The Microcosm and the Macrocosm

The second line of the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus states:

“What is below is like that which is above; and what is above is like that which is below; to accomplish the miracle of the one thing.”

Or as we commonly hear the rephrasing of this 'As Above, So Below'. This axiom adopted by the Alchemists is one of the key elements of magic. In order to aspire to something that is beyond, one must turn within, as if everything a magician needs to know is already inside and need only be rediscovered. The Macrocosm represents the outward universe and all that it encompasses, the microcosm represents all that is within, and the two are reflections of themselves.

Hence the magician must aspire to know ones own nature first, this is the ultimate goal. For if the magician endeavors to change anything outside of the self, one must start from within. In Greek thought the Microcosm and the Macrocosm was used to describe the observation that there were forms that occurred in all of nature that even to a mathematical scale were the same. Even within the absolute perfect asymmetry of nature there were recurring themes. Even in the smallest of things, down to the metaphysical level there appeared to be a concurrence. The Golden Mean and the Fibonaci Spiral are mathematical forms seen everywhere in nature. Thus everything that could be found without the body could also be represented within the body.

Christians incorporated this thought in the premise:

"The kingdom of God cometh not with outward show; neither shall they say, ‘Lo here!’ or, ‘Lo there!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17: 20, 21.)

Early Gnostics yearned for the Gnosis or knowledge of the Divine as experiential. One needed to touch the Divine in order to achieve true enlightenment, it was not sufficient to have ‘faith’. These things were not found in outward things but were discovered by searching within, to touch the Holy Ghost (or the modern politically corrected version Holy Spirit) that resided within.

In magic terms this is very simple. The Fool holds the items of his trade in the bag on his staff carried over his shoulder. The Magician shows the Fool that the items in the bag are all that is required to perform the magic. The High Priestess informs the Fool that the items are merely tools to stimulate the subconscious. All of these things that are sought lie within once we can pierce the veil to reveal them. The secrets of the Universe lie in the Microcosm that is the magician themselves.

“Democritus says. ‘But we know nothing really, for truth lies deep down.’”
“When Thales was asked what was difficult, he said, ‘To know one’s self.’ And what was easy, “To advise another.’” Laertius Diogenes

What is Magic?

Magic is an effect produced by a person using sheer will and intent to achieve said effect. Magic is the ability to effect forces outside the direct influence of the producer or source of the magic. A magician uses his will and intent focused in such a way that it pierces the veil separating the magician from the rest of space.

Magic is all around us, it permeates every living and inanimate thing. It is whether or not an individual chooses to see these things as magic that makes the difference. When a person wakes up in the morning and decides what course of action they are going to take that day, plans it out, acquires the proper items to complete the task, and brings it to fruition, they have performed magic. By course of will and intent they have brought about change in accordance with their own wishes.

Where does magic exist? As we just mentioned, in all things, but the ability to recognize this and to utilize this in order to affect change is the true meaning of being a magician. The ability to quiet the noise that is associated with day to day life to a point where those distinctions can be made, between what is magic and what is required to use that magic is an art that requires diligent effort and the willingness to devote one’s time to that end.

A magicians’ body can be said to exist in the physical plane. Humans project energy in all directions outward from their body, heat, pheromones, odors, breath, and minute electrical energy. This can be seen when any human or animate object is photographed using infrared photography, or a variety of scientific imaging. There is the thermal signature that affects the air around us. There is something we call personal space, that comfort zone where we are able to interact with others. This zone varies depending upon our age, and the level of intimacy we have with the person or thing intruding into that zone. It has been shown that children have a much shorter area of personal space. Different cultures develop unique definitions of personal space. We in western culture tend to allow people we are familiar with to intrude much farther into our personal space.

For those who are students of Astral Projection, there is the Physical body, the Etheric body, and the Astral body. The goal of Astral Projection is to control the ability to leave the Physical body behind in order to explore the Astral plane. This is a direct form of sending the conscious mind outward into another plane other than the three dimensions of normal space.

The magician understands that there are the three dimensions of Height, Width and Depth. There is also the dimension of time, which for humans appears to flow in a linear fashion. We live in the present, knowing the past as we have experienced it, and posit the future as always one second in time away from the present. Time would seem to be the next logical dimension. There is also duration in time. Is something static and constant? Does it linger over time, or is it brief and fleeting? Duration in time may be expressed as another dimension. We as thinking human beings are capable of expressing concepts. These are not physical realm manifestations, but ideas that become fully formed and either persist because we accept them as valid constructs or cease to exist because they are given no credence. An idea that takes hold and is accepted as a valid construct becomes a Meme, a thought process or idea that multiple people have given credence to and persist over time. What dimension do these things exist in? We must accept that there is yet another dimension, that of the mind. You or I can express the idea of a point, one on a number line, a point in time, from point A to point B. But unlike a line, the point has no Height, Width or Depth, it merely exists somewhere in the physical plane as a point of reference. Much more abstract forms of thought exist and persist because we as humans lend them credence, but where do these thought forms exist? It would stand to reason again that there exists a dimension of Mind.

The work of the magician takes in all of these dimensions and attempts to use all of them to affect each other. The magicians’ body exists in the physical realm, as well as the accoutrements they may deem necessary to perform their work. The magician develops their skill with practice over time. The magician attempts to use thought to induce change in themselves and the world around them.

Welcome to Magic in Modern Times

Often times in Magic, timing is everything. When the time is right, the material finds it's way to the magician. In this case, when the time is right, the medium finds the magician. I'm currently writing a book, but I need a daily soundboard to wrestle the thoughts required into shape to include in that book. This then will be my sandlot. Some of the words tossed around may be used, alot of it will not.

I've blogged in the past, back before it was known as a 'blog', in the early days of HTML. Those were more journalistic in nature. Let this then be my electronic Magical Journal. The older I get the easier it becomes to edit my older work. I can see the original intent that I had, but the akward way I chose to try to express myself is painfully obvious.

I only hope that this is of some use to someone out there. For there has never been a greater need or time for magic in our world.