Author Damien Echols and Western Magick

[Gurublue]

Why doesnt Damien Echols practice magick anymore? Like he just talks about and study buddhism. Not that anything is wrong with it, but I kinda feel the loss of motivation in reading his books just to find out that he no longer even partakes in Magick spiritual practices anymore.

 

[KjEno186]

I didn't know he stopped. I watched The Midnight Gospel, which is a Netflix animated series based on interviews of people covering various occult topics. Echols was featured in one episode. He said that magick is what he does (did?) for hours a day, and that the "Western" current is the path to attaining the 'goal' in one lifetime as opposed to the Eastern, which he said can take longer. He also stated that he learned the Eastern path in prison. Whatever has motivated his decision, it has to do with his own circumstances. I think you can still benefit from what he wrote, but you don't have to imitate his practice. He did not create the principles he explains, but he did try to write in such a way that most people can understand the fundamental concepts.

 

[kusuri]

If I remember correctly he took on a more meditative approach to magick. Which in my mind makes a bit of sense if one thinks about it.

After some time one realizes that the whole ceremonial thing doesnt matter quite as much if you can achieve the same results in a meditative state.

For example looking at Regardies method of consecrating a talisman. One can prepare a talisman and the do the middle pillar while seated in a meditative position, and then project from the Tiphareth center directly into the talisman instead of doing the whole Golden Dawn consecration method.

Meditation is magick if its used in the right way. You can contact any entity this way or skry... So one could do Invocation, Evocation, Talismans, and Divination purely through meditation if one chooses.

But I am not him so Idk what he is doing tbh.

 

[Thee Nightfool]

What sect of Buddhism is he in? If it's tantric-related (Vajrayana, Shugendo, etc) then he's still practicing magic... but for all sentient beings, of corpse

 

[OberonFromTheHills]

I think it's totally normal for any occultist/magician to switch and adapt its practice.

 

[Gurublue]

What sect of Buddhism is he in? If it's tantric-related (Vajrayana, Shugendo, etc) then he's still practicing magic... but for all sentient beings, of corpse

He practices Zen buddhism by the looks of it.

Post automatically merged: Apr 22, 2026

I think it's totally normal for any occultist/magician to switch and adapt its practice.

Yeah its nothing wrong with it i am just curious as to what made him go towards buddhism. Like he doesnt talk much about Magick at all anymore.

 

[Thee Nightfool]

He practices Zen buddhism by the looks of it.

Post automatically merged: Apr 22, 2026

Yeah its nothing wrong with it i am just curious as to what made him go towards buddhism. Like he doesnt talk much about Magick at all anymore.

Huh. Zen is pretty non-tantric/magic(al). That's interesting.

 

[MorganBlack]

I've not read him but that's a timely move. The growth of the WitchTok Aesthetics era just ended after 14 years of Neptune in Pisces.

The I think the Big Dream is moving on from the Neptunian / Piscean "I'm a witchy vibe shaman who was just born this way" to the Arian "I'm a mystical knight who chooses to become what I am." So teaching Kendo bootcamps in the park, Zen, as we move into the next 14 years of Neptune in Aries (and some Saturn in Aries) is a good move. Avoid the rush later.

So if we're looking at an inner shift to the Jungian Hero's Journey, what we dream about becomes more about striving, solid effort and the strength to lift heavy steel in an age that is about the Individual vs. The Dragon (of Chaos). It probably requires fewer crystals and Whismy goth dresses, and more a sword, a shield, functional strength over Instagram muscles (but those are coming too) , and a very firm sense of where the "self" ends and the real Abyss begins.