Exhaustion and Transformation

Freedom, as the highest value for Magi and Magic, means surpassing the threefold limitations imposed by the private character of individual consciousness – overcoming attraction, overcoming repulsion, and overcoming indifference.

To overcome the first two obstacles, as we have already said, one can follow two principal ways – the limiting tendencies can be exhausted, or they can be transformed into constructive forces.

The First Way means a cascading realization through “key” pivot impulses, not simply “step by step”, but by large, all‑encompassing breakthroughs. In other words, to follow the Way of exhaustion, one must carefully investigate the nature of one’s stream of awareness, discover within it the most basic, key potentials, and strive to realize them as quickly and effectively as possible. If done correctly, the resulting stream of realization gathers such force that, like a chain reaction, it embraces the whole nature of the being, which then flows into the nature of the Absolute in a fully realized stream. It is clear that searching for such basic realizations is no simple task, and a mistaken identification of any given impulse only deepens immersion in the cycle of being, dragging one in still further; if we identify an impulse as basic when it is not, its realization only diverts us from the evolutionary way, depriving us of both direction and energy for its true fulfillment. Indeed, it is well known that the nature of the Cycle is such that the pursuit of minor realizations becomes an endless clinging to them, turning either into meaningless accumulation of empty achievements or into suppression and the conversion of desires into “shadow” energy that subtly governs the course of the stream of consciousness.

The Second Way means the redirection of impulses that lead to getting stuck in the Cycle or that have a destructive nature, into a constructive channel. This Way can be applied in two ways. The first way consists of identifying the destructive currents active in the mind, then discovering their constructive source that has been “spoiled” in the course of its manifestation, and actualizing it. In this case, the “Demon” is transformed into the “Genius” that gave it birth, and the nature of the current is corrected. The second way is to, upon detecting an active destructive current, redirect it toward a stronger motivation – that is, find something in that direction more congenial to the inner nature of the particular being, and realize that instead at the expense of energy “taken” from the destructive current. The destructive current then simply “runs out.” To carry out this Way, the key task is the search for and identification of the active destructive forces in the mind, the “inner goetica” or “magical psychoanalysis.” The chief danger of this Way is the false sense of “victory” that arises at early stages, and is encouraged by predators, who manipulate awareness.

A greater problem is the overcoming of “shadow neutrality” – indifference, which is often confused with balance and “nonduality.” No fewer travelers have fallen into the trap of indifference than into the abyss of indulging whims or getting entangled in rejection. The fading motivation to act, often taken for an attainment, is very hard to recognize, harder still to exhaust, and practically impossible to transform. To avoid this trap, the Magus must remember that the nature of mind is movement, a stream, and if he still finds in himself any signs of separateness, individuality, selfhood, etc., but does not feel movement – he is in trouble. Only by completely merging with the absolute and indivisible consciousness of the Great Spirit does the individual stream attain equilibrium and rest, but in doing so it also loses every form of self‑manifestation. Therefore a traveler who feels “rest” must examine himself carefully and understand whether there is anything there that can be identified, and if so – he must urgently take measures to restore movement.