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I am naturally curious and I like to read. With occult subjects I have found that if I read too much, then I keep switching my practices all the time, because as I read something strikes me as interesting or worth practising. Unfortunately there are only so many hours in the day, which means my plan constantly changes.

How do I strike a balance? I’d like to follow a single path (currently Bardon’s book 1) without chopping and changing every second day, on the other hand with all these books around I feel like a child in a sweet shop…

Thanks in advance.

You don't have to practice everything you read.
Read everything you want.
Stick to your daily training.

I might not be the best person to talk because I'm in two mystery schools, an initiatic organization, and working on Israel Regardie's One Year Manual all at the same time which I know isn't a desirable situation in the long-term.

It can be tough to narrow it down early on because you will want to learn about everything. I suppose that any particular work you're doing that you know is well vetted and will stick is worth completing, Bardon IIH is a good example of that sort of work. Even if you inspect other things on the side you'll want to identify a core practice or core instruction that you won't drift off from.

Why doesn't the center of your practice just focus experimentation? How different are these paths you're practicing? If your system doesn't allow you to play around or stray from the path then get out and move on.

Motumbá Àse

Spida wrote:I think it was Dionne Fortune that said "Choose a Path and see it through to the end, Otherwise you are just a dabbler".
Of course, it makes sense to dabble a bit initially, as a sort of feeling out process. This is acceptable, but life is short and Paths are long. So don't dabble excessively!

I agree with Spida. I did a lot of stuff in my beginings, then I defined myself into the ritual and ceremonial, the Western Mystery Tradition, Hermetics, etc. Now, I'm an ATR practitioner and initiate, and still do my esoteric practices and some occult stuff I kept because I considered them to be the most practical and useful for me.

PRBH, I'm in various paths, I'm a follower of african faith,I'm still a magician, also a witch and I'm in no way a dabbler nor these paths interferes with each other. Everything one does goes into the bag of experiences and knowledge and turns into wisdom when processed. Everything that's good for you it's good for your Soul. Every initiation that you take or go through, it's a symbol added to your shpere, to your psyche, it's empowering. It's a new spirit walking with you, defending you, charging you with mana, at least in the case of spirit cults. Nothing is bad if done correctly.

IF you're in the middle of a training and want to start another trainig, of the same style, let's say Magical training, then you should finish one to start the second. If you live the first for the second, you'd be abandoning things in the middle and that is no good and doesn't speak well of you, in general. Not finishing things it's a negative quality, one that a magician or an occultist must overcome if it's one of his or her vices.

If you're in a magical training and want to start a psychic trainig (develop mediumship, clarevoyance, etc) then, they could go together. It's about being smart and give each one it's moment.

Whatever I don't do with ritualwork, I might do it with spellwork or "macumba" (afrobrazilian witchcraft). Whatever I don't do with spellwork or macumba I'd do it with ritual or ceremonial magic. I have always felt that everything has its place, its use, that some things are better in certain area and other things in other areas. If you do thing well done, you can do whatever you want.

Saravá
Idansinají

You are intellectually curious which is good. I think every students of the occult need to go through that phase of exploring various occult philosophies and practices before eventually settling down to a more well-defined path of their choosing. Well all continuously need to learn though. Knowledge is power. It's also important to keep ourselves up-to-date with what's available out there. [thumbup]