Training Our Imaginations To Do Magic

Mindfulness is Fond Attention

TRAINING OUR IMAGINATIONS TO DO MAGICK

—excerpted from my book ASTROLOGY IS REAL

In the dictionary, the first definition of “magic” is “the art of producing illusions as entertainment by the use of sleight of hand and deceptive devices.”

A more appealing definition doesn’t appear in most dictionaries. It’s my adjustment of an idea by occultist Aleister Crowley: “Magick is the science and art of causing practical changes to occur in accordance with our true will—under the rigorous guidance of love.”

(I prefer using Crowley’s spelling, “magick,” which distinguishes it from the less interesting kind.)

What is our true will? It’s the psychospiritual fuel we access to implement our life’s mission. It’s the driving force that empowers us to know and express our soul’s code.

Here’s the catch: Our true will is fully available only if we anchor it in love. And we must ceaselessly reinvigorate and reinvent our devotion to that practice. We can’t just do it on happy days when we’re in a good mood. It must be a daily task.

Another catch: We must train our imagination to serve our true will. That’s hard work! It requires us to do what doesn’t come naturally: to stop it from conjuring fear and illusions that leak our psychic energy.

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When we cultivate a vivid perception of being intimately interwoven with the greater rhythms that create and sustain life on our planet, they naturally assist and guide us as we carry out our true will.

When we have identified, defined, and tapped into our true will, we are united with the inexhaustible energy of those greater rhythms.

When we affirm our desire to perform magick that serves love, beauty, justice, and truth, the greater rhythms provide us with the most useful expressions of their specific personal support and inspiration.

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In response to the above definition of magick, a reader asked me, “Is this done by retraining negative thoughts to be positive thoughts?”

Here’s how I replied: That’s complicated!

I suggest that when negative thoughts come up, we trace them back to their source. Are they based on objective truth? Or are they partially or entirely generated by fears and delusions?

If the former, we should take measures to respond constructively to the legitimate worries. If the latter, let’s pivot hard as we substitute positive thoughts for the irrelevant negativity.

The reader responded: “That’s much easier said than done. I am flooded with negative thoughts that have a hint of truth to them, but at the same time I am too stern with myself. The negative thoughts are exaggerated. And I can see where the truth lies in them, but I can’t seem to reclaim my power over them. It’s like knowing the truth isn’t enough. I am at odds with myself.”

I replied: The retraining takes practice and diligence and commitment. Can’t happen overnight. I suggest you compose a vow that you will work on steadily for a year and a day.

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Here’s a useful practice for all of us. I invite you, dear reader, and I also invite me, to write down brief descriptions of the five most pleasurable moments we have experienced in our lives. Then we will authorize our imaginations to dwell luxuriantly on these memories for 20 minutes.

If we catch ourselves slipping into a negative train of thought, we will interrupt it immediately and compel ourselves to return to our fantasies about the Big Five Ecstatic Moments.

Let’s try this once a day for 30 days.

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TOXIC POSITIVITY AND TOXIC NEGATIVITY

I am in favor of critiquing what some observers call “toxic positivity.” When we refuse to look at difficulties and insist on being compulsively optimistic, we spawn monsters.

At the same time, I think toxic negativity is at least as big a problem. The sheer immensity of cynicism and nihilism is so pervasive that most of us take it for granted. It’s the air we breathe.

My hypothesis is that our moment in history is more thoroughly under the wicked curse of pessimism than most other ages.

But it’s also true that humans have always been under that spell. Modern science has gathered vivid evidence that we literally take pleasure in feeling negative emotions. We may even willingly dive back into misery again and again for the same reason we eagerly climb aboard a roller coaster or go bungee jumping: We get a rush from it.

That is, the pleasure/reward centers of our brains light up and release dopamine. And we can get addicted to whatever causes our brain to release dopamine, whether it’s chocolate or screaming arguments.

