The Purpose of Being a Magician
Phaedron
The purpose of pursuing a spiritual path is to seek and find the True Self, the reflection of God, perfection. A path of enlightenment is only true if it has a practical use. A path that does not bring one to this state is other than spiritual.
Paths that profess only devotion and obedience, without teaching how to cause necessary changes in one's own life and environment, cannot enlighten; they can only teach philosophy. Most people find such paths because they are the most common and ubiquitous. They are popular because the only dedication they require is a simple agreement and intellectual comprehension of the basic precepts, and sometimes an agreement to follow a given set of rules and standards.
Do the adherents of such a path obtain a usable benefit that is unique to that system? Or can they find the same benefits in less promissory, less one-sided ways that may not fall under the heading divine? A true course of enlightenment goes deeper than feel-good ideas. Since this publication is oriented at what some call magick, let us explore the reason for its study.
Magick allows one to cause change in accordance with Will. It is the magician's purpose to integrate their own Higher Self (and therefore that cosmic power that the Higher Self calls upon) with their own conscious self; this brings forth the life of the soul on an exoteric level. It should enhance their daily experiences.
This union (the higher with the lower) is represented by the six-pointed star of the ancient Egyptians, which a few other traditions later borrowed. It is simply two intertwined triangles—one upward (representing the Higher Self) and one downward (representing the Lower Self). The hexagram symbolizes the attempt to call upon and bring into one's life, that force which created one. It is Total Union.
The goal of spirituality is to evolve to a higher state by uniting oneself with this God force. Thus, when the mere reward/goal aspect that a spiritual path offers distracts people, their purpose is no longer spiritual/magickal, but a lust for results. However, results can only come when one is free of such obsessions.
Also, one should not concern oneself with others' progress. The aspirant's work should be for their own development. When one is doing one's Will, conflict with others is impossible. Rather, such work will help others.
Thus, the gifts of attainment or enlightenment come to those who desire such a union for other than the profane rewards that many propagators of a path offer. But if one cannot focus on improving one's life resulting through one's spiritual practices and devotion, why practice it?
Certainly, practical results should not be the only reason for pursuing spirituality; however, a valid spiritual path will provide this among other things. Many spiritual paths depend on the psychological comforts they can provide to their constituents, and this may be a nice experience. However, one can use many vehicles for such a purpose; spirituality should not exist merely to provide therapy, hope or behavioral ethics.
Blind faith is not a good enough reason to follow a path. A true spiritual master wants their aspirants to experience true phenomena. So, a true spiritual path is meant to enhance the aspirant's life. It is intended to allow the practitioner to learn their Will, and then how to fulfill it, thus improving karma. The Hermetic-Qabalistic path is one that is intended to provide knowledge of nature, the Laws of the universe, called by some God.
Who is magick for? Since it is to make one's life all that it is supposed to be (according to the karmic birth right-purpose and the Will of the practitioner), magick is for those who want to know more about their hidden self and the potentials and purpose it holds. It is for those who want to obtain the qualities in their lives that they chose before birth. Simply, it is for those who want to unite with and fulfill their individual Wills.
It is not for those who do not want inner improvement. If is not for those who believe they are only good enough for whatever crumb modern society may offer them.
Some people believe that their lives are beyond their control. They grovel in their own folly, instead of enjoying their own Wills and making full use of their true purpose. They are delighted by their illusory pleasures and believe they must accept and tolerate unnatural hardships.
Because the practitioners of the magickal path live in harmony with the universe, things work with their Wills, instead of against them. They are above inertia and restriction will find its way to them less and less. Unfavorable events (tests) will by coincidence bypass them.
Doing one's Will should be for more than just ego—it should be to serve the higher. It should be to assist nature in its work. The degree of this varies with the commitment one wishes to make, for not all are intended to be Kings and Queens.
Magicians live in a delightful place. They have long lives, but are not immortal as some say. All physical lives must eventually end—not to do so would be against the Will of Nature. However, some, it is said, live for thousands of years.
Magicians lead ideal lives and are never in need. Magicians control their lives so well, and are so aligned with the forces of Nature, that those who don't understand call their achievements supernatural.
Magicians learn and conquer the lessons of life. Their efforts allow them to express their own talents and to transform or discard that which restricts their own Will. They attract joy and true luxury and overcome the illusions of false happiness. Through effecting their own Wills, they know personally what true happiness is; thus, they are free of frustrations or fears.
Phaedron is the G. H. Hierophant of the Holy Order of the Winged Disk, and Director of its International Academy of Hermetic Knowledge. These articles are excerpts from The Practica Arcanum. For more information call (800) 827-6843, or write: PO Box 4384, Charlottesville, VA 22905. | 
