Frater Mat Apr
In order to properly begin I will include the definitions of "To Mega Therion" (The Great Beast) , concerning Magick, Yoga, and Art. "Magick is the Science & Art of causing Change in conformity with Will". "Yoga means Union". "All Art is Magick".
From the outset it is clear the three have much in common. The quotation above of Magick invokes the very word "Art" in its definition! Anyone familiar with Crowley's writings has read of the bond Magick & Yoga share. The final statement seems to sum matters up nicely for us.
Art has two aspects, it is both active (magick?) and passive (yoga?). The act of creating pieces of Art can be described as the active phase of the phenomenon Art. The passive aspect would be the appreciating of created works. The latter is a much more common experience. The reasons for this lie in the very power of the skill, but this will be dealt with later in the essay.
When Art is created a multitude of events occur. Firstly, the mind must "behold a vision (a mental image must be formulated first, whether the artist be conscious of this or not)". Secondly, once the image is properly Understood (this implies the artist possesses, though very often only at the core of his/her being, Wisdom of the image), it is now prepared for the process of Creation. The scale of Mercy will allow much that the scale of Severity must correct. The artist him/herself is personally included during the addition of Beauty. Once more is the piece considered, this time in the light of Victory and Splendour. Until finally the piece is finalized, a Foundation to be adored, not simply a page to be torn and crumpled. Thus marks the Creation of a piece of Art, a welcome addition to the Kingdom of Earth. I apologize for carrying (a similar analogy could be worked out for yoga as well- though up the Tree and not down!) this out as I did; but it should suffice as an indication as to the power Art wreaks of.
This image, once free from the mind, rarely replicates the actual "vision". This will of course vary in degree by the skill of the artist (I know of NO artist that has ever duplicated exactly the initial, intended image that inspired the will to create in the first place!). This can do some psychic damage to the artist, producing feelings of inadequacy or other similar maladies.
This is the dis-ease that has affected me so severely in the past. I was not confident of my ability as an artist, because I would consistently create works which were not of the caliber that I expect of myself. Anyone who has felt this terrible burden realizes that no amount of accolades will relieve the wound. I always received genuine praise from those I felt confident to share with. Yet something was missing. Confidence in Myself! Such weaknesses bind an artist. How is a Warrior to fare if Fear fills his heart before Battle? Such poisons corrupt the artist till at last he/she will do anything to be "not-an-artist".
These confessions of mine are not mindless ramblings but matters particular to my path, demons that I had to Exorcise. I have succeeded in certain ways, this website is a major one!
Concerning the positive reception of ones own works:
It should be clear to the reader that Art can be a wonderful tool. To the Magickian or the Yogi these skills lend assistance in so Grand a fashion. "Astral"-work, self-discovery, direct channel to the unconscious ( this could not be said of works that are prepared at the behest of someone else, where the request "restricts" in any fashion the true Will and Liberty of the Artist), reproducing (in any medium) the images of the Holy Books of Thelema, Tarot, etc.... etc.....
I have just discovered another demon, one nibbling on the confidence of my literary presence. I rest my fingers, for in time will I rid my Kingdom of all offending demons.
Frater Mat Apr
P.S. I shall slay a demon now, watch, as I work my fingers -the final dot of blood falls.
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