Playing at Surrender

The beginning of the Magus’s Way is marked by wide fluctuations in his mind.

If the Call of Power reaches the mind, and it accepts that Call, the first stage will be a sense of deep satisfaction at the initial self‑identification. Yet almost at once this provokes an uproar among the Predators, who have learned to regard this psychocosmos solely as their farm, their source of food and prosperity. Thus the first state of joy and awakening is replaced by a furious onslaught from every conceivable enemy, aimed at driving the hen quickly back into the coop.

In many cases the Way ends there, and the broken mind, having only tasted Power, returns to its ordinary state, only from time to time recalling with regret the momentary glimpse of Power.

However, if the will to prevail is strong enough, and the desire for Power urges one onward, the Parasite changes its tactics — it retreats, feigning death.

The mind, battered by battle and weary from the unfamiliar strain, suddenly finds that the road is clear and the enemy is vanquished.

The natural reaction is joy and the loss of critical judgment.

Few notice that this “enlightened” state is merely a badly disguised trap. The mind has simply moved from one illusion to another — from the false “everyday” world to no less false “spiritual” world.

It is obvious that the Parasite’s chief aim has been achieved — the mind no longer resists it, and it continues to flourish in the shadow of paradisiacal groves.

Yet with a certain degree of critical awareness the mind can catch the inconsistencies of the new illusion and suspect that the Parasite is not as dead as one would wish.

If such a suspicion is confirmed, and the chance to continue the Way has not been lost, the Parasite suddenly “revives” and strikes again. The new struggle ends, depending on the nature of the mind, in one of two outcomes — either the predator once more pretends to be dead, or it insincerely acknowledges defeat and tries to negotiate with the mind, promising “to serve it faithfully.”

Accordingly, the mind either falls into the old trap of “enlightenment” again or accepts the Parasite’s terms, considering itself the rightful master.

It hardly needs saying that both situations end in treacherous attack and further loss of energy.

In order to continue the Way, the only winning strategy is to continue the struggle, renouncing both “resting on one’s laurels” and any agreements with the demon.

All of the Parasite’s strategies ultimately aim for one goal — convincing the mind that there are no parasites or dark places within it.

It is, however, very important to remember that the mind’s filling with light occurs gradually, and until it becomes pure light there will always remain shadowed areas in it, each area being a convenient place for predators to lie in wait.

Therefore, however much the predators may simulate their death and retreat, the mind must not lose vigilance, nor succumb to false concessions or servile submission.