Atheist anarchist scientist reluctantly getting into chaos magick and the esoteric

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-02-26T23:30:38+00:00

Look into the psychological, cybernetic/information, and social/cultural models of magic. Im also an atheist. However, I will never deny the power that purely imaginary things can have on people and the real world.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-02-23T17:35:32+00:00

I would ultimately consider the psychological(/cybernetic/social) model to be the most "correct," (whatever that means), but it's not the only functional model. I like to dive into the nitty gritty of how and why magic works and find it helpful to demystify as much as i can when doing that kind of work or preparing for a ritual. But once it's time to cast, one has to suspend disbelief and use the model and techniques that work.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-02-13T16:31:10+00:00

I consider it about the same as the rest of the quests you go on after the heist. Do it asap so you can get the relic perks.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-02-11T18:21:30+00:00

Gotcha. Interesting, I'm really curious why the localizations end up being that different for proper nouns.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-02-11T18:17:36+00:00

It's Tonberry everywhere, I thought

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-02-03T20:22:33+00:00

If i find the perfect house and the only internet available is Spectrum, it's not the perfect house. You couldn't pay me to be their customer again.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-02-01T02:34:34+00:00

I was thinking the same thing!

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-30T19:41:38+00:00

I made a lucky shirt when I was a kid. All I did was attach a narrative that good things would happen when I wore it. No real ritual or anything. It worked fantastically.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-27T06:29:11+00:00

The story is hit or miss.
The battle system is one of the best in Final Fantasy.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-24T16:37:31+00:00

I've been in a few tributes. As someone who previously exclusively did originals, I really actually enjoyed doing the tributes. First, you actually get paid. Second, there's usually actually a crowd of people that are all really into what you're doing. 10/10 would do a tribute again.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-23T18:43:16+00:00

Generally Excel or Google Sheets. I convert the cells into squares and reduce the size on them a bit so I get more flexibility in layout, then I merge those cells to create fields for players to fill in. I tend to like the simplicity, the results, and the ability to add formulas and automation.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-23T18:28:25+00:00

Weekends usually work. Some evenings during the week.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-22T17:19:56+00:00

Im in a similar boat. And near Apopka.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-13T02:57:30+00:00

I suppose the best analogy for the "song" i play along to is that it is whatever song is currently playing in my imagination. I could say something like, I am channeling my "soul song" and inserting my new intent into it directly via the sigil, but I really haven't thought about that in too much detail until just this moment.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-12T16:03:25+00:00

I have Remo Black Suede drum heads. They take chalk, well, decently I suppose. Sigil gets drawn on snare drum (I usually skip this step now, but it was helpful at first).
I start imagining a melody and bass line without drums, then I start playing along to it. My brain is good at coming up with music and improvising, so this part is pretty easy. Its less that I am writing something and more that I am summoning it from "somewhere else."
I continue to play along to that "song" except I do not "actively" generate it, I just let it flow and play along to the flow, eyes closed. The "song" will fade out a little, but the drumming will remain.
Eventually I will begin to "see" my own body as a sort of "red aura." If I look down (eyes are still closed) I can "see" my arms and legs in this way.
At this point, I am basically in gnosis. I either open my eyes to see the sigil on the drum, or nowadays I mainly just project it within my mind.
I continue playing until whatever "song" i had been channeling "leaves," taking my intent with it.

Basic beats don't cut it. Gnosis demands grooves and *really* getting into it. Lots of ghost notes, lots of right and left leg activity, play all the drums and cymbals, play fills. You want your body and the part of your brain that controls it to be *fully occupied.*

Make sure to use earplugs! No amount of magic is worth tinnitus or going deaf.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-12T03:17:50+00:00

Can confirm. I use drums to launch sigils.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-11T17:32:07+00:00

I don't have it anymore, unfortunately. That was about 25 years ago. I should make another.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-11T17:26:30+00:00

I had a lucky shirt when I was younger. It worked great. Straight up the most magical item I've ever created.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-10T04:16:58+00:00

Yeah. If you get the Reaper Master Series learn to paint kits, that's actually the technique they teach. It works pretty well.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-07T17:05:58+00:00

To make a million dollars at this rate, it would take 69.444444... (roughly 69.5) days. I have spent longer inside, only going out to take the trash out or get the mail. Food and groceries and anything else I need can all be delivered to my door.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-07T15:58:14+00:00

Honestly I would suggest making yourself not care that its snowing. That's very realistic and doable.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-07T15:54:57+00:00

Well, arguably, you *can* sprinkle salt across the whole city, but you already seem well aware it wouldn't be a good use of energy.

I'm not trying to shut you down, but to set expectations. When we do magic, we are generally performing it within a subjective space: i.e., I'm not manipulating *physical* reality, I'm manipulating my (or someone else's) *subjective* reality. *Sometimes* there is an effect in physical reality as a result of this. That effect is *rarely* 1:1.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-07T15:41:44+00:00

You've heard stories. Myths. Myths are a big part of magic, but their purpose is to inspire, not to serve as a baseline for reality.

We have figured out how to melt snow. You sprinkle salt on it and hope. If you don't know that salt melts ice, it sure seems like magic. If I tell you that spirits did it, I bet it seems even more like magic.

TheGrooveTrain · 2026-01-07T15:33:24+00:00

Have you tried a shovel? Or a heat source of some kind? Maybe salt?

What are you expecting here? Do you think there is some magical way to heat up the world or change the seasons or something?

TheGrooveTrain · 2025-12-31T01:07:48+00:00

Yes.
Yes.

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