I was going to write a piece tonight on how I think the Semiotic model is good but how we need a place for spirits and energy inside of it because the mechanics of those magical processes are really not adequately explained using consciousness terms alone.
Than Scott went ahead and wrote a better one than I was going to write.
There are a few points I was going to hit, but basically yeah, I am in agreement with most of his model. I will post more tomorrow or whenever I have time, but this is really good.
I cruised over to Patricks blog and lo and behold he seems to like it to.
Thanks much! I’m glad you found it a useful contribution to the discussion.
As far as points of disagreement, go for it. It’s very much a “rough draft” of a model and I’m sure it could use more tweaking before it’s ready for prime time, so to speak.
A quick question: are there any other “models” of magic besides the energy, spirit and information models already discussed?
Yes, there’s also the psychological model, and the meta-model, which takes elements from each model. For more on this, I recommend Frater U.’. D.’.'s essay, Models of Magic, which defines the models. He expands these models in High Magic (Llewellyn, 2005) as well.
Hi Psyche. Funny you popped up here today, I just went to Plutonica to see what you were up to. Wonderful that you reviewed the new book on Palo from Scarlett Imprint. I look forward to picking that up soon, I really liked his treatment of Kimbanda.
The thing about models is that you don’t need to get all Meta about it like Frater UD does. If you take the preceeding four models as independent and comprehensive models meant to explain the totality of magic, than meta models make sense in that you use whichever model is most appropriate, but the way Frater US presents it is almost like a Chaote choosing reality tunnel rather than an aknowlegement that each of these is actually a component of the whole.
In Strategic Sorrcery we use magic that fits well into energetic, spirit, information, and psychological models but there is no competition or switching of view and more than there is for switching view between gas and electric when driving a car.
You know what I mean?
I really like his article, especially the Info/Cyber portion which effected the way I thought about Akashic records and other mental plane magic, but there is just no reason to go Meta in the way that he suggests. I cannot see the point. To me its built on a false distinction anyway.
Very interesting post! The debates get more and more interesting.