Product Description

Magic is a doorway through which we step into mystery, wildness, and immanence. We live in a world subject to extensive and seemingly, all-embracing systems of social and personal control that continually feed us the lie that we are each alone, helpless, and powerless to effect change. Magic is about change. Changing your circumstances so that you strive to live according to a developing sense of personal responsibility; that you can effect change around you if you choose; that we are not helpless cogs in some clockwork universe. All acts of personal/collective liberation are magical acts. Magic leads us into exhilaration and ecstasy; into insight and understanding; into changing ourselves and the world in which we participate. Through magic we may come to explore the possibilities of freedom.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #283429 in Books
• Published on: 1995-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Review
"Most modern books on magic are not worth reading. To his credit, Phil Hine has produced a tour de force which should be studied." -- Ian Read, Editor, Chaos International

"Phil Hine is one of the leading exponents of what is likely the fastest growing school of thaumaturgy: Chaos Magick." -- James Martin, Abrasax Magazine

"Phil Hine shows himself to be one of the leading thinkers in the field, and one of the least dogmatic." -- Steve Moore, Fortean Times

"Phil Hine's book is the most concise statement...of the logic of modern magic. Magic, in the light of modern physics, quantum theory and probability theory is now approaching science. We hope that a result of this will be a synthesis so that science will become more magical and magic more scientific." -- William S. Burroughs, author of Naked Lunch

"The author is one of the rising stars of Chaos Magic." -- Peter J. Carroll, author of Liber Kaos and PsyberMagick

"Most modern books on magic are not worth reading. To his credit, Phil Hine has produced a tour de force which should be studied." -- Ian Read, Editor, Chaos International

"Phil Hine is one of the leading exponents of what is likely the fastest growing school of thaumaturgy: Chaos Magick." -- James Martin, Abrasax Magazine

"Phil Hine shows himself to be one of the leading thinkers in the field, and one of the least dogmatic." -- Steve Moore, Fortean Times

"Phil Hine's book is the most concise statement...of the logic of modern magic. Magic, in the light of modern physics, quantum theory and probability theory is now approaching science. We hope that a result of this will be a synthesis so that science will become more magical and magic more scientific." -- William S. Burroughs, author of Naked Lunch

"The author is one of the rising stars of Chaos Magic." -- Peter J. Carroll, author of Liber Kaos and PsyberMagick

"Most modern books on magic are not worth reading. To his credit, Phil Hine has produced a tour de force which should be studied." -- Ian Read, Editor, Chaos International

"Phil Hine is one of the leading exponents of what is likely the fastest growing school of thaumaturgy: Chaos Magick." -- James Martin, Abrasax Magazine

"Phil Hine shows himself to be one of the leading thinkers in the field, and one of the least dogmatic." -- Steve Moore, Fortean Times

"Phil Hine's book is the most concise statement...of the logic of modern magic. Magic, in the light of modern physics, quantum theory and probability theory is now approaching science. We hope that a result of this will be a synthesis so that science will become more magical and magic more scientific." -- William S. Burroughs, author of Naked Lunch

"The author is one of the rising stars of Chaos Magic." --Peter J. Carroll, author of Liber Kaos and PsyberMagick

About the Author
Phil Hine is a former editor of the internationally acclaimed magazine Chaos International. He divides his time among doing magic, recovering and then writing about it afterwards. He has facilitated workshops and seminars on modern magical practice in America and Europe. He is the author of Prime Chaos, The Pseudonomicon, and Chaos Servitors: A Users Guide. He lives in London, England.

Customer Reviews

Review for non-practitioners, by a non-practitioner
You may have noted that all the other reviews of "Condensed Chaos" (at least as of this date) are by practitioners of magick, so their concern is whether the this book helps them advance the state of their art. If you are a non-practitioner, as I am, you might wonder what this book is about and whether these folks are really serious about this magick stuff or whether they are putting you on. Well, here's my take on "Condensed Chaos," from a non-practitioner's point of view.

In brief, if you took a ballpoint pen and crossed out the word "magick" on every page of the book, you would have terse but comprehensive outline about what you need to do to assert your will in world. The secret is to maintain a clear intention of what you want; when this is absolutely clear, all of your actions naturally work towards your ends. However, maintaining a clear intention is easier said than done, since your brain, which was originally designed to help you climb down from the trees and throw rocks at small mammals, is not so good at dealing with life off the savannah. Much of the book is about the necessity to discipline your mind so that you can achieve this clarity of intention (plus some techniques for doing this). There are also techniques for tricking your mind, so that it lets you do what you want without it getting in the way.

