Magick works at a level deeper than the conscious mind using principles known to both shamans and modern psychologists. [1] All that’s required is know the principles and understand them well enough to take action that utilizes them effectively.
Let’s consider the use of arousal in ritual. [2] Nearly everything about the content of any given ritual and the mages conduct during it serves one purpose: to get the mage hyped up!
The elementary reason for this is because the subconscious mind perks up and pays attention whenever we’re aroused, and whatever happens during this time it will consider more important than anything that happens when we’re more... sedate.
The subconscious will do this whenever we’re aroused, all on it’s own, whether we like it or not, whether we’re in the ritual chamber or not. It happens because our minds have evolved to keep us alive. Whenever our ancestors became aroused, it was something that was directly related to survival. At these moments, a part of our of subconscious mind takes as much information as it can so that it can give us a heads up in the future.
The mechanism is the same whether it’s activation is intentional or not. The primary difference between when this happens as a matter of course and when a mage activates it in the ritual chamber is ONLY that the mage uses it intentionally with a purpose.
So, back to the original point of this post. This particular mechanism of mind is there regardless whether we know it’s there or not. Obviously, considering what I’ve just said, it’s still there no matter what anyone believes about magic. It works if you believe it’s some kind of energy. It works if you believe it happens due to the influence of spirits. It works if you believe it’s a mechanism of your mind. The active ingredient here is arousal, not belief.
I BELIEVE IN FOOTNOTES!
[1] Well, psychology as a science is still behind in many ways, but hey, it’s catching up.
[2] This is something I’ll be writing much more about later, ‘cause it’s one of the very fundamental basics of ritual magick.