Dark Magic

          My previous discussion of Pagan practice was purposefully lacking in a specific sub-straight known as Dark Paganism. I waited until now to introduce this specific subject because it exemplifies a subject of magic that bears elaboration. The prefix "Dark" and it's connotations are of the most broadly misunderstood and misgiving concepts in the magical world.

        The prefix "Dark", as in Dark Magic, Dark arts, Dark Paganism, etc. is a highly controversial branch of the already controversial tree of mysticism and magical thinking. What constitutes a practice or philosophy as being Dark will vary from person to person. Depending on who you speak to one tendency to burn a specific color of candle might be dark to one person yet white to another. Most connotations are centered around the idea of Greed effecting the practitioner's intentions, resulting in spells cast for the purposes of personal gain or revenge against another party.

       Distinctions like white and dark or black magic are considered arbitrary by most dedicated magicians. The effort to demonize or subjugate a specific set of practitioners much the same way all magic is demonized and considered heresy by orthodox religion. My personal view on this subjective argument is that Just because one shade of blue is darker than another does not mean one is cobalt and the other is cyan.

      To be frank, as elaborated upon in Coughlin's writing, Darkness usually denotes an element of morbid fascination. Dark imagery, as in images of mortality, animal spirits, nightscapes, torture, sacrifice, bodies and other dismal motifs pervade Dark Magic material, betraying a preserved influence of folk religion with savage imagery and ritualistic themes. Coughlin claims these themes are not so much evil as they are intrigued by the subject matter. These are the images mainstream culture often associates with discourse on the Occult, and then regards the system as evil.

   The spectrum of wholesome to unseemly magic becomes confused with the spectrum of morality and ethics associated with orthodox religion. This is further confounded by the insistence of some groups to refer to them as the left and right hand paths. Madame Blavatsky discussed in the 19th century her travels in Southern Asia where she gained teachings from foreign mystics. Of this material she reported learning of the left and right handed paths of Tantra.

     In Hinduism there is a claimed parallel in the divide between Left handed Tantra and Right handed Tantra (this set of beliefs and philosophy is very concerned with body parts and functions). Where on the right hand you have asceticism, vegetarianism, celibacy, etc. you have the inclusion of forbidden material and the breaking of taboo (eating meat, engaging in sexual activity) as a major concern of the Left hand path to gain deeper experiences. This is not considered inferior, unsightly or evil by Hinduism but condoned just the same as the Right hand path, save for the idea that it is far faster and more dangerous to experiment with due to its potency.

      If you refer to discourses on Vodou and Voodoo, You will again notice the idea of having a brand of ritualistic official considered more sinister or personally involved than the norm. From the Dark Pagan, Vodou and Tantric perspective the perception of greediness may stem from the fact that these traditions are much more focused on the personal development and empowerment. This is in contrast to those "Lighter" worship states involved in exterior deities, power structures and social cooperation. This in turn gives Dark Magic the image of power-hunger, irreverance and antagonism respectively.

      It is encouraged to refrain from judgement. People often like to have materials explained in terms of that which is correct or incorrect, corrupt and pure. Remember that all magic, no matter the altruism associated with its use, was demonized and punished as ethically unsound by orthodox religion. Remember also that all pedagogical mystic practices both divine and occult are considered morally bankrupt by the psychology of modernity.  The psychology of modernity is considered wicked by ecologists and this person and that person. This chain goes on indefinitely and in infinite cycles.

     I am not promoting relativism in the slightest I simply hope to show the often misunderstood black sheep of the mystical family in perspecive. A good example of this is a question I recently recieved on why this Blog is titled as Occult rather than with other more palatable adjectives, Arcane, Esoteric or Mystical. I seek in this set of posts to reseach and delve into subject matter and bring that which is shrouded, heterodox, and obscure into context with other matters of magic.