I thought this might be an interesting topic of discussion. And since there isn't a thread about Chaos magick, I thought I should create one.
And here we go:
What is Chaos magick.
I'll cite Peter Caroll, whose book "Liber null" is considered the defining work of the Chaos magick movement:
To be fair, I find it hard to define Chaos magick, even though I actually started practicing by practicing Chaos magick. To me, Chaos magick is an eclectic path where you are allowed to be very creative within a system.…if you want a one-line definition with which most Chaoists would probably not disagree, then I offer the following. Chaoists usually accept the meta-belief that belief is a tool for achieving effects; it is not an end in itself.
My guess is, if you haven't heard of Chaos magick before, you have no idea what I'm talking about.
Well, here's a little more info:
- from WikipediaAlthough there are a few techniques unique to chaos magic (such as some forms of sigil magic), chaos magic is often highly individualistic and borrows liberally from other belief systems, due to chaos magic having a central belief that belief is a tool. Some common sources of inspiration include such diverse areas as science fiction, scientific theories, traditional ceremonial magic, neoshamanism, eastern philosophy, world religions, and individual experimentation. Despite tremendous individual variation, chaos magicians (sometimes called "chaotes") often work with chaotic and humorous paradigms, such as the worship of Hundun from Taoism or Eris from Discordianism and it is common for chaotes to believe in whatever god suits their current paradigm and discard it when necessary. Chaotes can be agnostic or atheist.
According to chaos practitioners a computer is the central tool for connecting the followers, building virtual knowledge libraries and it also could be used for the simulation of the online ritual environment.
Where to start with Chaos magick
I participated in another forum once and there they used to call Chaos magick "Cartoon magick". So I though I should provide a link to make it easier to understand: Psychonaut Field Manual: A Cartoon Guide to Chaos Magick
Here's a link to Peter Caroll's "Liber null".
Well, I know it's not much, but I hope we can turn this into a discussion thread and I'll be very happy if others chime in too and provide more info.