- Joined
- Jan 5, 2026
- Messages
- 7
- Reaction score
- 14
Here is a journal for 'playing around'—I'll share my preliminary thoughts on what that means, and share updates in the (imminent) future as that changes according to discovery.
Since I've discovered it, magic has been quite a serious endeavor for me, such that I've opted to think hard about what it means and what could happen foremost before beginning practice. Well, eventually I was compelled to practice anyways, and I've had some interesting mishaps (as well as moments of sublime, startling fortune and effect). A result of these mishaps is that now I'm considering (heeding my teacher's words) reversing my approach: seriously thinking about a light, playful endeavor—rather than playfully, lightly thinking about a serious endeavor. This approach is particular to the aforementioned context and my own needs as a practitioner right now.
Basically, I'm not sure how to 'play around' with this thing. What is play? It's what kids do, freely or in games. Games set down rules, and the structure of rules can facilitate harder or more immersed play. Free play is like being able to make games on the spot, but otherwise following whimsy and fun, making things up and going with the flow. I'm plenty good at 'constructing games', and even at trying to play them, but the 'make game, try playing it' approach has made for choppy working waters thus far. What if I 'just play'? What will come out? Why do it? I imagine (from the confines of my thinking mind) that this reversed approach will do something to settle down my thinking, analyzing mind. We'll see.
Still, how do I play if not by making and picking a game beforehand? Or, maybe I pick a game, but I don't need to 'protect the integrity of the game'; I can be like a child that freely rearranges rules and parameters, no logic, just following the winds of play. Right?
But still, how do I play? What is the game made of? I don't need to think too far in advance, but I can say for now that this kind of playing-magic probably favors an 'immediate results' kind of magic; if practicing can be said to consist of a feedback loop between practice -> experience -> theory -> etc., then an aim which combines practice and experience (such as traveling, talking, etc.) makes more sense than that of doing a spell or firing a sigil for some later result.
But how do I play? Well, there's lots of 'things' to play with and as: energy, information; symbols, vibes, feelings; spirits, creatures; images, and/or sense-images (not my senses per se, but the quality of imagining that is likened to sensing); my own awareness and consciousness; unities and holisms, as well as dualities and polarities—things with sides, things with parts, things made of more things, etc.; borders, contiguities, connections, distinctions; layers, realms, bodies; and so on. Whatever I can imagine—as well as whatever I discover.
But how to play? Well, I can 'find' many 'areas' to play in and with the aforementioned 'things'—if I close my eyes, where am I? What's there? What can introduce, or, what could be there? Can I find it or put it or call it? Can I 'go' or 'be' somewhere else? And what's there? What about with my eyes open? What else 'is there' with my eyes open besides what I see or body-sense? What can I 'see' and 'sense'? How real can my imagination get? Can my imagination surprise me? Can my senses surprise me? Can I 'play nice with' whatever I'm playing with—does that matter? What happens if it does and I don't? Well, maybe I don't need to find out to have fun. And if having fun and 'playing around' is the goal, I don't have to worry about what's real or not. If I stumble upon something intensely real-feeling (like starting to peel out from my body), all the better—and better to not fear, nor hope, but only to find new and more fun and play, only curious 'what's this?' (and with the guidance of my teacher-spirit if I'm ever in real danger, my teacher-spirit whom I trust is there and whose presence I can feel when sitting and 'calling out' from my heart).
Okay, with all that I think I know how to play, it's certainly in there; it's just that play doesn't feel like a function of ego, analytical mind ('creation and analysis are different processes', paraphrased John Cage). My analytical mind is a development from being told not to play, as well as 'not like that', and 'that's not real, grow up'—it puts that out there, including toward myself, with the intent of keeping me from being told those things (by whatever means). It might be right in certain matters, too, but I'm here to explore 'playing around'-type magic, so it's not a concern right now.
