How it started
I found myself interested in sigil crafting, and I very quickly found myself knowing that I had made more powerful sigils when I let the movement of the pen flow in alignment with my intention or connection to the divine. I am more diviner than manifester, and I’m discovering that there is very fine line between the two – but that’s another story!
As I experimented with some of the techniques of sigil creation – creating them using specific guidelines and procedures – I found myself getting gripped, and very clear felt my connection to the divine turning disappearing into a cloud.
This is when I realized I needed to lean into how it was correct for me. I still reference and study symbols that already utilized – like points and circles and triangles and crosses. It is my personal belief that the meanings behind these symbols are charged strongly as many people throughout many years have utilized them for the same meaning, and if intention is a true force, then it stands to reason that when intention on a specific symbol repeatedly and by many – then the alignment of that meaning becomes stronger. Even if I were to not choose to use that symbol for that meaning, I believe it is important to know what already exists in the ether (or collective consciousness).
Finding Chaos Magic
Woven into this acceptance of my own practice of sigil making, I came across the principles of chaos magic. I happened to have taken the principles outlined below from Phil Hine’s “Condensed Chaos: An Introduction to Chaos Magic”; it aligns with what I’ve seen elsewhere and more aptly it aligns with my definition of Chaos Magic. Holding these principles in mind created a shift in me where I have been able to start experimenting and documenting my experience. I do not, by any stretch, have a solid practice – I really am just starting. My commentary on the principles below speak to how they have begun to shift my mind in a way of openness where I can step into my personal power and humbly receive and mutate in harmony with source.
Principle 1 – Avoiding Dogma
This has been one of those “spiral” lessons in my life – where I’ve been met with deeper and deeper understandings of letting go of all “should be” and “must be,” and allowing all opinions and paths to exist. Careful not to overly attach to the “rule” of avoiding dogma into an insane paradox, I remember this principle to allow a “light grip/at the ready” – ready to let go or hold on tightly – staying open and attentive to respond to change.
Principle 2 – Personal Experience/Experimentation
This is founded on an idea that what may work for one may not work for another. A specified ritual or technique may be helpful to share, and it also doesn’t need to be a set rule that is set forth upon high by those who haven’t even tried it themselves. I like that it suggests that a knowledge share is done with invitation and without prescription. This concept has personally unlocked a grip that I had on being able to experiment for myself. It quieted that “you are doing it wrong” doubt in my head, which allowed me to more clearly hear the guidance of source.
Principle 3 – Technical Excellence
This principle clarifies that while Chaos Magic strips away dogmatic thinking and strict adherence to specific rituals, it does not mean that there is not strong and solid work. In fact, for the personal experience and experimentation to improve, one naturally works at honing their practice. I liken this to baking – while many say that baking requires strict adherence to recipes or it will fall apart. However, using more brown sugar or baking powder, or substituting Crisco for butter to yield a different texture can create new and delicious desserts. However, it’s not a matter of haphazardly throwing ingredients in the pot – it’s understanding what each of those do – and then – more importantly, working on it – trying different combinations, then trying to repeat it. Then respecting that that technique may work for you but may not work for others, and in fact, there may be something in your own practice that built your technical excellence to the point that really needs the repetitions to master and it cannot be simply taught.
Principle 4 – Deconditioning
This recognizing beliefs and ideas within yourself that may not be of yourself. For me, it has been in large part in trusting in that which cannot not be logically explained or even being curious about that which is unseen without tremendous skepticism, which I’m realizing is a bias in itself. Another large part of deconditioning for me, personally, has been in allowing myself to look into practices without worrying about cultural appropriation. It’s all rules – it’s “should be” and “shouldn’t do”. I remain open to correction if anything I am doing or saying disrespects the tradition of a culture I do not fully understand. I also have decided that I am allowed to follow the spirit and voice of the universe towards knowledge and practices that work for me. It is something that is a deep connection of my essence back to source and I cannot be overly concerned with how others may perceive my practice. And the major deconditioning for me comes down to: I am not responsible for their perception – I am responsible for my clear intention; the moment I imagine the potential ways in which I can be perceived, I lose focus on my intention.
Principle 5 – Diverse Approaches
It really comes down to “whatever works” – this non-attachment to the “right way” is so gloriously freeing to me. It may be obvious to some, but I also love the subversion involved in the idea that an approach can come from anything – even that of fantasy fiction, and even things in popular culture. Nothing is sacred and all can be. Just the act of holding this idea helps me personally on my deconditioning, in that I have the playground to do the ridiculous, and therefore my attention can stay focused on my intention and connection.
Principle 6 – Gnosis
Within the Chaos Magic framework – this is different than knowledge of the spiritual. This is “at-will” consciousness shifts. Hine’s categorizes them into “inhibitory states” (passive – i.e. yoga and meditation) and “excitatory states” – (active i.e. chanting and dance). Most of my personal experiments so far has been around this form of gnosis, as I have realized that my conditioning was a dam that was holding back a tremendous ease of power that I apparently possess to connect to source.
conclusion
Ultimately, chaos magic is the framework by which I hold reverence to the non-being of source and the action of change in which this reality flows. As I work more on my own practice, I will likely share what I have learned, all with the humility that I am one reflection of source.
The Scarf Witch 
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