I have been practicing the occult for several years now. However it has only been in the past year that I have started to teach some people who are new to occultism general. However going for solitary practitioner has given me an odd perspective as to the pitfalls that newbies faced. Going back in my journals i find myself falling into these at times and quickly getting out of them. But I felt I should at least document them if only so i can give this list to people who want me to teach them.
Magusitis - This Is what happens when a person realizes what they can actually do with magick and their ego goes on a full power trip. These people normally think that they are better than others even when they have just started out. This normally leads to a shining example of the Dunning–Kruger effect as the person in question pisses off someone(Or something) they shouldn't have. The solution for this is to realize that you are not special any person with a brain can do magick just because you figured out how to do it on purpose doesn't make you special if anything it makes you a nerd for reading so many books.
Prognastaphillia- I have never seen this documented in any books. However In the post chaos magick world I feel in necessary to say that DIVINATION IS NOT 100 PERCENT ACCURATE. Anyone who think such a thing is on the path to self destruction as they attempt to divine about each and every choice that they can make. No you do not need to consult the divine when trying to figure out what to have for lunch. Divination is a tool that can be used to look into the future. The future as many of you should well know is the most mutable thing in all of creation and as such looking into it and expecting it to stay exactly as you were told is like attempting to plant a flag in the ocean and wondering where it is after it gets washed away.
Irreverence - The occult is a spiritual practice. As such we work with things that can be thought of as divine. Some of these things we call "Gods." There are many myths about how people have gotten smited for so much as looking at these entity's the wrong way. Even if the myths aren't true for a specific entity. Do you really want to find out by pissing it off? Granted I find this mostly from bad chaos magicians and the solution is very simple. Pick some entity's and stick with them. They can be angels, Pagan gods, The Loa, Doesn't matter pick something and stick with it.
Lust for results - Magick takes time to manifest. Normally takes months. It will almost never manifest if you are thinking about it. If you keep trying to manifest something using magick the best way is to give up and let it go. If you cast a spell or ask a spirit. then you best be giving at least three months for it to manifest. Or you can just not cast spells you know if you're going to whine about things not manifesting you can stop casting for them(oh wait but then they might manifest.)
This is by no means an extensive list however these are the four that seem to come up the most often. I may do another post about Edgelord syndrome. However that is for another day. Peace out.
@justcallmedave, welcome and congratulations on making your first post! I gave you a $.02 vote! If you would be so kind to give me a follow in return that would be awesome!
Hi, I just followed you :-)
Follow back and we can help each other succeed! @hatu