Points of Leverage
The Great Arcana of Magic unequivocally asserts the necessity of a foothold in the material world for the embodiment of any potential entity – be it the potency of monads or the will of creative consciousness.
We have already discussed how important the middle part of the Great Arcana is on the Way of the Magus. Let us now try to unpack the Magical myth’s concepts about leverage points for manifestation.
The Magical myth distinguishes a number of states of being that differ in the degree to which individual elements are distinguished from the unified whole. These states are traditionally called the planes of being. The particular plane on which objects are isolated from one another as much as possible, but not completely disconnected, is traditionally called the physical, or dense, plane. In other words, the physical plane is the picture generated in the mind when it fragments the unified whole to such a degree that objects remain connected to one another only to the minimal extent necessary for it still to be possible to speak of the cosmos’ integrity.
At the same time, each object of the dense plane can be considered from two viewpoints: first, as the result of the actualization of a certain group of energies; and second, precisely as an outcome of active manifestation, as the support for the corresponding vortex arising in the world’s passive medium.
Put another way, every object of the dense plane may be regarded both as an individual thing and as part of the world as a whole. The separateness of the object is asserted by the “dense” plane itself, while its membership in the world’s order is its vortical structure.
It is precisely thanks to this minimal, yet unbreakable, connection among all objects that Magic is possible.
Knowing the position of objects within the overall structure, one can locate particular, strategically placed objects whose manipulation has far-reaching consequences. The peculiarity of the dense plane lies in the fact that its objects, though possessing little potency because of their differentiated nature, can nonetheless serve as a kind of “acupuncture points,” influencing which redirects colossal power flows.
Direct action upon such flows requires enormous Power, and that is precisely how gods govern the cosmos. But a person is also able to “move worlds” despite their meager strength, precisely because of the feature of the physical plane just described.
By correctly choosing a leverage point and applying their will to it, a person can cause changes on a cosmic scale.
All magical “Items of Power” are exactly such objects, occupying strategically important positions, where influence causes large-scale reconfigurations of the world’s flows.
Since ancient times people have noticed the remarkable qualities of certain things. “Wondrous” stones, trees, and so on; “magical” coins and rings; and many other natural and man-made objects were empirically selected for their ability to produce particular effects.
Not only specific objects, but also graphic images can become leverage points for various manifestations – this is precisely the principle behind the construction of pentacles and other “powerful signs.”
For the Magi, the search for such suitable leverage points has always been one of the principal quests for their effectiveness. The search for and making of Items of Power is a key magical art, and perhaps one can be called a Magus only if they know how to select the right leverage points for their manifestations.
But however important Items of Power may be, the Magus must understand that excessive fascination with them is a loss of freedom. It is here that the destructor lies in wait – for many Magi possession of such items became the meaning of their lives and led them astray.
Just as Scrooge McDuck from the Disney cartoon, who found his lucky ten cents that set him on the road to wealth, became a slave to his fortune, so many Magi who discovered a magical artifact became its slaves.
The Magus must understand clearly that they manipulate the leverage points, and not allow leverage points to manipulate them.
Can Runes be used as “reference points” for implementations, or will they still require “payment for their services”? Can one specify a particular sacrifice in the rules at the beginning of a game, similar to a sacrifice for losing while participating in the Wild Hunt?
Runes are certainly reference points – though not for whirlwinds, but for vectors of Power, as we once discussed. They do not provide “services”; they direct the Power in a certain direction. As for the “payment for losing” – it must be kept in mind in any battle – in any conflict, it is important to clearly understand what is at stake and what will be lost as a result of losing.
Good health to everyone. If you study the science of the Force, be it runes or something else, then a host of those who want to take advantage swarm around. And when they tell you that we are the spirits of the runes and are ready to teach you – do not agree. In this case, they will demand payment from you. And if during the process of self-education you feel that someone is interfering in the process and trying to appropriate the fruits of some merits, drive them away.
Enmerkar, can we consider our own Human body the Main reference point of the dense World..?
Of course, the body is the main reference point of the personal universe.
I still do not fully understand the term ‘reference point’. A wand is a reference point. Runes, the body… are reference points. Is this some physical item that serves as a conductor of power or what?
numen: for example, a reference point is a ‘House’ into which power can enter live in, and exit for affairs. The Mage is the ‘majordomo.’
The focal point not only conducts Power, it allows Power to manifest, moving from potential to actual state.
And if a certain object was moved from a specific world to a place of power, can it be considered a focal point to open a portal to the world from which this object came?
Mirna: it depends on the strength and authority of the new owner of the item whether it’s possible to open a portal to the world from which it came. For example, a bed is both an item and a portal. And how much you possess this item affects the actualization of the organism’s manifestations, the body. Or you open a portal for the extraction of your actualizations to some predator that actualizes your potentials, i.e., consumes them. The refrigerator depends on how much you can possess this item and thus affects the state of your Life Force.
I understand that the “reference point” in the process of manifesting any force can be anything, even something non-material. The question is whether there is something to crystallize in the one who perceives the “bait.” For example, one can give a child pencils and paints – and that becomes a reference point for the manifestation of their artistic talents. Or, you take a shell from the sea – and your rhythms tune to the sea surf. Or, you listen to a musical composition – an auditory reference point – and suddenly your legs stand up and start to dance and your mood changes. Objects are connected with situations and processes. One could say that the objects around us are many reference points that create our world. How different these “points” are, for example, for a sportsman, a scholar, a homeless person, or a queen. Therefore, by choosing the objects that surround you, you are also choosing which processes they will trigger. Aha, I will definitely organize things tomorrow 🙂 And I imagined a solitary cell of a prisoner, in which there are no objects at all. Brrr. Do you agree that reference points can also be intangible? For example, images, pictures that are transmitted to us by the media are also – baits for the manifestation of certain potentialities.
Could you please explain how the octahedron is related to the concept of reference points? How should it be interpreted from this perspective?
The main point of support for a person is BELIEF in oneself. In each person there is a spark of God (a Divine Spark); this part of God is given to a person so that they nurture it within themselves through Belief in themselves (the postulates of various religions are far from all of this). By nurturing the Divine Spark within, a person thus strengthens their so-called Monad (God) from where this Divine particle was projected and acquires more and more possibilities, awareness of themselves in the world, and realization of themselves.