The Hunter’s Gaze
Being, above all, a hunter of Power, the Magus must never forget that it is impossible to predict exactly where and when Power will open its ways to him.
Therefore the most important condition of magical effectiveness is not only the Magus’s powerful forming the intent to acquire Power and to develop awareness, but also the continuous expression of that intent.
In other words, the Magus must constantly be actively searching for Power and express that search not only in his intent but in every action he takes.
The moment the Magus stops searching for Power, Power stops seeking the Magus, and development comes to a halt.
There is nothing worse for a traveler than to say: “I have already found my Way and seek nothing more.” Those words signify complete and catastrophic defeat in the battle for Power.
A Magus must under no circumstances stop his search even briefly; he must not forget that his Way is not only out of darkness but through it, and therefore one can never be certain when Power will come and when the enemy will strike.
A Magus’s gaze must constantly and purposefully seek manifestations of Power around him, and, on noticing the slightest sign of Power, the Magus is obliged to rush headlong in that direction.
This applies both to the Magus’s everyday life and to his “ritual” actions.
A Magus seeks Power when walking along a city street, and when traveling through the mountains; a student seeks Power when he seeks a Master, and a Master seeks Power when he seeks a student. And the famous claim “When the student is ready, the Master appears” is dangerous — the student must not only be ready, he must express his intent to learn; the world must clearly know rather than guess about his intent. The student should not rush to every person who seems a potential Master, but should scan the world around him with the seeking gaze of a hunter, and only then will Power respond in kind.
The same holds for the Master — he must seek opportunities to apply his Power, and Power will grow through use.
Nevertheless, while projecting his intent to seek everywhere, the Magus must not fall into obsession with that search.
Here, as always, it is crucial to observe the golden rule of Magic: total immersion in the battle must be accompanied by total control.
The Magus must balance on the fine threshold between the raging principle of Dionysus and the crystalline clarity of Apollo — between the sharp desire for Power and clear control over it.
It is very important not to forget this: do not let the flame of desire, the passionate striving for self-realization, die out, but at the same time do not allow the flame of that desire to engulf the mind’s control centers. Only when the Magus’s gaze is seeking and control is complete can he effectively develop his awareness, overcoming the obstacles created by predators along this path.
An enlightening article, and miraculously exactly the answer to the question I was searching for, thank you!
Very intelligently and clearly said!
There’s nothing to ask 🙂
Such articles should be placed in the mage’s diary, on the first pages!
Friends, read Castaneda (from where all this is pulled) – and you will throw away your ‘mage’s diaries’ if you have the strength to stop staring at beautiful pictures with manly bearded men in such blogs and discussing ‘egregores’ :):):)
Criticizing other paths and considering one’s own point of view as the only correct one is at least unreasonable.
This is exactly the ‘pedagogical itch’ I was talking about – a common story: to come into someone else’s house, to douse its inhabitants with dirt, and with a sense of duty, to consider oneself the embodiment of world wisdom. And it’s a strange thing: during all my time on the internet, I have never left a single comment on any foreign resource, regardless of how much I agree or disagree with the views of its authors. On my own blog, I sift through heaps of attacks every day left by those who wish to enlighten me and my readers…
2Tviord, thank you for the advice, friend!
But Castaneda writes in his own language and presents a position from his ‘sandbox corner’, while this is written in another language and from oneself, not ‘pulled’, as you managed to express it. And a mage’s view should be multifaceted and at the same time holistic!
2Tviord: There’s nothing surprising or, moreover, bad in the fact that people who have their own Paths operate with the same concepts (the same Path, Control, Awareness, Edge, etc.). And those who are alien to these words can allow themselves not to think too much about where to spit.
Dear Enmerkar, your site is very important… When there is no teacher, no friends sharing the Path…, and the reasoning of ‘learned mages’ resembles the tale of S. Lem’s sipulka (sipulka – see sipulcarium – see sipulening – see sipulka with a whistle… and in general, you cannot be without a wife :)) Your articles briefly, accessibly, and without unnecessary ‘water’ explain the practice and theory of magic, and all of this can be applied to any myth!.. Thank you very much, don’t abandon this resource, nor us:).
I started reading Castaneda a few times – but it just doesn’t resonate with me – it’s not mine. But here is such a primeval forest, my eyes are wandering from the wilderness. If you jump over the overly incomprehensible parts – there is plenty to gain for both the soul and the mind. I seem to understand the thrill of hunters – it’s like picking mushrooms, but stronger.
Good day. The internal strength is clear what it is.. but what is this external force that is being hunted?
Any Force is internal. The hunt is for interactions that increase this internal strength.