InPresence 0045: Playing With Magick

InPresence host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in "parapsychology" ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). For many years he served as president of the non-profit Intuition Network, an organization dedicated to creating a world in which all people were supported and encouraged in developing inner intuitive abilities.

Here he describes the active community of occultists with whom he associated in the early 1970s in Berkeley, California. One Berkeley student, Isaac Bonewits, wrote a book called "Real Magic". Aleister Crowley's writings were popular. Jeffrey describes a harrowing experience in which he invoked magical principles in order to correct an injustice. While his goal was accomplished, the process taught him not to play with lower forms of magick.

(Recorded on March 26, 2018)

To download an edited English transcript of InPresence 0045, go to

[RayRemillardActor]

Good Lord, Jeffrey, 71?! You look and present in every way a good 15 years younger than that. I would have never guessed your age correctly.

[amanitamuscaria]

I too was full of righteous indignation when I was young. Over the decades, the edges have been rounded and I'm now much more aware of my own shortcomings. The lesson I've ended up with (among others) is that I have no right whatever to judge someone, if I have ever, or could ever have done a similar thing.

[robertword]

Magick is like music. You have to do it to learn it. Even if you have no musical training, you can probably still whistle a tune.

[mattphi]

It would have been so neat to hang out with you weirdos at Berkley in those days! It sounds like it was a truly magical time. So many initial sparks of knowledge were seeded there, that are still branching out in amazing ways.

[neththom]

Most authors warn of unintended consequences when you try to influence events in the external world. The safest way to use magick is to make yourself a better person.

[augustreigns]

i do love the fact that you so easily smile,
it just seems like,
an impossible task,
these days.

[ImHavinaHoot]

Magick is our birthright! Concepts like the power of positive thinking and the law of attraction are forms of magick, directing energy to create change. Living intentionally is practicing magick in its purest form in my opinion. Thanks for sharing! 🤩🤩🤩

[queensistastarot]

I understand your point. On the contrary, I am not "Playing With Magick", I am very serious about my practice. I feel it is me naturally. I believe you know this too Dr. Mishlove. Magick is in Every culture in the world! I have my opinions right now that I will keep in the piggy bank. You look great for 71 too Dr. Love your talks as always

[rhondacase]

Love the weaving of personal story & connections with others in your life into broader questions for all of us. Genius! 🦉

[TheEvda]

Your smile and chuckles are priceless Dr. Mishlove. You are a gift to humanity.

[katherinestone]

I am fascinated with Dean Radin's empirical research into this topic.

[TheEvda]

Thank you for being with us Dr. MISHLOVE.

[augustreigns]

this is also a reflection,
in no regards to the concept of time but rather,
a lesson you,
were sent to,
learn.

[PerthtourswaAu]

Dr. Mishlove, thank you for sharing your experiences, even though for you it must have been very painful, you find a way to laugh at that. I believe that sometimes other unseen forces disrupt our lives. Sometimes I bump into horrible people, I tend to move away, but in 2017 a woman attacked me, and I was forced to move out from my home. I started thinking that very bad forces were lurking but I have no powers, it was only my intuition, now I'm trying to solve all the financial problems left during time and listening to your story confirmed to me that I've made the right decisions, even though I had friends offering me to hurt badly that woman, I declined their offers lol.

[discoverytree]

I think our everyday experiences may also be a kind of magic. In that we may be co-creators of everything in our lives... If we become aware of this maybe we can set our thoughts and intentions to create more of what we want...

[barquerojuancarlos]

Jeffrey, in various videos you taught us we are more than physical, material beings. You also seem to have indicated that our capabilities are more than the mere physical, whether accomplished through magical rituals or not. Somewhere, i think, when you talked about the global consciousness project or about psychokinesis, you mentioned that when many people get together and focus on a specific goal the likelihood of success is greater. ... As you undoubtedly know the world, as never before in history, sits at the edge of a precipice. The problems seem almost insurmountable: the climate, global extinction of species, of nuclear annihilation (the Doomsday Clock), of continuous seemingly meaningless wars and war-like attitudes, as we suffer the consequences of massive worldwide pollution from industrial chemicals and waste while our ecosystems are on the verge collapse. .... What if a group of people make a commitment to get together only in mind and spirit everyday to concentrate in a few solitary minutes on one single topic: world peace and harmony?

[grantdouglas]

This was a fantastic example and the lesson was nicely explained. I am a faithful viewer and I really enjoy In The Presence. Thank You!

[bryansmith]

Thanks Jeffery for your honest approach to consult folks about using possible abilities they may be paying attention to but do not understand. For me I never paid much attention to such stuff although my ratio of coincidence to meetings with strange people in very unlikely places almost seems as if by magic. I just enjoy the fact you are so sincere with people that it is apparent that is who you are Sir. An that's a compliment t of the highest nature.

[PurplePipkin]

Jeffrey, I would love it if you would interview Lon Milo DuQuette on this topic. I find his writing informative and entertaining. He's the most down to earth and witty magus we could hope to meet. I think you'd enjoy his autobiographies 'My Life With the Spirits' and 'Low Magick'.

[otherworldceramicscaroline]

So glad to hear the old theme tune here....makes me smile. Also jeffrey is 71 years old... 71...must be some kind of magic keeping him looking so young.