Magic, Tarot, and Masonry

I have extensively studied the human potential and success literature. The one thing the various approaches share is the belief that we shape our world. This has been understood at least since Epictetus, the great Stoic philosopher who wrote about it 1950 years ago. He believed the only thing we can control in our lives is our outlook on events.

The Stoics believe we should understand what we can control in life and let the rest go. Our outlook affects how we respond to events in very powerful ways. So, we affect the world through our perceptions of it. Magic is simply the use of personal will to change your outlook to believe that certain things are possible and might or certainly will happen. Quite often they do. This could be because of several reasons.

One possibility is that our brains are giant pattern recognizers. If you begin to believe something is possible, you will begin to look for things in your environment that will help you make that event manifest. Part of this is conscious and much of it is unconscious. Recognizing opportunities, you may choose to take action to move closer to your goal. This greatly increases the chances of an event actually occurring in the long-term.

Here's a simple example: If you decide you want a Mercedes-Benz, you will begin to think about Mercedes-Benz frequently. You will suddenly begin seeing Mercedes everywhere. You might just notice one for sale on a local street as you pass it by. You stop and find that it is within your budget and to your liking. You buy it. Magically, it's yours. Would you have noticed the Mercedes on a side street in busy traffic if you hadn't been looking for it? Most likely not. The opportunity to make your goal happen would have been lost. Focused attention is the key to goal achievement, whether you call it magic or something else.

Another possibility is that humans have a special ability to influence the nature of consciousness and the universe. I'm not even going to try to explain this. Super strings and M theory cause my head to spin for days, as do holographic universes. If you're interested, there are some references at the bottom of the page.

Doing a spell is directing your will to believe that a certain possibility is feasible, using mental, verbal or physical images or objects to help you focus your will and imagine the outcome. This can be as simple as Andrew Carnegie's practice of leaving a folded piece of paper in his desk and reading it daily when he entered his office. His piece of paper detailed his goal to become one of the wealthiest men in the world. It was written in his own hand as a young man. His daily magic ritual kept him focused on his goal and constantly looking for new opportunities to help him achieve it. He invented quite a few novel ways of doing business that led to his eventual success. Magic rituals can also be very complicated, but this doesn't change their essential goal of convincing ourselves that an outcome is possible, and making ourselves aware of things that can help make our goals possible, including synchronicity.

The Tarot is full of archetypal symbols. Carl Jung wrote extensively about the Tarot and its power to influence our perceptions through its symbols. Because the Tarot has so many powerful symbols, it opens the mind to explore possibilities. Its symbols can also be used to focus the mind to achieve a certain goal. In doing so, you would be doing magic -- applying your will and attention to achieve a goal symbolized by a Tarot card.

Personally, I find I'm very imaginative and spend time daily imagining my goals and where I want to be in life. I haven't ever really bothered with building elaborate systems of objects or images. Simple, highly emotionally charged, specific images of outcomes are best. Over time, whatever I seek often happens. Is it me helping the universe or the universe helping me? I'm not sure.

Masonry ties into this by helping us to become whole, creative, active people. Such people are naturally going to take a part in creating the universe by placing plans on their personal trestleboards and working to make them happen using their focused wills. Remember, time, patience, and perseverance accomplish all things...

Others will have different opinions about this. Experience is the best teacher. Seek what works for you and be a creative actor with the GAOTU in bringing whatever you believe to be best for the universe into being, whether it be a Mercedes-Benz, world peace or something else.

Son of Epictetus

Additional reading below for those who are interested: