Chaos Magick is a set of practices that uses belief in forces of consciousness to create desired outcomes. It involves various techniques such as invocation, evocation, personality shifting, servitors, belief shifting, and developing a personal magickal. Practitioners employ these techniques to manifest their desires and shape their reality. Advanced Chaos Magick expands the basic toolkit of Introduction to Chaos Magick, branching out into invocation, evocation, personality shifting, servitors, belief shifting, and developing a personal magickal.
The power of chaos magic is not confined to a rigid set of beliefs or dogma. Instead, practitioners are empowered to explore and discover what resonates with them, such as drawing cigarette butts for divination or using gatorade as an elixir. This approach allows practitioners to unlock their true will and purpose in life.
In Chaos Magick, gnosis or the gnostic state refers to an altered state of consciousness where a person’s mind is focused on only one point, thought. Tools and techniques utilized by the Chaos Magician include sigil magick, ritual magick, chaos magick spells, and astral projection.
Phil Hine, an author and occasional lecturer on various occult and related subjects, shares his tips for starting in Chaos Magick. He believes that the most important tip for someone who wishes to start in Chaos Magick is the abject belief that their ritual will have an effect, despite all evidence.
📹 CHAOS MAGICK explained. Philosophical Features
Chaos #chaosmagick #magick What is Chaos Magic? Chaos Magick explained. CONNECT & SUPPORT- SIGN UP TO MY …
📹 Chaos Magick: What It Is and How to Practice
Article: An Introduction to Chaos Magick: https://www.bewitchingbemused.com/post/an-introduction-to-chaos-magick The Five …
Where have you been all my life?!! Seriously, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, magick and the gothic? We should be best friends… Anyway, love the article, and I would love to see more on Chaos Magick, that’s one area I’ve never really delved into, and it sounds much better for me than any dogmatic religion; even though I do like iconography/iconoclasm, I know that the meanings of icons, idols, symbols, etc. can change and morph over time.
Super interesting considering In physics when you aren’t looking at something it splinters into trillions upon trillions of possibilities and when you look back at it or “observe” it, it collapses into one possibility that happens to be the same for everybody. Why? My “explanation” of sorts is that we as humans are all (mostly) hardwired the same neurologically and as a byproduct psychically as well. This is why we have to enter an alternative state of consciousness to see behind the veil at all the possibilities and “select” the one we find most beneficial to us. This is at least how I rationalize it in my head since I believe there are actual explanations if you look for them but I tried not to talk about the chaos realm itself since it’s a bit futile and ironically a waste of time for a human to grasp the understanding of infinity. great article I loved it and it made me think too.
I’ve been studying witchcraft for a while now but the idea of chaos magick makes my inner child giggle in delight . I’m a leo . I love flamboyant, shocking elements. But on the other hand I simply love the idea that you have the freedom and space to not only learn everything there is and using it together or separate depending on how you feel. I have very clear authority figure issues. So, this concept is beautiful
The embrace of paradox in particular is something I’ve sort of come to on my own over the years, so it’s interesting to see if a little more formalized from someone else. For instance, objective reality can only ever be experienced subjectively; it is an inherently non-rational belief to choose to trust your sense, an act which logically (in the formal sense) undermines every other conclusion reached experientially. Likewise, the nature of power is such that on can only get stronger (in most cases) relative to something else, and that once overcome, it is significantly harder to improve without improving your opponent/opposition. This creates something akin to natural limits on the growth of individuals with respect to their group such that in order to progress as an individual it becomes necessary to train your peers to your level in order to advance oneself. Granted, that’s not the most academically rigorous explanation, but it does enough to outline the foundational beliefs in may particular theism which recognizes a higher power that is infathomably more intelligent or creative than we could even imagine who has created an existence predicated on irreconcilable paradox such that no matter how long life persists, it can only get closer to resolution of those paradoxes without solving them. Thus the meaning of life is a constant, infinite struggle to get closer to a recognizably impossible goal, emphasizing the importance of the journey and improvement of technique over achieving enlightenment or any sort of definable endpoint.
Thank you for this explanation of Chaos Magic as a definite system. I was born in the early 1970’s and self-initiated in the 1980’s to what I called natural magic or shaman magic that I practice to this day. I see much similarity between my natural magic and Chao Magic. You have given me a new puzzle to unpack. Thank you Blessed be
Thank You for a great article! This explains so much, and confirms my thoughts on my own forms of magick. I never would have thought chaos magick as a thing, let alone that I was in a sense practicing it. I’ve always believed that magick was a personal thing, what works for one might not for another, and I feel chaos magick perfectly embodies that.
