Reading the title I can almost hear voices of skepticism creeping in my mind,
if this is your experience as well then I guess you are "normal" right?
Yeah..whatever that means!
What we don’t know scares us but more importantly it brings us in contact with our own fears like a child that sees monsters in the dark, the dark is nothing but a void where the mind can project anything that it fears or desires so that is it basically “fear of the unknown” demystified!
Spiritual esoteric practices are not that mysterious at all once you get to understand them. They entail simple and practical principles which could be applied by all people from various spheres of life. Self transformation is the ultimate goal of these practices and so anyone who is familiar with these principles knows that hopelessness or victim mentality is something that we choose and not some fate that we can never escape. Once you have this knowledge you will begin to take control of your life and start making brave decisions because you are no longer ruled by fear. Here are some of the qualities you will develop:
Reliance on your own intuition instead of always seeking validation from others who most probably know no better than you.
Willingness to make mistakes recognizing that they do not define you but instead refine you.
Lifting yourself out of bad moods or feelings of depression because you have cultivated healthy physical and mental habits.
Awareness of your emotions and how they affect others therefore motivating you to take charge of your emotions and become a positive influence on others.
The latter amplifies your personal magnetism which will draw the right people and opportunities to you.
Strong belief in your ability to succeed in all your endeavors.
The list can go on forever but we will stop here. Anyone who wants to change their life must know that the change will have to start with them first. I will also list a few examples of esoteric principles which are very practical and not just a bunch of airy fairy dust.
Mentalism:
This is one of the 7 hermetic principles, it means that all creation begins in the mind and that thought precedes action/creation which should be obvious to all right? This implies that by thinking positive thoughts you will act accordingly and create a life that corresponds with your dominant thoughts. You can train your mind by doing affirmations (positive self talk or mantra), practicing gratitude by reciting or writing down a list of things that you are grateful for everyday! Especially the little and simple things that we often take for granted.
Meditation:
This is the best practice of all and the benefits are immense. Meditation will help to ease the mind chatter, this is especially helpful if it is negative; it greatly reduces feelings of anxiety and it is also good for concentration which is a prerequisite for success in anything that we attempt.
Concentration:
I know what some of you might think! What does concentration have to do with esoteric practices? Well, like I said esoteric is more ordinary than you think. Concentration is central to everything that we do. Learning to direct your thoughts with no interruption is so important because perception and reality are influenced by this e.g. Not hearing someone when they are talking to you because your where deeply concentrated or how everything almost disappears in front of you when you are daydreaming? There is so much information on this phenomenon but I will skip it for the sake of simplicity. Concentration helps shift your thoughts away from distractions e.g. social media, television etc and helps you focus on things that are important for your success in life. Instead of meditation contemplation is another technique to train your mind. Pick a subject and time yourself to focus on it avoiding all distracting thoughts, 10 min a day for a month should show noticeable results.
Will-Power:
Magic is the ability to alter or influence reality in accordance to the will. Will power similar to concentration is a prerequisite to success, it is that element that helps us endure and persevere through life’s challenges. Without it we become subject to the will of others e.g. your boss was strong willed enough to endure the challenges of building a business, you are now their employee and they dictate your monthly income. Train your will power by setting small tasks for yourself and performing them accordingly without postponement or delay. With consistent practice this will strengthen your will and you can even gradually raise the difficulty level for more strength.
These are the basic practices that anyone can commit to, they seem so simple and rather unmagical but their effect is where the magic lies, like the alchemy of transmuting lead to gold. This is miraculous and yet so ordinary.
Yours Magically
Thabo Modise