ssotbme an essay on magic

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S . S . O . T . B . M . E .

REVISEDAN ESSAY ON MAGIC

EDITED AND REVISED BY

RAMSEY DUKES


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S.S.O.T.B.M.E.

REVISED

AN ESSAY ON MAGIC

SSOTBME

REVISED

Edited and revised by Ramsey Dukes

Originally published by the Mouse That Spins, England, 1974

Second English edition 1975

First US edition, Grey Turner/Weiser, 197

First Polish edition, 198

First German edition, 198

Second Polish edition, 199

This new revised edition published by El-cheapo

for The Mouse That Spins

First e-book edition 2000

ISBN: 1-903548-00-4

The Author asserts the moral right

to be identified as the author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may bereproduced, stored or transmitted in any form without

prior permission of publishers. One printed copy allowed

for individual use (not for re-sale)

All persons, situations in this book are fictitious,

Any resemblance is purely coincidental, etc, etc.

Cover Illustration: The Blas Bacchanteby Austin Osman Spare

E-books available at web-orama.com

[email protected] / [email protected]


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S.S.O.T.B.M.E.

REVISED

an essay on magic

Edited and revised by

Ramsey Dukes

That depends whether you

believe the superior brain of homo sapiens was developed to handle

tools, or social relationships. If you believe that the most complexprocesses we have to deal with are our fellow humans, then greaterbrainpower is available for lifes problems when you anthropomor-

phise them.

O

ne of the first things you learn

in interpersonal relationshipsis how often people behave mechanically.Mechanistic explanations are not distinct from personal ones, they aremerely a subset. If, for example, my car fails to start at times when Imrushed, the irrational question how does it know I am in a hurrymay lead to a solution faster than the rational statement it cannotpossibly know. The fault will probably turn out to be mechanical, justas human misbehaviour often resolves into you pressed my buttons.Irrational thinking can often be the faster route to a rational solution.

That is not what I argue in this book.I only want to challenge the commonidea that magic is a dumbing down of science.

Any media cynic will tell youthat dumbing down is the keyto material success! No, the point is

that, in terms of the faculties used, magicalthinking is broader, but maybe not as deep.

You do not like the fact that a society of rational beingsrewards dumbness. Instead of fretting, just call it Satans JewelCrown. No matter whether you fight it like a preacher, or make a pactwith it like a press baron - in either case you are personifying it, relat-ing to it, and that can be magic.

Mr Dukes, why is it that in

this and other writings you insist on personi-

fying complex processes as demons or

spirits. Isnt this just a throw-back to

superstitions of the past?

You

really think science is no more than a

dumbing down of magic?

Science

cannot be dumber than magic, because it

has been so much more materially

successful!

But we know that the weather, or my

car, is only a mechanical phenomenon. It is a

false initial assumption to address it as a

god.


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CONTENTS

SEVEN - The nature of Magical theory . . . . . . . . .89

7A - Cyber-animism, the virtual universe and pseudo-scientific jargon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101

EIGHT - Secrecy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109

8A - Yar boo sucks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113

NINE - Progress in Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

9A - The Wisdom of the Great Initiate . . . . . . . .123

10A - Morality, Magic and Religion . . . . . . . . . . .124

ELEVEN - Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134

11A - A licence to depart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137

Appendix A - Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143

Appendix B - The New Age and Magic . . . . . . . .145

Advertisement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149

CONTENTS

Preface to the revised 1998 edition . . . . . . . . . . . . .iv

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vi

ONE - The basic definition of Magic . . . . . . . . . . .1

1A - Making sense of feeling and direction . . . . . .8

TWO - Examples of different forms of Magic . . . .10

2A - Further examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

THREE - How Magic diverges from Science . . . . .20

3A - Cycles of thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

FOUR - Sex secrets of the black magicians exposed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

4A - Demons and sacrifices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

FIVE - Fantasy worlds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

5A - Whose fantasy? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

SIX - Miracles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

6A - So, can Magic defy physics? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86


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CHAPTER 3ACycles of thought

In the last chapter, and again in later chapters, several key distinctions aredrawn between Science and Magic. In Scientific terms these could define arelationship between the two, summarised as a table of distinctions alongthese lines

and so on.Relationship by distinction is a particularly Scientific notion of relation-

ship. As Magical thinking relies more on spacial, pattern recognition abili-ties, it is more inclined to ask where Magic stands relative to Science. Thisis a different approach to relationship. Although this version of relationshipmay be too woolly for strict Scientific analysis, many Scientists would stillchoose to answer the question, and they would often do so by saying thatMagic was a primitive forerunner of Science.

This was certainly what I was encouraged to believe in my childhood in

the 1950s: that Magic was originally a prehistoric, uneducated attempt tomake sense of, or control, the environment. It was suggested that Magic thenevolved in two different directions: towards the spiritual discipline ofReligion and to the technological discipline of Science. This belief meantthat any resurgence of interest in Magic could be seen as dangerous or at leastthreatening because it was evidence of regression towards our less civilisedpast.

