Bobertt wrote:1) Can anyone do magic and see physical results if they put in the required effort or will some people just not have the energy or whatever is needed to get magic to work regardless of what they do?
In our "you can grow up to be anything you want!" First World Society, people like to believe and preach that anybody can do anything. This is true to a certain extent, but mostly it's empty platitudes. There is such a thing as talent, and while for most people hard work can make up for lack of talent, there are also folks who are just a dunce at certain things even if they are a genius when it comes to something else. I, for example, am absolutely terrible at computer programming, but I am usually quite good at normal writing.
Think about sports. Can pretty much anybody play soccer? Yup, as long as you have a basic degree of health and fitness, anybody can run around a field kicking a ball. Can anybody play soccer
professionally or go to the
olympics? Nope. There are even those who can't play at all because of, say, a heart condition, or perhaps some other severe disability. People have limits, and nobody can do everything.
Bobertt wrote:2) In regards to summoning spirits can you use the Christian version of God to summon them and to try and protect yourself if something goes wrong? If yes how does that work with the Bible saying God doesn't like those who practice magic and divination? Can you practice magic and still be a Christian?
You can invoke God for some spirits, particularly those in Christian systems like the Key of Solomon, the Arbatel, etc. Other spirits, like the Angry Dead, won't give a shit about all the Golden Dawn's godnames and LBRP's and such.
And yes, you can be a Christian Magician. There have been plenty, and there are many people who view Catholicism as THE system of Christian Magic. There is a saint for literally any problem you could want, there are specific rites and prayers to do for pretty much anything, and all kinds of other stuff.
Bobertt wrote:3) If you do summonings and ask angels or demons for something do you have to worship or pray to them like you would God?
Nah. It's usually polite to pay the spirits for services rendered via some form of Offering, especially demons, but this isn't really worship in the Christian sense. It's more of a simple Honoring, a "hey, thanks for getting me that bonus at work: here's some whiskey."
Bobertt wrote:4) From your experiences what do Demons or Angels usually want as payment and what can you actually get them to do for you? For example can they do something like making you physically stronger or losing weight without giving you the energy or motivation to workout.
Depends. There are certain spirits who can do things like that, but most of them won't want to. If you
need to receive some specific thing, like a healing to balance your body in a way that you can get to the weight you need to, then that kind of work can be done. But why would they make it easier for you to be lazy? You think God wants you to use spirits to feed your laziness? Get your ass up and meet the magic half way. If you can do that much, you can easily get an extra boost from the spirits. For something like enhanced strength, it's better to make a talisman or do training like Taiji Quan that teaches you how to lead energy to the muscles.
Payments vary. You can just ask them what they'd like in payment for a particular task, but you shouldn't pay them until after they've done what you ask. Just as you wouldn't pay a plumber in full up front: make the earn their supper. Most of them prefer it that way anyway.
Bobertt wrote:5) Why do a lot of literature and people say Demons will try to harm or find anyway to twist a deal with them and hate humans but some of the people online claim to have good experiences with them and even talk to them like friends? Are they lying to get you to go in with your guard down for a Demon to take advantage?
Many spirits, even more than a few "angels," will gladly manipulate you in order to achieve their agenda. And many modern practitioners have indeed been manipulated as such, albeit unconsciously for most.
Any spirit shady enough to be called "demon" is usually a bit dangerous to deal with, but if you follow protocols (like minding your manners) you can get through it safely. Think of it like seeing your weed dealer or a fuckbuddy that you know does risky things with others. You can navigate such relationships without getting hurt, but you don't wanna just hang out at your dealers house and be best friends (what happens when the cops show up, eh? You get jail time too) and you better wrap up that risky partner unless you want to risk getting a random infection or even something much worse. Simple precautions can keep you from a going through a ton of trouble.
Many spirits, of all kinds, are rather more like politicians. They can smile and shake your hand, but you damn well better believe they have their own agenda, and you better smile back politely and look out for yourself unless you want them taking advantage of you.
Bobertt wrote:6) Can you practice magic and be poor or will you need to have a decent amount of money to pay for the objects needed?
Ceremonial Magic in the Modern sense can be quite expensive. They Keys of Solomon? That kind of work can cost you
thousands, just for ritual tools. A lot of practical magic is very cheap, though: herbs (some of which are already in your kitchen), roots, gemstones, metals, etc. Basic sorcery. Read the book The Sorcerer's Secrets by Jason Miller to learn how to get basic spellcraft going.
Also, a practitioner doesn't have to
stay poor, even if that's your starting line. Read Financial Sorcery by Jason Miller and The Seven Sphere's by Rufus Opus.
Bobertt wrote:7) From the little i have read i seem to like ceremonial magic but seeing as i do not know much where would you recommend starting?
I, personally, would recommend starting with more fundamental training to build up your inner skills unless you want to end up a LARPer doing empty movements in a funny outfit.
Check out the work of Franz Bardon. He trains you in the basics like meditation, energy work, learning how to see spirits, and all kinds of other things in his first book before he shows you how to summon spirits with ceremonial ritual in his second book.
Bobertt wrote:
What can i expect to be able to gain from doing magic and what can i expect to lose? If too many possibilities what would you say you have gained and lost?
Depends on what you do and how much you put in. I have completely rid myself of suicidal depression, ADD, and several similar problems, experienced meditations that changed not just me but the entire room I was in, and gained a deep understanding of the energies and spirits of nature - and that's just from doing Bardon's work. In other work I have met spirits and even gods (which isn't as big a deal as some modern practitioners seem to think), experienced spontaneously certain psychic powers, cast spells so profound that they literally changed - and on a couple of occasions, literally
saved - my meager life, performed exorcisms, and met people who have done grand things I can only aspire to.
And I have lost just as much. Friends and even family who will never understand or accept who I am and the path I walk, bad habits and flawed ideologies, and entire social circles who could not accept anything outside their own dogmas. Initiation can be as painful as it is liberating, my friend. It will change you, transform you, and empower you, turning you into someone so grand that you never would have imagined becoming such a person as a child. But, like a blacksmith beats out the impurities of his steal, so too will initiation force you to experience the changes necessary to grow and become better. Some changes will come smoothly and some will make you want to die, but come they shall!
~:Shin:~