arethinn | (no subject)

I'm no longer subscribed to any of the technopagan-type communities where this would be appropriate, so wotthehell archy, wotthehell...

Anyone ever thought of working through computer games as a way of forming a magical effect? For example, I have been reading newsletters about peace meditations directed at events in Iran, etc. One of the major worries here of course is the development of nuclear weapons. (Not to mention the many already in the control of a certain big gorilla who shall remain nameless...) In the Infocom text game Trinity, the player goes back in time to the Trinity test site and sabotages the bomb (sorry guys, just gave away the ending there!) so that the program is abandoned and the whole timeline of World War III (which was just starting at the start of the game) is averted. So what about focusing magical intent through a game with a plotline or outcome similar to the desired effect, such as this one, as a way of working that effect in the world? Maybe a kind of immersive trance-playing? (probably helps to know how to solve the game to begin with, although I suppose with proper discipline, the frustration of trying to solve the puzzles could also be channelled...)

p.s. using silicon wafers as magic mirrors?

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Taylor covers this topic in his book "Pop Culture Magick" (which may as well be titled Magic For Geeks). He also talked about projecting a sigil onto your character in a single-character game, and absorbing the energy of defeated enemies into the sigil.

Well darn, and there I thought I had a neat idea. Guess there's nothing new under the sun.

p.s. using silicon wafers as magic mirrors?

===I have two, in fact.

Are they mounted in any kind of frame, or do you just use them loose?

Do they seem to work just like a regular glass mirror (if you've used one), or in fact any other random reflective surface, or is there something different about them? Do they seem better for certain applications or do they work well as a general use item?

===I obtained mine mounted on wooden plaques...they have a different aspect-feel in their use. I think it may really depend on the person using it on how they relate...I happen to like them as a communication mirror...(I now have them more as a space in the house...environment-aspect.

I haven't done either of those things, but they're neat ideas (especially the video game bit.) I have thought about video games as meditation - my friends thought of this during the time we were obsessed with Kirby Air Ride (specifically the City Trial part), and would sometimes see it in our head. It's not a terribly complex game, so it wouldn't be hard to play it in your head as a form of meditation/visualization. (Especially good for someone like me who has a hard time concentrating on nothing.)

I've also played with the idea of making graphics as magic. I occasionally make sigils, and have done one with a graphics program. This would be less stylized, more like making a picture of a result you wanted in some form. Working on design sometimes feels magical to me, especially when I've got good music on too.

Yes. People do things like this.
When I was actively playing online rpgs, I became aware that they acted as group focii that affected all who played, both while in the games and while outside of the games. some of that seemed psychological (but a lot of magic is), and some of it seemed like reality manipulation.

I have friends who have acquaintances who've been doing it since the early 90's. My friends refer to these people as techomancers, but I don't know what they call themselves.

I've also met some who just use the 'net itself as a communication and talent booster, and some who can operate inside c-space the way some can operate inside d-space or a-space.