one they have selected themselves, and that our struggles and suffering are OURS to endure. We should not spit on our putrefaction, or fight it, but wholly embrace the struggle and use it to elevate ourselves.

So I think #1 is the best option if you are concerned for your fellow man. We can use magic to heal people, to relieve their pain, to help our brother. But using it to tear down an institution, to curse a perceived bogeyman keeping us down, or to manipulate a socio-political issue separates us from the spiritual reality. I believe the magus should be able to accept the tension, the opposition, the perceived "evil" because the magus should be awake to the reality that these things are necessary for the return. To try to use magic to manipulate these things is to actively fight the universe, and then what do we receive from it? Nothing.

 

[lumineth Realm Lord]

I've got some personal issues with activist magic and magic involved in politics so i'm just sharing an opinion as I know that this practice fascinates a lot of people and to them is important.

I think historically some of the biggest mistakes of occult organizations were their involvement in politics, social issues, and political agendas. The implosion of theosophy was directly tied to its involvement in the suffragette movement and there's obviously the fascist issue with the Ur group and Julius Evola. Both movements were something that have genuine value within them but were dismantled due to their incessant need to insert themselves in social movements and political philosophy.

This aside I personally see no initiation amongst the politically minded. I have to assume for some few magus and occultists political and social endeavors are their true life's purpose, however for the majority of people these things only seek to divide us from union. The great philosophers had a common progression of in their youth being engaged in political philosophy and then progressively growing distant from it in favor of mystical and metaphysical philosophy. I can only assume that as age and wisdom comes, the natural development of the soul is to awaken to the pettiness, mundanity, and divisiveness of socio-political agendas.

Utopias do not exist, a utopia would have to be authoritarian in order to be a utopia and by that fact is rendered not a utopia. Activism is a young person's sport. And activist magic in general is reinforcement of an "us vs them" mindset that is ultimately a trap for the magus. As we grow in magical practice we approach union, we approach timelessness, we approach fate and our soul's purpose. We learn that everyone is on a journey, one they have selected themselves, and that our struggles and suffering are OURS to endure. We should not spit on our putrefaction, or fight it, but wholly embrace the struggle and use it to elevate ourselves.

So I think #1 is the best option if you are concerned for your fellow man. We can use magic to heal people, to relieve their pain, to help our brother. But using it to tear down an institution, to curse a perceived bogeyman keeping us down, or to manipulate a socio-political issue separates us from the spiritual reality. I believe the magus should be able to accept the tension, the opposition, the perceived "evil" because the magus should be awake to the reality that these things are necessary for the return. To try to use magic to manipulate these things is to actively fight the universe, and then what do we receive from it? Nothing.

This was so powerful, I wish I could share it with other people I know.

 

[flashgrenade]

I'll also add to the conversation that many systems and sects such as Hoodoo, Santería, and other folk magic was either created or used to resist slavery, pass on tradition and lore needed to empower the collective, or at least empower the individual in situations where they are dis-empowered. It's also why a lot of these practitioners of these systems are neither opposed to curses or controlling other people nor will never listen to those who are opposed. It like being a soldier in a middle of war while a philosopher waxes poetics about things you might never live to see.

I absolutely agree that if you do engage with the craft and you do intend to use it for political means, then you can never tell anyone about it. Hell, just don't tell people in general. It's easy to think that people will find strength in such a person but history has shown us that such people are seen as a threat or a liability in future political dealings.

 

[ArchonLynx]

Glamour magic & blast sigils

Chaos magic would be best for such activities.