Approaching Magick, Tradition vs Modern

[lumineth Realm Lord]

Heads up, I have to give some context.

I'm a solitary practitioner. So, I don't know what other people do. I've wrestled with how to approach magic. As in to say do I go with traditional grimiores (Goetia, Sworn Book of Pope Honorious, Picatrix)? Or do I go with more modern books on magic?

When it comes to modern books, I worry that the modernization means that magick will be watered down in order to be more mainstream. So, I worry that, if I go by the book, it won't work. I mean, I look at "Witchcraft" and "Paganism" books, and they seem to rehash ceremonial magic, and claim to be associated with cultures whose own magic was lost a long time ago. So, essentially, I worry about a lack of genuiness.

When it comes to tradition, you do get that genuiness, but then you have to worry about matters like translation; which copy is the most accurate. Then when you get a copy, you have to worry about how whether or not you can do the ritual as is written, which requires a lot of supplies, preparation, and timing. Also, ideally, I'd be working with the Norse, Greek, or Egyptian gods. However, as said, the practices of these cultures have largely been eradicated. It seems like, with regards to the west, Ceremonial Magic is the only tradition that has survived the centauries, as opposed to being a revival or reconstructed. And it often deals with Christian concepts and the Christian god. So, it seems like, in order to get to these other gods, I have to first invoke the Christian god.

So, how do you approach magic? Are you solitary or in a group? Is it better to go with more modern books or traditional grimoires? What's your go to book?

 

[AbammonTheGreat]

Whats more important is that you pick a tome and master it. Whatever tome that is doesn't matter. Now I will say that a lot of modern occult books are written by career occult authors, modern occult publishing is a cottage industry and one that is not too lucrative, so you have to be able to discern what modern books are being written out of a spirit of "i need to sell some books so let's write something about a trendy topic that'll get my bills paid for the next few years" and what is genuinely an inspired work of occultism.

That is not to say that there aren't amazing and inspired modern/contemporary grimoires and books on magic being published, because there are, but being able to discern those from the fluff and noise is very difficult for the beginner.

There are a few paths people get recommended in the beginning.

Golden Dawn Reconstruction - plenty of contemporary literature out there on this with Isreal Regardie being the gold standard in this route

Thelema/OTO - Lon Milo Duquette is the industry darling for this path as well as Enochian. However OTO and Thelema have been falling apart for the past few decades as they magnetize undesirables (go figure) and refuse to adapt to modernity

Bardonian - Initiation Into Hermetics is a common gold standard beginner book but the magic Bardon teaches is more like a western version of tantric yoga than the magic/occult people think of when they think of magic

Goetia - Poke Runyon used to be the go to guy for this in modern application. I will say though Goetia is instant and easy to work most magus, if they are practicing correctly grow out of Goetia rather quickly

The trend at the moment is Hellenic Reconstruction (i really dont think Reconstruction is a good idea though because it just turns you into a mundane pagan instead of an actual magician), PGM (classical magic) and Planetary Magic is on the come up.

If you're looking for historical tomes to master Agrippas Three + Fourth Book and The Magus by Francis Barrett will get you where you need to be to be able to unlock any other grimoire/system.

The Picatrix is my favorite historical tome and my tome of choice but to really understand what's going on in there having a familiarity with the philosophies of hermetics, neoplatonism, plus a background in spirit conjuration is assumed by the author in order to make heads or tails of it. However i highly recommend it as it is a ridiculously powerful grimoire once you master it.

 

[RoccoR]

RE: Approaching Magick, Tradition vs Modern
SUBTOPIC: Multiple Questions
⁜ Lumineth Realm Lord, et al,

(OPENING)

I, as well, am a "solitary" practitioner.

Or do I go with more modern books on magic?

So, how do you approach magic? Are you solitary or in a group? Is it better to go with more modern books or traditional grimoires? What's your go to book?

(FIRST AREA RECOMMENDATION)

Magic is like a suit of clothes. If it is not cut right, it simply will not fit.

