2.5 Candy shop magic
This is a term I use for the practice of buying into any and all magical paths, books, courses, workshops, outfits, jewellery, haircuts, T-shirts... The person hops from one book to another, from one path to another, constantly looking for the next power fix and glamour image. One week it’s Chumley, the next it’s Fortune, Enochian magic, Egyptian magic, and so on. I am not saying that someone should stick only with one path because that is equally unhealthy. But there needs to be a sensible, solid consistency in the initial learning so that something can take root and begin to grow. We have to learn the rules and gain a foundation with roots before we can break them. This is obvious to anyone who has studied any classical discipline to a professional level. Once you know one system of work well from the inside out, then you can throw that structure away if needs be and access virtually anything even remotely on the same frequency. So lodge secrecy regarding contacts becomes obsolete: once you have worked in depth with inner contacts, you can access just about anyone or anything. You don’t need to have the contacts handed to you: just go get them for yourself.
If you are a lone practitioner, it is even better—though it is harder. The lone practitioner needs to find an initial, foundational training mechanism that will teach them inner and outer pattern making and skill sets, provide boundaries, and help develop self discipline. It takes a lot more work because it all has to come from within you; but it is far more rewarding if you achieve it, and certainly more powerful. You also do not end up with the sometimes-ridiculous rules, poor quality work, and low-level dross that often accompanies group beginner training.
