As I believe I have established in earlier posts, Magick, the effecting of changes in accordance wit the will other than through mundane channels. seems to require, or at least be facilitated by an appropriate altered state of consciousness. (ASC) I have noted that the careful use of video games and virtual reality may bring about this state, possibly through induction of a light hypnotic trance putting the brain into a state where it predominantly produces alpha waves.
It could be argued that all rituals are intended to bring about the appropriate ASC, and examples include Christian and other acts of worship. Here I examine one possible way to design rituals that may make them more effective.
Magick implicitly involves breaking or rewriting the rules that govern the world. Trickster figures rewrite the rules of their world through a variety of devices. It seems logical therefore either to invite tricksters to assist in rituals or use some of their methods.
I suspect the two major barriers to effective magic are the practitioner’s unconscious and the rigidity the universe must have to allow sentient beings to communicate. I suggest an attitude to ritual that sidestep these at least to some extent.
In his magnificent essay “Trickster makes this world” Lewis Hyde denotes space to the notion of Carnival, which I understand as a region of space-time where normal (social) rules do not apply. Examples are the medieval feast of fools, Mardi Gras and the Rio De Janeiro Carnival. There are places that are permanent carnivals, or at least carnivals for long periods of time: many behavioural rules are suspended on the beach or in Ibiza. Elections and political rallies or demonstrations create an alternative reality in which behaviour that would not be tolerated elsewhere or elsewhen is not only acceptable but demanded.
What I am suggesting is that the ritual be a Carnival: A time and place in which normal social rules, other than those which protect us from each other, may be suspended and taboos may be broken. This allows the practitioners’ unconscious to ignore the rules about how the universe works.
There are examples of such rituals already: Zuni Dirt Rituals and to a lesser extent Voodoo rituals or a Loki Blot will include periods of breaking all the rules.
More straightforwardly a spiritualist séance or one of Bacheldor’s PK sessions includes the expectation that rules will be broken. Bacheldor even allows a trickster in his sessions: a participant who is allowed to cheat, to fake phenomena in order to relax the unconscious minds of other participants.
There is perhaps a more fundamental reason for designing a ritual as a carnival and using some of Trickster’s skills. The paranormal seems to be associated with Trickster and to exclude Trickster in anything associated with the paranormal ( assuming this is possible ) is perhaps to exclude the most effective component of the ritual.
But maybe the most important reason for making a ritual a carnival is
It is FUN
And when the participant are having fun they get out of the way and let the deep mind do the business.
Tags: altered state of consciousness, carnival, Magick, ritual, Trickster
