The Restless Tranquility of the Magus

The Way of Magic begins when the mind discovers the binary unity–multiplicity pair and achieves neutralization, giving rise within itself to a living sense of universal connectedness. We have mentioned that what characterizes the magical worldview, and therefore magical action, is this vision of the cosmos as a symphony, its tight internal interconnection, in which any change in any of the infinite number of its elements is reflected in other elements and in its very integrity. For the Magus the world is at once one and manifold, whole and differentiated, manifested and potential, coagulated and dissolved, and each of these binary pairs strives toward maximal integration and mutual reflection of its poles.

Such an ability to integrate dualities, transcending them not by making one pole absolute but by surpassing them, by transcendence, is key to the magical Myth and Law.

Appearing at the level of “pure mind”, this ability, of course, manifests in all its aspects — at the level of “communicative mind”, and, what is especially important — at the level of acting mind, since Magic is above all the Way of action.

And from this point of view, for the Magus the discovery of unity and its integration with multiplicity is a continuously unfolding process in which the activity of his mind is deployed. The Magus is always simultaneously (and atemporally) one with the entire cosmos and, at the same time, free from that unity; he is always simultaneously individual and total, he is always both point and infinity, Gadit and Nut.

Manifesting at the level of mind as a striving for integration, at the level of communications as tolerance, at the level of action this ability appears as the combination and mutual manifestation of harmony and imbalance, effort and relaxation, calm and passion, equilibrium and dynamism.

The Magus’s mind is always active, and his life always engaged, although at the same time he is free from goal-setting, hopes and fears. The mobility of mind for the Magus, describing his existence as movement along the Way, does not mean that in a global and absolute sense he goes from somewhere to somewhere; movement is a mode of being, a mode of manifestation of mind, which in itself is free from the necessity of existence and manifestation.

While performing any action, being aware of that action, knowing himself as an acting and active principle, the Magus always “in the background” perceives the other pole inseparable from it — the pole of repose, non-separateness and non-manifestation. Nevertheless, this perception in no way “blocks” activity, diminishes its significance or robs it of motivation; on the contrary, the most complete manifestation of each pole of the binary pair is the condition of its perfect integration. This perception is extraordinarily important for Magic: in order to see one’s perfection — one must clearly and fully become aware of one’s weakness; in order to see fullness — one must become aware of fragmentation; and in order to receive the light — one must be utterly empty. One must search for a long time in order to understand that one never lost it, one must walk for a long time in order to understand that one never went anywhere, one must study for a long time in order to understand that there is nothing to learn.

Whatever the Magus does — appeals to the gods, summons demons, carves Runes or chants spells — he does it from his fullness, without falling into the whirl of actions or into numbing stillness. Depriving oneself of action is to deprive oneself of fullness, just as depriving oneself of repose is to deprive oneself of freedom. The Magus understands that in every case he must attain the highest efficiency — the maximum awareness of his actions or the maximum depth of contemplation. The Magus is tormented by a hunger of the soul, although he clearly perceives its fullness and perfection; the Magus hunts for Power, although he sees nothing in the world but Power; the Magus is tense, the Magus runs with all his might, although he knows that neither he nor anyone went anywhere.

The Way of Magic is the mode of being of that which is free from the necessity to exist, but equally free from the prohibition on being; the way of manifestation of that which is free from the necessity to manifest, but equally free from obstacles to manifestation; the way of action of that which feels no need for actions, yet is free also from inactivity. The Magus understands that both the limited mind of the personality with all its layers and sublayers, and the dispassionate state of presence, and the non-dual suchness — are totally one and do not give preference to any of them; he acts when he wants to act, he is present when he chooses to be present and is freed when he becomes aware of freedom.