Other Kjos Articles:
Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets
POPULAR OCCULTISM:
THE GLOBAL MESSAGE
BEHIND MYSTICAL THRILLS
PART 3of 3
By Berit Kjos
May 7, 2003
NewsWithViews.com
"I was taught in ritual magick how to go to different planes of existence outside the physical body," explained Peter, a former Temple Master in the occult Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn who is now a committed Christian.1 "I could create a realm there in which I could practice ritual magick and perfect my magical skills. What I did on the physical plane was what I had practiced on the astral plane through creative visualizations."
Then he added the vital thread that unifies all occult orders and ritual magic: "Through my will and imagination, I made things happen on the physical plane. As above, so below! This ritual magick is a manifestation of the power of your will."[1]
His words reminded me of Starhawk's formula for magic and spells. Author of The Spiral Dance and founder of the "Covenant of the Goddess" she taught her followers that,
"To work magic is to weave the unseen forces into form, to soar beyond sight, to explore the uncharted dream realm of the hidden reality... to leap beyond imagination into that space between the worlds where fantasy becomes real; to be at once animal and god...
"Spells [and magic]... require the combined faculties of relaxation, visualization, concentration, and [mental] projection... To cast a spell is to project energy through a symbol." [2]
"As above, so below." These four words summarize the core of magick, explained Peter. But it was new to me, so I did an Internet search. Countless sites came up, linking the occult phrase to occult beliefs such as theosophy, kundalini yoga, the dialectic philosophy behind the yin-yang symbol and Theodynamics. The latter deals with "cosmic or First Force energy and the frequencies supposedly generated by the shape of the pyramid."[3]
A more useful site gave the history and meaning of this simple phrase. But before you read the summary below, let me explain why I share this with you. As you have seen, these old occult teachings -- once hidden behind closed doors in secret societies and mystical brotherhoods -- have now gone mainstream. Yet, few recognize their dark, occult nature or the forces behind their timeless formulas. We cannot afford to be ignorant any longer. To avoid experiencing evil, we need to discern the evil. So take note of the esoteric concepts in the excerpt below. Many of these have been adapted to Christian counseling, mystical prayer, holistic health and other familiar practices. They sound good to those who are blind to the popular "wiles of the devil":
"This message theorizes that man is the counterpart of God on earth; as God is man's counterpart in heaven. Therefore, it is a statement of an ancient belief that man's actions on earth parallel the actions of God in heaven. ..."To the magician the magical act, that of causing a transformation in a thing or things without any physical contact, is accomplished by an imaginative act accompanied by the will that the wanted change will occur. The magical act and imaginative act becomes one and the same. The magician knows with certainty that for the change to occur he must will it to happen and firmly believe it will happen...."To bring about such a change, the magician uses the conception of 'dynamic interconnectedness' to describe the physical world as the sort of thing that imagination and desire can effect. ... Mind and body, galaxy and atom, sensation and stimulus, are intimately bound. Witchcraft strongly imbues the view that all things are independent and interrelated...."The purpose of all rituals in ceremonial magick is to unite the microcosm with the macrocosm to join God, or gods when invoked, with the human consciousness. When such a supreme union is achieved the subject and object becomes one. This is because the magician feels that he is consciously in touch with all elements of the universe, therefore, he can control them.... This feeling intensifies the more the magician successfully practices his skills."When feeling unison with the universe the magician knows he has reached his Higher or True Self because he has attained mastery of himself and the universe. Thus he...receives the power of the superiors and of the inferiors.' Therefore, he 'hast the glory of the whole world."[4]
This is a devious lie! But it's a message that Satan, masquerading as an "Angel of Light," has used to deceive God's people since the beginning of time. Remember what God tells us about this cruel "prince of the power of the air:"
�How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: �I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars... I will be like the Most High.� Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit." Isaiah 14:12-15
While he still exercises his allotted power here on earth, Satan neither keeps his promises nor follows our rules. Behind all the tempting promises of worldly unity lurks a cold, heartless cruelty that few Americans can even imagine. But those who still remember the Nazi concentration camps or bear the scars of torture in Communist prisons understand the terror of a human nature trained and dominated by the forces of darkness.
