Magic: how to (principles)

So, when I say 'magic' I mean the ability to influence the world. If you want to think I'm talking about the unconscious ability of the mind to absorb and be aware of information it doesn't know it has... what ever.

After all, a rose by any other name smells as sweet.



Attraction

The first is the principle of attraction. You ever read the Secret? Yes, it's stupid and over simplified, but it refers to a real principle: ask and ye shall receive. The universe is amazingly abundant without us doing a damn thing. We exist in a pretty generous world.

As a quick overview: you get what you ask for, clear concentration and focus on a desire will go a long way towards helping it manifest. There's a couple of techniques - visualization, for example - that make it more effectively.

Word of caution: you get what you ask for, not what you need. If you ask for money, you'll get money - you'll be shit out of luck if you needed a job. Or worse if what you really lacked was respect and a voice in your world. But, here: wad of $20's.

There's a trick about listening to yourself for what you need, and then asking for it. I'll only say that the most powerful technique I've ever learned has been to recognize when I'm asking the universe for something that's actually harmful. That, and learning how to stop asking for stuff that will harm me, even if I can't stop wanting it.



Responsibility

The second principle is the principle of responsibility. Responsibility never got a best selling manual. It means "actions have consequences."

In the east they'd call it Karma, but our Christian influenced society has trouble seeing the difference between responsibility and blame. We understand it as God taking revenge (or the universe taking revenge) and associate Karma with guilt. It's not.

It's just this: if you shit in the water, the water will have shit in it. Your actions have consequences, and no amount of positive thinking can wish away those consequences. For example: positive thinking will have an effect when taking a math test. Drinking heavily the night before will also have an effect. Hell, studying will have an effect.

Sometimes the consequences don't fall on us: it's quite possible to deflect them on to others. But even if you, oh, say, steal money and get away with it. You now live in a world where people are robbed. You know it could happen to you, and your victim does too. If your victim tells his friends, they know it too. Every one is a little more paranoid with a little less trust. People are bigger assholes and the world is a worse place to live. Your world -- the one where you live.

Or, in the positive sense. Buddhism talks about 'the factors of enlightenment." The idea being, you do the work (meditate, live a moderate life) and enlightenment just happens. You set up the conditions, and your actions have consequences.

If you are a spiritual person (therefore more in touch with the music of the universe) say you do good. Say you pick up a piece of glass and toss it in the trash, just because you're there, just because you saw it. It may not make a difference to anyone; maybe a street sweep is along 10 minutes later. Still, you know you live in a world where humans can be good. Where people care, and will help each other out. You know because you just did it. And maybe someone else does too, even if you thought no one was paying attention.