Chaos Magick is an umbrella term for a post-modernist style of eclectic occult practice that emerged in the 70s.
I find that the best way to describe Chaos Magick is to simply call it Experimental Magick, as that’s exactly what it is. The “Chaos” part might confuse some people at first, as it’s commonly associated with disorder, or Primordial Cosmic Chaos and that’s not really what Chaos Magick is about.
What is it about then? A result-based approach. With CM anything goes, whether it’s piecing together different paths and traditions, or creating entirely new practices from the ground up – as long as it works. It’s a highly individualized practice, that doesn’t lend itself too well to more traditional Master-Apprentice style teaching methods, as every Chaote will have to discover their own unique path.
How is Chaos Magick recognized as a branch of it’s own, if it can take nearly any form?
There are some features one might observe, that are common in CM, for example:
-Using belief as the main tool and constructing rituals in order to influence one’s subconscious mind.
This approach utilizes Energy Manipulation technique as the core mechanism and uses a customized ritual template to reinforce one’s own Will.
-Sigils, while not limited to CM by any means, are another one of Chaote’s favored techniques.
-Servitors, Thought Forms, Tulpas, Energy Constructs – also commonly utilized, sometimes creating their own custom pseudo-pantheon of “deities”.
While it is recognized that they are not true Gods, they are no less useful for various tasks one “programs” them for.
-Various unique experimental techniques, e.g. Technomancy, Cut-Up, Playback, etc.
I personally don’t subscribe to the idea that magick is “all in the head”, as centuries old ritual practices have proven themselves many times over. Ancient ways are still very powerful, in that they often help one connect to a strong energetic current. At the very least, there is power in what you could call an “imprint” in the Aether, carved out by collective repetition of certain rites and methods, fueled by many individual Wills and skillful energy manipulation.
Chaos Magick since it’s inception had a tendency to draw inspiration from pop culture, be it literature (e.g. H.P. Lovecraft), movies, music etc.
In the more recent years a phenomenon known as “Meme Magick” has been speculated about, which can very much be attributed to CM. The theory is, that the collective focus is a powerful enough force to create a natural egregore and unknowingly charge the thought form with ideas that get attributed to it. If such a hypothesis proved to be valid, it could potentially become a rather dangerous phenomenon, as thought forms without clear direction tend to go rogue and can cause literal chaos, they can also get hijacked by other entities or occultists of ill intent.
Common criticism of Chaos Magick includes a lot of the same things directed at the New Age “occultism”, for instance – the lack of initiatory knowledge that is present in more traditional schools of Magick. The criticism is partially valid, that is if a Chaos practitioner only relies on their own personal gnosis without bothering to confirm it, or don’t start by learning more traditional approaches to source from and verify what works. Criticism like that can sometimes be ignorant, in a sense that it discredits the development of spiritual discipline, science and art, which evolve over time like any other.
One of the major allures and benefits of Chaos Magick is the refreshing freedom from dogma and antiquated morals that it offers, which become a hindrance to many new practitioners as time moves on. However, it should not be forgotten that the old ways are still very much worth studying, especially as a novice, if only just to be able to identify the core mechanisms which yield consistent results.
Notable Chaos practitioners include Austin Osman Spare, Peter J. Carroll, Ray Sherwin, William S. Burroughs and Genesis P-Orridge.
I find that the best way to describe Chaos Magick is to simply call it Experimental Magick, as that’s exactly what it is. The “Chaos” part might confuse some people at first, as it’s commonly associated with disorder, or Primordial Cosmic Chaos and that’s not really what Chaos Magick is about.
What is it about then? A result-based approach. With CM anything goes, whether it’s piecing together different paths and traditions, or creating entirely new practices from the ground up – as long as it works. It’s a highly individualized practice, that doesn’t lend itself too well to more traditional Master-Apprentice style teaching methods, as every Chaote will have to discover their own unique path.
How is Chaos Magick recognized as a branch of it’s own, if it can take nearly any form?
There are some features one might observe, that are common in CM, for example:
-Using belief as the main tool and constructing rituals in order to influence one’s subconscious mind.
This approach utilizes Energy Manipulation technique as the core mechanism and uses a customized ritual template to reinforce one’s own Will.
-Sigils, while not limited to CM by any means, are another one of Chaote’s favored techniques.
-Servitors, Thought Forms, Tulpas, Energy Constructs – also commonly utilized, sometimes creating their own custom pseudo-pantheon of “deities”.
While it is recognized that they are not true Gods, they are no less useful for various tasks one “programs” them for.
-Various unique experimental techniques, e.g. Technomancy, Cut-Up, Playback, etc.
I personally don’t subscribe to the idea that magick is “all in the head”, as centuries old ritual practices have proven themselves many times over. Ancient ways are still very powerful, in that they often help one connect to a strong energetic current. At the very least, there is power in what you could call an “imprint” in the Aether, carved out by collective repetition of certain rites and methods, fueled by many individual Wills and skillful energy manipulation.
Chaos Magick since it’s inception had a tendency to draw inspiration from pop culture, be it literature (e.g. H.P. Lovecraft), movies, music etc.
In the more recent years a phenomenon known as “Meme Magick” has been speculated about, which can very much be attributed to CM. The theory is, that the collective focus is a powerful enough force to create a natural egregore and unknowingly charge the thought form with ideas that get attributed to it. If such a hypothesis proved to be valid, it could potentially become a rather dangerous phenomenon, as thought forms without clear direction tend to go rogue and can cause literal chaos, they can also get hijacked by other entities or occultists of ill intent.
Common criticism of Chaos Magick includes a lot of the same things directed at the New Age “occultism”, for instance – the lack of initiatory knowledge that is present in more traditional schools of Magick. The criticism is partially valid, that is if a Chaos practitioner only relies on their own personal gnosis without bothering to confirm it, or don’t start by learning more traditional approaches to source from and verify what works. Criticism like that can sometimes be ignorant, in a sense that it discredits the development of spiritual discipline, science and art, which evolve over time like any other.
One of the major allures and benefits of Chaos Magick is the refreshing freedom from dogma and antiquated morals that it offers, which become a hindrance to many new practitioners as time moves on. However, it should not be forgotten that the old ways are still very much worth studying, especially as a novice, if only just to be able to identify the core mechanisms which yield consistent results.
Notable Chaos practitioners include Austin Osman Spare, Peter J. Carroll, Ray Sherwin, William S. Burroughs and Genesis P-Orridge.