Basic Skillset?

[crazyfez]

I have done a lot of research with knowledge, and now have a few free PDFs on my computer after many hours of searching.
Unfortunately, these e-books don't give a very good comprehension for a complete beginner such as myself.
So, I was wondering if some of you wonderful people could aid me.
I have noticed a lot of references to 'basic skillset' and the like, but I have been wondering...

What are the skills in said basic skillset? That is, skills which I require a basic mastery of in order to progress?
(If possible, how many hours of practice or so should I need to be comfortable? I know it's a person-by-person thing, but please give me a ballpark estimate)

Thanks!

[Desecrated]

http://www.occultforum.org/forum/viewto ... =2&t=37091

[zygoat666]

One of the best books for a beginner is Bardons Initiation Into Hermetics. This will give you the basic skillset that you seek. And i like the way it is written, because one can use it with any belief system. It has served me well, and i am a Theistic Satanist. You can find a free pdf version online from several places.

[Rin]

One of the best books for a beginner is Bardons Initiation Into Hermetics. This will give you the basic skillset that you seek. And i like the way it is written, because one can use it with any belief system. It has served me well, and i am a Theistic Satanist. You can find a free pdf version online from several places.

This, although I don't condone pirating books, especially those which are put out by small publishing companies which exist for the sole purpose of making certain works available to society. If you need a less altruistic motivation to part with the $30 a copy of IIH will cost you, the translation in the printed version is far superior to the pdf version, and it contains a few tables and images that the printed text is lacking.

[Desecrated]

There is also an accompanying workbook to go along with the original text.

[Rin]

If you're talking about IIH, there are a few accompanying workbooks out there. I'd especially recommend the IIH Commentary by Fra. Veos, which can be found for free online with a quick google search. It's indepth, clarifies a lot of points that Bardon is a little vague on, and gives tweaked versions of certain exercises which makes them much easier to master. There's also Rawn Clark's Bardon Companion, which is a bit more theoretical.

Outside of the Bardon side of the things, I'd highly recommend Robert Bruce's N.E.W. (New Energy Ways). It helped immensely with my energy work, it's not even 100 pages but is one of the few texts I'd recommend anyone involved in any remotely energetic/magical/yogic/psychic practice to read.