#math and magic

[lsmontoya]

Math and magic!

Mathematics and magic are more intertwined than you think. For centuries, planets have been associated with specific numbers. The permutations of these numbers invoke their powers.

Take Saturn. Its numbers are 3, 9, 15, and 45. Draw a 3 by 3 square, and divide it into 9 equal spaces. Now fill the spaces with numbers from 1 to 9. Do it in such an order that the sum of all the numbers for each row, column, and diagonal is 15. You do realize that 3 times 15 is 45, right? There’s your magic square.

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The fist image (Public Domain) by The British Library, Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

[janothar]

I love applying math to magic! How about astral projection and the relationship between the macrocosm and the microcosm (as above, so below)?

Somehow I’d forgotten that I had this, so I’ll post it now.

The magic word here is “supermanifolds”.  A supermanifold is a geometric object that has two different types of functions called “odd” and “even” on it.  The even ones are like normal functions, they assign numbers to the points on the supermanifold.  The odd ones are weird, though.  They don’t work quite like that, but a product of two odd functions is an even function.  So, the odd ones can affect the even ones really easily.  But also, even times odd is odd, so it goes both ways.

In physics, the “even” functions are related to bosons, like photons and gluons, particles that handle forces, and the “odd” ones are fermions, like electrons and quarks that make up matter.

So, anyway, the as above, so below can be interpreted as a statement about the relationship between the odd and even functions on a supermanifold, but, furthermore, astral projection could be read as a human, who normally can only see the even functions, gaining access to traveling through the odd part of the universe.

[theemperorsfeather]

More on math

bellonanj73 said: In other words, following almost a pythagorean path…the whole divine number, etc….uh, phi (prounounced ‘fee’)

Huh. I don't know! I have done absolutely zero research at this point, and I am filing this away under "Cool Ideas I Want to Explore More" which file is getting vast and huge.

I have a feeling that bringing fractals into the picture might lead to something Lovecraftian, though. o.O

[theemperorsfeather]

Spirits and spirits. Also math.

Okay, so, I have noticed a few times that if I drink alcohol, I seem to lose my erm, psychic senses (for lack of a better word). Whatever sensations I associate with Presence - can't feel them any more. Doesn't take much; part of a bottle of cider. But suddenly: no more burning/tingling on my arms, no pressure on my cheekbones, nope nothing. (Have never tried while there was a /really strong/ sense of presence; not sure I'd want to. Might be rude, you know? Even if I'm sharing.)

On the one hand, sadface. On the other - if I want to NOT be distracted, and ASKING for a little peace doesn't work (it does sometimes), hey, booze to the rescue! And it's not like I am anywhere near drunk enough at that amount of alcohol to be incapable of doing things usefully and so on.

(I mentioned this to my girlfriend, because I was at her place and we were drinking cider and something dark (hey it turns out I like um I guess it's stouts?) and playing Fluxx, which I think should add to my stash of devotional tools because IT IS SO PERFECT OMG, and she confirmed this about alcohol. And referenced that one scene in "Constantine." Her music collection, put to random, served up some interesting choices relevant to the discussion of paganism we were having this evening.)

Also we talked about mathematics as a language or tool or something that explains the universe and I started wondering about using math for magical purposes. More than just simple numerology, that is. I don't know what that would look like, and while I have a degree in math, I have tried to block most of those memories, but . . . well. Hmm. Never thought that stuff might come in handy. Particular for this sort of application.

I will never be able to see the word "mathemagician" the same way again.