remember what was said about the and the element of Air. We deter
is something that is volatile and motion, and can only unfold its full when it is spent-or "put into cir
to
keep it and declaring it to be a would not only be absurd, That's why we usually don't on the banknotes that pass might do with other static to our good luck charm. By into circulation, we are symboli channels for luck that nonetheless is in a predominantly material, physicalwe are symbolically opening
luck,
expanding beyond the realm , and in a sense sending our scouts or weaving the web of our own which of these metaphors you likeThat's why you should part with your good luck charm in a cheerful, merry way. This could be a friendly gesture, a wave of the hand or wink of the eye, or a mumbling of"so long"-the possibilities are only lim ited by your imagination .
As opposed to sigil magic, you don't need to make an effort to forget the whole procedure, but on the other hand, you shouldn't dwell on it excessively either.
Wait a few days before proceeding with your sec ond good luck charm in the same way. It would be advisable to let your good luck charm on the loose spontaneously rather than with too much planning. So grasp a favorable opportunity instead of preoccupy ing yourself with detailed planning. That will give the whole thing a lot more casualness and cheer.
Do the same with your other good luck charms with a few days' space in between.
As you know, we prepared four good luck charms with eight preparation steps for each. Hermetically and kabbalistically speaking, we've utilized the planetary powers of]upiter
(4)
and Mercury(8)
without mak ing it the clear focus in the foreground. It's not abso lutely necessary to utilize the planetary powers in this way, but it helps to understand a further technique of money magic that we're just starting to deal with now, namely the indirect approach. We'll be discussing this in more detail.Of course it's entirely up to you if you want to pre pare a further series of four good luck charms in the
way described above. In fact, this would actually be a good idea. After completing a few cycles in this way, you'll probably know intuitively what Mercurial money magic is all about in relation to the principle of Air.
Here, as opposed to ritual work or sigil magic, we're not working with any specific goals, desires, or statements of intent. In this regard, we're performing actions that hold no specific meaning and serve the purpose of creating a certain atmosphere or mood as opposed to obtaining specific, tangible results. This is exactly what we'll be describing with the technique of the indirect approach. There's no focus on a linear "this-for-that," no desperate grasping at intangible suc cess, and no purely result-oriented action. Instead, we have the combined use of our five senses without spe cific meaning, the capacity for social contact, and the linking to the outside world in releasing our good luck symbols into it. We're not going to get into any compli cated theoretical explanations and reasoning here, but I wish to point out that with the help of these seem ingly inconspicuous operations, we have united all vital (and defining) factors of perception and action into one overall relationship that, in turn, corresponds to a fundamentally chaotic and unpredictable world instead of compelling it into a linear system of structure and order, as is common with dogmatic traditions. It's not that the linear approach will never work, it's just that it requires much more severity, self-discipline, restraint, and exclusions. W here people attempt to recognize
136 · CHAPTER FOUR
order, structures, and
merely reflect and reproduce terns and brain structures-one is to reject a nearly limitless num ties and options only chaos can
that the chaos that was later so
sidered to be an actual place in could even call it a state or gods themselves!
Admittedly, it's quite difficult establishing order and structure, ally confused with discovery in aa
denial. Ascribing validity to becomes problematic when exclude alternatives and
that remains is narrowness and • Thus the experience of ecstatic ness which, for example, were mystics, were gradually replaced religions whose chief goal it was to
fabric of humanity with laws, the hereafter, and threats of going no surprise that the mystics of gions are still treated with today, if not labeled outright
In a less metaphysical sense,
here enables us to greatly expand magic possibilities as opposed to
linear outlines that are created
above. In fact, this would actually be a completing a few cycles in this way, lmow intuitively what Mercurial money
in relation to the principle of Air. to ritual work or sigil magic, with any specific goals, desires, or cintent. In this regard, we're performing no specific meaning and serve the a certain atmosphere or mood as . specific, tangible results. This is
,�11
be describing with the technique approach. There's no focus on a linear" • no desperate grasping at intangible suc
result-oriented action. Instead, we
use of our five senses without spe
the capacity for social contact, and the
· .. outside world in releasing our good luck
We're not going to get into any compli explanations and reasoning here, but out that with the help of these seem operations, we have united all vital factors of perception and action into
· nship that, in turn, corresponds to a
chaotic and unpredictable world instead it into a linear system of structure and on with dogmatic traditions. It's not approach will never work, it's just that more severity, self-discipline, restraint, . Where people attempt to recognize
order, structures, and framework-rules that in the end merely reflect and reproduce their own thought pat terns and brain structures-one is automatically forced to reject a nearly limitless number of other possibili ties and options only chaos can offer. Let's not forget that the chaos that was later so bad-mouthed was con sidered to be an actual place in Greek mythology (one could even call it a state or condition) derived from the gods themselves!