More info:

• 5 Ways Your Brain Is Tricking You into Being Miserable

• Confronting the Negativity Bias

• Brain's reward center also responds to bad experiences

• The Keys to Happiness, and Why We Don't Use Them

• Our Brain's Negative Bias

• We're programmed to be dissatisfied

• Why the Teen Brain Is Drawn to Risk

• Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change

• Is Your Negativity Getting in the Way of Your Creativity?

• Why Our Brains Are Wired for Negativity — and What to Do About It

• Why Does Your Brain Love Negativity? The Negativity Bias

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GENERATING POSITIVITY WITHOUT IGNORING NEGATIVITY

What can we do about the fact that our brains are predisposed to generate and dwell on disturbing, demoralizing, and draining thoughts?

Andrew Newberg, MD and Mark Waldman write: “To overcome our neural bias for negativity, we must repetitiously and consciously generate as many positive thoughts as we can.”

“When you generate a minimum of five positive thoughts to each negative one, you’ll experience an optimal range of human functioning.”

Newberg and Waldman don’t advise us to never say no. They don’t believe it’s unhealthy to express skepticism and discernment and resistance when appropriate. They simply argue that we have a neural bias, a built-in biological predilection for fear-based reactions, which may have served our distant ancestors but is now a debilitating handicap.

More: https://tinyurl.com/d3jhcxh

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ASTROLOGY IS REAL is available at

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FINDING A BALANCE

“I’ve found a nice balance,” writes EarthMover, one of my readers, “between living like someone who has overdosed on delusional optimism and someone who thinks everything and everyone sucks. I can see things as they really are instead of through either rose-colored glasses or trash-colored glasses.

“That means I can cultivate true objectivity, not the fake cynical kind. I free myself from negative emotional biases that used to cloud my ability to see the partially hidden beauty all around me.

“At the same time, I’m not addicted to the idea that I should be eternally happy and blithe and sweet. When the dark moods descend on me, I trust them. I know they are openings into equally sacred perceptions and insights.”

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY For This Perfect Moment ARIES (March 21-April 19): I suspect two notable phenomena will coalesce in your sphere sometime soon. The first is a surplus supply of luck. I’m not sure why, but the fates will be sending surges of good karma your way. The second phenomenon is this: You might not be entirely alert for the potential luck flowing in your direction, and it may not leap out and grab you. That could be a problem. Fortunately, you are reading this oracle, which means you are getting a heads-up about the looming opportunity. Now that you realize you must be vigilant for the serendipitous blessings, I’m confident you will spot them and claim them.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You will be wise to summon extra love and rapport as you ruminate on your vivid upcoming decisions. Wouldn’t you like to bask in the helpful influences of smart allies who respect you? How nurturing would it feel to receive healing encouragement and warm appreciation? I suggest you convene a conference of trusted advisors, good listeners, sunny mentors, wisdom keepers, and spirit guides. Maybe even convene a series of such gatherings. Now is an excellent time to call in all your favors and get the most inspirational support possible as you navigate your way to the next chapter of your life story.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): If you drink alcohol, don't operate a forklift or backhoe. If you gamble, protect yourself with safeguards and have a backup plan. If you feel called to explore altered states of consciousness, consider doing meditation, dancing, or chanting holy songs instead of ingesting drugs. If you have an itch to go hang-gliding or sky-jumping, triple-check your equipment. And if you have the urge to try to walk on the water, don a lifejacket first. But please note, dear Gemini: I am not advising you to timidly huddle in your comfort zone. On the contrary. I highly recommend you stretch your limits. Just be secure and smart as you do.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I plotted out my usual astrological reckonings for your current destiny. Then I slipped into a meditative trance and asked the spirits to show me future scenes that correspond to my assessments. In one prominent vision, I beheld you partying heartily, navigating your avid and inquisitive way through convivial gatherings. In other scenes, I saw you engaged in lively discussions with interesting people who expanded your understanding of the meaning of life in general and the meaning of your life in particular. I conclude that intelligent revelry will be a main theme for you. Productive excitement. Pleasurable intrigue. Connections that enliven and tonify your imagination.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The theory of synchronicity proposes that hidden patterns are woven into our lives. Though they may ordinarily be hard to detect, they can become vividly visible under certain circumstances. But we have to adjust the way we interpret reality. Here’s a clue: Be alert for three meaningful coincidences that happen within a short time and seem related to each other. I predict the emergence of at least one set of these coincidences in the coming weeks—maybe as many as four. Synchronicities are coming! You have entered the More-Than-Mere-Coincidence Zone.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Psychologists J. Clayton Lafferty and Lorraine F. Lafferty wrote a book called *Perfectionism: A Sure Cure for Happiness*. It's based on their work with clients who damaged their lives "in the illusory pursuit of the unrealistic and unattainable standard of perfection." In my observation, many of us are susceptible to this bad habit, but you Virgos tend to be the most susceptible of all. The good news is that you now have an excellent chance to loosen the grip of perfectionism. You are more receptive than usual to intuitions about how to relax your aspirations without compromising your competence. As inspiration, consider these words from author Henry James: "Excellence does not require perfection." Leadership expert R. R. Stutman adds: "If perfection is an obstacle course, excellence is a masterful dance."

