Audiophilia

Liberation to all

of the Void^[1]

Coordinated and produced by Luxa Strata

Introduction:

After releasing my third album of ritually produced aural erotica^[2],I wanted to find a way to offer to others some of what I’ve been able to take away from doing this type of work. Conducting it has been instrumental in allowing me to gain many valuable insights and has been the source of much (but of course not all^[3]) of the personal growth I’ve undergone since beginning. When I shared the first track I made back in 2020, the fear and other emotions associated with breaking the taboos associated with doing so were enough to produce an altered state of consciousness^[4]. It was a magically potent endeavor. I learned through this experience that Fear and Power are neighbors. So if you want to find your power, it can be helpful to walk in the direction of your fear^[5].

I’ve written a bit about the recursive ritual process I’ve been using for sound magic in the essays that accompany my albums. Audio of a ritual is recorded and then mixed into a track which is used for the next recurrence of the same ritual, which is also recorded (forming a feedback loop). It’s not terribly complex to describe the steps that go into the process, but communicating the experience of doing the work is another matter. Through writing or speaking about it, I can only draw a map- and an incomplete one at that. With this project is my desire to instead lead those who are interested into the territory, or their version of the territory that they will encounter through doing the work.

Statement of Intent:

In doing this work, it is our intention that:

1. All participants experience a decrease in shame and an increase in self-esteem, assertiveness, empathy, and compassion as well as gaining traction in whatever areas of life they are currently doing personal work in.
2. All participants learn something interesting and valuable.
3. We create a magically active audio experience which will inspire others to conduct work along similar lines and which will foster sexpositivity and a sense of agency in the listener.

Outline:

Audiophilia will be a collaborative project in which participants record audio of solo-sex rituals (conducted using the steps outlined below) which will be compiled into one or more sound magic tracks produced by Luxa Strata and others^[6] and then offered free of charge on bandcamp and other platforms as an inspiration to others. After being selected to take part in the experiment, participants will be provided with a “seed” audio track to use while conducting their first ritual. Recorded audio of the first ritual will be submitted and mixed into the seed track to create the first iteration. The first iteration track will then be provided to participants for use with their second ritual, which will be recorded to make the second iteration of the track. We will conduct three iterations. We may decide to do more runs of this experiment in the future. Participants will be credited or may remain anonymous. All participants must be 18 or older and must provide proof of age upon request. Please read the document in its entirety to ensure you can provide informed consent to participate. After the third time the ritual is repeated, participants will be invited to meet online the week of Feb. 8, 2024 to share thoughts, reflections and experiences. This meeting is optional.

Please fill out and submit the following form if you are interested in participating. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSduTYAXMcv9ZLw2-ywkwYUVGM_1C1_JWj9_-j5wGcTiBS6hxA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Notes:

As is the case with many types of transformative work, there is a great potential for growth as well as for disruption in one’s everyday life while conducting magic like what is outlined here. When we begin to work on our foundations, expect the whole house to shake a bit. In addition, working somatically (with the body), can have the potential to release stored trauma^[7], which can necessitate processing said trauma. If you plan to undergo work of this type, whether as part of this project or in another instance, please have an adequate support system in place. Be aware that it may be necessary to seek help from others (professionals are best qualified) in order to properly process whatever may arise or that you may discover. Should this be necessary, remember that it is in no way a mark against someone’s competence to seek aid from qualified sources, in fact it’s the opposite. None of the facilitators of this project will be in the position to provide mental health care or support of that type. Please make sure you have the support you need before beginning. Be kind and patient with where you are and do not force yourself to go further than you feel able. Should you feel the need to cease participation at any time for any reason, simply notify Luxa.^[8] 

Energy tends to flow in a circuit. It may be helpful to keep this in mind while conducting the solo-sex component of the ritual outlined below. The idea of being at once open to giving and receiving pleasure could be a touchstone for some. I’ve found that devoting this part of my magical practice to a deity with whom I share a special relationship has been helpful. The way it happens for me, the “circuit” I form by doing this is a much larger one than I could make alone^[9]. I’ve talked with practitioners who work with earth energy or other types of things for similar purposes. I recommend playing with the idea and finding what type of notion suits you best.