King Solomon ( ≈ 900 BCE) is one of the best-known solitary practitioners in History. So if you are looking for a model to emulate, Solomon is probably the best fit. Magic originates somewhere beyond the realm of man. Each practitioner must decide which of the many possible supernatural entities or deities they will plead for special powers. In Solomon's case, the wish was particular to the "God of Abraham." Now, it is not necessary to use the exact ritual or pleading that Solomon used. it should be modified to meet your specific wants and needs. Modified Example → First Invocation to the Supreme Being:

TO​

The Alpha and The Omega!​

The LORD AND POWER OF THE UNIVERSE,​

​

The Eternal Flame that is the beginning of all things, To that Being which has no beginning and no end, Graciously this day hear my Prayers,,, Render forgiveness unto me for all my inequities and Sins, Have mercy upon me, and all my family and friends,​

​

Grant me:​

The Wisdom of your Spirit, The Hope of your Support as The Creator of all things, and Redeemer of all humans with Frailties,​

​

As the Supreme Being, I humbly implore you to - mercifully illuminate my Mind with a transfer of knowledge from thy Holy Spirit,​

That I may come to attain that which I beg from you as a special gift, That I may be able to obtain the knowledge of every Science and Art, together with the Wisdom of the ages; That I may be granted every Faculty of Memory, Intelligence, Understanding, and Intellect.​

​

O Lord - who in the Beginning has created the Heavens and the Earth, out of nothing,​

​

The power that reshaped and made all things by thy Will, Please grant me this favor and implant a sound understanding in me, that I may glorify thee and all thy Works, in my every Thought, Word, and Deed.​

​

Grant this my Prayer, and increase my strength to improve my imperfect form,​

Oh Master of Creation, grant unto my family, living and dead, your grace, mercy, and protection for a long, happy existence,​

AMEN​

​

​

Modified Example → Second Invocation to the Supreme Being • The Cleansing Invocation

OH, Great Power of the Universe,​

​

I beg of you this favor.​

I implore from you the ability to cleanse my mind, body, and soul of all that prevents me from being a better creation,​

​

And while I know that my request for favors for my family has the unmistakable ring of motive in my favor, it makes their need no less acute. Nothing in my power can wipe away my flawed sincerity or thinking. But that should not be a reason the sins, as the father, should be passed on to the children.​

​

The brevity of this prayer should not be taken as any form of insincerity. It is my lack of capacity to beg of you any better those needs which you can observe in your omnipotent way.​

Amen​

If you are only interested in "ritual" mimicking, then the Golden Dawn approach is an example of what you are looking for.



Reference:

---

The Ritual Magic Manual: A Complete in Practical Magic, by David Griffin, 1999, Golden Dawn Publishing, 270 North Canon Drive, Suite 1302, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Ars Notoria: The Notary Art of Solomon, Translated by Robert Turner, 1656,Transcribed and converted to Acrobat by Benjamin Rowe, July 1999 Foreword copyright 1999 by Benjamin Rowe

​

Most Respectfully,
R

 

[Rowena]

Are you solitary or in a group?

I am a member of a coven that is a part of a wider network of other covens, but I also work separately from that with my family, and do some solo work as well.

So, how do you approach magic?

My own practice is a mix of Gardnerian and Chaos-Magic influenced Heathenism.

Is it better to go with more modern books or traditional grimoires?

Modern books are easier to work with, but are really only worth it if they are any good - as you have already noticed, there are a lot of useless modern books, especially those making false claims about their historical validity. Traditional grimoires are only useful if they represent a tradition you wish to work with, otherwise they are nothing but historical oddities.
I'd suggest looking at Chaos Magic as a tradition-free approach to practical magic that isn't embedded in any particular tradition, and doesn't make any false claims to historicity. Phil Hine's books would make a pretty accessible introduction to Chaos Magic, with Peter J Carroll and Ramsey Dukes/Lionel Snell also being worth a look.

...So, it seems like, in order to get to these other gods, I have to first invoke the Christian god.

Only if you're working with ceremonial/ritual magic - which are, as you have already identified, essentially Judeo-Christian magical/mystical traditions.

...Also, ideally, I'd be working with the Norse, Greek, or Egyptian gods. However, as said, the practices of these cultures have largely been eradicated.

