The Wall

We are defined by our borders, boundaries, and barriers. Humans seem to take great pleasure in and spend much energy on dividing themselves into groups based on which side of an often-arbitrary line they fall on, whether it be geographic, cultural, or philosophical. These boundaries not only define, but also constrain.  Despite this, these constructs are not entirely negative. Within the realm of individual psychology, it is both natural and necessary to set boundaries.

One boundary of great import to mankind is that between that which is deemed to be reality and that which is labeled as fantasy. Robert Anton Wilson famously observed that “the border between the Real and the Unreal was not fixed, but just marked the last place where rival gangs of shamans had fought each other to a stalemate.” This was an apt observation. We see this line move in fits and starts, as technological advances and new scientific discoveries redefine what is possible in our world.

The Wall has existed as long as human consciousness. Disbelief strengthens it. Since the dawn of the so-called Age of Reason, it has gotten stronger, as belief in the numinous has declined. It is as if the static produced by the subconscious minds of good “rational” folk has coalesced into a structure. Even the minds of operant magical practitioners are not above reproach in this construct, as the personal ‘psychic censor’ is a constituent of the Wall.

This boundary may be more permeable in certain liminal spaces. It also serves as a buffer between the mundane world and the more resistant metaphysical barrier that stands between the mind and the manifestation of Will. This barrier that tries to prevent magical effects from taking place can be seen as a luminous wall, and it is this wall you’ve got to get your intent through, over, or under. That’s the thing that resists us. That’s the one thing that we ultimately have to penetrate, that’s what that diagram in the Consensus article was all about. I’ve referred to this in the past as the barrier of ambient Will.

The firing off of the encapsulated, concentrated intent at the wall should be like a railgun firing a projectile. Fire as hard as you can with as much focus, intent, and intensity as you can. That’s one way to get through the Wall. The projectile, or payload, is a magical construct itself. Picture it as a concentric shell or slug composed of several layers. The intent is wrapped around a kernel concept, that magic is real, is effective, and can be performed by the casting sorcerer. This is the foundation upon which all magical work is carried out. The intent may be reduced to a symbol and visualized. Lastly, an outer shell of incredible strength and slipperiness to help it penetrate the wall.