Peter was part of that dark cruel world, and his description was chilling:
"Trained occultists will purge all love and all hate. They look for those who have no love or hate, but are predators. If you are part of the occult world and are not a predator, you become a sacrifice. If you demonstrate fear, or emotion, they don't want you. Games teach you to be a predator � without risking any consequences. No one can harm you. So why not try the real thing? Many do."If you look at your card games, they are used to kill or incapacitate your opponent. This is flight simulation for ceremonial magick. Any form of real or ritual magick. You conjure entities that go out and attack your enemies."In the games, the entities pictured on the cards show the levels of power. Pokemon fans dealt with elemental beings. Yugi and Magic the Gathering teach kids to invoke demonic entities, serviters and fallen angelics."In the game, you put your characters out there to be slaughtered. You sacrifice your pawn to gain some points. If an occultist aims for people power at the top, he must remove the people in front of him."When these predators see food -- gullible, captivated players -- they never ignore the opportunity. If you are not dressed for spiritual war, you become their victim."
Those who love and follow God, will be repelled by occult myths. And those who love today's popular occultism will run from God's unchanging truths and boundaries. For if we follow God's way, we will -- by His life in us -- "abhor what is evil and cling to what is good." It's that simple.
The world cringes when it hears such truths. Its myths and fantasies are too enticing. That's why people find all kinds of arguments to justify their misdirected love.
In an article titled, "J.R.R. Tolkien: Truth and Myth," Tolkien's biographer, Joseph Pearce, wrote:
"... the power of Tolkien lies in the way that he succeeds, through myth, in making the unseen hand of providence felt by the reader."In his mythical creations, or sub-creations as he would call them, he shows how the unseen hand of God is felt far more forcefully in myth than it is ever felt in fiction. Paradoxically, fiction works with facts, albeit invented facts, whereas myth works with truth, albeit truth dressed in fancy disguises."Furthermore, since facts are physical and truth is metaphysical, myth, being metaphysical, is spiritual.� [5]
Do you see the strange reasoning? For example, if Tolkien's mythical realm of occult magic and multiple gods "makes the unseen hand of providence felt by the reader," what message does it actually teach? Does Pearce really believe that God's all wise providence can be felt through the man-made gods in the Lord of the Rings? If so, the seductive myth has blinded his eyes and distorted his view of God's reality.
But that's just what myth does. It provides counterfeit answers to life's deepest questions and shuts the door to the only God who can provide eternal, life-giving answers. Small wonder the UK-based Tolkien Society chose the uroborus, a circular serpent swallowing its tail as a symbol for its organization. On one of its pages, this pagan society highlights the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Peter's former battle ground:
"Dedicated to such practices as ceremonial magick and divination, it valued these more as gateways to true understanding of reality than for their intrinsic merit."[3]
Do you see the raging battle for truth and clarity? What, then, can parents do if their children are caught up in the mystical worlds of fantasy games? Peter made these suggestions:
1. "If your child is a professing Christian, don't immediately condemn the games. Instead, explain that the Christian life is based on a belief system -- on Jesus Christ. Then help the child evaluate the game based on the 10 commandments. This gives them a Biblical base to work from."
"If your child wants to keep the game, ask why. (They all do.) His answer will show you what the child doesn't understand -- or why he is resisting."
2. "Teach your child that every part of life must reflect his relationship with Christ. Christians are vulnerable because they compartmentalize their God. Kids say, 'It�s only a game! It�s just fantasy.' They don�t see their God as part of their daily life and play, so they leave Him out. In contrast, occultists base every thought and action on their beliefs."
To prepare your child for daily battles against tempting spiritual counterfeits, show them how to put on The Armor of God. These six truths expose and counter today's most popular deceptions. Even more important, they show us the way to an intimate relationship with God.
Endnotes:
1. Peter is not his real name. For his safety, we prefer to keep him anonymous. If you have questions for him, you can contact Him at this email address: askpeter_bba@yahoo.com
2. Starhawk, The Spiral Dance (New York: Harper & Row, 1979), p. 62.
3. Theodynamics at www.theodynamics.com/theo/volume2/ chapter10.html
4. www.themystica.com/mystica/ articles/a/below_above.html
5. Joseph Pearce. "J.R.R. Tolkien: Truth and Myth." Lay Witness (September 2001).
� 2003 Berit Kjos - All Rights Reserved
Sign
Up For Free E-Mail Alerts
Berit Kjos is a widely respected researcher, writer and conference speaker. A frequent guest on national radio and television programs, Kjos has been interviewed on Point of View (Marlin Maddoux), The 700 Club, Bible Answer Man, Beverly LaHaye Live, Crosstalk and Family Radio Network. She has also been a guest on "Talk Back Live" (CNN) and other secular radio and TV networks. Her last two books are A Twist of Faith and Brave New Schools. Kjos Ministries Web Site: http://www.crossroad.to/index.html
"To work magic is to weave the unseen forces into form, to soar beyond sight, to explore the uncharted dream realm of the hidden reality... to leap beyond imagination into that space between the worlds where fantasy becomes real; to be at once animal and god..."