Interview with Ms. Jaq D Hawkins

Could you please give a brief self-introduction?

I’m Jaq, a lifelong magician and Chaos Witch. I write books about chaos magic and nature spirits. I also write fiction stories, mostly for enjoyment, but the magic tends to find its way into my stories.

What are your hobbies?

I write, I do resin work and other crafts, and a little amateur filmmaking. Writing has always been my greatest pleasure, whether it’s books about magic or fictional stories. A lot of magic can happen through storytelling.

Why did you study magic?

I was always fascinated with magic. I loved it in stories as a child, but when I found it was real, I had to learn as much as I could. The 1960s Magical Revival made getting information fairly easy.

What was the first magic you discovered?

I first started reading about ritual (ceremonial) magic around age 12. A.E. Waite, Crowley, etc. I didn’t actually try doing a spell until age 14, but already by then I was more attracted to freeform magic than the formalised rituals of groups like the Golden Dawn and OTO.

Have you practiced witchcraft?

Yes. Between age 15-20 I kept coming across people who practiced some form of witchcraft and learned from each of them. At 25 I came across the networking Wicca groups were doing. I didn’t really feel their path was right for me, but I still enjoyed practicing with others.

Can you share a successful story of your sigil magic?

Sigils have been a regular feature of my practice since I first read Austin Osman Spare. Probably the most extreme result from a sigil spell was when I won a custody case for my daughter at a time I was fighting the battle from overseas and couldn’t afford a lawyer. There were other aspects to the ritual I used, but a multi-part sigil was very central to the working.

What magic ideas are current in your world, and what is the ratio of Thelema, Golden Dawn, and Wicca?

Those paths have been relegated to academic interest in my world. They were useful learning tools, but they are not part of my practice.

What magical tools do you use most often?

Most often would be a pen, a little blood and some parchment paper. I have all the tools; athame, cup, wand, etc. and am most likely to pick up the athame than the others, but unless it’s a low probability spell, I use what’s easily to hand.

Are there limits to learning magic through self-study?

I think learning from experienced practitioners has value. Working in groups, though I’m mostly a loner, has been an interesting experience and exposed me to ideas beyond my own practices. Keeping in mind that I’ve been around for quite a long time now, I think every experience with others has added to my arsenal of methods and ideas.

Will the legalization of psychedelic drugs affect Chaos Magic in the future?

No. Personally I don’t mix drugs with magic, but those who do have never worried about whether they were legal. They’ll carry on as always.

Can you briefly explain why sigil magic works?

Sigils are a direct way of communicating with your own subconscious. Whether you’re geared more towards the written word or pictorial symbols, sigils express the deepest intent of the magician. The subconscious is where the magic works. Tools are just to help focus.

Is making children recite The Book of the Law child abuse, or is it a good thing?

It’s an appalling idea. Making children recite anything is very controlling. Children should be allowed to decide for themselves whether they will take an interest in magic, and especially in Crowley, whom I would not encourage my children to emulate.

What do you think of untrained beginners using sigils to control lucid dreaming or astral projection?

If they’re going to experiment in these areas, sigils might help focus parameters.

Peter Carroll says VR and AI destroy imagination, and money should be spent on real-world experience. What do you think?

While Pete and I don’t always agree on things, on this I do agree. A computer can’t even begin to compete with a walk in the woods for magical experience.

Peter Carroll says The Book of Pleasure is not a must-read, but recommends your books to the Japanese. Do the Japanese need to read it?

I would not presume to tell the Japanese what they should read. I learned when I gave a talk in Tokyo that translations can be complicated with the differences in language. Austin Spare can be opaque even to native English speakers. I would encourage any student of magic to give it a try, but his methods can be learned with less obscure language. I try to make it easy in my own books.

Discordianism: Peter Carroll says long-term worship of Eris is dangerous and that Japanese Discordianism is wrong. What do you think?

I do not know how Japanese Discordianism compares to the San Francisco variety. “Dangerous” may be too strong a word. Discordianism was invented to take an unserious attitude towards magic, so I think it could lead someone astray if they don’t realise it was never meant as a serious approach.

Could you please give a word of advice to Japanese magicians?

Based on what I saw in Japan, I would say don’t forget to embrace the magic of your own culture, but keep an open mind about your individual practice. There is far more to magic than the structure of Western groups like the Golden Dawn, and these groups are very restrictive in their own ways. Trust your own instincts.

Have you ever been to Japan, or would you like to visit? Also, do you have any favorite Japanese foods?

I had five wonderful days in Tokyo in the early part of this century. I loved Japan and the Japanese people, though I don’t think I could live there. I would love to see more of the country. As for food, Japanese rice is incredible. I learned to make it after my trip there. I don’t like fish, but noodles with chicken was another favourite. I have very fond memories of my experience there.

  Directory of Modern Magicians　＞　Jaq D Hawkins