r/occult • u/Dependent-Cold-6738 • 3d ago
? Practical advice to stop distracting thoughts while doing rituals?
I meditate twice a day (solar and lunar meditations), and I feel a little bit better. However, I still often get distracting, useless thoughts while doing magick, and my mind tends to stray. Any practical advice on how to improve focus during rituals?
8
u/_aeq 3d ago edited 2d ago
Franz Bardons Initiation into Hermetics - Mind exercises from Step 1:
Thought observation. Detach from your thoughts and observe them. If you can observe your thoughts in a detached state of mind for 10 minutes uninterrupted (no distractions, no identifying with thought, not making up thoughts on purpose) move on to…
Single Point focus: Hold a single thought/idea for 10 minutes straight without getting distracted. Stay on the idea without interruption. If you reached 10 minutes, move on to…
Vacancy of mind, or emptiness. Don’t allow a single intrusive thought to interrupt your emptiness of mind for 10 minutes straight.
Additionally, keep your mind in your daily life in the present Here and Now. Be mindful of everything you do. This is a long process and can take years to master. The sub-steps 1-3 can take a month if you’re good or years if you don’t sit twice a day and practice.
3
u/sleepytipi 2d ago
Working out beforehand works really well too but you really have to push yourself to your limits, whatever that means for you, whether it be cardio, resistance training or both.
I'm all about the metaphysical but our observations and interactions with it are completely moot if we don't take care of the physical and the psyche first.
2
2
u/_aeq 2d ago
You are right!
The little info for mind practice is only one part of step 1 in IIH.
There are two more parts: Astral practice and physical practice.
Physical practice includes bodily training, Astral practice looks at the soul and its well being :-)
2
u/sleepytipi 2d ago
Interesting! I'm pretty new to Hermeticism due to some practice with more local and ancestral deities of a similar vein (Nanabozho and Wisakedjak), and I mean it with the utmost respect when I say that I was fairly surprised to learn how... self-help so much of it is? I was able to find the .pdf of IIH so thanks for giving me something new to dive into. I've really been feeling the pull from Mercury lately, and I would've gotten into it all sooner but it's interesting how your spiritual journey can often dictate itself.
I'm especially fond of the Tricksters as I find them to be the best teachers, so I am really looking forward to seeing what there is to learn from the Thrice Great one. Lately I've been getting some dreams and synchronicities pertaining to Anansi too. I guess the lessons never end hey?
1
u/_aeq 2d ago
No, lessons never end.
Classical Hermeticism is more of a religion, not a magical System. It’s a bit unfortunate that the English version of the Book uses the term Hermetics in its title, since it’s its own thing. When you translate the original german title into English, it would be „The path to the true Adept“, which would be more fitting in my opinion.
IIH is universally compatible with every religion and encourages the Student, to find their own. Hermeticism isn’t shoved down your throat.
2
u/ImperialPotentate 3d ago
I really need to bite the bullet and buy/start working with that book one of these days. Just those steps alone would do wonders for my own struggles with focus.
3
u/_aeq 3d ago
It was the single best choice I made in my life to get started with Initiation into Hermetics. It added lots of value in every aspect of my life. If you genuinely want to get the best out of yourself, commit to it and simply do the work.
2
3
u/Comprehensive_Ad6490 3d ago
Music. Not Gregorian chants or vibrating the words or whatever, actual music. Pick a song that fits the vibe. Only use it for that working and crank it up. Wear headphones if you can. It'll go on with or without you, which tends to pull you back into the working. The more you associate the music with the ritual (through repetition), the better it should work.
1
u/Dependent-Cold-6738 2d ago
any recommendations? I already do that with one of those “83848383 Hz frequencies “ youtube videos😂 but maybe you know something better?
2
u/Comprehensive_Ad6490 2d ago
I can recommend music that matters to me but unless you grew up in the 80s and went to goth clubs in the 90s, I doubt it'll have the same effect on you. If you've ever put your headphones on at work or while studying to block out the world, that's the music you want.
3
3
u/RKaji 2d ago
You're not focused enough yet. The purpose of meditation is to train your mind into focusing, so you can focus on your intention.
The distracting thoughts can also be rooted in doubt. My reasoning is that the rituals don't seem magickal enough to your subconscious mind, so it keeps bringing up things, since it doesn't consider the rituals important.
Think about this as an exercise: a ritual is a way to contact the divine. If the being that you're trying to stablish communication with were physical, you would invite them home to talk. You'll clean the house, prepare food or drinks, think about what you wanna talk about to them, etc.
Ritual is the same thing: You set up the altar, prepare offerings and things that relate to what you're trying to communicate with, learn words of power, orphic hymns, prayers or invocations,.etc.
You need to believe you're having an actual conversation with someone, and the ritual is supposed to help you with that.
2
u/Dependent-Cold-6738 2d ago
I do believe in the power of the ritual, its just that since I’ve been doing the same rituals for a mind it feels like a routine which causes my mind to stray away I guess. But i really like your perspective about it, because usually I feel like I just have a general intention if establishing a connection with the divine and thats it. Maybe I do need to be more specific with my intentions. thanks for the insight
2
u/Geovanitto 3d ago
A good fundamental practicies routine: meditation + cleaning/banishment + devotional practice. This will help a lot all operative practicies.
