MemeMagick 101

101: The Foundations of Meme Magick

Chaos Magic Explained

Origins

Chaos magic, the precursor to what we now recognize as meme magick, emerged in the late 20th century as a response to the more structured and dogmatic approaches to magical practice. Its beginnings can be traced back to the 1970s in the UK, with key figures like Peter J. Carroll and Ray Sherwin setting the stage with texts such as "Liber Null" and "Psychonaut." This movement was about breaking away from traditional magic's constraints, advocating for a more personal, pragmatic approach to achieving magical effects.

Key Concepts

• Belief as a Tool:One of the most revolutionary concepts in chaos magic is the idea that belief itself can be manipulated as a tool for magical workings. Chaos magicians argue that any belief can be adopted temporarily to achieve a desired outcome, and then discarded. This fluidity of belief is crucial for understanding meme magick, where the 'truth' of a meme is less important than its ability to influence or manifest an intent.
• Sigils:Sigils are graphical devices created for magical purposes, embodying a desire or intent in a form that bypasses the conscious mind. In chaos magic, practitioners might craft a sigil, charge it with energy through various means like meditation or sexual energy, and then let it work subconsciously. Memes act similarly within meme magick, where they are charged with intent through their creation and spread across digital platforms.
• Gnosis:Gnosis refers to a state of altered consciousness where the mind's usual filters are bypassed, making it more receptive to magical influence. This could be achieved through intense focus, sensory overload, or even exhaustion. In the context of meme magick, gnosis might be thought of as the moment a meme impacts the viewer's subconscious, perhaps through humor, shock, or emotional resonance, thereby 'casting' its spell.

Understanding these foundational aspects of chaos magic is essential for grasping how meme magick operates. By viewing memes as modern-day sigils, the spread of a meme across the internet can be seen as a collective ritual where each view, share, or reaction adds to the 'charge' or 'power' of the meme, potentially influencing reality or collective perception in accordance with the meme's embedded intent.

From Sigils to Memes

How Memes Serve as Modern Sigils

In chaos magic, a sigil is a symbol intended to represent and manifest a desire or intent, crafted to bypass the conscious mind and work at a subconscious level. Memes operate in a strikingly similar fashion within the realm of meme magick:

• Visual and Symbolic Language:Just like sigils, memes use imagery and text to convey complex ideas succinctly. A meme's strength lies in its ability to be instantly recognizable and to carry layers of meaning, often beyond what's explicitly shown.
• Viral Nature:Memes, like sigils, are meant to spread. While traditional sigils might be hidden or private, memes are public and thrive on being shared widely, thus amplifying their 'magical' effect through collective engagement.
• Subliminal Influence:Both sigils and memes work by embedding messages or emotions into the viewer's subconscious. The repetitive exposure to memes can subtly influence beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors, much like how a sigil's influence grows over time in the subconscious.

The Role of Intent and Belief in Meme Efficacy

The efficacy of meme magick, much like traditional chaos magic, hinges on two core elements:

• Intent:The creator of a meme infuses it with a specific intent, whether it's to spread an idea, influence public opinion, or even to manifest a change in the world. This intent is what 'charges' the meme, much like a sigil is charged with energy in chaos magic. The clearer and more focused the intent, the more potent the meme's potential influence.
• Belief:For a meme to have an effect, there must be a collective belief or at least an acceptance of its message. This belief doesn't need to be conscious or even rational; it's the act of sharing, laughing at, or reacting to a meme that reinforces its power. In chaos magic, belief in the sigil's ability to work is part of what makes it effective. In meme magick, belief in the meme's message or its cultural significance can lead to real-world changes or shifts in perception.

Together, intent and belief transform memes into more than mere internet humor; they become tools for cultural, social, or even political transformation. The widespread adoption of a meme can be seen as a form of collective magic, where each interaction with the meme adds to its overall 'spell', potentially shifting realities or at least the perception of them. This modern take on magic through memes highlights how the digital age has provided new avenues for ancient practices, blending the esoteric with the everyday in ways that are both innovative and potentially transformative.