Can magick be used to make permanent positive changes in personality and develop skills?

[ZapataLunac]

Let's say I need to develop the skill of understanding social dynamics, develop social skills, develop sales skills, and all type of related skills, but because of my type of personality (introversion) I struggle a lot with developing a charismatic presence, being extroverted and having social IQ. Can magick be used to make permanent positive changes in my personality so I can develop these skills more easily, I know everything comes with effort and time, but I want to know If magick can be used to shorten the learning curve, and help me develop these types of skills in record time. And if it is possible, what type of magick do I need to look for, I tried in the past the gallery of magick books, because they listed these type of powers like having more charisma or become more respected, but unfortunately, the gallery of magick books, did not work for me. That's why I am asking people, what type of magick do I need to search for in order to attain this goal, Thanks people!

 

[IllusiveOwl]

The problem isn't the magic, it's your solidity in self image, you're living inside a cage. Magic is the use of Will to affect change in the tangible realm, which has its source in the intangible, just like the mind. If you cannot Will, then you cannot do magic. In order to use will, you need to concentrate, and to be able to concentrate, you need to believe you can concentrate.

You have a very solidified image of yourself: Introverted, you struggle with developing skills, you have a low "Social IQ". These beliefs themselves are the cage keeping you from developing these desired traits. If you can recognize the illusion of this cage, it will no longer restrict you.

The Left Hand Path focuses a lot on personal development and self-sovereignty (When you're not focusing on the demonology and religious fluff). Through undergoing Initiation and practicing the path, this solidified image of yourself liquifies, and you can then remold yourself through intentionally invoking certain powers within yourself that make up these qualities: Courage(For Social Audacity that people enjoy being around), Wisdom (For awareness of your social situations), Temperance (To act and behave appropriately), etc. Through Greater Black Magic and Ritual, you create yourself into the being you want to become using your own Will.

To answer your question in short: Yes, it's possible to change yourself permanently through magic. The downside is that in order to do that, the old you which you wish to change has to die, like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis. You can revert yourself back into a caterpillar if you want, but you'll never be able to forget the freedom and power of your wings.

 

[HoldAll]

I don't think there any way of achieving profound changes in one's personality 'in record time' - they're much too ingrained, often the result of childhood imprinting, that attempting to modifiy them can very well become a life-long spiritual journey in and of itself. This means that if you're in a hurry, you should aim for the acquisition of skills and not a laborious transformation of deep-set character traits. It's a bit like learning a foreign language - being able to speak it well won't make it your mother tongue but that such an ability will be valuable and useful nevertheless.

Since you mentioned the Gallery of Magic - have you tried Damon Brand's archangel book? It's more 'spiritual' (for GoM values of 'spiritual') than his other results-centred books. Involving a powerful entity like an archangel should be able to bring about, specifically Haniel who is associated with Venus/Netzach. If you have already unsuccessfully given that archangel a go, you might want to research general Venusian magic or look into more mundance methods like NLP or New Thought because after all, you're not after heavily mystical transformations or insights.

In my opinion affirmations are totally useless for any end, and I can tell you from my own experiences that chaos sigil magic is not suitable for such broader and intanbible goals (and if somebody is aware of an appropriate way of how to tweak it accordingly, please let me know). I would also complement my endeavours by beginning to take an interest into entirely banal societal affairs (as opposed to making a purely intellectual psychological study of them), for example everyday gossip, the antics of celebrities, popular TV shows, sports results, etc., in order to develop empathy with 'common people' and to have a few icebreakers in reserve for starting conversations with complete strangers - you may disdain such idle chitchat right now but it's an excellent way of bonding with people.

 

[IllusiveOwl]

would also complement my endeavours by beginning to take an interest into entirely banal societal affairs

This is a lovely piece of advice as well. It's important to have one foot in the world of the profane as well as one untainted by it; to be entirely involved in the material world is to be asleep without aspiration for something greater, to be completely out of the material world is to... be insane. You use what you learn from the above to enhance your activity in the world below.

you may disdain such idle chitchat right now but it's an excellent way of bonding with people.

Personally I have found that natural disdain to be a big plus and font for insight; it allows for unique and endless comical insight that tickles the imagination of other people. You're also able to detach from the banal circumstances if vibrations turn nasty and help guide them lightheartedly to a more harmonious situation. The strength you can gain from your disinterest and detachment can really make you a desirable presence. The disdain also prevents you from getting wrapped up in drama and taking "sides". There are also many people who aren't worth talking to, they're nothing but a vicious hurricane of banality and untamed emotion, you won't be sucked in to their gravatas like others, instead you can breeze right past them.

 

[HoldAll]

To clarify my Venus attribution - here is what Peter J. Caroll writes about "Green Magic" (he distinguishes between eight types of magic inspired by Terry Pratchett's "The Colour of Magic) in "Liber Kaos":

There is inevitably a considerable overlap in what is written in popular magic books on the subjects of Venusian love and lunar sex magic. Consequently, a planetary nomenclature has been largely avoided in this text. Although love magic is frequently performed in support of sexual
objectives, this chapter will confine itself to the arts of making other people friendly, loyal, and affectionate toward oneself.

Friends are probably our greatest asset. My address book is easily my most valuable possession. As with erotic attraction, it is first necessary to like
ourselves before others will. This ability can be enhanced by appropriate invocations of the green power. Most people find it easy to elicit friendliness from people that they like themselves; but making people become friendly who are not disposed to friendship toward us, or making
people who we do not like at all friendly toward us, are valuable abilities. [...]

