The Tit in the Hand

The very logic of the magical Way requires that its passage be uneven.

Sometimes a sharp change of direction reflects the process of «molting», a shift in viewpoint after reaching a certain level of development; sometimes a tactical retreat in battle; sometimes a fall as the result of defeat.

In any case, setbacks in power are as inevitable on the Way as its surges. And, as we have already said, in that state the priority is to prevent its massive outflow.

However, beyond the obvious problems, the very situation of fall, whatever its cause, is often exploited by predators and becomes a destructor that leads many who are on the Way astray.

Any fall signifies the disintegration of the existing system — the system of beliefs, the network of relationships, the skillset.

At the same time, it is clear that for further movement the crucial task is to assess the scale of the destruction, since the strategy of subsequent actions depends on the adequacy of that assessment.

When the fall affects only the surface layers of the system, it is effective to “patch” the holes and restore the original integrity.

But often, as a result of the fall, the system is damaged so severely that restoring it requires far more effort than building a new one.

This is precisely where the distractor lurks.

The logic of the Way in such a case requires that the warrior himself complete the destruction of the “ruins”, and in their place build a new structure. But how hard that can be! It seems that as long as any remnants remain intact, the connection with former greatness, wisdom, and Power is preserved. It seems — destroy them — and there will be nothing. It is precisely this clinging to outdated elements, in the fear of losing everything, that is often the most serious obstacle to development — even more serious than the destruction itself.

As long as the warrior dwells on his past losses, his development is stalled.

This does not mean that the warrior should lightly abandon the responsibility of his Way, but it does mean that he should not carry unnecessary baggage.

If the destroyed system was effective, and it collapsed under the onslaught of superior enemy forces, it can be restored to its original form, with additions that allow the weak points revealed by the defeat to be “closed”.

But if the destruction of the system was caused by its internal problems, it must be radically rebuilt.

In any event, destruction should give rise to a room for new creation, and it is very important for the Magus not to be afraid to “start again”, from a clean slate, setting aside his former greatness, his former Power.

The farther one has travelled along the Way, the harder it is to stop clinging to it, and the more effective the destructor in question becomes.

And the harder it becomes to form the right attitude toward what one must give up. In some cases — it is important not to throw the past away entirely, but only to recognize it as belonging to the past, useful and necessary at one stage, but redundant at another.

In other situations one must acknowledge one’s tactical or strategic mistakes, and the clearer that acknowledgement, the smaller the danger of their repetition.

In a third case one must concede that there were no mistakes: the opponent was simply stronger, and the time for a successful battle with him has simply not yet arrived.

But in any case, “letting go” is a necessary stage of restructuring, and therefore an inevitable stage of development.

For the Magus it is by no means acceptable to “be content with little”; he must always strive for grand achievements and far-off heights. Only by setting cosmic goals can one achieve success in the small.

The main point is that these goals should not force one to neglect the small things — “life is a chain, and small things are the links in it; one must not fail to overlook any link.”

The Magus must neither cling to small comforts nor cast them aside. He must carefully, gently, and responsibly let it go and continue his search for the Firebird.