By: Donald Tyson
The ultimate
goal of ritual magic is fulfillment. As is true with most ultimates,
it is seldom, if ever, reached. The degree to which it is approached
signifies the success or failure of the practice of magic in the life
of an individual. When ritual is sincerely and regularly practiced, in
most cases there will be a benefit. Sometimes the improvement, from
both an objective and subjective perspective, is remarkable. Magic can
improve health and appearance, increase confidence and a sense of
self-worth, remove obstacles hindering the progress of a life, and
bring about a spiritual rebirth.
All lesser
improvements tend toward the creation of a total, fulfilled,
self-actualized life. They are pieces of a puzzle that make up a
single perfect image. In order to impress this fact upon the mind of
the newcomer into magic groups, both ancient and modern, it is very
common for an initiation ceremony to be conducted. The initiation
represents in brief the highest goal of magic. It is a magic ritual
designed to realize that purpose in the months and years that follow.
Usually the
initiate undergoes, in one form or another, a symbolic death and
rebirth. The death emphasizes that the old world of confusion,
ignorance and helplessness is being left behind. The rebirth stands
for the new life as a totally realized human soul, able to act with
complete freedom in any circumstance. This transformation is further
driven home by assigning the initiate a new name.
The
initiation ceremony is only a representation of what the members of
the circle, and the initiate, wish to have happen. It is up to the
Magus to make this transformation occur in his or her life through
hard work and dedication. Although success is never complete, change
can be profound. The result is simply a better human being from every
angle.
One
technique used in the West to bring about this soul transformation is
a ritual communication with what, for want of a better name, has been
called the Holy Guardian Angel. This is simply the higher spiritual
awareness that concerns itself in the affairs of a single human being.
It might as easily be called the Higher Self, or the personal God. It
is the consciousness that cares enough about the happiness of a person
to take the trouble to help.
Every person
sees his or her Guardian Angel in a unique way.
The prophets
of the major religions often don the mask of Guardian Angel, and are
conceived differently by each worshiper, and so become personal to
each, guiding and sustaining the individual through difficulties. The
difference is that in magic, this communication is sought and
established in a deliberate way, not merely to gain support in times
of pain and doubt, but to transform the soul of the Magus on a
permanent basis.
Magic is
often worked for more humble and pragmatic reasons, and there is
nothing wrong with this. But it should be understood that all
improvements in a life, if they really are improvements and not mere
illusions, tend toward the perfection of that life.
