Editing TheStarsAreRight:EllisMailingIntro (section)

==Discussion of ritual magic, 'witchcraft', the power of patterns, and critters==

This section deals mainly with categorizing observed and anecdotal phenomena into predictable models, without attempting to explain in detail why things are the way they are.  The purpose of the document is to allow people to recognize what they see and predict the consequences, in much the same way as a traditional occult investigator might.  Thus, this section has some light theory, but most of it is very pragmatic and focuses on the "what" of things without much of the "why."

'''Elements of Ritual magic'''
* rhythm and repetition gives power
* the rules of similarity and contagion hold true
* influences (personages, entities, etc) exist that are associated with certain shapes, patterns, substances or elements of nature and can be commanded or influenced to act for the practitioner
* blood has great power to unlock these forces
* sacrifice (of all kinds) has great power to unlock these forces

Most ritual magicians tie magic and religion closely together, however the essential mechanisms of pattern and sacrifice seem the same regardless of the faith of the practitioner; only the trappings change

Many witches etc are in it for themselves at the expense of others; be wary.

Psychic leys and hotspots are often preferred spots for ritual magic
* magic rituals performed in these places work better
* psi energy responds to closed shapes and repetitious movements 
* psi energy is released by ritual participants and thus is a component in such rituals
** give examples	
* these rituals and their effects are also impressed upon the psi flux and may cause a site to be "tainted" by them more or less permanently.

Under some conditions psi hotspots may thus be trained through ritual (or, one presumes, natural causes) to evidence distinct persistent characteristics and even 'personalities'.  Give examples
* the 'crow hotspot' in Nebraska
* the black altar stone in Ithaca NY
* others

Ritual magic results generally come in one of two forms, bodied or unbodied
* bodied results give the impression that a demon, angel, monster or servant has been brought forth to serve the will of the practitioner
** such invocations almost always require blood sacrifice
** the effects tend to be quite durable
* unbodied results (spells, curses) give the impression that the practitioner has caused an effect to occur through force of will
** such invocations rarely require blood sacrifice, though some other form may be required
** the effects tend to be transitory
* this correlation between sacrifice and embodiment is notable; though Carl does not attempt to explain the mechanism, several referenced sources (listed here) from historical texts note that the invoked creature is oft said to feed upon the sacrifice's life, needing that vitality in order to enter our world.

Carl notes here, in passing, that none of the trappings of spiritualists (horns, ectoplasm, knocks etc) seem to have any reality; that while there do appear to be real psychics none of them require these things -- such effects and the usual s&eacute;ance rigamarole seem thus far to be clear signs of fakery.