Chaos Magick was my introduction to Magick. Directly from the Spirit World, if you can believe it. Through the Gateway Process, I met Morgan le Fey, and she unlocked my Magical Circuits and put me on the path to learning Chaos Magick. I’ve since begun using it regularly, making three of my own Sigels and even invoking a deity of my own making. I may be biased, because it was my introduction, but this feels like what magick was meant to be, in all honesty. For those curious, the deity I created and now mainly work with is called XenoFighter. She’s really easy to work with, and as I envision her to be directly associated with Source Energy she’s extremely powerful.
Thank you very much for the concise, yet thorough, explanation of Chaos Magick. As a young man in the early 90s I discovered Peter Carroll and Phil Hine, and have practiced since then. It has been a wonderful journey of discovery, and remains so even in my 50s as I learn more about older initiatory paths and incorporate that into my practice. Compliments on your choice of t-shirt in the article; I’m still irritated that they cancelled their tour last year!
I very much love the freedom part. I always felt out of the norm because my approach was to tear down systems and create something that actually works without the bloated rituals. Of course, some of them I like for the sheer meditation practice. It’s a great playground, for as long as I don’t take it too seriously. Thank you for sharing your extensive view.
I really enjoyed this article. The whole thing was so good that it’s too hard for me to pick a favorite part. In the future I would love to see more about the praxis of chaos magicians, especially on sigils and servitors. If you could cover the contributions of Rune Soup’s Gordon White to Chaos Magick I would be forever grateful! Keep up the good work!
Hmmm…. Straight to what works? I wonder, have practitioners come to any consensus of what works, or does it break down to mainly individual experience and anecdotal evidence? I do like the idea of approaching magic scientifically, I’m just curious if that’s something they’ve actually done, based on what you’ve seen through your research. And, yeah Bauhaus!
Thanks for all your amazing vids, this is my first official year practicing Chaos Magick. For me it fits like a glove and had been knocking on my door the last couple of years. Its allowing me more freedom in crafting and casting. I find i am more passionate and effective that way. Yet I will continue to learn from other practices as well and not betray the practice – perfect. Last but not least, I love how you craft your words and release them as though they were art. Absolutely beautiful, I have to often rewatch since I get lost in your words. 🙂
I’ve been practicing “seriously” for a little over a year. I have found that chaos magick keeps popping up for me. I do not know for certain that this is my path but it’s the only one that truly relates to this Virgo. I would appreciate any and all information you can share on this subject. I’m trying to find my way.
My Mum was a Wiccan. I am a punky lil Anarchist. This entire school definitely speaks to me, yet Mum’s warning to “be careful with powers ya don’t understand” stops me from running hog wild. But I also can’t help but hear Chaos Magick as “someone let anarchists learn pagan ways”… And I absolutely love that image in my head 😍
Thank you so much for shedding some light on this topic from a more academic perspective! I’ve been dabbling in Magick and Hermeticism in and out for a couple of years, and as far as I know the vast majority of materials easily available online or otherwise are either coming solely from a practitioner’s pov or get clinically glossed over as a minor chapter in the History of Philosophy. I kinda knew there’s been robust literature on this topic in recent years that I’ve meant to take a peek into but haven’t actually got around to. So I always wanted an accessible content for general public that approaches Magic and the occult as a legitimate field of research on its own merit.
AMAZING article. Ive been into magick for a LONG time but just recently getting into Chaos Magick (but at the same time not really, as I have noticed I have been practicing it for a LONG time as well without even knowing it was a well documented “belief” system) and you have given so much information. I just finished Peter Carroll’s Liber Null, and you have added so much more insight. Thank you ♥
Awesome, as expected. What I liked the most was the mention of the Aristotelian non-contradiction principle as a chain. It’d be great to see more articles on this topic. I think an interesting variant to explore is Discordianism, which I find extremely similar, and the influence of Robert Anton Wilson’s ideas on the latter as well as in Chaos Magick as such, especially the stance of generalized agnosticism, which is very similar to “nothing is true”. Greetings, Angela!
Another great article. I am going to get back to reading more on Chaos Magick and actually working with it. I like the way you articulate these ideas. I am looking forward to more of your articles on this subject. I am a neophyte so I appreciate all the work you do and your articles are inspiring. Thank you, Angela.