This view of Magic seems to be making a comeback. In early 1997Richard Dawkins gave a lecture on BBC TV in which he expressed misgiv-ings about public irrationalism. He drew attention to programmes like The X

attempts. I am not moralising there is nothing wrong in trying tobe Scientific about Magic, in fact the attempt could teach the exper-imenter a lot about himself. But it would be a mistake for him to

believe that he was doing Magic in the attempt, or learning anythingpositive about Magic.The journalistic ideas of a war between, say, Science and Religion

or Magic and Science is rubbish in these terms. Science, Art, Religionand Magic can happily co-exist without impinging upon each other.Like Earth, Air, Fire and Water or better still North, South, Eastand West you can combine or confuse them as much as you like,but it will always be possible to separate out these vectors once more,untouched by each others proximity.

- -

FACTOR

Aim

Objectivity

Causality

Belief

Truth

SCIENCE

Truth

Yes

Yes

Conditional

Absolute

MAGIC

Wholeness

No

No

Unconditional

Relative


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CHAPTER 8AYar boo sucks

- -

standing of the apparently secretive Magician: very often he has nowords for what he is doing, only a feel for it. I am doing my best inthis essay by the abundant use of inverted commas but often the links


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Experienced and initiated Magicians will, of course, recognise one vital omis-sion from that brief discussion of Magical secrecy.

I refer, of course, to that Great Arcanum whose origins are lost in thePrimal Mists of Aeons. That Divine Wisdom of the Ancient Ones passeddown by word of mouth by the Chosen Elect. That Hermetically guardedSecret of the Illuminati about which we have sworn upon our blood, oursanity, our very existence to ever hold silence.

One man, Ramsey Dukes, stands boldly in the Highest Temple of theMysteries. He steps resolutely forward and grasps the curtain to the Inner

Sanctum, the Holy of Holies.Reader! Shade your eyes before they are blasted by that awesome radi-ance which blinded Paul on the road to Damascus, that Truth which is toomuch for lesser minds to bear...

Will Ramsey rip apart the curtains?No.

He will not.

this essay by the abundant use of inverted commas, but often the linksin a Magical chain are so subtle that they are best left out of reach of

unsympathetic minds.

YE SEVEN YCLEPT KEYS OF CONCEALED WISDOMANENT YE MAGICKE ART

1The journey begins with observation. Note how much normal every-

day experience lies beyond the scope of scientific enquiry.

2Observe then the chaos of the normal and you begin to see

its patterns.

3With the recognition of patterns there grows skill to predict, pre-

empt or manipulate phenomena.

4Some of these results will verge upon the miraculous - these must bemet with studied nonchalence.

5Do not retreat from the miraculous by ever insisting that there mustbe an explanation or that it must be coincidence. Nor be dazzledby the miraculous - avoid above all the temptation to tell the world

what you can do.

6Transcending the miraculous, you evolve towards pure celebration of

that which is.

7By this path of Magic you will have crossed the divide between

Science and Art, and far more surely than those who would describethe journey in terms of madness, delusion or folly.


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CHAPTER 9AThe Wisdom of the Great Initiate

tencies and confusions of our mind. We are afraid of simplicitybecause we feel that a human who had purged himself of this cloudof complications would become cold and inhuman; so much have we

- -


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Alas, there has been so little progress in my life that, after 30 years, I feelunqualified to add anything to this sublime chapter.

Aha!

Progress in modesty!

identified with complexity. But surely we can only sympathise with

one another to the extent that we have some elements in common?So surely anyone who had reduced himself to those simplest elementswould, far from being inhuman, be the most truly human and sympa-thetic of us all? Such a person would pass clearly through all our pettystrifes and deficiencies, and go straight to the heart of us all.

It is particularly in China that we find this Taoist-type ideal: thesage who is like the uncarved block from which all other forms canbe made. As a system of Magic, it is akin to some of the ideas ofAustin Spare. It links with the theory of reincarnation: for it is only

when we have simplified our minds to the most basic elements of thepattern that we can expect a conscious reincarnation.

In such a Magical system, initiation stages are replaced by acontinuous striving towards simplicity, and yet the progress still ismarked by steps: an event disturbs you more than is necessary, youseek to eliminate the implied imbalance, and a whole complex ofpossibilities is mastered.

Teaching in such a Magical order is less obvious to us: the master

must harass the student until he is clear. It is more the way of the Zenmaster than of the Western schoolmaster.


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But will he?This book now has three successive endings just as it has three succes-

sive beginnings. The sort of indulgence only enjoyed by those who publishfor themselves. Amen.

- -


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MOREFROM THE

MOUSEHOLE

The following pages reveal further titles from

The Mouse That Spins which are now beingmade available via the Weborama web pages

or as hard copy

harm its so-called creativity, then the person has merelydefined their self in terms of what they are not. Yet wegain a clear impression of their views, despite the fact thatit would hard to find anyone in the world who does go

.

