What is chaos magick exactly?

[sasquatchjc]

Well, i've been searching around the forums lately and i had never been in this section before and i would like to know what chaos magick is :p. I looked at some of the threads, some about servitors and the like, but nothing really specific to give me an idea of what it is.

So i formulated some questions

-What exactly is chaos magick and what do you use it for?
-What are Servitors?
-Does this require complete devotion to learn and be able to do well?
-What book are recommended for learning chaos magick?

I think that about sums it up, thanks in advance for enlightening me

[reptilian]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaos_magic

The concept behind chaos magic is that the most powerful thing in magic, and the only thing necessary to work magic, is belief. If you believe that drinking a glass of milk at 3pm for three days will give you good luck, it will. If you believe that you can use an untuned TV or radio for divination, you can.
The chaos magician has the entirety of magical practices, beliefs, deities, etc open to him. He can use any of them that he chooses, for a lifetime, or for a single hour, depending on his needs and his preference.
Chaos magic also places emphasis in creating your own path. Rather than following a generic spell or ritual word for word, you can reinvent it, or come up with your own. It's considered a very good thing to be able to design your own spells or rituals based on the things that you personally find meaningful. For me, that means mixing dream magic, comic book characters, servitors, herbalism and the Hellenic pantheon, because those are the things that capture my interest and the things that give me results.
I use chaos magic for everything.

Chaos magic, with belief, is actually extremely easy. Because it's so free-form, I would imagine that it's easier than most outlined magical paths. I started using chaos magic in elementary school, before I knew it had a name, by drawing sigils on my body in ink that matched my skin color.
It does not require devotion, and I would postulate that, by definition, such devotion would be discouraged, or seriously lessen the power of the magician. People who like ritual and have the creativity for it, but find the LBRP tedious, should probably try chaos magic. XD

I'm not sure if servitors are unique to chaos magic, though I imagine not. Servitors are entities created by the magician to serve a certain purpose. They are (AFAIK) not physical, but they may be very powerful, and they can be created for a wide ranges of reasons. Some are created by magicians in order to protect themselves or others. Some are "guard dogs". Mine hang around, alerting me to things I may not otherwise notice.

http://www.chaosmatrix.org/library/chao ... rvitor.txt
That link has a very interesting approach to the creation of servitors.


Actually, www.chaosmatrix.org is a really fantastic site full of information about the history and evolution of chaos magic, as well as a good number of delicious insights, practices and rituals.

If you have other specific questions, I'll be happy to answer.

As for books, Liber null, Liber KKK and SSOTBME are my recommendations.

[hyperRitual]

Thank you for your reply, reptilian. A few comments:

"The concept behind chaos magic is that the most powerful thing in magic, and the only thing necessary to work magic, is belief."

That seems incomplete to me. Even if we limit our scope to just Carroll's model of Chaos magic, belief is one of four factors required for successful magic, the other three being gnosis, link, and subliminalization.

"Because it's so free-form, I would imagine that it's easier than most outlined magical paths."

That is like saying Jeet Kune Do is easier than most traditional martial arts. Nothing could be further from the truth.

"I'm not sure if servitors are unique to chaos magic, though I imagine not."

As I recall, Phil Hine (a well known Chaos magician) was the first to use the word servitor in reference to a constructed entity of evocation.

[sasquatchjc]

Wow this sounds right up my alley to be honest! thank you both for your replies looks like its time to do some research

[reptilian]

Thank you for your reply, reptilian. A few comments:

"The concept behind chaos magic is that the most powerful thing in magic, and the only thing necessary to work magic, is belief."

That seems incomplete to me. Even if we limit our scope to just Carroll's model of Chaos magic, belief is one of four factors required for successful magic, the other three being gnosis, link, and subliminalization.

"Because it's so free-form, I would imagine that it's easier than most outlined magical paths."

That is like saying Jeet Kune Do is easier than most traditional martial arts. Nothing could be further from the truth.

"I'm not sure if servitors are unique to chaos magic, though I imagine not."

As I recall, Phil Hine (a well known Chaos magician) was the first to use the word servitor in reference to a constructed entity of evocation.

I don't need gnosis, link or subliminalization to use chaos magic.