Thanks for this article! It’s refreshing to see a skillful summary of chaos magic that doesn’t wax on about how esoteric and complex it is! Throwing in my own two cents as a practicing chaos magician- on the two traits of iconoclasm and perrenialism: First- are they theoretically contradictory? Yup, that is the idea. Second, on the trans-shamanistic elements of it, my interpretation of the text is as follows: the ur-magical practices described in chaos magic isn’t necessarily suggesting that all cunning folk in all cultures have the exact same practice, but rather that trans-culturally, the cunning folk share similar tendencies: first, cunning folk tend to be willing to lean into their own uncertainty where others might be deterred by the experience of cognitive dissonance. Second, cunning folk from all parts of the world usually develop a practice that is centered around the development of gnosis through trance or ecstasy. This can vary quite widely based on the tools available to them: intoxicants like alcohol and psychedelics are commonly used when available, but so are other things such as dance, drumming, trance, meditation, prayer, breathwork- anything that can induce an altered state of consciousness. Third, these traditions tend to focus on developing knowledge of uncertain (occult) phenomena with an eye to manipulate them. Most commonly this includes, health/sickness of an individual, community or landscape; weather patterns, interpersonal relationships, and what might be broadly called “spiritual development:” physical, intellectual, emotional and interpersonal training to act more effectively.
Strangely enough, I described the majority of Peter J Carroll’s explanations to an Eastern Orthodox priest, and he agreed that they were correct — the only thing he didn’t like was the “nothing is true — everything is permitted” axiom, though he agreed that it works as a syllogism. I am reasonably certain that PJC is correct in his assertion that a perennial understanding of magick underlies ancient religions, though I’d posit that Protestants have no idea how any of it works.
Yes chaos magic system have found one trick which really is one of the bace of all mystic and religious mystic things. There are many techniques like this in sanatan system. Some of them are super easy. But these tricks should be used properly else they may back fire.after e.g after chaos state of mind we should focus again on the desired object and then be positive and back to chaus state and forget. If one don’t be positive or thoughts of mind is running like river then thoughts may steel the energy of the chaos state. Whole magic is depends on this.
The emphasis is on creating your own rule(s) of magick. All schools of thought were once upon a time made up by occult masters and spiritual leaders etc… and those teachings were based on even older forms of language and older forms of magick practice. For as long as you are practicing under another persons rule, you are adhering to a set of boundaries and laws, and you aren’t ever in full control of your own will, as much as you or they might want you to believe it. 😉 People have to understand that language and symbolism is one of the most basic and earliest forms magick that we all practice daily, whether we realise it or not! I know many of you on this website may already understand this… but the very words I’m typing here are spells, spells I am entranced by and spells I’m currently entrancing you with. I’m controlling your mind and your will as I speak, albeit in a very none sinister way, but im still helping to control what you think about based on our cultural symbolism and interpretation… We all do it…and we are all capable of doing it…so lesson one, is it really is that simple. chaos is about separating yourself from all of the context and all of the conditioning you have ever experienced, socially, culturally, historically – even magically. because this is the natural order we have tried to put things in to, in order to make sense of life and in order to feel closer to ‘god’ – or closer to any true purpose for that matter. Here we go: Making up your own words and symbols in order to compel, communicate, and impose will IS the very act of chaos which occurred at the dawn of humankind, and which still influences and controls us today.
I got introduced to Chaos Magick months ago, and found Liber Null to be a entertaining work by Peter Carroll, and something quite interesting to dabble into. Its form doesn’t differ that much from Thelema, so I was right at home with its practices, and its good seeing the practice receive more attention overall. Thank you for making this article.
@ Angela Symposium, so I’d place the Discordian and Subgenius’ers as an extension, or movement derived from Chaos Magick theory, with humor being seen as the key experience of paradigm breaking/transcending. BUT if seen others argue that the DIscordians are actually ecstatic, drawing their power from transcendental passions, while the Chaos Magicians were more mechanically taking advantage of the “paradigm” cosmological structure (like a hermetic occult-scientist, or natural-philosopher). What do you think? Can Discordians be singularly grouped, or maybe a little from column A, and a little from column B- or maybe you think they can’t be grouped at all, and constitute their own broad tradition, in its infancy.