Admittedly, it's quite difficult for people to avoid establishing order and structure, which is then usu ally confused with discovery in an act of colossal self denial. Ascribing validity to purely random structures becomes problematic when people cover up or even exclude alternatives and possibilities. In the end, all that remains is narrowness and limitation.
Thus the experience of ecstatic states of conscious ness which, for example, were called visions of God by mystics, were gradually replaced by all-regulating book religions whose chief goal it was to discipline the social fabric of humanity with laws, punishments, promises of the hereafter, and threats of going to hell. So it comes as no surprise that the mystics of each of these high reli gions are still treated with suspicion and mistrust even today, if not labeled outright as defectors and heretics.
In a less metaphysical sense, the process described here enables us to greatly expand our range of money magic possibilities as opposed to limiting them with the linear outlines that are created as a material gripping
reflex, and in turn bringing about the oppositions and imbalances that always occur in this relation.
As vague as this may all seem, it all boils down to performing a successful act of magic. As we've already seen, many roads lead to Rome, so we're going to refrain from stipulating any specific methods here, or even recommending one over others, to avoid down playing others or overloading them with unnecessary dogmas. Freedom of choice, however, is not only due to one's personal outlook on life, in which non-patron ization holds high value in the struggle for man's lib eration from heteronomy. Another basis for this can be found in the viewing of the world as chaotic in essence, which is everything but a strictly regulated state.
Good Luck Charms in Action
It would be a contradiction to everything previously said if we were to name or systematically list all the effects and results of our good luck charm operations here. In reality, if we can talk about such things at all, these would be just as subtle as the way we released our good luck charm out into the world in the first place that is, indirect, barely structured, and fleet-footed. Since we did not attach any specific goals to our opera tions, there's no need to make an effort to insinuate any chains of cause and effect. The important thing to understand is that this is not just a cheap excuse for an answer to the question of proof as to whether or not magic actually works and, if so, how. Other mecha-
138 CHAPTER FOUR
nisms are responsible for such - mentioned before, but these gross break with our common usually overly concerned with prove everything and, worse yet,
After all, when observed irrefutable proof of one speci6c turns out to be nothing but eras with very few exceptions, vented our culture from ability. There's no hope in change in the near future, a person takes in hand in and control-weapons which
flexibility and even prevent it fanatic need for proof
by restricting us to the p other rules that govern it. alone, for example, a book be allowed. This alone doesn't correct, but at least it shows who believe that the scientific enough. Such people view sudl limited and, in many ways, eva�
So if peculiar or even after successfully preparing luck charms, let the dams of plugging them back up
about the oppositions and in this relation.
all seem, it all boils down to act of magic. As we've already lead to Rome, so we're going to any specific methods here, or one over others, to avoid down overloading them with unnecessary
of choice, however, is not only due on life, in which non-patron in the struggle for man's lib Another basis for this can be of the world as chaotic in essence, but a strictly regulated state.
Charms
in Actionto everything previously na e or systematically list all the of our good luck charm operations
we can talk about such things at all, . as subtle as the way we released our
out into the world in the first place barely structured, and fleet-footed. attach any specific goals to our opera need to make an effort to insinuate
and effect. The important thing to this is not just a cheap excuse for an tion of proof as to whether or not
. works and, if so, how. Other mecha-
nisms are responsible for such issues of proof, as we've mentioned before, but these are not the focus of our attention here. To some readers, this may seem to be a gross break with our common culture-after all, we are usually overly concerned with wanting to explain and prove everything and, worse yet, being required to do so. After all, when observed with a critical eye, the irrefutable proof of one specific era of mankind often turns out to be nothing but silly superstition in later eras with very few exceptions, which itself hasn't pre vented our culture from continuing to insist on prov ability. There's no hope in sight that this attitude will change in the near future, but just like any weapon that a person takes in hand in order to have more power and control-weapons which simultaneously restrict flexibility and even prevent it entirely at times-the fanatic need for proof demands a price as well, namely by restricting us to the parameters, laws of nature, and other rules that govern it. If it were all left up to science alone, for example, a book such as this wouldn't even be allowed. This alone doesn't make it any more true or correct, but at least it shows that there are still people who believe that the scientific explanation of things is not enough. Such people view such a philosophy as greatly limited and, in many ways, even counterproductive.
So if peculiar or even strange "strokes ofluck'' occur after successfully preparing and releasing your good luck charms, let the dams burst-enjoy the gain instead of plugging them back up again by focusing on chains
of cause and effect and how well these operations actu ally worked. As far as how to actually do that, the next two chapters will focus on how to reap the fruits of money-magic operations without restricting ourselves with various magical binds and constraints.
140 CHAPTER FOUR