Tag: magick

Magick and your mental health

One of my nice followers ask me if I had any experience with depression and how it pertains to magick. They gave me permission to share this in case it helps anyone else.

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Short answer, yes, absolutely I have dealt with depression. In fact, almost all of my early magical breakthroughs were associated with depression. And I am not saying that magick necessarily causes depression or is a cure for depression. All I can say is what I experienced which may be much different for you. 

I think that when Crowley talks about crossing the Abyss, he is talking about depression. In spiritual terms it is often called the Long Dark Night of the Soul. Depression is what led me to decide to become a magician in my late 30s. I was in a terrible place, a place of my own making. I had the realization that I was not the person I thought I was, and that I had to figure out who I am. Becoming a magician helped. 

Going through my training in the Illuminates of Thanateros triggered a major bout of depression, as I was very much adrift and doing the exercises brought me to a lot of uncomfortable realizations.  I also had a major depressive break right in the middle of my initiation. I was a total blubbering mess. 

Magick taught me that I could create my own narrative. The motto I use now, shamelessly stolen from Miguel Conner is: “Write your own story. Live your own myth.” I am also a big Joseph Campbell fan, and believe that every mythic journey is a trip through the underworld. Being able to mythologize my life and see the threads of myth in my own experiences has helped a lot. Also, I am able to have magical breakthroughs now without a full blown bout of depression because I work with a solid group of magicians who care deeply for each other. 

Also, if you are suffering, please look for help. I was lucky. Although I never sought out professional help, I have a lot of strong supports in my life. I know that not everyone has that, and there’s no shame in going to a professional. I would say that the support of caring and understanding people helped me more than magick did in going through depression.

Once you truly accept that magick is real, you must then accept that in some context, all of it is real. Bigfoot, UFOs, Atlantis… Love at first sight…. All of it.

I am absolutely in a Facebook magician flame war right now with a guy who just devalued all of St. Cyprian’s work because he is a saint and converted to Christianity.

“In essence what you have here is a malady suffered by many modern magicians – a lack of historical context. “

Frater T Explains the Egyptian Coffin Texts Spell 7

This one is particularly awesome, and you know why.

“The vindication of a man against his foes is brought about in the realm of the dead. The earth was hacked up when the Rivals fought, their feet scooped out the sacred pool in On . Now comes Thoth adorned with his dignity, for Atum has ennobled him with strength, and the Two Great Ladies are pleased with him. So the fighting is ended, the tumult is stopped, the fire which went forth is quenched, the anger in the presence of the Tribunal of the God is calmed, and it sits to give judgement in the presence of Geb.”

Interpretation: In life, you been fighting with people all the time and now you think you gonna carry on that way in the land of the dead. But you ain’t. ‘Cause Thoth is coming to give you the smack down and you gonna halve to calm your tits.

“And the Two Great Ladies are pleased with him.” Oh, yeah. 

Frater T Explains the Egyptian Coffin Texts Spell 6

“How great is the monthly festival of the height of heaven, even the festival of the New Moon! The finger is removed from upon you, your trembling is taken away, since you have planted the plume at the horizon, at the place where are those who know you. You suck at your mother Sothis as your nurse who is in the horizon, Isis sits by you, she makes you bright, she makes for you fair ways of vindication against your foes, and those who would have judgement against you in the realm of the dead on this happy day.”

Interpretation: There’s gonna be some dope ass parties after you’re dead.

Frater T Explains the Egyptian Coffin Texts Pt 4

Okay, I’ll stop now (unless people really want me to continue with this spell by spell). But I will leave you with this:

The Egyptian Coffin Texts, in their entirety, are a receipt for the bribe you paid the temple priests. You see they are promising to say prayers for you long after you are dead. Essentially, you’ll have a bunch of highly trained magicians treating you like a great ancestor. This is spiritual currency in the land of the dead. The whole purpose of this is so you have a good time in the afterlife.

Frater T Explains the Egyptian Coffin Texts

Spell 3

“Ho! Take your staff, your loincloth and your sandals, and go down to the Tribunal, that you may be vindicated against your foes, male or female, against those who would harm you, and those who would have judgement against you in the Tribunal of Osiris on this happy day.”

Frater T’s Interpretation: Get your shit together, now. For the Day of the Lord cometh, like a thief in the night. If you fucked up, the gods will not be on your side. Appease the gods through Ma’at living. And if you have shortcomings make sure you have a good lawyer in the afterlife.

Frater T Explains the Egyptian Coffin Texts

Spell 2

“Geb has commanded, and the Double Lion has repeated, that you be given your soul which is in the earth and your shade which is in the hidden places.

Ho! Raise yourself, that you may be vindicated against your foes.”

Frater T’s Interpretation: When you dead, all them motherfuckers who talked shit about you when you were alive will be bragging to people that they were your friend.

Frater T Explains the Egyptian Coffin Texts

The Egyptian Coffin Texts – Spell 1, Paragraph 1.

“Here begins the book of vindicating a man in the realm of the dead. Ho! You are the Lion, you are the Double Lion, you are Horus, Protector of his father, you are the fourth of these four gods who are powerful and strong, who bring water and make the Nile through the power of their fathers. raise yourself on your left side, put yourself on your right side.”

Frater T’s Interpretation: Remember magus, when dealing with spirits, if someone asks if you are a god you say, yes! Your ancestors are strong and if you have been honoring them they will back your play.