honestly, the two theorems of the classic logic are pretty strong. linear algebra that is calculus also is (also linguistic lamda calculus), functional programming with brilliant referencial transparency is just as strong as imperative programming, this is all based upon logic, what do you even mean with “trapped by dualistic thinking?” thinking in primenumbers or pi? fractals are also a way of describing and working with reality. in the big picture as in the small picture. if it was any good, why are you using structured technology, article editing with software tools which all rely upon logic. why are you even logically arguing? forget about everything that I have said, because “chaos magic”. basically as soon as you put “tri-state” logic into the picture you are making use of the principle of superposition and schrödingers cat, one could also discribe it as the tree of knowledge of good and evil or the collatz conjecture/a math deathfunction (that always trends down), so basically “moebiusstrips”. what you are talking about is genital mutilation and selling your soul. “fancy a** pronunciation” cHaOs MaGikcs
Would like to your opinions on 3 books of occult philosophy, the picatrix & the magical papyri.. Maybe the book of pistis Sophia? Lol I know that’s a lot but if anyone can speak on them I feel it’s you. A wealth of gnosis is in that mind 😎 (this comment is a culmination of perusal of few of your articles)
I liked the connections you made between Nietzsche’s corpus and magic, a zone which is very much under-researched because Neitzsche is generally evaluated as anti-metaphysical, and most people think that magic(k) is entirley mired in metaphysics. Well, fait enough, a lot of it is ! But you are I think right to say there are close parallels between some elements of Nietzsche’s philosophy and Chaos Magic. To my mind one of the key points is the consequence Neitzsche infers from the demise of the monotheistic God. If God is dead/ murdered/ persished of his own morality, then we are free to explore the re-vitalisation of a ”mythological universe” in which there is no longer the error of any ontological or epistemological ”givens”. In short, Nietzsche argues that there is no credible ”bedrock” to reality. By highlighting the extent to which humanisitic ideas of ”the real’ and ‘the true’ were ‘idols’ programmed by mono-theological prejudices, Nietzsche points towards open horizons in which ”all free spirits run riot”. ”How the real world became a myth” in ”Twilight OTI” is the key text here, and I can also highly recommend Prof. Jill Marsden’s Book ”After Neitzsche: Notes Towards a Philosophy of Ecstasy”. Its published by those avaricious bastards Palgrave, so its best accessed by inter-library loans. 🙂
Great instruction as always! Have others found issues with knowing when a technique connected to some force or principle is, as you say, ‘open access’ and when permission needs to be sought (even if it’s been shared publicly)? Seeking permission seems instead to be integral to communicating with the ‘unconscious’ on your terms. Speaking from some awful experience, but perhaps it’s different for others? Thoughts?
Fascinating. Thanks for posting this. I’d love to hear more! If I understand correctly, chaos magicians not only reject labels, but state outright that there is no need to follow any predefined path. All paths are equally viable, including a blend of paths, even when they are contradictory. Have I understood that right? Is there a goal of this belief system? For example, personal enlightenment?
Commenting 4 more chaos magic. Favorite part: iconoclasm vs perennial-ism and shaman comparison Questions: Do you feel that there is any notable similarity between the philosophy of chaos magic and northern traditions’ understanding of the realms of Muspellsheimr (pure energy and creation) or perhaps Helheim (pure potential, insight, source of magical power in words)? Have you ever listened to your articles at 1.25 speed?
Something I’ve been saying when it comes to my religious beliefs is that whatever a person believes in is what’s real to/for them. Is this chaos magick? As soon I learned about chaos magick it really resonated with me. Is this because my ideals, beliefs, and philosophies have been chaos magick all along?
In Chaos Magick, with maxims like “nothing is true, everything is permitted”, it seems to me as if they are possibly trying to gain some psychic energy for their magickal workings through the purposeful violations of norms, which reminds me of certain aspects of Tantra. Did any of the pioneers in Chaos Magick site Tantra as one of their influences?
I understand why you did a article on the left hand path before this one. Chaos magick would seem to involve a lot of wasted effort experimenting to find what works but as you explain it you have to know what the rules are to deliberately and knowingly break them. I am looking forward to the Patreon discussion on this one 🙂
Good Explained, I do have a Bond with the almighty, i do Own Chaos Magic. As it Works by me, what I all of The sudden in a Situation, treathning, Fear, or helpfull. It will manifest, i don’t Know how I do It ?, but It happens, anything when i needed. Name it It happens, but only in a Good way. For I am also One of the three Orders of the Light. So when Magic is Used, it will be for the Greater good. And For the almighty, did You know that The Almighty also needs Love and Protection ?. Well that’s why i am There For, keep the Universe in Balance and Protect the Almighty One. The Light work happens in My Astrale Being. Magic is as Human, in Me since my Birth. The chosen One, when there are Three Three’s in Your Birthday . So let’s say i am 31 dec Born, on 5:33 pm that makes 3 3 3 you see, So DayDate and Time of birth. And 5 means the 5 Elements, according to the Chosen one. And One, Is The Beginnig, it starts with One 2,3, 4, so on but One is the begining. That is the Chosen One now there many but they won’t expose themselfs often. Me Neither I only writing this Okay. But I watch over The World sending Light to You All !! that is My Calling. Thank You.