Okay—now, with all that, I really think the only thing left is to actually play around. If I ever get caught up, eg not playing around, I have this to read again to set me toward my aim. See you all on the other side, with updates accordingly.
—Harrow
Since I've discovered it, magic has been quite a serious endeavor for me, such that I've opted to think hard about what it means and what could happen foremost before beginning practice. Well, eventually I was compelled to practice anyways, and I've had some interesting mishaps (as well as moments of sublime, startling fortune and effect). A result of these mishaps is that now I'm considering (heeding my teacher's words) reversing my approach: seriously thinking about a light, playful endeavor—rather than playfully, lightly thinking about a serious endeavor. This approach is particular to the aforementioned context and my own needs as a practitioner right now.
Basically, I'm not sure how to 'play around' with this thing. What is play? It's what kids do, freely or in games. Games set down rules, and the structure of rules can facilitate harder or more immersed play. Free play is like being able to make games on the spot, but otherwise following whimsy and fun, making things up and going with the flow. I'm plenty good at 'constructing games', and even at trying to play them, but the 'make game, try playing it' approach has made for choppy working waters thus far. What if I 'just play'? What will come out? Why do it? I imagine (from the confines of my thinking mind) that this reversed approach will do something to settle down my thinking, analyzing mind. We'll see.
Still, how do I play if not by making and picking a game beforehand? Or, maybe I pick a game, but I don't need to 'protect the integrity of the game'; I can be like a child that freely rearranges rules and parameters, no logic, just following the winds of play. Right?
But still, how do I play? What is the game made of? I don't need to think too far in advance, but I can say for now that this kind of playing-magic probably favors an 'immediate results' kind of magic; if practicing can be said to consist of a feedback loop between practice -> experience -> theory -> etc., then an aim which combines practice and experience (such as traveling, talking, etc.) makes more sense than that of doing a spell or firing a sigil for some later result.
But how do I play? Well, there's lots of 'things' to play with and as: energy, information; symbols, vibes, feelings; spirits, creatures; images, and/or sense-images (not my senses per se, but the quality of imagining that is likened to sensing); my own awareness and consciousness; unities and holisms, as well as dualities and polarities—things with sides, things with parts, things made of more things, etc.; borders, contiguities, connections, distinctions; layers, realms, bodies; and so on. Whatever I can imagine—as well as whatever I discover.
But how to play? Well, I can 'find' many 'areas' to play in and with the aforementioned 'things'—if I close my eyes, where am I? What's there? What can introduce, or, what could be there? Can I find it or put it or call it? Can I 'go' or 'be' somewhere else? And what's there? What about with my eyes open? What else 'is there' with my eyes open besides what I see or body-sense? What can I 'see' and 'sense'? How real can my imagination get? Can my imagination surprise me? Can my senses surprise me? Can I 'play nice with' whatever I'm playing with—does that matter? What happens if it does and I don't? Well, maybe I don't need to find out to have fun. And if having fun and 'playing around' is the goal, I don't have to worry about what's real or not. If I stumble upon something intensely real-feeling (like starting to peel out from my body), all the better—and better to not fear, nor hope, but only to find new and more fun and play, only curious 'what's this?' (and with the guidance of my teacher-spirit if I'm ever in real danger, my teacher-spirit whom I trust is there and whose presence I can feel when sitting and 'calling out' from my heart).
Okay, with all that I think I know how to play, it's certainly in there; it's just that play doesn't feel like a function of ego, analytical mind ('creation and analysis are different processes', paraphrased John Cage). My analytical mind is a development from being told not to play, as well as 'not like that', and 'that's not real, grow up'—it puts that out there, including toward myself, with the intent of keeping me from being told those things (by whatever means). It might be right in certain matters, too, but I'm here to explore 'playing around'-type magic, so it's not a concern right now.
Okay—now, with all that, I really think the only thing left is to actually play around. If I ever get caught up, eg not playing around, I have this to read again to set me toward my aim. See you all on the other side, with updates accordingly.
—Harrow