I was introduced to the idea of energetic “octaves” when I studied with Gurdjieff schools. As someone who became a metaphysician before a magician, having this octave terminology opened some doors for me. While the theory and application of octaves may represent one thing within Gurdjieff/4th way schools, I’ll describe how I translated and applied octaves to metaphysics then magic.

In the article Octaves and Intervals from Fourth Way Today, it is said, “Octaves can be ascending, where the vibrations increase, or descending, where the vibrations decrease.” The article discusses the Law of Seven. In Theosophy’s doctrine, there are Seven Rays of Creation. As this blogger describes, the Seven Rays theory can be found in many traditions. My article won’t be discussing seven degrees specifically, but I wanted to provide some material from other backgrounds you can further explore independently, if so inclined.

Back to the notion of octaves. They can be considered states of energy that oscillate at faster or slower frequencies. They can have varying elemental compositions and signatures. Taking a general example, about everyone is familiar with the Christian concept of heaven and hell. We can see how one end represents higher, enlivening and uplifting frequencies, and the other end represents lower grade, challenging and suffering frequencies. So what does this have to do with metaphysics and magic? What ground work am I laying here?

In metaphysics, it’s useful to understand the energy frequencies you are working with. To begin, we can only truly fathom the energies we have already directly experienced. We may be able to theoretically grasp the idea of angels, for example, but until one’s energy has had direct contact or exposure to that octave/oscillation, it is hard to know. By this statement alone, we can see where the defining difference between theory and practice is. From this we can also see the tremendous value in initiation. Unless something puts you in contact with this octave/oscillation/frequency, it can prove difficult to work with or fathom that energy signature. Accessing various octaves can happen by nature, through your own efforts towards that aim, by someone else introducing you to them, including non-corporeal beings, through established traditions or egregores, etc. The possible doors are many, but the point is that there is something that creates an access point.

When it comes to human nature, from a metaphysical perspective we can perceive individuals working with and being subject to the octaves that have been activated in their life. Further down the pole of octaves, let’s look at gang members. To join a gang often requires committing a crime. That is their rite of passage and initiation to be included. The gang itself already has an energetic egregore, and we could also surmise an intelligence behind it. For the newbie to be included, they have to make that rite of passage. Thereafter, they’re in and have access to whatever the gang offers and represents. To go another layer in, we can work with the idea that varying octaves also have centers of gravity. These “centers” of gravity are what determines the laws, rules, primary influences and elements are, etc. For the initiated gang member, this octave now activated and working in their life, may give them brotherhood, inclusion and some protection on the streets in a difficult neighborhood, but the center of gravity also dictates rules about not snitching, likeliness to face prison time or death, an expectation to put your life on the line if the occasion arises, and that your own family may be targeted.

If you’re a metaphysician, working with octaves through this lense of comprehension grants you the means to understand why things are the way they are, but also an idea on how to change or transform it. We can see how varying octaves get to exist in the material. In the example of the gang member, since initiated by committing a crime, there is a heavy entanglement of that energy upon him. It could be like putting a collar on someone, piercing through their center, or even an ear tag clipped on, like cattle. Depending on how the octave was deposited into the individual, and where/how it is residing in their energy bodies, it can prove difficult to extract yourself or someone else from an octave that is bound to them in one way or another. There is often an action and some sacrifice involved. Let’s say the octave entanglement is akin to a simple yarn bracelet on someone. The action to remove it is whatever would equate to taking scissors and cutting it off. It could be some reparation with the source of the “bracelet”, a symbolic cutting and dealing with the equated consequential fall out, etc. For a gang member so deep in that type of entanglement with an octave that it is like having a cow’s ear tag on him, if he wants to remove it himself he symbolically will have to cut off the part of his ear that has it clipped on. Which equates to bigger pain and sacrifice.