The first thing I liked was the Bratz avatar, but it was Rabbi Justin who sent me here. Oh what we would have given to receive a scholarship to Gygax University! But seriously, my first awareness of this (beyond an intuition that Nietzsche would receive a lion’s share of the blame) was an article in Richard Metzger’s Book of Lies by Grant Morrison titled Pop Magic! (exclamation point, his). I think at the very least, there has to be SOME kind of a recognized text supporting the pretense of study, else we don’t have anything to start a schism about. Of course, this text needs to be very obscure, endlessly interpretable and essentially unreadable, which is why the first thing that comes to mind is Joyce’s Finnegan’s Wake. As some might make the same Catholic objection to this choice as they do Pamela Colman-Smith, my second suggestion would be Derrida’s “Glas,” A book that features one page from Hegel and on every other opposite page the autobiography of a gay French murderer and thief. Other suggestions that come to mind for practicing Adeptlessness would be to use corporate logos on a Scrabble board to divine the names of the cast of The Brady Bunch. As far as invoking deities that represent “transculturalism,” I can’t think of any more appropriate than Alfred E. Neuman, and the Insane Clown Posse. The real challenge of props appears to be to come up with something more chaotic than existing culture. The only thing that remains for Chaos to BECOME orthodox dogma itself is for someone to play Constantine to the Juggalos.
Oh my dear ANGELA! As I write this, and I am inclined to believe it, there were apparently 909 fine comments ahead of mine! So a tip of the hat to the Fab Four as I proudly put my marker on “The One After 909!” But I’m so juiced by this great post, that I’m going to run downstairs and boot up the “kerosene fired HP,” before offering further commentary (eye doctor appointment on the 20th)… — XOXOXO, Glenn
Back in the 2000’s i used to participate in a chaos magick forum, wich was full of content. Discussions were intense, and there was people from all around the world and all ideologies. From there i came to know some things that helped me in my professional artistic work (since i am an artist) and in my own construction of an explanation of the universe. This has been very useful, and through time i’ve come to construct some personal rituals that help me deal with my own stuff in my everyday life. Thanks Angela for all the great content you are sharing. See ya! 👽
Goodness, you just described my everyday thoughts!! It’s like, I find myself in every trait you said, even though sometimes I miss something more “stable” and secure, It’s like I just can’t let go of seeing the truth or the lies in every belief.. i think that, as well as everything is true nothing is.. I have been trying to ground myself in a specific belief system, but I just end up being more confused. Guess I will have to accept myself Thank you for your deep content!! I came to your article just wanting to know the history of the so current book of shadows, thank you for making knowledge more accessible!💕💕
in Taoist Cosmology the Great Chaos is known as WuJi the budding essence of all things, From WuJi comes TaiJi the Grand Ultimate and fro the Grand Ultimate are born the 10,000 things or fates known as Ba Gua. I would like to see a article where East meets West regarding the Great Chaos and Chaos Magick. I just found your article and found it to be very good and will subscribe most Ricky Tic thanks for your hard work in posting this.
love your website. i prefer no labels, stripping experience bare and without clothing everything in the cultural context of my life. that said, i have had powerful experiences. I don’t even believe in the label “chaos magick.” but i don’t judge those that do use it. I speak christian, pagan, atheist… whatever i need to say to get the message across. I’m a spiritual scavenger. I don’t care where it comes from, as long as it works when i need it to. my totem is the urban coyote. it is better to be undefined than invisible. I am wild in civilization. people see what they want to see, and I am transformed.
9:50 THEN YOU (I) CAN DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENSES OF ANY ERRORS YOU (I) MAKE ON YOUR (MY) OWN (PERSONALLY I THINK IT IS BETTER TO HAVE THE PRIME SOURCE IN ON IT. THAT WAY WHEN YOU (I) SCREW UP, YOU (I) CAN APPEAL FOR HELP, WITHOUT SMACKING OF PRIDE.) THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS. I SHALL WATCH…FROM TIME TO TIME. ANGELA, BE WELL, AND DO SO.
Please, more articles on chaos magic. The Goetia found me about a decade ago(me meddling with Goetia or it meddling with me),and ever since, I belive our imagination is a portal to dimensions, unknown to most. I believe magic occurs within, everyday, we are just so stucked in the material decay our system is currently in, that we have forgotten how to tune in. And absolutely, it seems like chaos magic feeds on many beliefs, specially shamanism, and the way everything is conenected, as above so below. Thank you for your website.
Ok, if you are going to bring up Nietzsche, I really hope you do your homework and at least are familiar with Kaufman’s thoughts on him. 99% of the time someone brings up his name I get a bit of vomit in my throat because I know its going to be crap. And no not a scholar but I have definitely read more about him than from him.
