What is Chaos Magic?
First we have to realize that in this topsy-turvy world, good is bad, wrong is right, up is down, weakness is strength and so forth. Let’s start with the words themselves.
Chaos has been given a bad name. It is assumed by many to mean wild and disorganized. This is a distortion of the reality. It truth, Chaos just means “unorganized”. When you have a field of stones, they are in Chaos. When you organize them, you can build a castle, or a wall, or just about anything which may be built of stones.
Magic. It has been said that a sufficiently advanced science will appear as magic to those of little understanding. Generally associated with transmutation. The changing of one thing into another. Baking a cake is an act of physical transmutation. Transmutation of something in a manner not apparent to the observer will be perceived as Magic.
Now since matter is really just constrained energy, transmutation of matter using material means such as chemical reactions, heat, physical force and the like is really just low level energy manipulation. Vibrations are energy, so using the spoken word or other sounds to effect transmutation is using energy to modify energy. Thoughts are also energy, as are Emotions.
Ultimately, Chaos Magic is the transmutation of unorganized energy into organized energy, or changing the organization of already organized energy. Like all things, there are degrees of proficiency in Chaos Magic. Technically, building a sand castle is a low level Chaos Magic. To those who don’t understand how to cause sand to stick and retain a shape, it is Magic. Effecting change using only thought and or words are higher level. Just using thought is the highest.
Chaos Magic, as a term, is relatively recent, having been first used within the last century. The concept has been around far longer though, and may have been known by other names in times past. It matters not.
In modern and traditional practice, it is generally accepted that undistracted focus is a necessary element in effective execution of any form of Magic. Tapping into your subconscious mind without influence from your conscious mind is indeed key. Meditation, chanting, ritual and even drugs are often used to quiet the mind enough to focus.
A strong emotion is also a key element. Anger is a very powerful emotion. Fear is another. Love is the highest emotion, but also the most difficult to manipulate. It must be real in order to be strong enough to work Magic.
Whether Chaos, or Magic, or Chaos Magic be good or evil is entirely based on perception and intent. There is nothing good or evil, but thinking makes it so. For how the Powers That Be use Magic to have us create the world they wish, and how to stop allowing yourself to be so used, see Getting Past The Censor, Taking Your Magic Back.