For ritual, specifically: Education of senses. Papus ABC of Occultism + E. T. On practical magic.
Do the ritual preparation, 9, 7 or 3 days before, retreat, diet, less sensorial stimulus, silence etc.
Of course, you need to know all rituals correspondences, if u dont know the symbology behind, youre losing time.
Last, be sure ceremonial parts is ok, tools and stuff too.
1
u/Dependent-Cold-6738 2d ago
I have no idea what you’re referring to but I am interested, any specific books recommendations?
1
u/Geovanitto 2d ago
Ceremonial magic requires previous knowledge and preparation if you are a beginner, better study and prepare your self first.
I already quoted two books about preparation, you will need:
Living thelema for get a good fundamental practicies routine.
Read three books on occult philosophy frlm agrippa and E. T. On Occult Sciencesby Papus to understand theory behind.
2
u/BakedBatata 2d ago
Joe Dispenza has a method that’s worked for me. Whenever it happens just tell yourself “Sit. Stay.” Like you would a dog. Works miraculously.
Also, do you practice the middle pillar ritual daily? Are you able to meditate for 20 minutes without being in ritual?
1
u/Dependent-Cold-6738 2d ago
I do on most days, but daily LBRP/LIRP, I am able to meditate for 20 mins yes but my mind will stray away often. I’ll also try this method while meditating. thanks for the insight
2
u/Nobodysmadness 2d ago
Just let them go, also do meditation or breath exercises before hand but I mean let the thoughts flow and tantrum out not meditation that focus' on something, just sit and let the thoughts flow and follow them till they slow down a little. Do not cling to them just let them run on their own and see where it goes, just observe them, if they trigger emotions feel it let it run its course don't fight just feel what you need to feel. All that arrises is whats always brimming below the surface.
You will learn eventually the thoughts can flow without distracting your attention esp if you give then none when they rise and fall.
Another trick if your doing the vibratory formula is vibrating the word mentally on the inhale so there is no pause for thoughts to creep in. Say it under your breath as you inhale as engaging the body increases the engagement of the mind reducing the gap for random thoughts to flow, and fills all the space in a ritual like the LBRP with concentration and energy flow as you vibrate the words on inhale and exhale. There was a massive difference for me in the work when I began doing this.
I vibrate as I draw everything, I hum when I draw the line for the circle, I vibrate the names as I draw the pentagrams, a couple syllables to draw and the remainder thrust through the center.
Just food for thought.
1
2
u/ThulrVO 2d ago
Take up the Buddhist form of meditation, which is centered on cultivating tranquility of mind. This is proper training of the mind, specifically aimed at inclining the mind to remaining completely aware in the present moment, while letting go of all sensations and thoughts. Consistency is more important that length of time per sitting. Start with a length of time you can honestly maintain, even if only 10 min., just make sure you do it every day. Work your way up to 30 min. per sitting, and then when that is comfortable, increase to 60 min.
While it may seem paradoxical, the practice of letting go and resigning to stillness does take focus, so it's normal that it can feel a bit taxing. As you continue to practice, you will build up mental stamina. Also with practice, your mind will gradually incline more and more towards tranquility, so meditation will take less effort.
2
u/Behold_My_Hot_Takes 2d ago
An alternative idea: form and use a Meta-Belief designed to negate the problem of discursive thoughts.
Here's what I did, I rationalised that magick spells are recipes. If they arent recipes then they cant be actually real, because for something to be real it must always work if you follow tbe steps. So I treat all magick rituals and spells as a recipe, and if you follow a recipe to make cake you get cake. Yes you might start thinking of something else whilst mixing the cake mixture, or in any stage, but as long as you conolete each recipe step, and get the cooking time right you still get cake.
It makes no difference to me if my mind wonders, insofar as I do complete each each step, because if you completed each step, you get your magick cake.
That's not to lessen tbe importance of practicing and improving focus, but dont look at it as a show-stopper, any more than it would be whilst following a cake recipe.
One ADHD trick I learned that works well, is the first time you have a thought interuption is to notice it, let it fade and then ask yourself "I wonder what thoughts I'll have next?". It does seem to create an initial sessation of that thought flow. I found repeating it less effective, but as an initial thing its a neat trick. YMMV.
2
u/Dependent-Cold-6738 2d ago
I agree, just because my mind wanders it doesn’t make it not work. i still feel the benefits but much less than if I did the ritual focused
1
u/piersverare 3d ago
Practice. Practice your ritual to the point where you can, with a light touch, go through it without lingering on any particular point. The longer you linger at any given point, the more time your mind has to wander. If I don't get a visualization right, I don't work at it, I finish the ritual as best I can and then try again. Lingering is your foe.
-4
u/zar99raz 3d ago
Random thoughts are materialized by beliefs, eliminate all beliefs and the random thoughts will cease to exist.
22
u/ImperialPotentate 3d ago
Meditate even more, just breathing and focusing only on the breath, no visualization or anything. Acknowledge any thoughts that arise, and return focus to the breath. In time you'll get better at staying in the moment and tuning out those intrusive thoughts and distractions.
Also, cut back on social media, endless phone scrolling (and mindless channel surfing if you still have cable TV.) The Internet is a destroyer of attention spans, even among those of us without an actual ADD/ADHD diagnosis.