Carl McCoy from the Fields of the Nephilim is a chaos magician based on his interviews were he talks about his lyrics and his live rituals on stage.This article is really interesting I feel like I’ve learnt a lot about chaos magic and also a different belief systems that go into the lyrics of the fields of the Nephilim.
The question becomes: if we were Angelic opposites, and I held a rubber chicken but you a tire iron, and I was the one who last changed your tire, would it not be funny if all I could do is thank you for the comedy, drugs, and that actually of course I’d rather shake your hand than argue over a girl… Your faith is stronger than hers and you gave me books and drugs
The other aspect of Chaos Magick that I love is the openness toward diversity and experimentation. I believe this is very important, more so in esoteric path than anything else. Prior to adopting Chaos Magick frame of thinking, I often got caught up in finding the “right way” and hesitate to experiment with my own ideas because I’m afraid of doing it the wrong way. Chaos Magick reminds me that our reality is in constant motion and our perception of reality is unique (and VALID). So, experiment, make mistakes and embrace chaos! 🙂
My kneejerk take is that Chaos Magick in and of itself is, for me personally in my very limited experience if any at all, feels like a catalyst ingredient that in itself is not as active or impactful until blended and applied on a larger or older tradition, it seems! It seems the later iteration of Chaos Magick, as itself, is less compelling when inward looking rather than blending into other traditions maybe? I would almost deem it like an explosive ingredient that when bended when prescribed within a framework becomes explosive even.
absolutely! please please make more articles. My fav part was how you highlighted the tendency for chaos magick to cast aside all religion, tradition, and dogma but then pointed to the existence of a perennial philosophy, an essential and underlying Truth. To me, this is the reality of Advaita Vedanta. I come from a more yogic background where Sanatana Dharma is known as the perennial philosophy. I haven’t checked out the rest of your articles, yet, but, i hope you’d consider looking into Eastern spirituality and considering how it can tie back to some of the points you mention here. Specifically Shiva and what Shiva is, and tantric yoga. Glad to find your website!
Very interesting. I had heard vaguely of Chaos Magick, but had no idea it was so… liberating. And paradoxical. Liberation through paradox. This is off-topic, but… is there any chance you could make a more in-depth article about the Lesser Key of Solomon, specifically, and the Goetia? I looked on your website but only found that one article “Goetia and Theurgy, Key of Solomon, Lemegeton”, which I did learn a lot from… which made me want more 😛 Like, maybe explaining how practitioners use the information in the Lesser Key, and for what specific purposes? Whether you see this comment or not, thank you for taking the time to make these incredibly detailed, informative articles! (And I absolutely love your makeup, so on point <3)
I too would enjoy more articles on chaos Magick! I think all Magickal pioneers must’ve been chaotic by virtue of the messy business of discovery, discipline and development of praxas that had not yet been. When it comes to conjuration, surely one wouldn’t want to go about it willie-nillie, so to speak, for safety reasons if for no other? I have so many questions! …
Thank you for this brilliant explanation and introduction to Chaos Magic. Your explanations are so beautifully worded, clear, and completely understandable. I would love more articles on Chaos Magic. I am finding the study of Ceremonial Magic to be difficult, heavy, and cumbersome. It takes so long to learn and reading so many books only makes it harder to understand for me. I would love to know a more direct path that sweeps away all of the unnecessary ceremony.
I very much liked hearing about this and would value hearing more. Your balanced comprehensive synthesis of chaos magick, simultaneously straddling the line different understandings of its application, while rejecting the framework of there even being a line to reject, creates a context of understanding helps me see the big picture in its truth. The tie-in with shamanism was particularly interesting as an example and point of relation, something I wouldn’t have thought about. Going either into different interpretations of what shamanism means or how it’s practiced as a parallel to chaos magick further helps to define what it is, isn’t, or otherwise. Thank you!
