The Power of Life and the Power of Awareness
We have already, in passing, mentioned that the magical myth regards Power in two forms — as Life Force and Personal Power (Meigin and Mattr).
Unfortunately, these two kinds of power are often confused, which prevents their effective use.
Nevertheless, their characteristics differ greatly.
Life Force (Pneuma, Meigin) is the primordial Force of the Cosmos, the force inherent in energies themselves that ensures their flow. Interaction with this form of power is very popular in the East, where it was called Qi, Prana, and regarded as the source of all manifestation.
The Western myth also left a fairly detailed description of Meigin. This form was considered a deep, original Force that gives being and life. It is this Force that underlies all the inner properties of manifestations; it is this Force that gathers energies into blocks that give rise to images of objects in the mind.
The first characteristic of Pneuma is tension (tonos), without which neither Pneuma itself nor active energies would acquire their binding, systemic capacity. It is precisely tension that gives existence a dynamic character. The continuity of the Life Force unites whole and parts as a result of the tensed state of the whole. Another characteristic of Pneuma is its ability to imprint specific qualities on formations. Therefore, one may consider this Force the source of all things. In addition, the Meigin Force is believed capable of a “tonic” motion that implies the simultaneous movement and rest at the same point — such motion resembles self-vibration.
Power of Awareness (Nus, Mattr) is the form of Power that arises from the interaction between energies and the mind. The source for the formation of Nus is Pneuma; in other words, when the mind comes into contact with the Primordial World-Force, it elevates that force to a new level of existence, giving birth to Personal Power. It is Nus that is both the cause and goal of ordering the cosmos, the transition from chaos into cosmos.
In light of the above, it is clear that an aware being functions as an instrument for translating the Power of Meigin into the Power of Mattr. And, broadly speaking, from a macrocosmic point of view, that is precisely what happens: the potential Power of Pneuma, constantly being actualized, passes into the Power of Nus.
Having discovered this division, Magic naturally focused all its attention on the Power of Awareness, since this power, magi hold, is capable of changing the world. Unlike the Eastern myth, oriented toward the mastery of Pneuma, the Western magician considers Nus more valuable because it is inherently ordered and therefore controllable. For this reason, this form of power was named Personal Power — unlike Pneuma, which is diffuse throughout, Nus exists as an aggregate of conscious streams — of beings.
In essence, the nature of the world-process is precisely that actual beings use life to generate awareness.
Another discovery, made by observing the modifications of Power, was that Nus is consumed by the World Predator, which “transforms” it back into pneuma (hence the analogy with “devouring” and extracting “nourishment”), and therefore, from a certain point of view, an aware being can be regarded as a “bee” translating “less convenient” pneuma into “more ordered” Nus.
This discovery, in turn, showed that, having accumulated and preserved Personal Power, a magus gains a chance to break out of the endless cycle of consumption.
In fact, the whole point of the Western Way is about learning effective transformation of Powers, and the magus is a being who strives to transform life into awareness so as to leave no “foothold” for the Upper Predator, so as to free themselves from chains of consumption and the endless loop of these transformations.
A world predator and an endless cycle of consumption – what is the benefit of this myth?
It teaches concentration and control.
Interesting 🙂 Perhaps the idea of reincarnation fosters a certain carelessness.
Hmm, in new-age understanding of the idea of reincarnation – undoubtedly. However, even if we take the Tibetan version, everything is not so optimistic. At least the fact that you can roll back many levels in an instant.
Yes, indeed, only on the condition that you take on the role of the ‘rabbit’ being bred.:)
Unfortunately, this role has been assigned to everyone. But how each person relates to it – some agree, some ignore, and some try to change the situation – everyone chooses their own position. There is a popular way to solve problems – pretending they don’t exist. But this method only delays the solution and complicates the situation even more. However, contact between myths is difficult, and those who believe that the world is a paradise garden, merely clouded by the imperfections and misunderstandings of its inhabitants, are unlikely to understand those for whom the world is a battlefield against lies, fakes, and illusions.
