--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Much of magic as I understand it in the…" description: "\"“Much of magic as I understand it in the Western occult tradition is the search for the Self, with a capital S. This is understood as being the Great W..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/alan-moore-583_higher-self_much-of-magic-as-i-understand-it-in-the_2161205.jpg" --- # Much of magic as I understand it in the Western occult… ![“Much of magic as I understand it in the Western occult tradition is the search for the Self, with a capital S. This is understood as being the Great Work, as being the gold the alchemists sought, as being the Will, the Soul, the thing we have inside us that is behind the intellect, the body, the…” quote by Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/alan-moore-583_higher-self_much-of-magic-as-i-understand-it-in-the_2161205.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/alan-moore-583_higher-self_much-of-magic-as-i-understand-it-in-the_2161205.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/alan-moore-583_higher-self_much-of-magic-as-i-understand-it-in-the_2161205.jpg) > ““Much of magic as I understand it in the Western occult tradition is the search for the Self, with a capital S. This is understood as being the Great Work, as being the gold the alchemists sought, as being the Will, the Soul, the thing we have inside us that is behind the intellect, the body, the dreams. The inner dynamo of us, if you like. Now this is the single most important thing that we can ever attain, the knowledge of our own Self. And yet there are a frightening amount of people who seem to have the urge not just to ignore the Self, but actually seem to have the urge to obliterate themselves. This is horrific, but you can almost understand the desire to simply wipe out that awareness, because it’s too much of a responsibility to actually posses such a thing as a soul, such a precious thing. What if you break it? What if you lose it? Mightn’t it be best to anesthetize it, to deaden it, to destroy it, to not have to live with the pain of struggling towards it and trying to keep it pure? I think that the way that people immerse themselves in alcohol, in drugs, in television, in any of the addictions that our culture throws up, can be seen as a deliberate attempt to destroy any connection between themselves and the responsibility of accepting and owning a higher Self and then having to maintain it.”” [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quest for the true Self is the ultimate spiritual work, yet many avoid it through escapism. **In simple terms:** Finding your inner self is vital, but people often distract themselves. Key Takeaway Seek self‑knowledge, resist escapism. Themes spirituality self‑knowledge addiction Mood introspective thought‑provoking Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - addiction recovery - creative practice Key Concepts the Great Work inner dynamo responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What fears hold you from confronting your true self? - How can you balance responsibility with self‑care? A Different Perspective Self‑knowledge can be overwhelming and frightening. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Higher self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-self/) [Knowledge Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-self/) [Magic Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic-understand-2479857/) [Occult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occult/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [“Such a captive maiden, having plenty of time to think, soon realizes that her tower, its height and architecture, are like her ego only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pynchon/such-a-captive-maiden-having-plenty-of-time-to-think-soon-realizes/) [Thomas Pynchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pynchon/) > [“There are two Paths to the Innermost: the Way of the Mystic, which is the way of devotion and meditation, a solitary and subjective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dion-fortune/there-are-two-paths-to-the-innermost-the-way-of-the-mystic-which-is/) [Dion Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dion-fortune/) > [When forced to survive in an apocalyptic world, there are some characters that embrace their higher selves with some emerging as natural born leaders,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/when-forced-to-survive-in-an-apocalyptic-world-there-are-some/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [“If arts and music, precious gifts in themselves, were akin to memory, literature was the self-knowing of the species; the human mind accumulated, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cantrell/if-arts-and-music-precious-gifts-in-themselves-were-akin-to-memory/) [Mark Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cantrell/) > [“Before man attempts to solve the secrets of the Universe without, he should master the Universe within—the Kingdom of the Self. When he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-ramacharaka/before-man-attempts-to-solve-the-secrets-of-the-universe-without-he/) [Yogi Ramacharaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-ramacharaka/) > [Zen is all about self-study/knowledge and self-help!