Having said that, I just came up with an argument that shows that the energy model is indeed pretty self-contained when it comes to practical magic at least.

The question of a failed spell. The energy model would have the practitioner ask these questions:

1. Did I raise enough energy? (The one you already mentioned.)
2. Did I program the energy accurately? (I think this goes hand-in-hand with what you were saying about clear communication.)
3. Did I direct the energy properly? (This would also have to do with communication.)

As far as divination:

Since each tarot card (or rune or whatever) has its own vibration, the cards would line up with the vibrations that correspond to the probable future or the vibration of the situation that’s being asked about.

Of course, I’m not a firm believer in any model, so I’m just playing the devil’s advocate here.

As far as books, I did like your first book very much, so if you write something similar to that in the future, I’d be first in line!

I’m sorry you imagine my second book would bore you. It’s certainly not going to appeal to everyone.

I think I see where our disagreement might be. When you talk about a spell failing, you assume that a person working within an Energy model is a one-dimensional or one-minded person. I’ve never met anyone who used that model and thought that magic was all about raising enough energy. To be a successful magician (no matter what paradigm you’re working in) you have to have some basic skills like concentration, visualization, trance induction, etc. (This is just in general…I’ve had magic work without any of these, but they do improve chances of success.) So I would think anyone working with any model would probably assume that it was a combination of factors that led to the failure, and not just something that was model-specific. Basically, power is in the magician, and everything else is just there help him/her express that power. (I’ve seen this idea catch on in folk magic, as well. I belong to a hoodoo forum and pretty much everyone there agrees that while herbs and stones and oils have power, the spell caster must also have power to activate them properly.)

As far as divination, I’ve never been interested in that subject, so I can’t really say. But once again, people aren’t one-dimensional. Magic is not a religion that has strict rules. Each magician is an individual and probably more eclectic in their approach to magic than not.

As far as communication, isn’t that what all spellcasting is about at it’s core? The desire to make changes in the world though our will by communicating our desires to the Universe (or god, or our subconscious mind, etc. etc.)?

I do like the idea that everything is a symbol, but it’s a very slippery idea because it really doesn’t explain much of anything! Just like saying everything is energy or everything is Spirit. If you use the Info model, you’re manipulating symbols. If you use the energy model, you’re manipulating energy. If you use the spirit model, you’re manipulating spirits. It seems like all these models are really talking about the same thing…just with different wording!

Basically, what I’m saying is that no one model/paradigm of reality can explain everything that a person experiences in their lifetime. I think you said something similar to that in Postmodern Magic. So when talking about the Energy model, of course it doesn’t explain everything. I don’t think it even tries to. But it can still be a useful tool for some practitioners.

So, for the record, when I hear someone say “Everything is energy!” or “Everything is Spirit!” I do roll my eyes. But if they said “Energy/spirit/symbol is a useful concept in my magic” I wouldn’t have a problem with that. So when you say “Everything is a symbol!”, guess what my eyes are doing?

I’ve thought about getting your second book, but even though I am a writer, I have zero interest in linguistics. It bores me to tears! So it probably isn’t my cup of tea.

A vision board is a poster where you glue on pictures of your desires. For example, you could have a vision board for love. You put pictures of happy couples, how you want your mate to look, and you can even put words on it like “loving, caring, undestanding” or whatever. A vision board is a visual representation of your desire on which you can meditate.

Just wanted to add that because I thought it was an interesting question asking what you think about sigils and vision boards being related to each other. One is a symbolic representation of desire, while the other one is a literal one.

“Hello?….How long have I been talking to myself?” LOL

That was awkward.

Anyway, while I don’t really agree with you 100% (or with anyone, really), I think you have some pretty interesting/useful ideas, and it’s always nice to hear other people’s views on magic.

One thing I wanted to mention, though: All models of magic are equally right and wrong. Just as all models of magic are equally useful or not useful. I think it all depends on the individual. For some people the Spirit model is most useful and effective. For others it’s the Energy model, for you it’s the Information model, and so on.

I personally am not really drawn to the Information model because it seems so abstract to me. I’ve read you first book (Postmodern Magic) and I really didn’t get a clear picture of what this model entails. How does one go about casting a money spell using purely the Information model? (I probably should go back and look through the book, but I think that’s pretty much the same thought I had while reading it!) I’m personally more drawn to the Energy model because it has a clear step-by-step process that I find practical. I also like that it doesn’t really have to entail any physical tools because the basic process is Raise Energy –> Program Energy –> Direct Energy.

From what I understand of the Info model, it seems to be saying: everything is a symbol! Which to me seems pretty obvious. Of course Aphrodite is a representation of Love. And of course energy is a representation of magical power.

What I’m really interested in is how one would go about doing direct/mental magic in the Information model? Why do you consider this model more useful than the others? For example, if I wanted a new camera I would sit down, relax and raise energy. I’d form this energy into a ball between my hands and I would visualize the camera I wanted inside the ball and so on. Then I would just tell the energy ball (or thoughtform) to go on its merry way and get me that camera. That’s pretty simple and straightforward. How would you go about casting this spell using the Info model?

I did like that you talked about the joy of magic. That’s the kind of attitude that really does actually bring better results.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. There’s just a lot that I have on my mind.

trying to figure out pathworking for daath, tarot card and color and entity that i will be talking too can you help me.

Create an outline! Get motivated! freewriting sometimes helps…