THE GOOD

.


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along with this absurd notion that a child must never becontrolled because it might harm its so-called creativity- least of all in the teaching profession where, howeverprogressive the ideals, there is real experience of the needto focus pupils attention.

Defining oneself by a non-existent category to whichone does not belong is surprisingly common. It could be

great fun, except that people spoil it by getting steamedup about it and go to war in the hope of finding evidenceof the existence of the category on the non-membershipof which their self-definition has been constructed.

It is an example of humanitys deeply engrainedtendency to think in twos as polarised pairs. Many peopleare aware of this difficulty, but the usual suggestion is that

we should resolve the difference by seeking an underlyingunity.

Adamai Philotunus does not see this as a solution, forsurely the duality sprung from unity in order to give itdynamism? Why reject such a gift by turning back tounity?

He asks instead what would life would be like if we

had been brought up to believe, not in a duality of Godand Devil, but in a trinity of God, Devil and Trickster?

The plan is to publish this three-fingered v-sign topolarised thought just as soon as some money has beenrecouped on the book you are currently reading.

OK?

THE BAD

THE FUNNY

DE ARCANO NOSTRAE SANCTISSIMAE

MIRABILISQUE TRINITATIS, EIUS POTESTATE

SANANDI ET REDIMENDI VIM STATISTIS - AD

QUAE EXCOGINATIO EIUS CONTRIBUTIONIS

ULTIMAE AD MAGISTERIUM MAGICAE ARTIS

NOSTRAE ADDITA EST

by

Adamai Philotunus

This book, written in 1992 under the pseudonym AdamaiPhilotunus (which was true at the time), addresses thequestion of dualistic thinking and proposes a trinitariansolution.

When someone says call me old-fashioned if you will,but Im afraid I cannot go along with this absurd notionthat a child must never be controlled because it might


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Why does there seem to be less magic in themodern world? Could it be because we are allbetter magicians?

.

BLAST

.


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Is it time to reinstate the Charlatan in hisvital role as initiator on the occult path?

Is scientific thought declining in favour ofmagical thought, and is this inevitable?

Have men traditionally played a leading rolesbecause of a deep sense of their own useless-ness relative to women? And is this situationbeginning to reverse?

Might we not be living with anothers virtualreality? How would this effect our understandingof this universe?

These and other questions are explored in depth in this

volume that brings together essays written in the 1980sby one of the most original and creative contemporarywriters on magic.

Open your mind to a breath of fresh airfrom Ramsey Dukes

your way to megabuck$with my SECRETsex-power formula... andother reflections upon the spiritual path

Volume Twoof the collected essays of Ramsey Dukes

He appears more than ever a combination of Robert Anton Wilson andTommy Cooper... The Peter Pan of the British occult scene, and long may

he go on diverting us.Paul Geheimnis, Chaos International No 15

For an unbeatable title see Blast Your Way to Megabuck$ With MySECRET Sex Power Formula - thoughts on masculism, magic and the

metaworld from Ramsey Dukes. Virtual Gonzo.David Profumo, Daily Telegraph Books Of The Year, November 93

Something of Arthur Koestler, something of Loa Tzu, a pinch of Kant anda dash of Genghis Kahn - Ramsay Dukes is magnificent... Humourous,

witty, written with flair and economy of style, this is certainly one of themost thought provoking and genuinely radical books Ive read in a long

while. If you are hacked off with old ideas and yearn for new vistas, youcould do a lot worse than let Ramsey Dukes be your guide.

Julian Vayne, Pagan Voice Autumn 93

What I did in my holidaysEssays on Black Magic, Satanism,


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Devil Worship and other nicetiesVolume Three

of the collected essays of Ramsey Dukes

Is it ok for a national government to negotiate with terrorists?Should we be prepared to make a pact with the demon Terrorism

- or should we remain forever sworn to the demon No Compromise?

This is a book about demonolatry.It was never meant to be: it began as a cobbling together of

all the essays and stuff written in the last seven years. But it turnedout to have a pretty consistent theme.

A theme that begins with Crowleys Aeon of Horus and thenew, Thelemic morality. From that viewpoint demonic pacts are re-appraised: are they not a negotiation with the demonic, as opposed tosworn allegiance?

Many old and new demons lurk on these pages: blackmagic, sexism, elitism, satanism, publishers, prejudice, suicide, liber-

alism, violence, slime, bitterness, old age, war and the New Age.

These demons hold keys to power and wisdom.

They are prepared to negotiate.

Are you?

ISBN 1-869928-520First edition, 1998, published in collaboration withThe Mouse That Spins (TMTS) by: Mandrake ofOxford.410pp Felstead 80gsm paper, stitch bound.Now available from any BAD bookshop at 18Or from Mandrake of Oxford, PO Box 250, OxfordOX1 1AP. UKhttp://www.compulink.co.uk/~mandrake/

ssotbme an essay on magic

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