This project was inspired by the Sigil ov Three Liquids and other work done by the Temple Ov Psychick Youth^[10]. For added context, I recommended checking out some of their work.

Schedule for the first run:

• Applications to participate due Dec. 20
• Participants selected by Dec. 31, 2023
• Audio for first ritual due: Jan. 10, 2024
• Audio for second ritual due: Jan. 25, 2024
• Audio for third ritual due: Feb 5, 2024
• Reflection meeting for participants (optional) week of Feb. 8, 2024
• First Audiophilia track released Feb. 14, 2024

Sigil:

Here is the sigil for the Audiophilia project. It consists of a lowercase “phi” and an uppercase “A”. Use it in whatever way you think might be helpful. It is not necessary to incorporate the sigil into one’s work, it exists as a way to conceptually “tie things together” where necessary and is provided only as an option.

Participants will need:

• A private comfortable area where you feel confident you won’t be interrupted
• A mirror in which you can see all or most of your body

• A smaller mirror might be positioned in the room in such a way could to serve)

• Journal
• Headphones to listen to track on
• Mic and recording device to record your audio

• Ideally, little or none of the track will be picked up on your audio recording.
• Recording apps can be found for most phones.

Note: You may wish to consecrate all of the above material for magical purposes by conducting a simple ritual, cleansing it, etc. I prefer to gather all material

Conducting Audiophila Rituals:

1. Read through the entire document. Consent is informed. Contact Luxa with any questions or concerns.
2. Set up your area in whatever way makes sense to you and open a space for magic by whatever means suit you.^[11]
3. Perform an audio test of your recording equipment. Begin to record, first stating out loud the date and time. Place the recording device where you will be conducting your work.
4. Look at yourself naked in the mirror for 2 minutes, focusing on a part of your body you find pleasing (this can be as small as an eyelash or much larger)^[12]. Allow yourself to see what you're looking at in a new way, as it is in that instant, free of the memories or judgements projected upon it.
5. Play the track (the “seed” for the first ritual you do, “iteration 1” for the second, and “iteration 2” for the third) on your headphones on repeat (in case you need more time than the length of the track to conduct your work).
6. Make yourself comfortable and begin to enter a meditative state, focusing on the breath. Once relaxed, perform body scan meditation and release any tension you find.
7. Seek a sense of openness to both giving and receiving pleasure, a power circuit which you will connect within yourself. As you do so, begin to imagine your most intense sexual fantasy without judgment, allowing it to play out in whatever way occurs naturally at the time.
8. Holding this fantasy in your mind, start recording yourself and then start the Audiophia seed track on repeat, playing it through headphones at a volume which will not distract you from focusing on the fantasy.
9. Enter a magical state of altered consciousness^[13] by conducting solo sex in the manner which is most pleasant to you at the moment, being open to taking your time and exploring new possibilities. Try to notice the way arousal brings motion or heat into the body, and begin to imagine this energy flowing through you. See if you can direct how it flows through you and where it travels. Send it where it will be most helpful to you.

1. Note: It is not necessary to reach orgasm/climax or to vocalize more than occurs naturally while you record, only that you experience the ritual and that the recording contains the instance of you conducting the ritual.

10. Once the altered state is reached, say whatever comes to mind or state any observations that occur to you. You may see a color, hear a sound or have a memory of some type. If the urge to conduct glossolalia should occur, this is also encouraged.  
11. When you’re done with the work, stop the recording (making sure to save the audio) and take notes about the experience in your journal.
12. Banish and perform self-care as needed.
13. Please send in your audio ASAP to luxoccultpod@gmail.com , subject line: Audiophilia, mp3 or WAV file types. Thank you!

Note: If there are aspects of the way this ritual is worded or there is some other thing about it which is causing tension in approaching the work, please use your own judgment and self-knowledge to modify it in a way which would make it more accessible to you.

A cut-up made Sept. 10, 2023 in a Morbid Anatomy.com class taught by Dr. Vaneesa Sinclair and Carl Abrahamson called “Harnessing the Magical and Creative Power of the Cut-Up”