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fandomhigh2014-01-28 08:48 am
thepaledreamer.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2014-01-28 08:48 am
Entry tags:
The Occult | Period 1 | Tuesday
"Today," Paige started once everyone had filed in and settled, "we're going to examine chaos magic. Chaos magic is, to put it blandly and not at all clearly, a school of the modern magical tradition which emphasizes the pragmatic use of belief systems and the creation of new and unorthodox methods. See what I mean? Not very clear at all so we'll try and define it a little easier before we get into our activity."
Paige held up a picture before she continued. "This is one of the more popular symbols of chaos magic. Chaos magic magic, at its core, believes that belief is a tool. Chaos magic draws inspiration from science fiction, scientific theories, traditional ceremonial magic, neoshamanism, Eastern philosophy, world religions and individual paradigms. It's not at all uncommon for chaotes, as those who practice chaos magic are called, to believe in whatever god suits their current paradigm and discard it when necessary. Chaotes can be agnostic or atheist and regard magical practice as merely psychological, not paranormal. Some chaos magicians also use psychedelic drugs in practices such as chemognosticism."
She paused. "We're not going to be using any sort of drug in this class. Apologies. Chaos magicians are often seen by other occultists as dangerous and worrisome revolutionaries. Why do you think that is? Perhaps because no one can really tell what exactly a chaote is practicing at any one time? That they can seemingly draw from anywhere and call it theirs and explain away whatever they might do to another person or group?"
Paige shrugged. "Could be a lot of things, actually. But, let's not forget that most people who do things differently are oftentimes seem as being revolutionary or troublesome. The world's most common reaction when they're presented with something that they don't understand is to label someone and try to silence them."
Sometimes to terrifying extremes. Paige sighed. "Today, we're going to focus on one specific concept for our activity. It's called the gnostic state. It's defined as an altered state of consciousness that is necessary for working most forms of magic. There are three main types: inhibitory gnosis, excitatory gnosis and indifferent vacuity. Inhibitory gnosis is is a form of deep meditation into a trance state of mind. This type of gnosis uses slow and regular breathing techniques, absent thought processes, progressive muscular relaxation, self-induction and self-hypnosis techniques. Excitatory gnosis describes a mindlessness reached through intense arousal. It is aimed to be reached through sexual excitation, intense emotions, flagellation, dance, drumming, chanting, sensory overload, hyperventilation and the use of disinhibitory or hallucinogenic drugs. Indifferent vacuity is a third method. Here the intended spell is cast parenthetically and we're not really going to go into that one today."
With that said, Paige turned the lights of the classroom down a bit. "We're going to specifically attempt the inhibitory gnosis state. You're all welcome to try the excitatory gnosis state on your own time. I don't know how far we'll get since sometimes these states take awhile to reach but we'll give it a try. I'm going to go through a series of breathing techniques, some exercises that are meant to relax your muscles, and I've some white noise that might help the self hypnosis. We'll see if any of you reach that altered state of consciousness."
With that being said, the lights went down lower so they could get started.
Paige held up a picture before she continued. "This is one of the more popular symbols of chaos magic. Chaos magic magic, at its core, believes that belief is a tool. Chaos magic draws inspiration from science fiction, scientific theories, traditional ceremonial magic, neoshamanism, Eastern philosophy, world religions and individual paradigms. It's not at all uncommon for chaotes, as those who practice chaos magic are called, to believe in whatever god suits their current paradigm and discard it when necessary. Chaotes can be agnostic or atheist and regard magical practice as merely psychological, not paranormal. Some chaos magicians also use psychedelic drugs in practices such as chemognosticism."
She paused. "We're not going to be using any sort of drug in this class. Apologies. Chaos magicians are often seen by other occultists as dangerous and worrisome revolutionaries. Why do you think that is? Perhaps because no one can really tell what exactly a chaote is practicing at any one time? That they can seemingly draw from anywhere and call it theirs and explain away whatever they might do to another person or group?"
Paige shrugged. "Could be a lot of things, actually. But, let's not forget that most people who do things differently are oftentimes seem as being revolutionary or troublesome. The world's most common reaction when they're presented with something that they don't understand is to label someone and try to silence them."
Sometimes to terrifying extremes. Paige sighed. "Today, we're going to focus on one specific concept for our activity. It's called the gnostic state. It's defined as an altered state of consciousness that is necessary for working most forms of magic. There are three main types: inhibitory gnosis, excitatory gnosis and indifferent vacuity. Inhibitory gnosis is is a form of deep meditation into a trance state of mind. This type of gnosis uses slow and regular breathing techniques, absent thought processes, progressive muscular relaxation, self-induction and self-hypnosis techniques. Excitatory gnosis describes a mindlessness reached through intense arousal. It is aimed to be reached through sexual excitation, intense emotions, flagellation, dance, drumming, chanting, sensory overload, hyperventilation and the use of disinhibitory or hallucinogenic drugs. Indifferent vacuity is a third method. Here the intended spell is cast parenthetically and we're not really going to go into that one today."
With that said, Paige turned the lights of the classroom down a bit. "We're going to specifically attempt the inhibitory gnosis state. You're all welcome to try the excitatory gnosis state on your own time. I don't know how far we'll get since sometimes these states take awhile to reach but we'll give it a try. I'm going to go through a series of breathing techniques, some exercises that are meant to relax your muscles, and I've some white noise that might help the self hypnosis. We'll see if any of you reach that altered state of consciousness."
With that being said, the lights went down lower so they could get started.
Re: Class Activity: The Gnosis State [01/28]
The quiet snores that came from her desk suggested she wasn't succeeding.