This article was very helpful! I recently discovered the existence of chaos magick after snooping around an occult subreddit and out of curiosity did some surface level researching and realized some things resonated with me, and I wanted to learn more. This article was the first article I clicked on and I feel so much more knowledgeable about the topic and now I know that my beliefs and spiritual practices best align with chaos magick. The parts of the article I liked the most was when you expanded on how “everything is permitted”. I myself have a “contradictory” world view wherein I’m technically an atheist/agnostic but I believe in the sentient universe and a god/gods depending on the context, so I fit right in! The bit about shamanism was also very helpful and very interesting! It also resonated deeply when you explained shamans go to the core of magick, and that the trans state can be accessed no matter how you do it. Thank you so much for this very insightful and helpful article, you got a new subscriber! 🙂
I just found this, and I find it very interesting. At some point I became thoroughly disenchanted. With the religious path in which I was raised, and started a spiritual quest. My search, first through trying out different practices, and then just by hard core studying, I went looking through all religions and philosophies for truths. Those things which were true in all religions. So the idea of primordial truths, and magic being known to all cultures, is very appealing. Cherry picking the explanations that make sense from all paths is kind of what I have done. And the most profound ‘spiritual experience’ I have had was while studying biology and the working of the cell. It is perhaps no surprise that chaos philosophy, at the very least, has sparked my interest. I am interested in learning more…..
Your article is great love it and your style too! I appreciate your work and how you go into detail on the subject ov Chaos Magick. As someone who knows what is possible in our shared reality through Chaos Magick I can say they’re are some extreme forms ov manifestations through this practice. Here is a nice place to start if anyone is looking into the subject. Just be careful and be warned, again thank you for touching on the subject and keep up the great work! Love it 🖤
I am both a left-handed path (I see the kami in Shinto in a more esoteric nature by interpreting “Way of the Gods” to mean embracing my own inner divinity) and a practitioner of Chaos Majik. Good explanation, I always have to think of how to explain what I do when I talk to other Pagans. Thank you. I look forward to seeing you do more articles on Chaos Majik and even on the left-handed path.
I first came across the quote “Nothing is True Everything is Permitted” from “The Illuminatus” trilogy of Robert Anton Wilson & Robert Shea, the former being very influenced by Crowley & Alfred Korzybski’s General Semantics, which is an attempt to transcend the limits of Aristotlian logic & includes the use of “Both/&” rather than “Either/Or” logic. Another influence on Chaos Magick I believe was Michael Moorcock’s “King of the Swords” story where a magician Kwll destroys both the King of Swords & of the Lords of Law leaving humanity to its own devices, an idea reflected in Babylon 5. Another possible influence may have been William G. Gray’s seminal text “Magical Rituals Methods” 1969, which I consider to be the best book on the subject, bar none, includes in chapter 4 Constructing the Cosmos, how to create your own magical universe.
Wondering if you’d want to do a article on magical practices that have arisen through or around Christianity. I know Voodoo is one, and the practitioners were often also devout Catholics and saw no conflict between the two. There’s also the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition of Pow Wow. I’d be interested in learning about others as well. Perhaps even thoughts on the perspective that one could interpret some Christian rituals as a form of magic?
Angela, can you address in a future article the shaman’s relationship with the tribe. Maybe I’ve read somewhere that the shaman lives away from the tribe, that the shaman is a bit of a hermit, a bit eccentric, that the members of the tribe are afraid of the shaman. Also, that the shaman has secret knowledge that the tribe doesn’t understand. And in this way, the shaman does a service to the tribe, where things are compartmentalized, like in our modern society. Or maybe this is all a modern myth, and a bit of western romanticism. Now you can do a whole article on Romanticism.
This is the first time I’ve heard an explanation of Chaos magick that made sense to me. It sounds like it appeals to certain types of people who feel confined by any rules and want to do things their own way. It seems naive, though, that a chaos magician can simply immerse herself or himself into a trance state simply by willing it to happen. Perhaps if they are gifted that way intuitively, but I think most people need ritual or tools or meditative experience before being able to do that.
What about you teach these people about the cons of breaking natural laws or universal laws, and the equilibrium that needs to be maintained and will be reestablished by them paying the price of their deed if they break it. Yes you can create whatever gods you want because at the end of the day they’re/you’re all taking from the same spiritual source, and so whatever conduit you use and name it doesn’t matter. But the rules of that one truth or spiritual source is still the same, be for good and be rewarded, be for your selfish needs and so break the balance and pay the price
I found you for the first time yesterday and I love your articles so far. I’m an animist to a point. I don’t think of myself as a left hand path type, but I am a chaos magician/ witch/ shaman whatever one wants to call me, but by your definition, it’s my core from my heart. I believe that everyone has access to the magical worlds if they look for them. Yes yes yes. Magic underlies everything and all religion and life in general. I don’t consider it chaos magick. It’s just the way of life, and the way life operates. I believe in the ancestors and how we all have a responsibility to them, to ourselves, and to the future and the next generation. I believe that we reincarnated and that we spend time in the next life and at death we go through it and live together with our ancestors till we are born in the world again and that we become more in touch with them in each lifetime. What is your view on this? I just barely brushed the surface of my faith in my way I follow.
