There are so many branches of Paganism, Neopaganism, and occult traditions that it can be hard for someone unaware of the differences to understand them fully. Some of the paths are based on ancient practices, but some embrace a more modern approach. One of the most eclectic and unusual of these is the magical philosophy known as chaos magic.
Chaos Magic Utilizes Whatever Works
Chaos magic can be a little tricky to explain to someone unfamiliar to occult terms or magical practices. The most basic tenet of chaos magic is to use whatever means are necessary to accomplish a goal. This means chaos magicians might invoke a specific deity for one ritual, and a new deity for the next. Or a chaos magician might borrow some sacred Jewish or Christian text and combine it with some practices or ideas that the magician created himself.
Phil Hines, author of Oven Ready Chaos, explains that the big difference between other magical systems, such as Thelema or Gnosticism, is that there's an underlying current that runs through all magical methods, and any set of symbols, when combined with belief, can tap into this current. So the chaos magician is free to use what he believes in most, or whatever he can hold belief in at the time.
He goes on to recount a basic history of the technique, which arose in the 1970s. Pete Carroll, Ray Sherwin, and Austin Osman Spare all wrote semi-fictional books on the occult; these were used by small groups of ex-ceremonial magicians to develop a new system. Chaos theories were just beginning to be accepted by modern scientists – order was no longer assumed to be the ruling force of the Universe.
Results are What Matters Most in Chaos Magic
Chaos magic appeals to a lot of magic practitioners today because it offers results without years of training or initiation. Some traditionalists object to chaos magic, as they have spent many years acquiring skills and proving their abilities in apprenticeships. These traditionalists tend to use a very specific system of symbols, names, and tools, and believe that those items are just as important as the raw belief and will of the magic worker.
The chaos magician believes the opposite of this. He uses symbols, names, and tools mainly to help convince his mind that he's doing some special and out of the ordinary. His will and his belief in his own power is what actually causes the magic to work. Sigil magic is one of the best examples of a tool the chaos magician uses.
Sigilisation is the process of turning a statement of intent. Phil Hines provides a complete overview of the process in Oven Ready Chaos. It begins with a statement of intent, such as, "I will find a new job in the next week." This statement is reduced, by removing vowels and repeating letters, and worked into an abstract symbol. The symbol represents the intent, and even when the subconscious mind forgets its meaning the subconscious mind remembers it and works towards that goal.
Fiction, Making It Up As You Go Along, and Borrowing from Other Religions
Some object to chaos magicians' use is of fictional characters, the tendency to create their own deities, and the borrowing of revered symbols or information without a commitment to the religion. Some find it frustrating to see their god used as nothing more than a symbol to achieve a goal.
Of course, many other Neopagan groups, including some forms of Wiccanism, appropriate gods without deep knowledge of their historical meaning. There are some of Neopagans who worship a loving, comforting goddess that is historically known to be ruthless and warrior-like.
However, as Phil Hine states, most chaos magicians do their research and attempt to have a good understanding of the deities they are using. Instead of changing deities to fit their needs, they just make them up. They also don't claim to be followers of the deity, or tell others that only they know the truth about an ancient deity.
Chaos Magic Embraces Many Theories, Techniques, and Practices
The backbone of chaos magic is utilizing whatever works, the power of will and belief, and using the symbols and tools that invoke the most belief from the magician. Chaos magic has a mixed reputation, and of course has some less than scrupulous practitioners, but it is not always a negative or selfish practice. Many chaos magicians are respectful of the belief systems they use, or choose to rely on fictional or self-created information.
Sources:
Hine, Phil, Oven Ready Chaos. Chaos International Publications, (1992).
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