I wholeheartedly and unironically endorse this
edit:
A technique for magically sending your consciousness between quantum worldlines:
Something bad has happened! Close your eyes with the intent to jump to an alternate worldline where that thing didn't happen, with the understanding that if you succeed, you won't have any memory of that thing happening. Open your eyes. It worked! Whatever bad thing you were trying to avoid has no longer happened in your current worldline, and you have no memory of it ever having occurred.
Assume that anything that went wrong in the worldline in which you find yourself is probably not as bad as the thing you were trying to escape from.
Sound's like so8res's concept of "Being a new homonculus."
I am curious on the perspective of a rationalist discussion board (this seems like a good start) on the practice of magic. I introduce the novel, genius concept of "rationalist magic", i.e. magic practiced by rationalists.
Why would rationalists practice magic? That makes no sense!!
It's the logical conclusion to Making Peace with Belief, Engineering Religion and the self-help threads.
What would that look like?
Good question. Here are some possible considerations to make:
I looked into magical literature and compiled a few placebo techniques/exercises, along with their informal instructions. These might be used as a starting point. If there are any scientific errors these can eventually be corrected. I favoured techniques that can be done with little to no preparation and provide some results. Of course, professional assistance (e.g. yoga classes) can also be helpful.
1. Mindfulness Meditation
Note that trying to focus on not focusing isn't always helpful. Hence the common technique is that of focusing on a single thing, or rather, simply being passively aware of it. The goal is to discipline the mind and develop one-pointedness.
2. Astral Projection (OBE)
Astral Projection can be thought of as a very vivid stage of dreaming. Some authors have more detailed exercises related to this[7]. It might take many tries to do this exercise right.
3. Mantras
You can borrow an eastern mantra such as "om mani padme hum", "om namah shivaya" and "hare kṛiṣhṇa hare kṛiṣhṇa / kṛiṣhṇa kṛiṣhṇa hare hare / hare rāma hare rāma / rāma rāma hare hare" or make up some phrase. Whatever works for you.
Chanting mantras is a form of sensory excitation. Both sensory excitation and deprivation can induce trance. This can be used along with exercise 1.
(Optional) Find one of these.
4. Contemplation
5. Idol Worship
This and this are possible forms of Rationatron.
6. Minimal Spellcasting
Magicians claim it's more magically effective to forget about the wish after casting the spell (fourth step) and let your subconscious act than to use the repeat-your-wish-every-day method.
This is, as far as I know, the simplest spellcasting technique. It can be complicated further by the addition of rituals, sigils, poses[6], and stronger methods of inducing trance in the second step.
7. Deity Generator
For one reason or another, spiritualists love doing this.
This exercise can make arbitrary "powers" or "deities" for use in other exercises. For example, the association "yellow - wealth" is a "power" for exercise 6, or you might imagine yourself as a "deity" in that same exercise to induce some emotion.
8. Tulpa Making
This is a technique found in Tibetan buddhism lore[5] as one ability held by bodhisattvas and used by Buddha to multiply himself. This was adopted by communities of westerners in the internet who generally don't attribute mystical properties to the practice and made detailed tutorials (tulpa.info).
The technique uses your subconscious to create a companion. It consists in visualizing and talking to a being in your imagination until it eventually produces unexpected thoughts.
You might be asking, "can I model this companion after a cartoon?" The answer is yes.
Note: some of the following techniques might require further examination.
9. Aura Sight
Some authors[1,2,4] give exercises attributed to peripheral vision or meditation. If anyone finds out how to see auras, please confirm.
10. Invoking and Banishing Ritual of Truth
This has been used for different purposes; as an introduction to ritual work or simply as routine.
The common formulation of this exercise uses a pentagram, holy names, the elements, planets and a bunch of other nonsense. Why do I have to remember all this roleplaying? Do they think this is D&D? Therefore, I designed a more efficient version of the technique that also replaces the magical symbolism with superior logic symbolism.
Note: these are roughly analogous[3] to the simpler placebo techniques known as shielding (imagining a shield), centering (regaining focus by being aware of the solar plexus/heart area) and grounding (putting your feet on the ground to receive/release energy from/to the ground).
11. Demonic Mirror Summoning
Call upon Dark Lord Voldemort and say the "avada kedavra" mantra 7+ times in front of a mirror in a dimly lit room until a demon pops up and/or your appearance gets distorted.
Some individuals report holding a conversation with their mirror self through mirror exercises.
FAQ
What is the purpose of this?
It's about time someone made an atheist religion.
Why not follow the Flying Spaggheti Monster religion instead?
It doesn't provide placebo techniques. It only functions as a point in argumentation.
Do I have to do all of the exercises?
No, only those that you personally deem helpful. However, the first exercise (meditation) is generally recommended by health research. It's also a pre-requisite to many other exercises. Note: although meditation is generally recommended, some caution, common sense and preparation is advised (specially for exercises 2-3).
What are the teachings?
It's acknowledged that rational people can sometimes get to different conclusions. Therefore, there is no mandatory teachings. However, it uses "rationality" as a starting point to distinguish it from other cults meaning that "placebo" is used as the default model of magic and that both logic and the use of such techniques is encouraged. It can be used as a gathering of placebo techniques for atheists and as a blank slate from the dogma of already existing cults on the nature of magic.
What is the pantheon of this religion?
The "official" pantheon is that of the universe itself (Einstein's pantheism; it's used in exercises 4 and 6), Rationatron (a deity of rationality) and Dark Lord Voldemort (the opposer). They fulfill different god-roles. More gods can be created with the Deity Generator exercise or borrowed.
Can I worship Eris, Cthullu or Horus/Isis/Odin...?
Yes, see above answer.
Wait, Dark Lord Voldemort? Really?
Christianity had lazier ways to come up with their demons and nobody noticed. Zing.
Aren't some of those techniques irrational?
Only when used by superstitious people. Once used by rationalists, they become super-rational.
What about black magic? Can I cast hexes?
They aren't going to work because magic is not real.
References
1. frater, ud. high magick. A good overview on different kinds of magic.
2. hine, phil. spirit guides. Another overview.
3. hine, phil. modern shamanism pt1-2. Overview for shamans.
4. samuel sagan. awakening the third eye.
5. alexandra david-neel. magic and mystery in tibet. A book on buddhist lore.
6. crowley. liber o.
7. robert bruce. mastering astral projection.