Black Magick – Permission to Enslave

Occult and esoteric literature often emphasizes that spiritual or mental enslavement can only happen with an individual’s consent or surrender of will. Across grimoires, mystical philosophies, and modern esoteric discussions, recurring themes suggest that people voluntarily give away their freedom—whether by explicit contracts, tacit agreement, or ignorant submission. These expressions and concepts illustrate how individuals “give permission” to be enslaved spiritually or symbolically.

One of the most famous motifs is the “Faustian bargain,” a deal where a person knowingly trades their soul or freedom for worldly benefit. In the legend of Faust, the scholar signs a contract with Mephistopheles (the Devil) in his own blood, exchanging his soul for knowledge and pleasure. Such a devil’s pact is explicitly a consent to servitude, as the individual pledges to become the demon’s servant in the afterlife. Occult lore describes the mechanics of these contracts: “A pledge to serve the Devil…signed in blood. The pact provides that in exchange for allegiance and one’s soul, the Devil will grant whatever a person wishes.” This idea appears in many grimoires and witch trial records. For example, Malleus Maleficarum (1487) insisted that witches “truly make a compact with devils” to gain power. The key theme is consent through a formal agreement—the person knowingly binds themselves to a dark entity. The phrase “selling one’s soul” to the devil encapsulates this, implying willing self-enslavement for temporary gains. These cautionary tales suggest that even if one enters such a bargain thinking they can control the outcome, the act of consenting hands over their autonomy to darker forces. As a result, the individual often finds themselves spiritually enslaved by the very power they sought.

Occult thinkers have often remarked that people enslave themselves by their own will (or lack thereof). Aleister Crowley, in The Book of the Law (1904), famously proclaimed: “The slaves shall serve.” This cryptic dictum from Thelema suggests that those who do not liberate themselves—those who remain bound by fear, ignorance, or outdated morals—essentially consent to remain slaves. Crowley’s Thelemic philosophy teaches “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law,” implying that individuals have a divine free will or True Will to follow. Those who deny their True Will or cling to restrictive dogmas become “slaves” by default, effectively choosing subjugation. In other words, failure to exercise one’s spiritual freedom is itself a form of consent to be ruled by outside forces or societal constraints. This echoes much older ideas: Renaissance writer Étienne de La Boétie wrote of “voluntary servitude,” observing that people often “take on the yoke” and give consent to their own misery under tyrants. In both the mystical and political context, a theme emerges: no tyrant (earthly or metaphysical) can rule without the victim’s acquiescence. Thus, esoteric doctrine often teaches that liberation starts with withdrawing the consent to be a slave—in Crowley’s terms, to stop being a “slave” one must claim kingship over oneself.

Esoteric symbolism frequently portrays enslavement as self-inflicted, maintained by illusion or ignorance. A vivid example is the Tarot’s Devil card (Major Arcana XV). In the Rider-Waite tarot imagery, the Devil stands over a man and woman who are chained by the neck. However, crucially, the chains are loose and could be slipped off at any time. Waite’s commentary and modern interpretations make it clear: the couple’s bondage is voluntary—”These chains…are bonds into which they have placed themselves and only they can break free from [them].” The Devil card symbolizes being enslaved by materialism, vice, or fear, but the power lies with the individuals to liberate themselves once they realize the truth. This reflects the concept of “consent by ignorance”: the Devil figure never forcibly shackled them—they remain bound because they believe they are bound. We see similar themes in folklore: the vampire, a classic occult creature, cannot enter one’s home without being invited—a folkloric rule that symbolizes how evil needs a form of permission to cross one’s threshold. Across these symbols and tales, the key theme is that acquiescence—whether conscious or unconscious—is what gives evil or oppressive forces their hold. The illusion of powerlessness is the power that binds. In occult terms, as long as one accepts the illusion of bondage (or falsely believes the chains are unbreakable), one remains a willing prisoner.

Within esoteric ethics, consent is a vital concept—even in matters of mind and spirit. Many traditions warn that influencing or controlling someone without their consent carries heavy karmic or spiritual consequences. Occult philosopher Manly P. Hall stressed the immorality of imposing one’s will on another, stating “To influence another’s mind without consent is spiritual theft.” This phrase highlights that even on the unseen, metaphysical level, free will is sacrosanct. It implies that a person’s spirit cannot be bound or taken unless they allow it on some level. Indeed, several magical and religious frameworks hold that outright possession or domination requires some form of permission—for instance, through fear, temptation, or invitation. Modern mystics often assert a “law of free will” in the universe: dark forces cannot violate a person’s free will outright; they must trick or coax the person into yielding.

Occult traditions often use oaths and covenants—and these can be double-edged, either empowering or ensnaring. Secret societies and magical orders require initiates to take binding oaths, swearing secrecy or loyalty. While usually symbolic, these oaths represent the initiate’s willing subordination to the group’s egregore or egregious power. Breaking such an oath is believed to incur a curse or spiritual downfall, which in effect binds the oath-taker to honor their promise. In some sinister traditions, this crosses into literal enslavement: A notorious example is the idea of a blood oath in black magic, where a person signs their name to a pact (often in blood) to become the servant of a demon or master. This is another form of volunteering one’s freedom; through the ritual act, the person is thought to hand over their free will.

The term “MAJIC” is often associated with the Military and Joint Intelligence Committee as a classification related to highly secretive programs, particularly those involving unidentified aerial phenomena and advanced technology. Unlike the common spelling “magic,” which is often linked to illusion and trickery, “MAJIC EYES ONLY” is believed to emphasize that the phenomenon being referenced is real and influenced by external forces beyond conventional understanding. The spelling reinforces the notion that these matters are not mere sleight-of-hand but involve phenomena that hold classified significance within intelligence circles.

“I will not be enslaved by anything.” In 1 Corinthians 6:12, the Apostle Paul emphasizes personal responsibility in preserving one’s freedom, advising against actions or habits that could lead to self-imposed bondage. This verse underscores the importance of discipline and awareness in maintaining sovereignty over one’s own will, cautioning against the temptations that can result in spiritual or physical subjugation.

Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, stated in his annual Festivus report that millions of taxpayer dollars have been “spent on magic.” His report highlights government spending on unusual or seemingly frivolous programs, drawing attention to expenditures that may raise questions about priorities in federal funding. Paul’s annual Festivus report, a tradition modeled after the fictional holiday from Seinfeld, critiques what he views as government waste, often using humor and satire to underscore his points.

Through these examples, several common themes emerge across occult and esoteric writings. Dark forces, whether demons, vampiric or reptilian entities, or oppressive egregores, require some form of permission to exert lasting control. The occult maxim is that an individual’s will must, at some level, say “yes” to the loss of freedom—hence refusing consent is the first defense against spiritual domination. Many traditions emphasize that ignorance and false beliefs are what hold people in bondage. When one believes oneself to be “just a slave” or thinks the chains are unbreakable, that belief becomes reality. Mental liberation—dispelling illusions—is portrayed as essential to break hidden servitude. However, this battle is made more difficult by the constant bombardment of ritual and symbolism embedded in mainstream culture. Events such as the Oscars or the Olympics are layered with esoteric themes, operating as grand ceremonies where millions unknowingly participate in rituals reinforcing systemic power structures. Symbolic gestures, repeated mantras, and orchestrated performances channel collective energy into these institutions, much like the spells described in historical grimoires. Whether through entertainment, political spectacles, or mass ceremonies, these rituals subtly extract consent, aligning the participants’ will with hidden agendas under the guise of spectacle and tradition.