[hyperRitual]

I don't need gnosis, link or subliminalization to use chaos magic.

I find it dubious that you employ nothing more than belief changes in your magical practice, or that if you admit you employ more, your magical results are in no way consequent to that. But I freely admit I know no more about you, your practices, or your results, than what you have said here, and so while I doubt your claim, I cannot refute it. Perhaps if you explain more about how you were able to effect all of the magical changes you have, by merely changing your beliefs, then I will better understand you.

[sasquatchjc]

so i was looking on the chaos matrix (for beginner courses and such, which i have yet to find) and i found a lot of stuff about cthulu and shoggoths and other "lovecraftian" monsters. So just as confirmation, i dont need to worship/call upon these creatures or any of that stuff right? I sort of interpreted it as a magickal practice, somewhat similar to sorcery in a way, but it seems like a whole religion to me o.O can someone clarify?

[akimbomoss]

so i was looking on the chaos matrix (for beginner courses and such, which i have yet to find) and i found a lot of stuff about cthulu and shoggoths and other "lovecraftian" monsters. So just as confirmation, i dont need to worship/call upon these creatures or any of that stuff right? I sort of interpreted it as a magickal practice, somewhat similar to sorcery in a way, but it seems like a whole religion to me o.O can someone clarify?

Clarity? You want clarity about Cthulhu? I'll give you clarity about it if you want. But guess what Ali=eister said? Homard is bad for the digestion. Well he was talking about the french dish but it is a code and a warning. I have contacted homard but I don't keep him on for longer than a minute.

If you want I can dispatch jim to you but if you arn't powerful it will make you sick. What do you say? [devil]

[hyperRitual]

so i was looking on the chaos matrix (for beginner courses and such, which i have yet to find) and i found a lot of stuff about cthulu and shoggoths and other "lovecraftian" monsters. So just as confirmation, i dont need to worship/call upon these creatures or any of that stuff right? I sort of interpreted it as a magickal practice, somewhat similar to sorcery in a way, but it seems like a whole religion to me o.O can someone clarify?

You can do without it entirely. Like reptilian said, it's about using what works best for you. Chaos magic allows for making something fictional into something magical, and for some (including myself at times) that includes the Mythos.

[sasquatchjc]

so i was looking on the chaos matrix (for beginner courses and such, which i have yet to find) and i found a lot of stuff about cthulu and shoggoths and other "lovecraftian" monsters. So just as confirmation, i dont need to worship/call upon these creatures or any of that stuff right? I sort of interpreted it as a magickal practice, somewhat similar to sorcery in a way, but it seems like a whole religion to me o.O can someone clarify?

Clarity? You want clarity about Cthulhu? I'll give you clarity about it if you want. But guess what Ali=eister said? Homard is bad for the digestion. Well he was talking about the french dish but it is a code and a warning. I have contacted homard but I don't keep him on for longer than a minute.

If you want I can dispatch jim to you but if you arn't powerful it will make you sick. What do you say? [devil]

Well considering im not even a beginner (i still need to practice meditation) i suppose that would not help me much xD

and thank you hyperRitual for clarifying :p

[reptilian]

I was hasty to claim that gnosis is not a part of my practice, but link and subliminalization have nothing to do with it.

My magical practice takes place 99% in my head. I spend time considering the factors required to create a desired magical effect, the probabilities of changing them, and then set my will to making that happen. If I use any kind of physical paraphernalia, it's because I'm in the mood for it, not because it's required. I barely even use sigils any more. I have no need to "forget" my intent or submerge it in my subconscious, like a lot of sigil magic seems to prescribe. I need no established link between myself and any other entity, object or power source unless it seems like fun to do this.
For me, magic is simply understanding what must happen to accomplish my goals, and actively thinking the universe into complying with my wishes until it does so. It's infinitely easier than working with any specific magical system, doing any ritual, or even "firing" a sigil.

I do practice some forms of craft, and dream magic, when those tools are both expedient to my end and enjoyable to perform, but I am not dependent on them to accomplish magical results.


As for Lovecraft and the Necronomicon, it's an interesting and sometimes useful system that has become somewhat popular over the years. However, there's no need to pay any attention to it unless it captures your fancy.