I was surprised to find myself thinking, "Yes, this all makes sense" for most of the things he talked about. For example, he describes creating a sigil (a magical symbol) or a mantra derived from statement of purpose and then focusing on the sigil or mantra rather than the statment of purpose. My take on this is that the sigil is form of subliminal suggestion. Many times when you try to push yourself into doing something, your brain pushes back. By focusing your brain's border patrol on a sigil, however, you can subconsciously evoke a suggestion, sneaking it in through the back door.

So, where's all the spooky stuff? He doesn't spend much time talking about this, although he has one interesting story about a friend and him talking to a shadowy figure on his stairway, then just walking away from it when it couldn't give a convincing account of why it was there. I had the impression that it was not really important whether you achieved your ends through normal or paranormal channels. So, even if you don't buy into occult stuff, you could still make use of what he has to say.

What makes "chaos magick" different from other magical traditions is that it embraces all traditions---a kind of Unitarianism of the occult world. It also does not take itself too seriously; humor is an important component of its practice. For example, the magical servitor that helps you get through traffic is visualized as a cat on a skateboard. There is some tie-in with chaos theory, with he notion that brain activity turns into macroscopic effects in the world (the "butterfly effect," doncha know), but I get the impression that most of the stuff it embraces (fractals, quantum theory, etc.) is more important for its metaphorical impact than for any purported theoretical grounding.

A 'should-have' introductory text
Condensed Chaos opens by describing magic as being about change, not merely the "Magick is the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will" Crowley spoke of, but a more refined version, describing it more in terms of liberation, saying "Through magic we may come to explore the possibilities of freedom" (pg. 11). Then moves into a brief history of chaos magick, from A. O. Spare to Crowley to Carroll to Eris and Discordianism, laying the groundwork for chaos magick as we've come to know it and how it got that way.

Six "Core Principles of Chaos Magic" are outlined, the first being "Avoidance of Dogmatism'" while somewhat ironic in a list of "core principles" is a common ideal, and indeed few chaotes would contest these points. The fourth principle especially, "Diverse Approaches", is another reoccurring theme in chaos magick. As Hine sagely notes: "If you use only one magical model, sooner or later the Universe will present you with something that won't fit your parameters." (pg. 25) Though he also recognizes that "Chaos Magick not about discarding all rules and restraints, but the process of discovering the most effective guidelines and disciplines which enable you to effect change in the world." (pg. 26)

While liberation and freedom are possible, it does not come without possible consequence, as described in the section on dangers and pitfalls. Hine covers many of the possible hazards of magickal practice, detailing what to look out for and what to avoid, adequately preparing the would-be practitioner as much as possible, or at the very least, letting hir know what might be expected, and how to recognize signs of idiocy. Sensibly, he does this before getting into discussion of techniques, and even advises taking breaks as needed.

Hine uses numerous cute acronyms, such as 'C.H.A.O.S.', 'D.R.A.T.', 'S.P.L.I.F.F.', 'A. P.I.E.', etc. to abbreviate formulae and concepts, effectively making them easy to remember.

Instructions are given for servitor creation, programming, launching via various methods as well as practical examples for servitors successfully launched in various workshops and lectures. It contains relatively few straight rituals, mostly suggestions and comments, taking information approach rather than an instruction manual which force feeds information. Hine stresses flexibility without seeming wishy-washy, or being overly ridged, effectively maintaining that fine balance between the two extremes.

One thing that did annoy me was the over-emphasis given on how one appears to others. Adapting yourself to suit others to give in to what they want to see in the hopes that they will perceive greatness in you, while the method may work, why anyone would want to do such a thing in the first place? Pleasing the outside world to please yourself doesn't sit well with me, perhaps it's the years of reading Objectivist literature or hanging out with Satanists, but it did made something in me twinge. Fortunately, it's not a dominating feature in the book, and does stress self-evaluation and trying to maintain an honest view of oneself.

This is definitely a 'should-have' introductory text covering a wide variety of topics from the practical aspects of magick: dream recall, sigil, servitors, etc., to the more esoteric theories and suggestions as to why things work the way they do - and why not. An excellent introduction to chaos magick, and magick in general.

Good magick
In the field of magick, there is much that is obscure, vexing and downright confusing. Phil Hine has done readers a tremendous service in creating a well-crafted tome of magickal instruction that will be of benefit for everyone from the most staid ceremonialist to the wildest neo-anarch street shaman.

Hine writes in a unique, appealing voice, and his commentary never degenerates into insistence that the way he presents is best for any and all. Instead, he knows that the wise magician will eventually draw from innumerable sources to create his or her own unique brand of magick and mysticism. He is content to let his work be one of the many helpful resources a student may find along the way.

This alone elevates the book as a whole, and coupled with Hine's clear and consise musings on the natural of ritual and the utility of magick makes for a work that is both appealing to the novice and the experienced magician alike. One of the clearest voices in the still-young field of Chaos Magick, Hine's work is a worthy addition to any magician's bookshelf.