Welcome to my Spirit Studies playlist, Dr. Angela! This is going to be one of those articles I intend to watch again eventually. Thanks to my occasional viewing of Esoterica’s articles, you came very highly recommended. At last, I’ve found a site that can help me in my own spiritual path to merge my interests in shamanism, chaos magick and ceremonial magick! I may even have come to a point where labeling myself a “witch” or “wizard” no longer communicates my complex spiritual practice. For that matter, why should one have to choose between being on the “Left-hand Path” or the “Right-hand Path?” I’d say that I was ambi-pathed, if anything; magickal workings for personal gain, such as luck for a new job or protection from a stalker, may simply be necessary experiences in order to achieve a higher state of connection to the godhead. What if magick, being within all of us and underlying all religious traditions, is the quintessence of the Great Spirit? I love these rabbit holes!
I have had exposure to a demonic haunting and I’ve had many haunting experiences. And dreams vcd and feelings of things before they happen. Otherwise I’m just a regular old school metal guitar guy. I didn’t believe in anything and then the supernatural found me. I was told I have natural powers so I need to learn to protect myself. The super natural entities hate me. I was told I need to learn to protect myself. I sense energy out there. I want to harness it.
The oldest reference to Chaos begins with three archetypes, Chaos being the second; The Darkness(Creation) that’s about all is said; the second Chaos, Formless power; the third Gaia, the form out of Chaos. There another mythology as old, it’s Creation, Man, Women; the mythology of this is really that simple. The Darkness is neither the Masculine, or the Feminine it’s Creation, Chaos is Masculine, Gaia the Feminine. I didn’t make this up on my own, I read it in a book, on ancient Greek mythology; this was before the Titans, before the pantheon.
I like Chaos Magic but I think it is wrong when it claims there is no ground of being and therefore, anything goes. The reason Chaos Magic works, in my opinion is because the ground of being is Mind. It is as if C.M. steps up to that pool but refuses to jump in. Their reluctance is cowardly when it’s the logical conclusion of their theories.
And I’ll tell you something else. I was perusal a article on Chaos Magic that another person put out and she made the comment that she was a theistic Satanist for a few months. That offended me. I have been a theistic Satanist for over 40 years. The woman learned nothing “in a few months”; that’s a joke.
I think all cultures and religions have their Little gems. I don’t feel religiously bound. I like to study all of them. I’m no expert but I enjoy it. There is one thing I might take to in magick more than any other though I’m a clay sculptor. My sculptures take on a presence in the room. You can feel them like you’re not alone in the room lol. Could you suggest reading material pretty please😁?
I am curious about your description of Chaos Magick as being associated with the Left Hand Path. I had considered it to be ambivalent and I’m wondering if perhaps I’m using a non-standard definition of the paths to observe it with. I wonder if you have a article specifically detailing the differences between Left and Right Hand Paths? Or, it’s also possible that since my knowledge of Chairs Magick is limited to just having read two thin books about it, maybe I’m just not familiar enough with it to adequately define it?
I’m pretty sure that Gnosis is from the Indo-European “gno” which is said like the “no” from “not”. It is actually the same root as the English word “know”, and means the same thing, where the silent “k” is replaced with a silent “g”. Gnostic was orignally used to describe a group of teachers who roamed norther Africa and the Levant in the early centuries AD. Gnosticism is a modern word that is applied in hindsight to a number of religions that are all derived from what is now called Jewish Gnosticism. It seems to me that Christian and Pagan forms of gnosticism are very different from the Jewish original. Great articles. Just always keep in mind the moral implication of what you are exploring. These things are not a game. They have real life consequences. What kind of society do you want to live in? Looking forward to your next article.
Chaos Magick is more Celtic in foundational heritage – however, in the Lesser Keys of Solomon the evocation of “Angels”; “Demons”; or Egregor’s created through a seidr process is where you find the base root skills. Shamanism has a different purpose as its an “intended” practice so while the shaking and unknown/ancient dialect seems chaotic – its not.
So… in a way, most fantasy / role-playing are pretty close to this, basically doing only the ritualistic actions they need to unleash that fireball, but nothing more. No ethics, no being one with the universe, rather looking for a technique to website as much energy as possible with as little effort as possible.
Thank you for the academic fun Angela! 👍👍👍 This type of practice (can we classify it as philosophy as well?) is very close to me. Difference is that I don’t believe that everything is permitted (in every moment), some magical feats are highly conditional (which doesn’t mean that they are impossible) therefore I’d prefer to say everything is achievable instead of permitted. Permission also suggests another influence which allows you to act. Please note that I am not very familiar with the literature on this subject, it’s more intuitive for me.