Phil Hine
Encyclopedia
Philip M. Hine, more commonly known as Phil Hine, is a writer, book reviewer, and occultist. He became known internationally through his written works Pseudonomicon, Condensed Chaos, and Prime Chaos, as well as several essays on the topics of chaos magic
and Cthulhu Mythos
magick
.
, Hine got involved with chaos magic theory in West Yorkshire
in the 1980s. This was after he "picked up the fabled white edition of Liber Null by Peter J. Carroll at Sorcerer’s Apprentice." Hine subsequently published a series of booklets on "Urban Shamanism
", and a magic primer that has since been titled Condensed Chaos. This book has been described by William S. Burroughs
as "the most concise statement of the logic of modern magic."
He was a founder and co-editor of Pagan News in partnership with Rodney Orpheus
, and is a former editor and contributor to Ian Read
's magazine Chaos International. He has facilitated workshops and seminars on modern magical practice in America
and Europe
and contributed to a wide range of occult journals, being most active in the period 1986-1996.
As of 1997 he resides in South London
.
Hine is bisexual and has written many articles on this topic within occultism.
and an outline of some of its basic approaches, which presented a number of simple techniques.
Condensed Chaos is a full length expansion of this pamphlet focusing on basic techniques and the style of doing magick that has become associated with chaos magic
. It was later joined by a second companion volume Prime Chaos, which focused more on the construction and uses of more formalized ritual techniques.
Phil Hine is widely considered one of the most practical, down-to-earth, and accessible authors on the subject of occultism. Unlike the more complex writings of authors such as Aleister Crowley
, his works are considered highly successful at taking the mystical jargon out of magical writing.
Hine seems reluctant in his works to pin down a concise definition of magic. Instead he suggests that magic is both an encompassing, living force, and a mode of consciousness. This consciousness can be experienced as gnosis
but also part of everyday life. "Magic is a set of techniques and approaches for extending the limits of Achievable Reality" is probably the most concise definition of Hine's approach to magic.
Another definition is "a state of openness to a more expansive reality and the application of this state in one's life".
Phil Hine repeatedly stresses, probably strongly influenced by Robert Anton Wilson
and Neuro-linguistic Programming
, that the metaphysical frameworks used by certain schools of magic and their attendant goals for the practitioner are not inescapable absolutes, but, to the chaos magician, matters of style and practicality. Rather than giving metaphysical explanations of why something should work, he outlines a few basic techniques for altering states of consciousness, and insists that the only way to find out about magic is to try it yourself. He generally conforms to the opinion that certain forms of magic are executed in a state of gnosis
, but does not do so rigidly.
Following his suggestion that magic should be fun and based on whatever works, Hine shifts from semi-traditional Qabalistic ritual, to meditating on computer-programming-inspired flowcharts, to seemingly absurd Discordian
rites. The thrust of his advice is for the magician to be creative with that which they find inspiring, and to modify it according to their needs.
Chaos magic
Chaos magic is a school of the modern magical tradition which emphasizes the pragmatic use of belief systems and the creation of new and unorthodox methods.-General principles:...
and Cthulhu Mythos
Cthulhu Mythos
The Cthulhu Mythos is a shared fictional universe, based on the work of American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft.The term was first coined by August Derleth, a contemporary correspondent of Lovecraft, who used the name of the creature Cthulhu - a central figure in Lovecraft literature and the focus...
magick
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
.
Biography
Growing up in BlackpoolBlackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, Hine got involved with chaos magic theory in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
in the 1980s. This was after he "picked up the fabled white edition of Liber Null by Peter J. Carroll at Sorcerer’s Apprentice." Hine subsequently published a series of booklets on "Urban Shamanism
Urban Shamanism
Urban shamanism, also known as "digital shamanism" or "digital psychedelia", is a school of thought born out of the convergence of technological changes, art movements, and Eastern philosophies during the late 20th century. It parallels and is often associated with technopaganism...
", and a magic primer that has since been titled Condensed Chaos. This book has been described by William S. Burroughs
William S. Burroughs
William Seward Burroughs II was an American novelist, poet, essayist and spoken word performer. A primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author, he is considered to be "one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th...
as "the most concise statement of the logic of modern magic."
He was a founder and co-editor of Pagan News in partnership with Rodney Orpheus
Rodney Orpheus
Rodney Orpheus is a musician, record producer, author, lecturer, and a leading member of the Thelemic organization Ordo Templi Orientis...
, and is a former editor and contributor to Ian Read
Ian Read (musician)
Ian Read is an English neofolk and traditional folk musician.-History:Read left school at 16, and at the age of 17, he became an adherent of Germanic neopaganism and began studying Germanic paganism . He was particularly interested in galdor or magical metrical poetry and the runes...
's magazine Chaos International. He has facilitated workshops and seminars on modern magical practice in America
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and contributed to a wide range of occult journals, being most active in the period 1986-1996.
As of 1997 he resides in South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
.
Hine is bisexual and has written many articles on this topic within occultism.
Books
His earliest popular work was a small pamphlet now called Oven-Ready Chaos (formerly Condensed Chaos, a title that has been appropriated since for one of his full length books) which outlined a brief and simple "definition" of magic(k), a brief history of the school of practice called chaos magicChaos magic
Chaos magic is a school of the modern magical tradition which emphasizes the pragmatic use of belief systems and the creation of new and unorthodox methods.-General principles:...
and an outline of some of its basic approaches, which presented a number of simple techniques.
Condensed Chaos is a full length expansion of this pamphlet focusing on basic techniques and the style of doing magick that has become associated with chaos magic
Chaos magic
Chaos magic is a school of the modern magical tradition which emphasizes the pragmatic use of belief systems and the creation of new and unorthodox methods.-General principles:...