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mika/zen-is-all-about-self-study-knowledge-and-self-help/) [Mika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mika/) > [“Just as no particular branch of knowledge is self-sufficing so all branches together are not self-sufficing without the queen of knowledge, philosophy, nor the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-sertillanges/just-as-no-particular-branch-of-knowledge-is-self-sufficing-so-all/) [Antonin Sertillanges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-sertillanges/) > [The most elusive knowledge of all is self-knowledge and it is usually acquired laboriously through experience outside the classroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirra-komarovsky/the-most-elusive-knowledge-of-all-is-self-knowledge-and-it-is-usually/) [Mirra Komarovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirra-komarovsky/) > [“Agnan (ignorance of the Self) too is a kind of a light. But it shows relative or worldly happiness, and Gnan (knowledge of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/agnan-ignorance-of-the-self-too-is-a-kind-of-a-light-but-it-shows/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [While sincerity is to carry the weight of knowledge in the self, it is also to be the lightness of being clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/while-sincerity-is-to-carry-the-weight-of-knowledge-in-the-self-it-is/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [My wealth is in my knowledge of self, love, and spirituality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/my-wealth-is-in-my-knowledge-of-self-love-and-spirituality/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [“Where there is knowledge of the Self, there is eternal peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-negi/where-there-is-knowledge-of-the-self-there-is-eternal-peace/) [Shiva Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-negi/) > [What's interesting is to see us as we really are; only in this way we could arrive to the truly knowledge of one-self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samael-aun-weor/what-s-interesting-is-to-see-us-as-we-really-are-only-in-this-way-we/) [Samael Aun Weor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samael-aun-weor/) > [Happiness comes from self-knowledge. Self-knowledge means that you have understood your mind. Your mind is the whole universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/happiness-comes-from-self-knowledge-self-knowledge-means-that-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Where there is knowledge of the Self, there is immortality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-negi/where-there-is-knowledge-of-the-self-there-is-immortality/) [Shiva Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-negi/) ## More by Alan Moore > [I think that storytelling and creation are very close to what the center of what magic is about. I think not just for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/i-think-that-storytelling-and-creation-are-very-close-to-what-the/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [To some degree Satanism is purely a kind of disease of Christianity. You've got to really be Christian to believe in Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/to-some-degree-satanism-is-purely-a-kind-of-disease-of-christianity/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [There has been a rather unpleasant sensibility apparent in Frank Miller's work for quite a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/there-has-been-a-rather-unpleasant-sensibility-apparent-in-frank/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [I felt, if I'm going to react I might as well over react.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/i-felt-if-i-m-going-to-react-i-might-as-well-over-react/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [“Come, dry your eyes, for you are LIFE, rarer than a quark and unpredictable beyond the dreams of Heisenberg; the clay in which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/come-dry-your-eyes-for-you-are-life-rarer-than-a-quark-and/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Now everything is wonderful and hazardous and nothing's hypothetical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/now-everything-is-wonderful-and-hazardous-and-nothing-s-hypothetical/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [If you look at that incredible burst of fantastic characters that emerged in the late 19th century/early 20th century, you can see so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/if-you-look-at-that-incredible-burst-of-fantastic-characters-that/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [In many ways, my entire graphic novel career was a long diversion. Originally, all I wanted to do was to be an underground cartoonist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/in-many-ways-my-entire-graphic-novel-career-was-a-long-diversion/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [I was kind of a selfish child, who always wanted things his way, and I've kind of taken that over into my relationship with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/i-was-kind-of-a-selfish-child-who-always-wanted-things-his-way-and-i/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Magic is a state of mind. It is often portrayed as very black and gothic, and that is because certain practitioners played that up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/magic-is-a-state-of-mind-it-is-often-portrayed-as-very-black-and/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [“Above, great constellations wheeled to which our bonfire sparks ascended in their tiny mimicry”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/above-great-constellations-wheeled-to-which-our-bonfire-sparks/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [“You're my only remaining link to the world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/you-re-my-only-remaining-link-to-the-world/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Nothing