I doubt it now. Is it not perhaps fatally designed that “not being eaten” is the carrot on a stick that magicians chase after to gain awareness? After all, those who supposedly avoided destruction give us no news; we only see their breaking tracks. And the very premise “to move forward, one needs to run still, EVEN faster” seems unnatural. It seems the Great Spirit is not particularly interested in our victories, only in the striving for them.
Movement along the Path is dictated not by external benefits, not by the thirst for adventure, revelations, or achievements and power. A magician guided by such arguments is doomed to defeat; in reality, a Traveler realizes that it is better to perish in the struggle for oneself on one’s Path than to forever hang around in purposelessness.
Guest, I walk because with every step life unfolds ever more strongly.. And I want to drink it to the dregs 🙂
Dear, thank you for the website. The design is very interesting. Can you tell me if there is an analogue of NUS (Mattr) in Chinese or Indian tradition? Perhaps you’ve encountered it somewhere? Because if this information exists somewhere, then it is a revolutionary approach.
Unfortunately, I know almost nothing about Eastern traditions.
In Eastern tradition, prana is transformed into bodhi, which in turn is attached to the atman-soul, and is reincarnated more than once, allowing the personality to be preserved during subsequent incarnations. So the principle of East and West coincides, the attitude towards it differs…)))
Hello, En! Thank you for the wonderful site. A sea of knowledge and taste. This is not a compliment, but the truth. At least for now. I found out a few years ago that we are all ‘rabbits’. It was a blow. I underwent recovery for 3 months. Now I am trying to ‘grow up’. However, I would still like to know why earlier a person was almost equal to the gods, and now he has been reduced to the level of food. The biblical version doesn’t hold. Can you explain?
Dear Enmerkar, with your permission, allow me to add for Turanchoks. Indeed, in Indian science ‘Sankhya’ the myth explained by Enmerkar is elucidated; not being a rishi (wise man) in Vedic philosophy, I will not sprinkle Sanskrit dust, but in general terms: PURUSHA (the most real thing) generates this desire to know itself, which brings PRakRITI (nature) to life; this genesis occurs only through Ahamkara (individual consciousness) – an inseparable part of PRakRITI; in the end, after PURUSHA sorts things out, PRakRITI merges with PURUSHA. For clarity, I will explain: PURUSHA – ‘world predator’, PRakRITI – Life Force (Pneuma, Meigin); Ahamkara – ‘rabbit’ (The Power of Awareness (Nus, Mattr)). This is a very simplified version of the ‘Main myth’ which has many variations and explanations.
Rita: 1) Planetary cycles – https://enmerkar.com/en/myth/ragnarok-and-planetary-cycles 2) secret doctrine-1-2-3 Blavatsky E.P.
In my opinion, the Force is not possessed by the entire block of pneuma. The Force is the core. Everything else is a shell that is cast off. The most valuable thing is that the Force is present in almost everything; it is only necessary to separate the grain from the chaff. The strength of a person is their essence, their individuality.
No. Probably I am wrong after all. There is no shell. It is not cast off but is completely reprocessed into the grain of the Force.
If we correlate it with the runes, can it be said that the life force is described by the rune inguz? Or is it closer to uruz? And do I understand correctly that if a person has a deficiency of pneuma, then it will be harder for him to accumulate nus, as there will not be sufficient strength for ordinary life activity? Also, due to the differences in interpretations and names in different sources, could you clarify whether the life force is the same force that Lodur gave to the first people?
I didn’t fully grasp the meaning of the statement “Another feature of Pneuma is the ability to impart all formations with the stamp of their specific qualities. Therefore, it can be considered that this Power is the source of all things.” Could you explain with an example!!!
Also, what does “Upon discovering such division, Magic, naturally, concentrated all its attention precisely on the Power of awareness, since it is she, in the opinion of magicians, who is capable of changing the world.” mean? Who discovered it? Is Magic itself supposed to be? In general, I believe that this article requires clarifications.
thank you