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SUPPORT

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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): "Everyone is a moon and has a dark side which they never show to anybody," wrote author Mark Twain. I agree that everyone is a moon and has a dark side. But it’s important to note that our dark sides are not inherently ugly or bad. Psychologist Carl Jung proved to me that our dark sides may contain latent, wounded, or unappreciated beauty. To be healthy, in fact, we should cultivate a vigorous relationship with our dark side. In doing so, we can draw out hidden and undeveloped assets. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you Libras to do this.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your current state has metaphorical resemblances to idling in your car, waiting and waiting and waiting for the red light to change. But here’s the good news: I expect the signal will turn green very soon—maybe even within minutes after you read this horoscope. Here’s more good news: Your unlucky number will stop popping up so often, and your lucky number will be a frequent visitor. I’m also happy to report that the “Please don’t touch” signs will disappear. This means you will have expanded permission to consort intimately with influences you need to consort with.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I think it’s time to graduate from your lessons in toxic kinds of enchantment and launch a new experiment with healthy kinds of enchantment. If you agree, spend the next few days checking to see if any part of you is numb, apathetic, or unreceptive. Non-feelings like these suggest you may be under the enchantment of influences that are cramping your imagination. The next step is to go in quest of experiences, people, and situations that excite your imagination, rouse your reverence, and raise your appreciation for holy mysteries. Life will conspire benevolently on your behalf if you connect yourself with magic, marvels, and miracles.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Luther Burbank (1849–1926) was a practical artist. Using crossbreeding, he developed over 800 novel varieties of vegetables, fruits, grains, and flowers. Among his handiwork was the russet Burbank potato, a blight-resistant food designed to help Ireland recover from its Great Famine. My personal favorite was his Flaming Gold nectarine, one of the 217 fruits he devised. I propose that Burbank serve as your role model in the coming weeks. I believe you have the power to summon highly pragmatic creativity.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): L. R. McBride wrote the book *The Kahuna: Versatile Mystics of Old Hawaii*. He describes the role of the kahuna, who is a blend of sorcerer, scholar, and healer. At one point, a kahuna gives advice to an American tourist, saying, “You have moved too fast for too long. You have left part of yourself behind. Now you should slow down so that part of you can catch up." I’m offering you the same advice right now, Aquarius. Here’s your homework: Dream up three fun things you can do to invite and welcome back the left-behind parts of you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In the course of my life, I have heard the following three statements from various people: 1. “Everything would be better between us if you would just be different from who you are.” 2. "I would like you more if you were somebody else." 3. “Why won’t you change to be more like the person I wish you would be?" I’m sure you have heard similar pronouncements yourself, Pisces. But now here’s the good news: I don’t think you will have to endure much, if any, of such phenomena in the coming months. Why? First, because you will be more purely your authentic self than you have ever been. Second, because your allies, colleagues, and loved ones—the only people who matter, really—are likely to be extra welcoming to your genuine self.

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