. It was later joined by a second companion volume Prime Chaos, which focused more on the construction and uses of more formalized ritual techniques.
Hine's approach
Phil Hine is widely considered one of the most practical, down-to-earth, and accessible authors on the subject of occultism. Unlike the more complex writings of authors such as Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
, his works are considered highly successful at taking the mystical jargon out of magical writing.
Definition of magic
Hine seems reluctant in his works to pin down a concise definition of magic. Instead he suggests that magic is both an encompassing, living force, and a mode of consciousness. This consciousness can be experienced as gnosis
Gnosis
Gnosis is the common Greek noun for knowledge . In the context of the English language gnosis generally refers to the word's meaning within the spheres of Christian mysticism, Mystery religions and Gnosticism where it signifies 'spiritual knowledge' in the sense of mystical enlightenment.-Related...
but also part of everyday life. "Magic is a set of techniques and approaches for extending the limits of Achievable Reality" is probably the most concise definition of Hine's approach to magic.
Another definition is "a state of openness to a more expansive reality and the application of this state in one's life".
Method
Phil Hine repeatedly stresses, probably strongly influenced by Robert Anton Wilson
Robert Anton Wilson
Robert Anton Wilson , known to friends as "Bob", was an American author and polymath who became at various times a novelist, philosopher, psychologist, essayist, editor, playwright, poet, futurist, civil libertarian and self-described agnostic mystic...
and Neuro-linguistic Programming
Neuro-linguistic programming
Neuro-linguistic programming is an approach to psychotherapy, self-help and organizational change. Founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder say that NLP is a model of interpersonal communication and a system of alternative therapy which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective...
, that the metaphysical frameworks used by certain schools of magic and their attendant goals for the practitioner are not inescapable absolutes, but, to the chaos magician, matters of style and practicality. Rather than giving metaphysical explanations of why something should work, he outlines a few basic techniques for altering states of consciousness, and insists that the only way to find out about magic is to try it yourself. He generally conforms to the opinion that certain forms of magic are executed in a state of gnosis
Gnosis
Gnosis is the common Greek noun for knowledge . In the context of the English language gnosis generally refers to the word's meaning within the spheres of Christian mysticism, Mystery religions and Gnosticism where it signifies 'spiritual knowledge' in the sense of mystical enlightenment.-Related...
, but does not do so rigidly.
Ritual style
Following his suggestion that magic should be fun and based on whatever works, Hine shifts from semi-traditional Qabalistic ritual, to meditating on computer-programming-inspired flowcharts, to seemingly absurd Discordian
Discordianism
Discordianism is a religion based on the worship of Eris , the Greco-Roman goddess of strife. It was founded circa 1958–1959 after the publication of its holy book the Principia Discordia, written by Malaclypse the Younger and Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst after a series of shared hallucinations at a...
rites. The thrust of his advice is for the magician to be creative with that which they find inspiring, and to modify it according to their needs.
Books
- Prime Chaos, 1993. ISBN 1-56184-137-4
- Condensed Chaos, 1995. ISBN 1-56184-117-X
- The Pseudonomicon 1996. ISBN 1-56184-195-1
Contributions to Anthologies
- Are You Illuminated? in The Book of Lies - the Disinformation Guide to Magick & the Occult 2003
- Foreword, to Chaotopia!: Magick & Ecstasy in the PandaemonAeon, Dave Lee, Attractor 1997
- "Cthulhu Madness" in The Starry Wisdom, Mitchell (ed), 2nd Edition, Creation Press 1996
- Riding the Serpent, in Secrets of Western Tantra, New Falcon Publications, 1996
- "Sexual Magick: A Chaos Perspective", in Sex, Magick, Tantra & Tarot, New Falcon Publications, 1996
- "Responses to Chaos Culture", in Rebels & Devils, Hyatt (ed), New Falcon Publications 1996
- Foreword, to Chaos Ritual, Steve Wilson, Neptune Press 1994
- "Bitter Venoms", in A Taste of Things to Come, Revelations 23 Press, 1991
- "The Physics of Evocation", in The Nox Anthology, Sennitt & Hewitson-May (eds), New World Publishing, 1990
- "Dark Entries", in Starry Wisdom, Pagan News Publications, 1990
Out of Print
- Walking Between The Worlds: Techniques of Modern Shamanism Vol.1 (1989)
- Two Worlds & Inbetween: Techniques of Modern Shamanism Vol. II (1989)
- Touched By Fire: Techniques of Modern Shamanism Vol. III (1990)
- Starry Wisdom (Collected essays from the Esoteric Order of Dagon, 1990)
- Chaos Servitors: A User Guide (1991)
- Condensed Chaos (original booklet, 1992) Available free online
Reviews
External links
Articles
- Occultism: a postmodern perspective by Phil Hine (1988)]
- On Cursing by Phil Hine - a presentation made at UKAOS 1992
- Rites that go wrong by Phil Hine
- Rips to the Edge
- Possession by Phil Hine
- Political ritual reconsidered
- On the Magical Egregore by Phil Hine
- Magic in the Great Outdoors by Phil Hine
- Magic for Healing: A Shamanic Perspective by Phil Hine
- Ekomagic by Phil Hine - a presentation made at the Wildwood Conference, 1994
- Divinitory Unfoldings by Phil Hine
- Black magic and the left-hand path by Phil Hine
- Analytic Techniques for Sorcery Interventions by Phil Hine
- For the Love of God: Variations of the Vaisnava School of Krishna Devotion by Phil Hine
- Zimbu Xototl Time by Phil Hine