For a metaphysician, there are more tools you can apply to working with octaves in the above example. You can grab onto higher octaves to channel into this lower octave situation, for example, like grace, and program it towards the desired outcome. Many various forces can be brought into a situation to transform it. I’ve seen one adept ask people he intended to help (unknowingly to them) for a small favor. For that adept, I observed that fulfilled a couple of things. First, a willingness for the person to go out of their way and do something very minor established a spirit of reciprocity. The person in question agrees to establishing a minor connection. This confirms on a certain level if the person is receptive to change and going out of their “current way.” Second, it seemed to be some effort towards universal balance. The payment by the individual was very low (a favor), but it established some exchange taking place. Not for the adept himself to get something, but for him to mark that small favor as their action that permits change in their life (remember I previously mentioned changing octaves sometimes requires an action or sacrifice). Of course this seemed to be just one person’s rule of conduct, and you can decide how to manage yourself and the rules you integrate into changing octaves in situations outside yourself.

I wasn’t expecting to tail off into the metaphysics of octaves to work on behalf of others, but so it is. 🙂 Now I will explain how to work with octaves in your personal practice as a magician.

One concept of the Great Work, and in the spiritual, internal aspect of alchemy, is to embody the Divine within. For the microcosm, you, to become a mirror, container and embodiment of the Most High. We can also call this Theurgy. For this effort, understanding octaves is particularly useful. To start, this process includes understanding crystallization. First, there may be energy deposits that are crystallized in you (another hint about how octaves exist in the material) that ultimately do not serve your growth and personal transformation. As they saying “baptism by fire” goes, sometimes an intense octave has to be applied to blast away and dissolve something that’s crystalized within us. This major offloading removes the heaver, slower octaves and allows for a lighter, faster octave to take residence.

Finally. It returns to me. Flood me with the fierceness of a freshly forged blade. Scrape the rust by silver spoon. Deposits made by dark landscapes, clinging to the bottom well, set ablaze. Eyes widen and gaze for all the artistry in this world. You light my fire.

Note to self, 2012.

To work towards the above referenced Great Work ideal, you absolutely must work with higher and higher octaves, and a metaphysical grasp of the methodology involved is useful for the magician pursuing this aim. You begin with the octaves that are currently registering in you. With some ingenuity you can figure out how to work through or time out ultimately regressive, crystalized energies. At any level it includes working with the “center of gravity” for a specific octave in your life. You then need to determine how to have higher grade octaves deposited or activated within you. In part this comes from consistently working on yourself and trying to improve yourself. Do your meditations, prayers or rituals. Strive towards energetic cleanliness and order. Get rid of bad habits or personal attributes that keep you tied up, out of control, or in lower frequencies. By working through just these, on a minuscule level you begin to see how your energy begins to resonate and register better. Look towards divine-like qualities and integrate them into yourself. You need not be overt and flashy about them, or pursue it head on, but things like grace, forgiveness, mercy, love, etc. are examples of energies we can fathom that resonate at higher, cleaner octaves. If you are resonating towards this objective, life and/or fate will also bring you situations or environments to support your growth.

With the dissolution of some old crystalized energies and the introduction of cleaner octaves in your life, you can then begin to crystalize, anchor and activate higher energies within yourself. These then gradually and with greater and greater intensity begin to transform you more towards what the traditions of old call going from being an animal to a real human to a man-god. An underlying mechanic is the octaves of energy involved – refined levels that begin to resonate within an individual. By introducing higher, or even just new octaves that have centers of gravity aligned with our magickal goals, we are able to transmute our constitution and abilities.

As a side note, I was once told a story about a high level adept who was so “pure” that Providence decided to give him an aneurysm and remove him from the earthly plane. His level of purity was considered too high for this world. The point of the story being told to me was that I should focus on cultivating energetic cleanliness over purity, and to have some small level of darkness (my go-to indulgence is pizza, beer and too much coffee). Just find some minor indulgence (should you find yourself so pure, which is not really most of us, we all have shadows) to keep yourself anchored in this world.