Yes. Most pre-christian religious & magical traditions have been partially or fully erased, but the three you mention have enough surviving elements to act as a framework to build on - The Heathen/Norse traditions in particular have became known as Religion with Homework since the 70s because of the desire to maintain as much historical authenticity as possible, by extensive research of historical & archaeological material. The Greek & Egyptian traditions have since started going the same way.

 

[Adelina]

You basically answered your own question. Go with traditional texts! Watered-down modern books will bring you illusory results.

Not all Ceremonial Magic is tainted with Christian god. In fact, when you check some serious books on Kabbala (which is basically part of Western Ceremonial Magic), you will see that Christian elements are pretty much frowned upon.

Yes, modern books on Magic is like: light up the candle, vizualise something and say a couple of words. Ha! Of course it won't be possible to get any real results out of that. Some rituals require a lot of long-term planning, sometimes monthes of practice, some - even years. I heard about some rituals, which require more time than the average human lifespan. Some rituals require difficult to find components. But if you want to get extraordinary results, then you must put extraordinary efforts!

There is also the option to visit Egypt if you are interested in Egyptian traditions. I heard there are still some people who are actually initiated in whatever is left of ancient traditions. It will be hard to find them, but it will still be much better than study "Egyptian tradition" from the books of those very people who actually destroyed it.

 

[silencewaits]

It seems like, with regards to the west, Ceremonial Magic is the only tradition that has survived the centauries, as opposed to being a revival or reconstructed. And it often deals with Christian concepts and the Christian god. So, it seems like, in order to get to these other gods, I have to first invoke the Christian god.

Not so. It was just the most acceptable and accessible.

 

[Wintruz]

Heads up, I have to give some context.

I'm a solitary practitioner. So, I don't know what other people do. I've wrestled with how to approach magic. As in to say do I go with traditional grimiores (Goetia, Sworn Book of Pope Honorious, Picatrix)? Or do I go with more modern books on magic?

When it comes to modern books, I worry that the modernization means that magick will be watered down in order to be more mainstream. So, I worry that, if I go by the book, it won't work. I mean, I look at "Witchcraft" and "Paganism" books, and they seem to rehash ceremonial magic, and claim to be associated with cultures whose own magic was lost a long time ago. So, essentially, I worry about a lack of genuiness.

When it comes to tradition, you do get that genuiness, but then you have to worry about matters like translation; which copy is the most accurate. Then when you get a copy, you have to worry about how whether or not you can do the ritual as is written, which requires a lot of supplies, preparation, and timing. Also, ideally, I'd be working with the Norse, Greek, or Egyptian gods. However, as said, the practices of these cultures have largely been eradicated. It seems like, with regards to the west, Ceremonial Magic is the only tradition that has survived the centauries, as opposed to being a revival or reconstructed. And it often deals with Christian concepts and the Christian god. So, it seems like, in order to get to these other gods, I have to first invoke the Christian god.

So, how do you approach magic? Are you solitary or in a group? Is it better to go with more modern books or traditional grimoires? What's your go to book?

I wrestled with many of these concerns early on...

At the risk of sounding rude (not my intention - I can see this is a genuine post) the first question that has to be asked is... what do you actually want? Do you want to be a magician in the sense of "I want to get from A to Z and I can't through mundane means" (bearing in mind that "Z" could be a more developed state of being, it doesn't just have to be material)? Do you want what Sax Rohmer called "the romance of sorcery", that is, do you want to feel like a magician? Do you want to be a historian/librarian?

Ceremonial magic did not fall to Earth from Elysium. It's mutated over the centuries from some very squalid sources (the Greek Magical Papyri advises drowning highly sentient animals, for example) into an elaborate, deeply paranoid and contradictory attempt to "safely" conjure forces according to theological metaphysics which explicitly claim none of this work is ever safe. Admittedly, all these years into my practice, I'm still mystified as to why non-historians give energy to this but, if this would make you feel magical, like you're doing the real thing, there are many grimoires available that you can pick up and start working with. Stephen Skinner's supplementary books are generally excellent.

If you are of the view that intellectual knowledge is somehow synonymous with magical development (it's not - otherwise universities would be filled with Bodhisattvas rather than people hanging on by a thread) Skinner's books will also give you a good grounding in the history of magic and its intellectual frameworks. Start there and work through his bibliographies.

