Vision Quest
Among the rituals widely practised on the Ways of Power, a prominent place is occupied by a key initiatory method — a ritual aimed at awakening the Voice of Power within the traveller.
This ritual, known in the traditions of the Elemental magical Ways and shamanism as the “Vision Quest“, in Thelemic magic as an “Audience with the Holy Guardian Angel”, and in modern currents as a “dialogue with the Higher Self”, regardless of its particular colouring, is always aimed at discerning the voice of Power — Epinoia — through the chatter of the mind’s parasite.
The essence of the Quest is that the magus, alone or with the assistance of a Master, overcomes the Perceptual Threshold separating the seeker from the mundane world, and, taking advantage of the Parasite’s confusion, penetrates the depths of the Psychocosm and finds there Signs of Power.
Thus, the Vision Quest belongs to the so-called “Immersive” Rituals, since the activity of the mind during it is directed inward toward the Psychocosm, and everything the magus sees or hears in the course of it has its source in those depths.
We have already said that a human mind, turned inward on itself and using all its cognitive resources on the standard patterns fed to it by society, predators and parasites, is incapable of stepping beyond its limits and needs a push, an introduction to this new state — it needs an opening. It is exactly such an initiatory event that must occur during the Vision Quest.
In fact, the state in which the Vision Quest is undertaken is a waking dream, since the Quest’s reality is virtual and microcosmic.
Nevertheless, the events of the Quest are subjectively perceived as external, and the Signs often come from outside as well. It must be clearly understood that the Vision Quest, like other liminal states of mind, is accompanied by a blurring of the boundaries of the Psychocosm, which is merely a source of energy for attracting Power, while Power itself may appear in any guise and come either from outside or from within the seeker.
A vision comes when the seeker is in harmony with themselves, clear in thought and emotionally calm. Then the mind drops its natural barriers and allows feelings to penetrate, and it is then that the voice of Power can be felt. For this reason the Quest is usually preceded by preliminary measures aimed at cleansing the mental field.
However, bringing the Psychocosm into order is not the only condition for a Vision. It is also necessary to overcome the Threshold mentioned above. Therefore, all the seeker’s efforts must be directed both at the maximum harmonization of their being and at destabilizing the Threshold. By various means the magus thins the Veil, his mind begins to guard its borders less strictly, and the Unknown starts to seep through them. Of course, there is great danger in this — loss of control over one’s borders is fraught with madness or possession — and therefore, in this Ritual as in many others, careful precautions are necessary.
The vision that opens to the magus during the Quest is individual and usually concerns him personally — his motives, inner impasses, fears and problems. All that which the Parasite of mind typically masks because it leads to loss of Power may be revealed in the vision. Nevertheless, there are occurrences of visions concerning other people and even humanity as a whole. In addition, since the Quest itself presupposes overcoming the Threshold, the vision may concern other worlds or beings.
This brings with it an important danger of the Quest — the seeker may enter an unfamiliar world and become lost there; in that world they may disappear or go mad (in the second case the mind is anchored in one world while the guide is in another).
Another danger in overcoming the Threshold is that beings from beyond, including predatory entities, may pass through the Threshold along with the seeker.
Regardless of the method used to conduct the Vision Quest, its value is measured by how it transforms the seeker’s later path, to help them overcome the obstacles erected by the Parasite of mind. In this sense the Vision Quest is akin to other Rituals of the Inner Hunt, opening the way to the restoration of the mind’s authority in the Psychocosm, usurped by the mind’s parasite.
‘Vision comes when the seeker… is free from emotions. Then the mind casts off natural barriers and allows feelings to penetrate…’
How do emotions differ from feelings from the perspective of Magic?
I’ve already written about this: https://enmerkar.com/en/way/emotional-traps
Is it possible to somehow influence the destabilization of the Boundary? Enhance it, speed it up?
Of course, that is the purpose of the Ritual.
The concept of ‘vision’ includes not only seeing (sight) but also arrived understanding, hearing of an answer (voice)?
In this case, ‘vision’ is any perception.
If there are any signs of completing this ritual – what next?
Further – the vision must be correctly interpreted and based on it adjustments should be made for the further Path.
What actions should be taken to avoid getting lost, to return and prevent predators from penetrating?
