Product Description

This phenomenal work possesses the very real possibility of being hailed as one of the most profound underground books on the magical arts ever written.

Never before has the occult nature of society, the Root Social Matrix, been discussed. In addition, the paradigm-shattering claim is made that this book contains the foundational framework underlying a thorough comprehension of the means by which the very fabric of reality can be manipulated through simple artistic techniques based on memetic symbology.

The ancient wisdom of the pagan sorcerers is combined with modern scientific social theory by a cultural anthropologist, resulting in a new age of magic where reality itself becomes mutable.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1208880 in Books
• Published on: 2004-04
• Binding: Paperback
• 170 pages

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
ARTISTIC MEMETIC MAGIC
Opening the Portal to the Astral-Daemonic Planes

Artistic Endeavors as Representations of Complex Memetic Structures: Spirit = Symbol = Complex Memetic Structure

Symbols embedded within works of art are re-presentations of complex memetic structures which in many cases can be correctly labeled thought viruses. Since all human beings who have had any prolonged contact with society are programmed to some degree, large portions of the human mind (especially the thinking portion of the psyche which utilizes language) are constructed almost entirely of complex memetic structures. The complex memetic structures which form the cognitive linguistic (language using) portions of the human mind possess strong defenses, both passive and active, against contamination by invading thought viruses and memetic structures. A human mind will resist any ideas which do not bind correctly within the existing memetic structures which form the framework of its linguistic consciousness. Programmed minds will only listen to what they want to hear. Therefore, it is seldom possible for an idea to be taught to another person directly. Ideas which do not fit into the binding points within a mind will be resisted and rejected. In many cases an individual will desire to convey a specific idea to other human beings, but finds, when offered in their most diluted form, his ideas will be rejected. Oftentimes the solution to this problem is to create a work of art in which the artist’s message, or root meaning, is embedded. By work of art is meant any artistic endeavor which is traditionally considered to reside within the artistic sphere; be it literature, painting, music, movies, sculpture, etc. The artwork serves to focus the attention of the programmed conscious mind, while the root meaning (thought virus or memetic structure) embedded within slips unnoticed into the subconscious.

There is no inherent goodness in art. The idea to be conveyed in a work of art can have any quality from a startling revelation intended to better the human condition to a blatant deception designed to conceal truth and take power. On many occasions an artist will embed a root meaning into his art which he believes will serve the greater good, but in reality the artist’s concept of the greater good may be nothing more than an unusually complex example of the replication phase of a thought virus of which the artist has been infected without his knowledge. Most artists, like most people, are programmed by the dominant memetic structures, or cultural ideal types. Dominant memetic structures are only concerned with maintaining their dominance by replicating to as many minds as possible, not with the greater good of humanity, except in how the greater good of humanity serves to benefit the replication possibilities of the dominant memetic structure.

All artwork, even the most rudimentary, contains complex memetic structures residing at many different levels within the work of art. An intelligent mind can dilute a work of art much as a chemist can dilute a uniform mixture of diverse chemicals. Recognition of the root meanings inherent in artistic endeavors can lead an individual to a source of great understanding and power.

Artistic Symbolism

Every artistic endeavor contains numerous symbols embedded at many different levels within the work of art. Some of these symbols are imbedded into the art with willed conscious intent while others are the result of subconscious communication. Of the two types of symbols inherent in artwork the subconscious symbols are the most interesting. The consciously created symbols within artwork are complex memetic structures which can be correctly labeled thought viruses or thought contagions, depending on whether the memetic structure attempts to use the mind it has infected for the purpose of further replication.

A Memetic Magician wishing to spread fashioned thought viruses would do well to consider imbedding his creations into a work of art and releasing that work of art to a target population. The artwork serves as an outer guise concealing the true form of the thought viruses contained within. The entertainment or aesthetic value of a work of art engages the attention of the conscious mind of the individual partaking of the work of art, allowing the thought viruses embedded within to penetrate the defenses of the unaware target’s complex mental memetic structure. Once the thought viruses have penetrated, instructions can be disseminated and replication can commence.

The symbols contained within a work of art can assume a variety of different forms depending on the type of art being examined. For the sake of brevity, this chapter will focus primarily on literature and paintings. But the principals contained herein are equally valid in regards to any variety of artistic endeavor.

Customer Reviews

Great Ideas
Very unusual and definitely will effect your views on magic and how it can be done. It is mostly geared towards writers, artists or people capable of putting things into public view. He gives you the means to create mental "viruses" which infect the minds of others and change brain programming. Very useful if you have a way to diseminate work into a public forum.

It is also useful as a means of seeing how people get programmed and offers a way to get a measure of your mind un-programmed as well as giving you the chance of what you will re-program your mind with.

Rock your World (View)
"Memetic Magic" by R. Kirk Packwood is that rarest of books, not so much a paradigm shifter as a paradigm exploder. To that rarest of individuals ready to absorb what Packwood says, "Memetic Magic" can not only change the reader's Reality, but assist the reader in what he terms manipulating the Root Social Matrix, the very fabric of consensus Reality.

How many are actually at the stage of being able to both comprehend and utilize memetic magic remains to be seen, but Packwood's exegesis of his main thesis, the centrality of the meme, "the basic unit of socio-cultural transmission..." page 21, is a fascinating new departure from the prevailing theories of memes and the cultural diffusion of ideas, which are themselves quite avant garde.

Truly an essential text for those interested in mass magic and particularly for those obsessed (as the Saturnine/Mercurial combined types tend to be) with the deep, hidden and occult factors of the human condition.

I wanted to like this!
First off, be aware that the magical aspects of the book don't make a serious appearance until halfway (or so) into the book.

Packwood initially spends a great deal of time explaining memetics and his idea of their role in the "root social matrix." I personally dislike this term, and would have preferred that he just use a compound variation of the word "culture." But I guess using the word "matrix" is chic nowawadays (God, I hope that meme dies soon).

Once Packwood explains meme theory, he introduces automatic drawing techniques for invocation/evocation and literary meme magick. One of the reviewers is right. It works. The problem I had is that he doesn't provide more detailed suggestions. I just wasn't satisfied with the "magick" portion of the book.

Oh hell, I liked this book. I really did, but it ran out of steam towards the parts I was really curious about. I want to recommend this book to chaotes, but it's thin in the magickal application department. And yes, I appreciate the few techniques he provides, but I want more theory, more speculation about where I could go with this. I want to see how I can build my own engine, not just get a jumpstart.

My only other problem was that Packwood seemed so enamored with his own re-labeling of memetics, that he sometimes made the language inaccessible. Other than that (oh, and none of the drawings are in color!!!), it's a good introduction for people who want to learn memetics in a unique way.

For chaos magicians, I recommend "Condensed Chaos" by Hines (sorry, Mr. Packwood!).