However, if you want to become, if you want to transform into the type of being symbolised by the magician, then the question is "what will transform you?". The methods for this will likely be unique and highly personal and, even then, the map is not the territory. Your soul will already have links to various powers and gods and, while historically accurate methods might be a good way of aligning your thoughts with this reality if you have a mind that associates age with authority, ultimately the methods do not matter because they're simply ways of getting your mind in the right place. A short heartfelt prayer or mantra will connect you as efficiently as shouting about Adonai to the East wall of your living room for a week. What matters is that you are working on unveiling and strengthening your Essence, on becoming yourself and dissolving all patterns at work in you that are not of you. Then, when you act from that Essence, the universe will respond, recognising you as a part of itself. In that state of being, you can simply say a word and, if greater forces aren't antagonistic, the universe will fulfil your desire.

 

[neilwilkes]

One thing I would suggest - it's been stated above too, but it cannot be stated often enough - use whatever works for you. Magick is just as much art as it is anything else, so find what works for you and then stick to it. Easier said than done, yes - but please be aware of things that are not what they claim to be or seem to be. I would go even further, and say that a full understanding of both what you are trying to achieve as well as a full understanding of the book(s) - if any - you are working from. Computer programmers have a valid saying - GIGO! (Garbe In, Garbage Out) and the phrase 'Jack of All trades, master of none' kinda comes to mind here.

Considering what you've written, I worry about this 'coven that is a part of a wider coven' - there are a lot of charlatans out there (I have met more than a few myself) and whilst they might seem genuine, at first it is extremely difficult to spot them simply because your knowledge is limited. So please be careful. You certainly do not have to work with the Christian tradition unless you are one, and anyone who tells you this is simply wrong because Magick existed for millennia before the Christians ever crawled out of their first churches, usually either assimilating or subsuming other, far older traditions to match their own dogma, often turning things completely on their heads whilst doing so. A great example is one you have given - the so-called 'Sworn Book of Pope Honorious' is no such thing, and unless it is a good translation of the Liber Juratus it is a forgery, and these may do more harm than good. At the best, they are misleadingly titled (Liber Juratus was written by 'Honorius the Theban', not the Pope of the same name! There are also a lot of variant versions of the Goetia knocking about, most of them riddled with copying errors, and whilst these may have a value of sorts you need to be aware of the errors, and most modern copies of Goetia are as recent as the 17th & 18th centuries. There are older manuscripts but all of them are derived from the Heptameron and have very little, if anything at all, to do with Solomon.

I would honestly suggest reading, reading, reading at first. When you find the right path for you it will be obvious - almost immediately sometimes! Until then, follow the first word of the statement often given 'To Know, To Dare, To WIll, To Keep Silent' and it may help to substitute 'Learn' for 'Know'. It took me a very long time to find the right system for me after many & various false starts. There will always be false starts. This is inevitable. It's like a successful businessman/entrepeneur will usually go broke several times before he/she hits the right formula for themselves.

Modernized versions of older traditions are not necessarily a bad thing either as it makes them accessible to modern readers who either cannot or will not wade through facsimile editions of obscure books written in outdated dialects or dead languages. It all depends on how well the modernization has been done, and you will find that even with English, things change. Words change their meanings (which can cause all manner of fun & games) or else fall out of use altogether. I would suggest that you start to write your own Grimore along with your Magickal Diary (in a different book, of course) as eventually this will be more useful to you than a library full of other people's work because it will be filled with things & rituals that work for you. This is not to say that other people's rituals will not work - far from it - it's just that your own rough rituals that you have tried and tested will be more effective than the highly polished ones written by other people that you don't really understand.

There are a lot of good, well meaning folks here who will always be happy to try & help or assist but never take anybody else's experiences as anything but subjective (and that most certainly includes everything I have just written above too). All anybody else can do is lend you their map but it's you who has to make the journey.

 

[Anziel_Merkaba]

When in doubt, do exercises that will build and strengthen your intuition. With strong intuition, you will know what books and practices are useful to you. All you have to do is open yourself up to your intuition and actually listen to it, just like how gut instinct is almost always correct.