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Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com
Sex & Magic
Fra.: Apfelmann
In this article I would like to address the issue of sex and magic.
I am quite aware of the fact that this is a loaded subject. It is
one of the oldest disciplines in occultism and virtually every magic
tradition applies it somewhere down the road. Yet it has always been
regarded as the innermost secret discipline. Witches, Shamans,
Runesters, Yogis and Magicians of all varieties work with it in one
form or another.
To build up, strengthen, direct and aim this powerful energy is an
awesome magical tool, as anyone who has ever worked with it knows.
Being limited in time and space, but having such a wonderful and
eclectic medium to work with, I want to give you a few unbiased
ideas on the subject.
No discipline of magic has attracted as much mumbo jumbo or
misinformation as sex magic does. Nothing stirs the mind more than
the left and right of the so-called middle path quite as vividly.
Nothing is more ancient, powerful and misunderstood as Sex magic.
Yes, the market on Tantra is booming, as a visit to any occult book
shop will show you. Yet well researched, practical introductions
into sex magic are virtually non-existent. Male sexist tunnel vision
abounds.
One of the reasons being that the general approach towards sexuality
and women is steeped in Judeo-Christian hang ups.
The most common approach seems to be: "Just lay down and be the
altar dear, you are going to love it." Even such revolutionaries as
Aleister Crowley have done very little to improve this. Louis
Culling even dares to state in his contemporary work (1971), that a
frigid woman is more conductive to sex magic practice than a sensual
or, mind you, sexually aggressive one. For this would surely disturb
ones concentration on the Great Work.
No wonder that there are few women attracted to these kinds of
partners! You will always get what you want in magic and the
so-called true will does reveal itself in strange ways. Doing some
soul searching and clarifying your motives is quite effective.
Now, regarding literature on this subject there is hope. My german
friend Fra.: U.D. has written a comprehensive, pragmatic book on sex
magic. It`s title is "Secrets of the German Sex Magicians"
(Llewellyn) and he told me last weekend that it is available in the
States right now. (I hope he will give me some extracts to post them
here...) It beats everything that has ever been published on the
subject. Get it!
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Now let me point out, one more time, that magic is a practical
science. Merely reading about it or going to a workshop will not get
you anywhere.
The multitude of sexual expressions is just as great and manifold as
human behavior in general. Here, like everywhere in Chaos Magic, it
is useful to keep in mind that if it works for you, use it!
Remember, the real sex magicians, male and female, have always known
that and discarded social conditioning and taboos, right along with
the do`s and don`ts of dogma.
We do magic to liberate ourselves. So if it is possible for one
thing to be sacred we logically conclude that everything else can be
sacred too.
Auto-, Hetero- and Homosexual expressions are equally valid in
sex magic. It is more about expanding ones horizons that about
finding a certain "right" way, partner or ritual to do it. The Chaos
Magical paradigm kicks right in: Nothing is True, and Everything is
Permitted!
The next issue I want to address is the Auto-erotic practice. So let
me state this loud and clear: Without auto erotic practice it is
impossible to achieve anything in Sex magic!
Auto-eroticism is of central importance because it is the ideal
practice and playground. It constitutes a powerful technique in
itself, and it makes us independent of partners. Especially in the
beginning it is much easier to explore, prolong and amplify orgasmic
trance states. For this very same reason it is possible to do
effective sex magic with a partner who knows nothing about it but
working with a partner who is equally trained in this art is ever so
much more effective. Most amateurs believe that sexual magic is
something that solely happens between partners in a ritual, but in
reality the vast majority of sex magical arts are performed
auto-erotically.
Regarding the physical aspects of the sexual magical training first
thing to consider is that your body is really _your temple_. And for
it to be your ultimate tool and asset it has to be in peak
condition. Physical and mental dependencies, be it alcohol,
stimulants or even tobacco, will interfere with your ability to
develop and direct this tool. I do not want to project a moral
attitude on this, or any other subject, but mind, spirit and body
are deeply intertwined. And the more you alter your mind from the
outside by using drugs of any sort, the harder it gets to focus your
will and physical reaction. If you are in a frizzy condition, you
will get frizzy results! Here, as in all magic, the borders are
fluid. A good training in practical magic will greatly enhance your
sexual magic and vice versa.
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A lot of physical exercises in sex magic derive from Tantra Yoga.
The only point of disagreement appears to be the way of using the
orgasm. In particular, the "traditional" Tantra authors seem to cling
to the idea that there is only a limited amount of sperm available
to men. Therefore this precious substance is carefully guarded, held
back and reassimilated when spent. Western magic does not agree
with this belief. Its approach is rather like: the more you spend -
the more you get! This applies to male magicians, women have always
been pretty much inexhaustible in their orgasmic capacity. What
joins both is that the intent in Sex magic is much more result
oriented and concrete than in Tantra, where it is mainly
transcendental.
The longing for transcendence seems to be inherently natural in
human behavior. Yet being western magicians living in the nineties
we know that we have to handle the "real world", our physical
reality first, and then we can move on to the loftier goals.
A good manual for your physical preparation and training is
"Stalking the Wild Orgasm" by Christopher Scott Kilham. Hie work not
only includes some excellent yoga exercises, but also gives you some
great clues regarding nutrition and aphrodisiacs.
When you get going in this direction you will find that it soon
penetrates into many other areas of your magical work. You will be
in better physical shape, more relaxed, focused and grounded. Magic
is a gut level art. We have to remove it from the intellectual
stuff. Trust your own experiences. Strive to conduct your magic work
from this part of your body where all magic originates - your loins.
Have fun!
With fractalic greetings and laughter * Fra.: Apfelmann *
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