Obsession Quote by Austin Osman, Spare
““MAGICAL obsession is that state when the mind is illuminated by sub-conscious activity evoked voluntarily by formula at our own time, etc., for inspiration. It is the condition of Genius. Other obsession is the "blind leading the blind," caused by quietism, known as mediumism, an opening out of the Ego to (what is called) any external influence, elementals, or disembodied energy. A transmutated consciousness that is a resistance to "true" sub-conscious activity, it being a voluntary insanity, a somnambulation of the Ego with "no form" or control to guide it: hence its emanations are stupid in suggestion, or memories of childhood. ””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Book of Pleasure (One) by Austin Osman Spare, 1913
A true creative obsession aligns the conscious mind with subconscious inspiration, while a false obsession loses ego control and yields meaningless ideas.
In simple terms: Genius comes from guided subconscious focus; loss of control leads to nonsense.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate disciplined subconscious engagement.
Themes
creativity
mind
genuineness
obsession
control
Mood
introspective
focused
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- artistic creation
- meditative practice
- dream analysis
- creative brainstorming
Key Concepts
subconscious activation
ego dissolution
voluntary insanity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you channel subconscious ideas responsibly?
- What practices keep ego influence balanced?
A Different Perspective
False obsession can produce harmful or trivial output.
![“Sigils are the means of guiding and uniting the partially free belief[27] with an organic desire, its carriage and retention till its purpose served in the sub-conscious self, and its means of reincarnation in the Ego. All thought can be expressed by form in true relation. Sigils are monograms of…” quote by Austin Osman, Spare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ffd/austin-osman-spare-2-26152_desire_sigils-are-the-means-of-guiding-and-unit_488849.jpg)