ends, Adrian. Nothing ever ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/nothing-ends-adrian-nothing-ever-ends/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [On the one occasion where I did try writing a screenplay, I found the rewriting just unendurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/on-the-one-occasion-where-i-did-try-writing-a-screenplay-i-found-the/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [“The clothes you're wearing, the room, the house, the city that you're in. Everything in it started out in the human imagination. Your lives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/the-clothes-you-re-wearing-the-room-the-house-the-city-that-you-re-in/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) [Explore all 460 Alan Moore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) ## More Higher self quotes > [“You recognize your lower self when you look in a mirror, but only recognize your higher self when you look inside your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/you-recognize-your-lower-self-when-you-look-in-a-mirror-but-only/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [When forced to survive in an apocalyptic world, there are some characters that embrace their higher selves with some emerging as natural born leaders,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/when-forced-to-survive-in-an-apocalyptic-world-there-are-some/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [“Your attention please. This is not a rehearsal. This is not a drill. This is your life. Make the most of it. Become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-faust/your-attention-please-this-is-not-a-rehearsal-this-is-not-a-drill/) [Michael Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-faust/) > [“focus on a problem you’ve been dealing with in your daily life; it can be any problem you want a solution too. Speak in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-nolan/focus-on-a-problem-you-ve-been-dealing-with-in-your-daily-life-it-can/) [Natalie Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-nolan/) > [“Never allow your ego to diminish your ability to listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hopkins/never-allow-your-ego-to-diminish-your-ability-to-listen/) [Gary Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hopkins/) > [“Never allow dogmatic interpretations of Karma to keep you from defending what is right or just. 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We may say we know this but ours is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriah-mountain-dreamer/you-cannot-trade-the-courage-needed-to-live-every-moment-for-immunity/) [Oriah Mountain Dreamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriah-mountain-dreamer/) > [“You meet your higher self the day you turn your back on your lower self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/you-meet-your-higher-self-the-day-you-turn-your-back-on-your-lower/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“The universe is a gigantic amusement park in which we can have a ride or two.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-emunds/the-universe-is-a-gigantic-amusement-park-in-which-we-can-have-a-ride/) [Stefan Emunds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-emunds/) > [You can then further enhance the process of writing by forming the clear intention that your Higher Self will influence your writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-then-further-enhance-the-process-of-writing-by-forming-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Higher Self does not need a walk-in at the Avatar Level or any level because the Higher Self already exists as a consciousness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bravandt/the-higher-self-does-not-need-a-walk-in-at-the-avatar-level-or-any/) [Deborah Bravandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bravandt/) > [“I like anything that is thought provoking and elevates one's consciousness to the highest and out of it's safety net, making one breathe aspiration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-remes/i-like-anything-that-is-thought-provoking-and-elevates-one-s/) [Petra Remes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-remes/) > [When you contact the Higher Self, the source of power within, you tap into a reservoir of infinite power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/when-you-contact-the-higher-self-the-source-of-power-within-you-tap/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) [Browse all 206 Higher self quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-self/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Much of magic as I understand it in the Western occult tradition is the search for the Self, with a capital S. This is understood as being the Great Work, as being the gold the alchemists sought, as being the Will, the Soul, the thing we have inside us that is behind the intellect, the body, the dreams. The inner dynamo of us, if you like. Now this is the single most important thing that we can ever attain, the knowledge of our own Self. And yet there are a frightening amount of people who seem to have the urge not just to ignore the Self, but actually seem to have the urge to obliterate themselves. This is horrific, but you can almost understand the desire to simply wipe out that awareness, because it’s too much of a responsibility to actually posses such a thing as a soul, such a precious thing. What if you break it? What if you lose it? Mightn’t it be best to anesthetize it, to deaden it, to destroy it, to not have to live with the pain of struggling towards it and trying to keep it pure? 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