It can be said that everyone has their own Agreement (faith in something, perception of the world, laws, vision), and then everyone can receive their Voice of Power. If you believe in reincarnation, it may just be a dialogue with some of your past incarnations. But guardian angel, Higher Self – that’s something else. Are there reliable criteria to figure this out and not be deceived?
>>The essence of the Search comes down to the fact that a magician… overcomes the Threshold of perception, separating his mundane world, and, taking advantage of the confusion of the Parasite that arises as a result of this overcoming, penetrates the depths of the Psychocosmos with his consciousness and finds the Signs of Power.
Essentially, the Parasite should remain silent in the magician’s everyday life, and the Signs of Power (as described in several articles before) swirl around all the time. It turns out that the magician is constantly in a state of Searching for Vision?
It should be silent, but in reality, the Parasite continuously whispers its will to the consciousness. And the signs are, of course, always nearby, but perception and understanding of them require Power.
Okay, so what is “second attention” and how does it differ from the state of Searching for Vision?
Thank you! If you keep trying over and over again – will it work? I wanted to ask – what time is best to conduct it?
If the intention is strong – it will definitely work. As for when to conduct it – when there is inspiration, when the Power calls.
I did not quite understand how to conduct the ritual, do I need to become aware in a dream? And how to find the vision?
The ritual does not take place in a dream; consciousness simply enters a state of waking dream. And vision comes itself if you open your consciousness to it.
Good evening! This happens when there is a lot of tension and the vision is like a waking dream. A waking dream of someone else’s future, not mine, but of the person who is stressing. So, it’s the one with whom contact is established until a nervous breakdown. If in a calm state, then it is not so emotionally charged; one can calmly share with a cup of coffee what troubles their life. But it drains a lot of energy and causes stress. This is also a state of waking vision.
As I see it, any advice expressed in words is “approximate and somewhat incorrect.” Words can only convey hints or fail to do so 🙂 For example, it is well said: “Vision comes when the seeker is in harmony with themselves, pure in thought, and free from emotions. Then the mind sheds its natural barriers and allows feelings to penetrate, and one can then sense the voice of the Force.” It is also worth adding, “The only barrier that separates worlds is the barrier of perception,” as well as “One must pursue their fears,” but at the same time, “The true magician is destined for their service even in the womb. Others, those who decide to engage in magical work of their own accord, are unhappy.”
From those who have implemented the idea of rights, peculiarities, and superiority of birth, we know, for example, Hitler. And to speak of the misfortune of those who are not born for magic, to a person who considers themselves born for it, is mere speculation. You don’t know what it’s like, in the skin of those you think are unfortunate. Well, theoretically, you shouldn’t) you live in a completely different world)
One of the key assertions of the Magic Myth is “Everything is equally important,” and therefore, according to the Law of Analogies, “Everyone is equally important.” Hitler died, and Napoleon died, and we will all die. What makes one mortal superior to another mortal? Death is the great equalizer for all. As for the phrase: “The true magician is destined for his service even in the womb of his mother. Others, those who decide for themselves to engage in magical work, are unfortunate.” There is an author behind this phrase. If you’re interested, you can inquire at https://en.enmerkar.com/magic/magiya-arbatelya.
I think about where such a large number of people with a similar worldview come from) it may be considered an offense to the sacred, but I do not consider Enmerkar the ultimate truth. And I don’t consider anyone as such. Birth is just the initial data. That’s all there is to it.
“And any idea of superiority is realized only through someone else’s shortcomings. We can return to solid ground and personally address your ideas about my purpose, for example. The same Hitler, just from the side.”
Everyone has their own purpose. There are no better or worse purposes because all are equally important. In the article I mentioned earlier, there is a phrase: “anyone can understand whether they were born for Magic, and if so, for what kind.” By the way, the author of the phrase is not Enmerkar.
There is no one who determines someone else’s destiny. Both you and the author of the statement have tried to take this burden upon yourselves. The result is worth it if there is an intention to carry out a war.
The author of the statement is the Spirit. Does it care about your purpose? And if you see your own in my words: “Everyone has their own purpose,” then you know perfectly well what yours is.
The purpose of this spirit’s statement, quite human in nature, arises from the need to explain to oneself one’s significance, as well as to explain to others the exclusivity of a particular work, so that those who are intrigued do not meddle but turn to the one born of a womb and assured by spirits—the intermediary. You may think so. I remind you that you are personally acquainted with and have encountered a person who does not think this way. And he is quite happy and just as magical.