Opening the Gates
As we have already discussed, self-knowledge and self-realization of consciousness proceed most successfully when a subject–object binary emerges within it, and the resulting potential difference in that binary is the source of the mind’s development.
Although, in theory, a sufficient potential difference can be generated within the mind itself, this condition is achieved immeasurably more easily when Power is transmitted to an external mind, reflecting in an external mind that is harmonious for the given one.
In other words, although the mind needs nothing but itself to develop, development is much more effective when “learning” happens from “external” sources. Indeed, the purpose of the manifested universe, with its abundance of objects, is to provide the mind with a field of possibilities for its effective realization. And although, broadly speaking, this world is merely a description, an illusion, it is not a worthless mirage but a collection of valuable resources by which the mind can effectively attain significant heights of self-realization.
Among all the sources from which the mind can draw experience for its development, other people are the most important and significant. Therefore Magic has always attached great importance to training — not merely the transmission of information, but as a special kind of energetic interaction during which the overall level of Power of each participant increases.
It is well known that one can learn from many people, even those briefly encountered on the street. The point is that Gates to Power can open through various interactions.
However, this is not merely a psychological point. It is a real energetic fact: certain interactions between people can lead to the opening of new possibilities for development, and it is precisely these interactions that are in reality the most important sources for realization.
Those people (as well as objects, beings, or phenomena) whose interaction leads to an enhancement of development are traditionally called “Gatekeepers” (lat. – ostiarii) for a given mind.
Note that the Tradition uses two terms to denote Gatekeepers: Ostiary and Consiliary. An “Ostiary” is a gatekeeper-conductor, a force or being that helps one overcome the Gates, whereas a “Consiliary” is the Gates’ own energy, their Power, or a deity.
An Ostiary can be any person who benefits another’s development, if they do not merely give “experience” or information, but if interaction with them truly serves as a “lesson”; it opens new paths for development.
Some ostiaries are merely milestones on the Way; they come and go, while others can be sources of Power and inspiration for a long time or even a lifetime. It is to the latter that Magical Masters belong.
Such Masters may be both those whom a person decides to “learn from” and those who simply “push” them toward development, induce Power within them, inspire them — for example, a beloved person.
We emphasize again that “training” in Magic does not merely mean exchanging information or passing on certain knowledge or skills, but an energetic interaction that leads to mutual development. Thus, not only is the teacher an Ostiary for the student, the student is also a source for teacher of development.
Similarly, close “loving” relationships are most valuable only when the participants together are stronger than they are separately; that is, in a “right” family each member is an Ostiary for all the others.
The ability to “open Gates,” as well as the ability to enter Gates opened for you — these are the most important skills a Magus must possess. His interactions with people should be arranged so that the greatest possible number of them lead to mutual development. A Magus must be in the flow of Power, that is, develop himself and promote others’ development. Moreover, the more effective his own development, the more successful an Ostiary he can be for the world around him.
The wisdom truly states: No one is your friend, no one is your enemy, but every person is your teacher…
Hello! I’m intrigued by the question – often in magical communities, the topic of creating tulpa (visualization, ‘animating’ the desired image) surfaces and its benefits for development. What do you think, will there be benefits for development with such imitation of the binder subject-object, and is there a separation of potentials that you mentioned here?
En has a wise rule: do not interfere in the process. Do not determine for someone, do not influence their will and fate. Want a piece of advice, folks? Create what you want and see for yourself. I hope I’m not forcing.
In light of this article, in response to the Observer’s question, I share my experience… I was able to form Rings of Force, where I was one binder, and a like-minded person was another. Moreover, quite large rings… in which friends, external events, and collectives fell, perhaps even further.. Even though I was in one part of the city and the person in another… and even though we are engaged in very different things. Externally, this is little noticeable to anyone, but when the ring shrinks, everything becomes palpable… It is felt that the center of all events moves to where we are; the necessary external stuff flows to us, and the unnecessary flows past – as if by prior order. Consumers get lost… they simply don’t understand how to behave… and for some reason they become very cheerful… predator-like people hide their fangs and behave like kittens. Demons in other people? In my case, they were completely swept away, so I was surprised with: ‘Is this person really like that?’… sometimes something dark remained, but it was so weak, helpless and inappropriate that it rather evoked pity – and everyone felt this and paid no attention… Time acquires its special pace, its own space of options is delineated, and not as laboriously as in ordinary reality, when it takes months and years to come up with something.. simple answers present themselves to complex questions, and complex concepts reveal their essence by themselves… although around no one has a scholarly degree.. it’s as if with a snap of fingers everything falls into place as it should be, not as I tried to come up with, but much more interesting… and it seems that everyone finds their place and role, unexpectedly suitable qualities of friends emerge, which previously remained unnecessary to anyone. The grim external reality does not disappear anywhere… it continues to flow further and play by its rules, but there arises such a feeling that it moves aside and gives you the right to act as you wish.. or perhaps the one above this external reality gives you the right.. .Just there is one ‘but’. All this lasts only as long as your desires last, the desires of close people, the desires of everyone else…
“gives you the right to act as you want” I believe that the tasks we must solve do not disappear anywhere, but the mage can choose the order of their advancement at his discretion (based on his level of readiness and desire)
Interesting article) Although honestly, I cannot bring anything from my own experience… But there is one moment…)) a very strange moment) so-called “pregnancy”… um, of ideas, perhaps or with a force. After stopping communication with one person, I felt a surge of energy, something bright, important, tender was felt inside….such an interesting feeling) As if something was about to come to me… such an idea or something unusual, something… um, important in the scale of the universe wants to manifest itself, that everything inside froze in joyful anticipation))) Here where did it all go) Somehow didn’t even notice… But is this not the opening of gates?
By the way, in the topic about demons, it was also mentioned about “open gates” through which power flows away… By the way, when I played a predator, I saw it as a process… “…On the one hand, the life force of the world, on the other – living darkness, and it feeds it, translates this life force into darkness, it does this consciously, it sees value in this process. The value that is actually valuable to him. I cannot consciously feed darkness like he does – I realized back then…” What I saw seems to be open gates. I also saw something else “… There are different types of emptiness, tense, when something can appear from emptiness and pure, which I experienced at that moment. There was no tension in the psychocosmos. Instead, I began to feel another tension – the tension of the body. At that moment, I sat in a calm state, but I felt a movement that feels like tension, such point, cell tension. I felt that I exist in my body, I feel the body, I am in it. This is what a predator feels, this is what it controls? It is a system, just like the social system, only it is a system of autonomous control over the body. Later, when I already lost this feeling and was going to work, I realized how much life force we do not notice, how much strength we do not feel, a strength that our body generates, from walking, from moving hands, how much we let slip by us….” And this seems like a description of the gates… But it turns out, these gates are open to everyone, few can fully be present in their body and feel its energy to the fullest.