[weezyfosheezy]

It takes gnosis and belief, so it take knowledge and belief. The belief part sounds hard for me because it seems like self induced suggestion. Also it seems like chaos magic could simply be successful for someone who doesnt believe in it by making a TO DO list (making it increases the chances of doing it)

Sounds like a good thing and something that could help, but just doesnt seem like anything mystical or magical about it (it would be cool if it was like i said it would help me), but it seems to just be something very physical not magical. What makes it magical or spiritual?

[dodaive]

The belief part sounds hard for me because it seems like self induced suggestion

From my understanding of magic this isn't supposed to happen. If you feel this, then you are practicing the wrong form of magic. The two ways I'm familiar with is 1) first believe then work the conceptual pattern (divine magic) or first work the conceptual pattern, then believe (arcane magic). If you are unable to intuitively feel divine magic, then try arcane magic.

[reptilian]

Chaos magic follows the definition of magical practice: effecting the physical world through indirect means. Making a to do list could be considered a magical act in some cases, but there are definitely more dramatic ways to practice chaos magic. You can still do rituals and invocations, divination, and a laundry list of other things.
Chaos magic isn't just a mental exercise (even though my practice, personally, is almost entirely mental), it's an approach to magic, just like any other path. What makes chaos magic unique is that you can change your paradigm as needed, and/or you can create your own methods.
Belief isn't the only tool, it's one of many, like in all magical practices. If you're a ceremonial magician, your spells and rituals will usually fail if you don't believe they will work. It's the same with chaos magic, except that the chaos magician often changes his beliefs in order to use a larger variety of methods and techniques.

[weezyfosheezy]

So if you wanted a girl to be attracted to you chaos magick could be used. If you want to get more muscular chaos magick can be used instead of working out? Just trying to understand.

[hyperRitual]

"So if you wanted a girl to be attracted to you chaos magick could be used."

Yes, although I recommend using magic to make yourself more attractive instead of making others attracted to you.

"If you want to get more muscular chaos magick can be used instead of working out?"

No (or not much), but you could use ChM in addition to working out, to improve your overall performance/results.

[hyperRitual]

Prompted by some discussion in the recent "Brain As a Computer" thread...

I see a significant difference between Chaos magic and eclectic magic (and so does this guy, and this guy). Lots of people these days mix-and-match between various magic styles, taking what they like and leaving what they don't. They may even create some of their own elements. That is the beginning of Chaos magic, but not its end.

The spirit of Chaos magic is fluidity; it is magic for a world that is adrift, and it is juxtaposed to those magics that are for a world that is evolving toward some divine state. It is magic for a stochastic universe, rather than a universe that operates according to a divine plan. This is not to say that Chaos magic is devoid of mysticism or spirituality; far from it.

Compare Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do, which has much in common with Chaos magic. JKD teaches us to use what is most useful of any martial art, and discard what is not functional. It teaches us that martial arts should adapt to fit the individual's needs, her special strengths and weaknesses, and that traditional models always contain less variety than the real world can bring to a fight. This is a good foundation for mixed martial arts, but MMA are as removed from the real spirit of JKD as eclectic magic is from Chaos magic. Ultimately, JKD is about using no way as way, leaving behind any pre/conceptions and spontaneously responding to the environment. It is about having no ultimate, no finality.

"Don't get set into one form; adapt it and build your own, and let it grow; be like water. Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless -- like water. Now, you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend." // Bruce Lee

In my opinion, Fra. Alloy's "The Alchemy of Chaos Mind" best expresses these ideas apropos of Chaos magic.

[reptilian]

You make a good point about the difference between chaos magic and eclectic magic, and I feel like you're echoing my thoughts. It's fluidity, spontaneity and the ability to take hold of, or let go of, preconceived notions as appropriate. Chaos magic has something rebellious in it's essence, because it challenges everything.
"Nothing is true; everything is permitted."

[Vulpecula]

Whenever I am asked this, I always have the same answer, "Do what works for you."

Many follow certain paths, perhaps adhere more rigidly to certain practices or beliefs, others do not.

Over the years I found what worked for me, starting with sigils, runes, bindrunes, servitors and ceremonial magic, went from there.

Good luck,
~Vulpecula