Just Getting Started

[Jethro_the_Pagan]

Hi everyone,

I just found this forum and hopefully it'll prove to be a godsend. I've been fascinated with magick for a very long time but I never really had the patience growing up to really get into studying and using it. Basically my question is just where is the best place to start? I've started reading Franz Bradon's Initiation to Hermetics to get me going on the path but in reality I'm absolutely clueless as to what this takes. It might be too broad of a question, but how do I begin?

-Jethro

[Asurendra]

Hello Jethro,

You have picked an excellent place to start. Bardon has a complete program which people have followed successfully. I would like to make some other suggestions to you. There are also advanced people on the Forum that are willing to answer your questions.

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq5re8ELmGU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRLOLa18uHM

Books:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Way-Hermes-Tr ... 0892811862

http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Magick-Twe ... dern+magic

http://www.amazon.com/Low-Magick-Your-H ... o+duquette

Specific skills to develop:

http://www.amazon.com/Magical-Imaginati ... magination

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTLCdIkDaAk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6v72PVtk5w

http://www.heartalchemy.net/Robert_Bruc ... _works.pdf (Energy Work & Psychic Self-Defense)

[Nahemah]

Hello and welcome to the forum. [grin]

[Jethro_the_Pagan]

Thank you kindly to both of you One other thing I figured I'd mention is that I'm particularly interested in shamanism and Enochian magick. I saw the thread for shamanism but there doesn't seem to be one dealing directly with enochian magick. Do you guys think its worth diving into some of Aleister Crowley's stuff? Or should I just start with the angelic arts section of the forum?

[hobotubbie]

Hey, there isnt' a topic dedicated to enochian magick it's true but you can find a few threads about it around.

You can open new ones too probably more suited for ceremonimal magick or even angelic ye..

Regarding crowley, since he published works in so many areas.. it can be almost anywhere.

Welcome btw.

[Frumens]

Initiation into Hermetics is great, but it is very difficult. I remember one of Bardon's direct students writing that practicing an hour a day is okay, but four or five hours is better if you want to really progress. It's not necessary to begin your occult practices with such a difficult book, even though it is an excellent one. But if Bardonian magic is the only thing you care about, go for it! I do recommend reading the book, but I recommend that you start practicing with books more like those that Asurendra linked.

In the same vein, Enochian magic is fascinating, but does it have to be the first thing you study? I'm sure that you've heard people say that it's not for beginners. There are plenty of things to do besides Enochian, so why rush yourself?

You're going to have lots of fun. Welcome to the forum.

[DawningSun777]

Grab a copy of "The Book of the Law" and "The Book of Lies" by Crowley. They will literally make no sense thr first time you read them, so tuck them away. After a few months of occult study, take them out and you'll realize you are starting to get it a little more. Continue this until the books transform from drivel to some of the most inspiring occult texts of all time.

That's more a way to guage progress. You should look into the concepts within, especial the Book of Lies. Where and how you get that information is up to you.

It's the weird but I also recommend reading the comics "Watchmen", "V for Vedetta", and "The Killing Joke" by Alan Moore. He's an occultist himself and I find these books to have a great wealth of occult knowledge and views to inspire the occultist... IF you have the eye to find it [greensmile]

[DawningSun777]

Also listen to the album Lateralus by Tool. One of the best occult works of all time. I understand you're probably looking for more "name brand" occultism, but that's so boring and impersonal!