I am writing this as another post to try and offer a little of what I consider to be common sense. This is just my opinion and if you disagree then please offer your opinion in the comments, if you agree I would also love to hear your thoughts. I speak on similar subjects here.
For another perspective on these matters, you can read this post here from someone we recently interviewed.
My usual disclaimer, this is not directed at any particular person or post or email. It is simply an opinion from a fellow human being based on hundreds of messages over the last 3 years.
Over the years via messages and email many people with diagnosed and undiagnosed mental disorders often pursue the idea of becoming a magician.
I think the idea that becoming a magician is suddenly going to make them powerful or successful is one of the motivators. I get asked what spirit will give a job, what spirit will give grand master levels of Kung Fu ability. How they can pursue a path while also dealing with a host of mental disorders.
My personal opinion is that the magical path, lets take Franz Bardons Intitiaion into Hermetics for example, that it is a path for a person who has all their faculties, and all aspects of their life already somewhat under control. It is something to be pursued on top of a normal life, not as a short cut to achieve things in normal life. Again, remember this is my personal opinion, I am not trying to gatekeep or anything else. It just does not make sense that magic should even be a choice when one has mental illness, a medical professional is the best place for this person to go for a swift identification of the problem and a course of treatment to overcome it.
It is okay to say you do not know
Magical Medics
As I run Perseus I am privy to lots of discussion boards and groups and whenever we get a post about pursuing x magical practice with y mental illness lots of experts come out to diagnose, to say what mental illness is, to say how this person can pursue this path etc. My honest answer when asked directly is I have no idea. I am not a medic and even if I was a healer I do not think I can diagnose in a meaningful way via a social media post.
In addition, the more that the idea is repeated that this is all normal and mental illness will be cured by their magical practice the less likely it is they will actually get some professional help. I think professional help is super important as, in theory at least, it comes with a support network. A process for asking for help, people whose jobs it is to spend time with those dealing with mental illness who are aware of the signs of what is okay and what should be escalated up the chain as a sign of behavior that could be dangerous to that person or others.
As a Bardon practitioner I am fairly experienced in working with the Bardon exercises. But that experience does not extend to expertise in other Magical methods, and it certainly does not somehow make me an expert in any other area of life. It is okay to say you do not know. There is no reason why a Bardon practitioner should have any expertise in the multitude of paths in life. Regardless of what step a student is on, it does not equate to ability or even insight into other areas of life. So, of course none of my business but I would say in matters like this with health and mental health where there are serious repercussions for getting it wrong it is okay to just say you do not know.
Successful Qualities
Now for those reading saying the this or that spirit in PME can help, you are right. But for such a person who is struggling with mental health to indulge in a communication about this is probably not going to be useful for them or for you. Better IF you want to help that you can work with that spirit on your own on behalf of that individual. I recommend staying out of things entirely and offering a prayer. But if you did want to get involved then work privately with the spirit on their behalf.
In all the situations where I have been contacted and sent hundreds of messages by the same individuals the lesson, I learned is that whenever anything practical is offered it is rejected. Whenever anything magical is offered it is welcomed.
From daily structure, study, employment all these suggestions are usually rejected. Suggestions to start small and work towards a goal – rejected. Evocation of a demon to bring misery to their enemies – ‘tell me more’ is the response.
So, a steady life, with practical success is the best possible foundation for magical practice and should be encouraged to those looking for a short cut.
Conclusion
That is the end then of my unrequested opinion, I wish everyone well and hope that we can all work towards a fulfilling life where magic as an added bonus to that life not the only focus.
I do not think this should be unpopular at all. Oh, there may be some controversy, but you are quite right, I think. As I have moved through the steps in IIH, I have noticed my purpose, my magical mission if you will, has become much more other-centered. To be a peacemaker, a bringer of truth for the betterment of all. In order to become one with the Godhead, whatever that may look like, one must engage in active renunciation of selfish opinion, word and action. This takes humility, and it is this humility that allows the mage to become a vessel that can be filled with the light of Divine Providence and shine forth that light in sacred magic to bless all it touches. Or at least so I say. Others may say different, but this is what I believe and how I personally practice.
Thank you for your comment. In complete agreement with what you say here. As always if you ever want to share more in an interview I would love to hear more.
I have studied psychology on my own and by attending university classes, and having three psychologists in my close family, but am no psychologist and much less a psychiatrist. Sometimes my adventurous spirit takes me to places. I have dealt a lot with mental illness by a caretaker while growing up, and in the beginning of my love life. The way mental illness breaks body and mind made me pursue for many years a war against mental illness in society with all my available faculties and energy. Most of my friends, my artistic community or romantic partners had some sort of mental illness and what I can tell is many magical interventions make it worse, but once you get it right, then it apparently helps. My final conclusion, however, is in any case it is rarely helpful to involve the person in any of it. Work in secret when requested and if at all, to offer temporary relief. By involving the person with the right methods you may even buy that person some good years of fresh sanity, depending on the case. But when the quantity in the illness finally surpasses psychological quality the person will have left for a long time medication and all kinds of precautions (against recommendation) and it will be much worse than if you simply didn’t attend that person. Many times it has irreversible effects, and they will mistake all kinds of side effects of the sickness with magical abilities, refusing medical help. When psychological damage results in chemical imbalance, neurological damage and so on, this is not your fight as a magician. Pick the battle as something in the field of magic, and your defeat will be devastating not to yourself but the afflicted.
And yes, when it comes to this, my sound conclusion is “I don’t know”. Somebody may know better. To tell the truth, psychiatrists often don’t know either, and ultimately end up offering more or less of an agonizing vegetable life to the patient. What seems certain is, even that being the case, the rate of success is much much better in psychiatry.
What a great comment, thank you Andre. Yes, I agree often the experts are guessing as well. I say that as at least in those cases there should be a structure in place to assist. It is a tough one and as you mentioned working in secret for the benefit of others would certainly be my preferred option.
What a measured and reasonable stance to take; now, tell me more about this evocation you mentioned…(I kid)