Chaos magic is often called results-based magick or success magic. The goal is to achieve specific results through the use of magic rituals, symbols, sigils, and other traditional occult practices. It is separate from any belief other than the belief that one can influence outcomes via magical means.
How Is Chaos Magic Used?
Each practitioner uses chaos magic is used differently. Basically, you create your own magical system, one that is totally individual to you: your goals, your personality, your strengths and weaknesses.
A practitioner of chaos magic might use methods from a variety of traditions. They might use traditional spells or make up entirely new ones. This personalizing of chaos magic is what makes it so powerful, and is why it's able to help the practitioner achieve results.
History of Chaos Magic
Chaos magic developed in England sometime during the 1970s. Occultist Austin Osman Spare (1886-1956), a popular British artist, is said to be the grandfather of this modern form of magic, since it is based partially on Spare's personal philosophy.
In the 1970s, English occultist author and publisher, Peter J. Carroll and occultist author Ray Sherwin carried Spare's theories forward. The two men created an organized magical system based on Spare's theories, dubbed chaos magic.
Different Types of Chaos Magic
In addition to individual spells or other practices, chaos magic also often makes use sigils. Some practitioners use them, and others don't. Again, it all depends on the practitioner and their goals.
Using Sigils
Austin Osman Spare used sigils that he believed would unlock latent talents within his unconscious mind. He believed he could use a form of trance medium painting to connect with forces beyond this world. The sigils he used were ones he created to bring about a desired result.
In general, you need a sigil that represents what you want. It is vital that your statement doesn't include anything negative. It must be a positive statement. Avoid words such as never, not, no, isn't aren't, don't, can't, etc.
An example of a negative improper sigil would be, "I don't want to be alone." An example of a correctly formed sigil for this same desire, "I want to find true love." This example demonstrates your actual desire and will. A few quick steps to create your own sigil include:
- Write down your desire or intention.
- Condense your statement to a few words.
- You need to remove all of the vowels from your statement.
- Write down the consonants, make sure you don't duplicate consonants so each is represented only one time. For example, if you have four Ls, then only write one L.
- Spare used only English, but some magicians use ancient languages or even magical alphabets.
- You will need to combine the consonants by joining them one-by-one.
- Start with the first letter and join the next one with a continuous line.
- You can create letter within letters within letters if you desire with the goal of making your sigil as compact and simple as possible.
You can be as artistic or as simple with this as you like. What matters is the deep focus you have on your goal or intention while creating it.
Once the sigil is made, you'll need to charge it just as you charge other magic object in a practice. For a sigil, you might want to simply visualize your goal while holding your hands over the sigil. If you're using your sigil in a candle magic spell, then you may decide to carve it into the candle.
After charging it, you'll need to activate your sigil, and the methods for doing that are individual, since every practice will look a bit different.
How to Get Started With Chaos Magic
Getting started in chaos magic is, essentially, as simple as deciding to practice it. It does not depend on your religious beliefs, what tradition of witchcraft you practice, or anything else.
Ray Sherwin (who helped popularize chaos magic) describes a person's belief in gods or demons as simply the beliefs of that individual that have nothing to do with Chaos Magick. He concludes, "I create and destroy beliefs according to their usefulness. In the words of the wise 'nothing is true, everything is permitted' - provided it interferes with no-one."
Use those practices that feel right to you. If sigils, or altars, or money bowls, or certain spells speak to you, then use them, and that becomes part of your practice. By being true to who you are and what draws you, your magic will be more powerful than if you tried to do it someone else's way.
Success and Results via Chaos Magic
Chaos magick is all about personalizing your practice. You can use sigils, or you can create your own practices by eliminating boundaries the same way Austin Osman Spare and the other proponents of chaos magic did. Make it your own, and see the results of your choices.
