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MAGITEK ARMOR AMIRITE.

So, now that the Matrix is apparently in Gaia Cinemas (we should totally all go watch it and open up the Guild IRC for the lulz), I thought it'd be interesting to raise some discussion about magick and technology.

I was reading the Wiki page on Seraph a while ago (a Matrix character from Reloaded/Revolutions, btw), and they stated he was more or less an anthropomorphised challenge-response authentication system (ie, computer gives you prompt, you provide a response to pass). And it got me wondering, hey, you could make a servitor with the same principle as Seraph - a "No-access-unless-you-provide-certain-things-like-a-password" entity. But that's from Reloaded, so let's take another example from the original.

You could create astral Sentinels that basically ******** up whatever any magick-using person tries to do. Said sentinels could have programming to sek out any magick activity and then bollox it up somehow (I've no idea how. Suggestions?)

Which brought me to thinking, couldn't any computer architecture be represented by some sort of magickal thoughtform? Firewalls are analogous to "shields", there're parallels between cyberspace and the astral plane, banishing rituals are similar to anti-virus software...

Discuss:

Reminds me a bit of Shadow run, accept instead of it being all in cyberspace like the matrix is, its more outside use technology(weapons and whatnot). Then again, the magic in Shadow run is what you would expect from a fantasy.

Either way, they are both very similar, and can probably be used together somehow

OH, OH, "spell cannot be completed or stopped until scanning for negative thoughtforms is completed".

Yeah, firewall-sheild/door thing. Anti-virus, I guess that would be a cleaner type thing, check for negative energy, or malicious things, and remove them. I like the sentinel idea in theory.

From my experience, things that would be in the same catagory as the Sentinel idea have done things like, clamping down on a persons mind so that they get that dull headache-read too much feeling (can barely think). They could have to ability to create energy blockers and place them in or around a person, or around the thoughtform or what have you that the person is working on. If all else they could just drain energy from the person/whatever their working on. Manipulate the intent of what someone is working on so that atleast very skewed if not unrelated. I'm stopping now.

The Matrix being a network you can plug into like the Astral Plane seems to be pretty obvious, but like in the Matrix, its entirely possible to make your own private section...most other ideas seem pretty straight forward.

And what mike said to your questions works for me.

Can magick and technology interact and fuel one another?

You say that like magick isn't technology. But I'll be nice, and assume you mean technology in reference to mechanical and cyber devices.

In which case yes, completely. As someone said, an aid is an aid. If there is something you don't think can be incorporated into magick, frankly you're not trying hard enough.

I used to identify as a CyberShaman, and still use some of my stuff, until I realized it was cool, but wasn't practical. I also blame the Matrix, because since it came out, I can't shake the green off the cyber energy.

What computer systems can be incorporated into magick (eg firewalls, cyberspace, antivirus software)?

Yeah, people have touched on somethings, but I'll add in some other stuff.

Back in highschool I took more computer courses than anything else (but was technically a drama major), programming, and even becoming a CISCO certified network administrator. That heavily influenced a few things in my magickal paradigm.

I identify my Constructs as Programs essentially. When I'm building a Construct, I'm often Programming it, and when I'm tweaking it, I usually find what I can only describe as "lines of code" which I change to fit my desire.

Cyberspace I find, is a plane in it's own right. I've been able to Project into computers to a Cyberspace, which functions in a lot of ways like an Astral Realm, except for some formative differences, like how it connects to itself, and back out to the real world.

Again, that stuff was really interesting, but not wholly practical, so I left it behind as a focus.

Also, my computer, is a Construct, eir name is 01110001011000100110100101110100.



Aren't ey pretty?

Hehe, anyways, I found my instilling a Construct into the computer, it's a lot easier to manage. 01110001011000100110100101110100 was a custom built computer, but a partner built theirs to the same specs, same parts, etc. Mine doesn't has a problem, theirs does. When I talk to 01110001011000100110100101110100 about problems with the computer, they either go away, or I get an understanding in an odd way, about what is going on.

I also figured, it's probably safer for a computer in my room to have a Construct in it, than to let it absorb whatever it will.

I designed eir form on the Web-monsters from Reboot, I figured it was a good visualization.

What other ideas from the Matrix could be stolen and magickified?

Well, I'm in the school of thought that the Matrix was (or works well) as a Vedic allegory. The entire movie fits perfectly with Vedic philosophy and magick. Ironically when I explain my beliefs from Hinduism/Buddhism to people who are unfamiliar with them, I get blank stares, and then I say "Okay, remember when Neo learnt to fly..." and suddenly they get it, heh.

Personally from the Matrix (because of that) I find more value in it as a philosophical illustration of Magick and Reality, rather than something with ideas to adapt for magick (after all, if it is the philosophy of magick, what is there to take that isn't already there?)

Yep. Figured it was appropriate.

Thanks, I'm proud of it. Didn't realize until I started though, how hard it would be to space the name evenly around the circle, and paint on a standing computer tower, heh.