Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Ceremonial Magic, Add it to the mix...

Hello peeps,

Just thought id add this one as doesnt seem to be alot on here...

A few Questions to get things going:

1. Opinions on the system(s) as awhole (good/ bad/ heresy satanic what ever - divresity is the spice of life and all that)

2. Opinions on some of the primer texts and 'beginners' books out and about.

3. Experience of practice.

There you go the rest, as they say, is up to you...

..:: J ::..

Is this Golden Dawn type stuff?

I love it. Diversity is definitely the spice of life and I love ceremonial magic as much as I love wild natural magic

The texts can be horribly daunting. Under the advice of someone much more experienced I bought Aleister Crowley's Magic Without Tears which is much more accessible than a lot of his other stuff as well as Regardie and Levi

I've done some Golden Dawn type rituals with the group that I work with but I've probably only scratched the surface. I'd really like to find a local group - it's on my list of things to do

If you're not talking about The Golden Dawn just ignore me, it's a little early

Julia

My first book was Wicca and Witchcraft for dummies and i still read it all the time even though i am not wiccan(really)I love it so much it spells everything out A B C and i did need that to help me get started.


I have worked a few spells but always on my own and never has part of a group.I will be joining a group roughly in a few weeks (next full moon to be exact)Which i am so looking forward to I will be sure to let you all know how it works out.

. Opinions on the system(s) as awhole (good/ bad/ heresy satanic what ever - divresity is the spice of life and all that)

Not sure how to answer this ? so will get back to you all on this one

Blessed be sarah

If you're not talking about The Golden Dawn just ignore me, it's a little early

Yep thats what i was aiming at - not alot about it on here you see, so thought it would be good to get some opinion. Especially as other forums tend to be Thelamite dominated (nothing wrong with that - but a change is as good as a rest)

Magick without tears - yes very good book - but i can also recomend techniques of high magic and at a push Modern magic by Kraig - both excellent primer texts.

I've done some Golden Dawn type rituals with the group that I work with but I've probably only scratched the surface. I'd really like to find a local group

Yes finding a local working group can be nigh on impossible - as I find that Ceremonical Magicians tend to be private types. shame really - and those that arent tend to be OTO or other 'authorised' groups.

I would agree with you - i use CM mostly but some times there is nothing quite like a sypathetic candle spell - in one language not three, and takes 15 mins not an hour - to add change and spice.. it a shame that some Ceremonial magic has such a bad press in Wiccan and Other magical circles.

I know almost nothing about ceremonial magic, and I'd love to learn more. What exactly is it, and how do some of its hallmarks distinguish it from other magical systems?

Howdy, prehaps I can offer up some of my own opinions on the subject.

1) I've been using the 'Hermetic' system for a number of years now and I personally find that it has worked consistantly and efficiently, even when I wish it hadn't, the benifits of hindsight I suppose. As a well recorded and almost empirical system it's easy to verify results by performing a ritual more than once and refering to the works of others. That's not to say it's an unchanging ridigid set of laws and regulations that must be followed to the letter, no two magicians that I know preform the same set of tweeked rituals in their work, but having said that every one of them knows the LBRP, GRH, Middle Pillar, Rose Cross......This makes it quite easy for almost strangers to work together using the perscribed 'out-of-the-box' rituals.

All in all, I've found ceremonial magick to be highly effective and accomidating towards the way I view the Universe.

2) I have always held that Techniques of High Magic by King and Skinner is the most easily accesible and thorough 'Beginners' book presently available. Other books include:

The Golden Dawn by Isreal Regardie is rightfully considered to be a classic text.
The Mystical Qabbala by Dion Fortune, among the better treatments of hermetic qabbala, although I suggest studying some of the original jewish texts on the subject - The sefer yetzirah for example - inorder to get a thorough understanding.
The sacred magic of Abramelinthe Mage although an old text still a premier primer.
Book 4 by Aleister Crowley a sublime work, I consider part 1 - Mysticism and part 3 - Magic in theory and practice as indispensible for beginners and adepts alike.
The works of Crowley are mostly all fantastic, however it's easier to understand them if you already know what he's talking about and a couple of read throughs may be needed. If you want to look at the Thelemic side of hermetics then The Magic of Thelema by Lon milo DuQuett is probably a better place to start.