He then ends this chapter with:

Before I made myself wealthy, I used to practice these abilities when hitchhiking. Soon, even people whom I found quite ghastly were buying me
lunch and transporting me far out of their way. Empathy will get you anywhere.

I agree with him when he equates Venus with friendship, togetherness, etc., that's why I made my Venusian magic suggestion.

 

[ZapataLunac]

Ok, thanks for that great contribution of Venusian Magic @HoldAll, what is your opinion on what @IllusiveOwl shares, about using Black Magic and the LHP to make changes in self-image? Is not LHP dangerous somehow?

 

[AbammonTheGreat]

LHP is generally more individual and ego affirming. Its unapologetic about its exaltation of the individual. The issue with this is that its emphasis on affirming the individual comes with a lot more traps and dangers than other modes of spiritual expression as a focus on the individual can lead to psychosis, existential crises, delusion, and self reliance. Ultimately though in the advanced levels of practice RHP and LHP fall apart as a dichotomy. As no matter what way you take you are waking up to the Truth about your position in the universe and learning that your actual Will isn't the will your head tells you.

As to your original post though, practical magic is fun and entices most of us to join the occult but the most powerful and life changing magic is when we use our magic to transform our personalities, shortcomings, and weaknesses. The difference between an occultist and a magus is that the occultist uses magic to change the world around them while the magus uses magic to change themselves. This is what grants the magus the ability to bend reality to his Will as his Will is now something much more transcendent and divine. Both the RHP and LHP when practiced at their ultimate conclusions turn into an assumption of one's Divine Authority and that Divine Authority is assumed through the transformation of our human weaknesses. The gist of it being "You want to become a god? Then start acting like one". I would investigate Theurgy and Alchemy if you are interested in transforming your personality utilizing magic.

 

[ZapataLunac]

@AbammonTheGreat Do you think that belonging and practicing a spiritual path like BOTA (Builders of the Adytum) or the Golden Dawn, could lead me to utimate self transformation for the better (as you said, to transform my personality, shortcoming and weaknesses)? or what is the best path to do this ultimate transformation?

 

[AbammonTheGreat]

Both those schools are focused on self-mastery. BOTA will leave you wanting a little more though. Golden Dawn is perfect for what you are aiming to do. Perfect place to start as a beginner.

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I have to add though that they are systems and there is some point in your path that it will be limiting. You need not worry about that at this stage but when the time comes your further development will be contingent upon your ability to step off the paved road and blaze your own trail.

 

[ZapataLunac]

Both those schools are focused on self-mastery. BOTA will leave you wanting a little more though. Golden Dawn is perfect for what you are aiming to do. Perfect place to start as a beginner.

Post automatically merged: Thursday at 9:43 PM

I have to add though that they are systems and there is some point in your path that it will be limiting. You need not worry about that at this stage but when the time comes your further development will be contingent upon your ability to step off the paved road and blaze your own trail.

But, don't you think Golden Dawn is only limited to achieving spiritual enlightenment? or does it contains rituals for transforming oneself from shy to extrovert or, at least transform from an unconfident person to a confident person? does it really contains all the tools to conquer our weaknesses and shortcomings, the ones that we care about in the material world, not only those of the spiritual world?

 

[AbammonTheGreat]

They use the hermetic qabbalah as a way-point system to attack different aspects of spiritual development using ritual magic. Its highly systematized so its easy for beginners to wrap their heads around as there is a very clearly defined path of development. This type of ritual magic in which one uses ceremonial magic to perform inner alchemy and refine their soul is known as "high magic" and most of the initiatic societies practice this. You won't learn much practical magic from them but you will learn how to use magic to relinquish things like ego, attachment, ambition, insecurity, fear, anger, etc etc. There is a purer form of this and you will find this within the primary sources of hermetic, alchemical, and neoplatonic literature but doing that requires you to spend a lot of time researching and studying to begin to assemble a practice. The Neoplatonic form of this is called Thuergy which is where you mold yourself into the images of the gods to become like the gods. The hermetic form of this is known as divine alchemy and in that you transmute your weaknesses and shortcomings into magic powers. Both of these practices resemble alternative forms of eastern tantra. For example if I want the powers of Venus' attraction I invoke her, pay attention to my aesthetic beauty, and invite people to my house, throw parties, enjoy music, participate in things Venus likes. If I want Martial masculine charisma/passion I should adopt his confidence, dominance, maybe start going to the gym and making male friends. There's obviously a lot more depth to it but these are the types of ways this magic works on you.

 

[IllusiveOwl]

what is the best path to do this ultimate transformation?

It may be a good idea for you to join your local Mason Lodge too. Their motto is "making good men better" and their esotericism is very beginner friendly, a lot less rigorous that Golden Dawn, which doesn't actually exist anymore, plus you get to meet others in your community.

 

[ZapataLunac]

@IllusiveOwl I have a friend who is Mason and he says that masonry does not have a lot of esotericism as rosicrucians, or BOTA, he even wants to leave the Masonry an instead search for his own development in BOTA.

 

[IllusiveOwl]

I have a friend who is Mason and he says that masonry does not have a lot of esotericism as rosicrucians, or BOTA, he even wants to leave the Masonry an instead search for his own development in BOTA.

In order to develop the abilities you're looking for, you'll need to exercise them with use at well. The Masons arent largely esoteric, you have to really dig hard to find anything there. But it's a good way to expose yourself to a large population of people to interact with, that's why I brought them up.