The other day, my pet python, Benjamin, spent about fourteen hours sneaking up on an already very dead rat. Benjamin had not eaten for quite some time before this and was showing signs that he was hungry a few days prior. Yet, when a thawed rat was placed in his feeding area, he didn’t rush out to eat it. I came back a few hours later, and he was still in the same posture of watchful readiness.
The next morning, the rat was still there and Benjamin was invisible in his hide. Oh well…
Since I didn’t want my house smelling like dead rat, I took action. I grabbed the rat's tail with a pair of tongs and moved it just slightly backward. Benjamin exploded forward like a lunging fencer, struck the rat, and coiled himself around its neck in one fluid motion. Not needing to see any more of the grisly-albeit strangely beautiful- display, I left him to his meal.
I admire the level of attention Benjamin can sustain over his task. I am sure he has an inner life, though quite different than ours. If he has conscious thoughts to contend with, the way we do, I doubt I could ever grasp the shape of them. Still- even if there is nothing analogous to the “monkey mind” interfering with his prowess as a hunter- fourteen hours of focused attention is impressive.
Humans are hunters too, and throughout much of our history, our survival in large part depended on our ability to quiet our prodigiously active monkey minds and be still, quiet, and prepared for the kind of decisive action that seems to come so naturally to creatures like Benjamin. In many ways, it still does.
“As a mystical practice, meditation has always been a primarily masculine discipline. One of the most interesting speculations on its origins suggests that it evolved from hunting behaviors- the need for radical stillness and silence, for focused awareness, and for pinpoint readiness to act when the moment was precisely right.”
From The Way of the Rose: The Radical Path of the Divine Feminine Hidden in the Rosary by Clark Strand and Perdita Finn
A modern technique known as Tactical Calm is designed to help us find just that radical stillness in situations that would tend to take it from us.
“Whenever you notice agitation, worry, fatigue, and any distress symptom, simply exhale for 5 or 6 seconds with a pause at the end. Then breathe slowly into the lower ribs and abdomen through the nose for 3 or 4 seconds.
Repeat as needed.
TACTICAL (SQUARE) BREATHING
All special forces are now taught a variation of this which involves: 4 seconds exhale, 4 seconds hold, 4 seconds inhale and 4 seconds hold. This is used to get combat-ready (condition yellow) and effective by being calm, focused, and connected.”
-From “Take a deep breath” is bad advice! – The Resilience Institute
Students of yoga and other Eastern traditions may recognize this as a form of pranayama called Sama Vritti. Students of the various flavors of the Western Mystery Traditions may notice that this breathing technique is nearly identical to the Fourfold Breath - a classic prelude to various contemplative and meditative practices, rituals, and energy work in many traditions of ceremonial magic, esoteric mysticism, Hermetic, Druidic and Wiccan rites, etc.
(Now you can tell anyone you feel you might owe an explanation to that Spec Ops soldiers use magic to make them more effective warriors. If you’re tempted to argue “that’s not magic, that’s just breathing!” you may consider that your definition of magic isn’t isn’t inclusive enough to be accurate.)
So we have a simple, potent tool to help us tune our physiology to the demands of the present moment, while potentially aligning us on the more subtle planes as well. This is far from the end of the story though. There are plenty of times when being more like a snake on the hunt is NOT the best thing for us (though the demands of modern life might argue otherwise.)
Next time we’ll discuss some other modes of attention and consciousness and explore some potential avenues to greater access to them.
Other stuff.
this is a new project launching soon that I’m very excited about. Keep watching.
How Magicians Are Fighting Putin -
A brief and interesting read about the occult dimension of the war currently raging as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Curiously, though the article discusses efforts by British occultists to bolster the resistance to the Nazis in WW2, no mention is made of Dion Fortune’s contribution to the cause outlined in her book The Magical Battle of Britain.
Though I’m far from an adept Magus, I do have some thoughts about this. I can’t imagine that hexes and Florida Water spells are going to do much to hinder Vladimir Putin’s aggression, and I’d be concerned about the potential backlash that might be incurred.
You can’t tell me these two lunatics don’t have some powerful shit up their wizard robes.
So what CAN one do from here? I’m going to make a suggestion to focus any magical efforts into supporting the positive energy, resilience and resolve of the Ukrainian people and their resistance effort.
Another suggestion, prayer is one of the most well vetted spiritual practices in all human history. As an example, a friend shared this prayer with me recently:
The Lady of All The Nations Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the Father,
send now Your Spirit
over the earth.
Let the Holy Spirit live
in the hearts of all nations,
that they may be preserved
from degeneration, disaster and war.
May the Lady of All Nations,
the Blessed Virgin Mary,
be our Advocate.
Amen.
Interestingly the Lady of All the Nations made her appearances in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. This week a prominent Orthodox Church in Amsterdam is making waves with its rejection of Patriarch Kirill.
If you aren’t comfortable praying to Jesus or Mary, consider praying to whoever or whatever conception of Divinity resonates most with you.
Ok, that’s enough for now. Until next time.