This is by no means a full list of beginners books out there, but mearly the ones I've found to be the most useful.

3) When I first started hermetics I was astounded by the results I got and this still holds true today. Some people seem to think that hermetic magic is too Jewish or too Christian for them, however as a template it can, and has, been bolted on to almost any system. Followers of some other paths have had a giggle of two at the idea of rehersals and dress rehersals for rituals, but they help to keep you focused during the work. I still haven't gotten used to the 'Post Cavhort Syndrome' that can affect the practitioner after some work.

I hope that I helped you with your questions.


Love is the Law, Love under Will

That's certainly given me some ideas as to reading material, thanks! All I know of hermetic magic so far is the Middle Pillar but I'd very much like to learn the LBRP. (Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, for the unfamiliar.)

Not a problem Crow, ive got an online version of it somewhere, ill hook it out and pass it on - maybe a little while tho - exams are looming.

I'm quite interested in ceremonial magic too, thanks for the list of books. =] Definitely something to get me started, but, not til after exams =/
B xx

I can quite agree Beth - nothing to daunthing until after the dreaded exams that are looming - BOOOOOOOOO HISSSSSS

After that I just need to express that I cannot agree more with follies recommendation of Techniques of High Magic. Its the one I started with... and i have to admit in the early months was compltely indespensible.

Where would Enochian magic fit into this?

I went to a sigil workshop at the weekend where a lot of the how-it-works theory was explained with reference to what we were told were Enochian ideas. I was rather lost as to fitting or equating even a little of the somewhat incomprehensible theory with a Heathen view of the world. I don’t know if it’s even possible!

I know very little about anything Enochian, would any of the books recommended above be any use? I’d like to find an “about” book rather than a how-to filled with rituals I’ll never use

Enochian is the system and language of angelic magick revealed to Dee and Kelly. It's an awfully effective system of magick, sometimes maybe too effective, in fact I strongly advise against if you are new to magick or just dabbling. Disclaimer over.

Enochian is heavily reliant on sigils to work, although not dependent on them. Many of the Enochian seals are like maps of their particular sphere of influence - i.e. The elemental watchtowers tablets - the letters on the seals can be joined to form an angelic name or an Aethyr. The pattern used to form the name becomes to sigil for that angel/Aethyr and can be used in magickal workings to contact said angel/Aethyr.

Obviously this system of sigil work only works within the Enochian framework and there are other methods and means to working with sigils.

If you are interested in Enochian the two must have books in my opinion are:

Enochian Magick by Schueler a useful little book indeed.
The complete Enochian dictionary by Laycock a must have book if you're seriously interested in the subject.

If you're interested in more heathen sigils and magick then:

The Galdradok trans. by Stephen Flowers very good for heathens as it's an actual medieval Icelandic Grimoire.
Amulets and Talismans by Budge a look at talismans from Egypt to dark ages Europe

Hope this helps.


Love is the Law, Love under Will

Thanks Sounds like a brainscrambler! With most magic systems and their underlying theories you can equate bits, but the detached pieces of Enochian framework we were taught just seemed so alien it drew my curiosity. I'd hoped to learn something useful to apply to the creation and charging of bindrunes during the workshop, so being shown how to use the death posture to scry past lives in an Enochian context wasn't what I expected I've done enough journeying to know I really don't like the idea of it either!

OT - Do you have Galdrabok by Stephen Flowers? I've never seen a copy for less than about £50, so without a personal recommendation by someone who has studied it I've been reluctant to gamble that much on it. I've been left less than impressed with some of his books written as Edred Thorsson.

This post has been edited by Synhild: Jun 20 2006, 08:23 PM

Yes I do own a copy of the Galdrabok, but I didn't realise it was so expensive I bought mine back in the day as it were. It is a very handy source material as it details Icelandic rune magic, prayers to specific Gods and other handy to know information.

To be honest this whole scrying past lives in an Enochian context thing isn't my cup of hot herbal infusion either.

Glad to be of some help.


Love is the Law, Love under Will