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This is a collective journal thread for those working through Don Webb's Energy Magick of the Vampyre curriculum starting from the 4th of August. Those starting after the 4th of August (I would recommend starting on a night of the New Moon) are also welcome to share thoughts, ideas and impressions here after you've completed the book's 'Opening Rite of Try'. If you have questions about the work before beginning it, I would recommend that you post those here so that this thread can focus entirely on the work itself. This work raises a number of synchronicities and strange subjective states and those experiencing them are better unencumbered by "What do you mean?" type questions from those not travelling the same terrain. At the same time, this thread is not a substitute for a personal diary. Use commonsense when writing here.
On the evening of the 4th of August those embarking on this curriculum will carry out the 'Opening Rite of Try'. Before then, it is essential to begin, as soon as possible, the 'Daily Energy Inventory' from the book. This should be done every night for the duration of the curriculum. The only exceptions are those nights when an 'Opening' rite or 'Initiatic' rite are due to occur. As a general rule, these will be the two nights around the New Moon. Ideally, the 'Initiatic' rites will happen on the nights before the New Moon and the 'Opening' rites on the nights of the New Moon. Sometimes the Moon becomes New during daylight hours. In that case, as good symbolists, we want the 'Initiatic' working to occur on the last night of waning and the 'Opening' rite to occur on the first night of waxing. This means that you'll be doing rites two nights in a row and then back to the Energy Inventory for the rest of the time. Get used to the cycles of the Moon. They're going to teach you a great deal about what patterns are at work in your life.
Other magical work can be carried out provided that it is 1) non-initiatory and 2) resonant with the curriculum. If you need to do some sorcery or divination, that's fine. It's a good idea to use Webb's 'Frame Rite' around any rituals so that there is a link with the initiatory work. All ritual work for this curriculum must take place after sundown and before sunrise. Practising the various techniques as you go about your day is fine.
It would be a good idea to get through as much of Webb's book as possible before the 4th of August. This isn't a Masonic system where psychodrama comes from surprise; knowing the rites in advance will help you to prepare for them (not least in gathering the items you may need) so that when it's "curtain up" you can give it your all. And you really must give it your all. Treat this curriculum as a once in a lifetime encounter with the most Secret and Powerful aspect of yourself, an aspect that you would normally never go near. It may well be. When you get through Webb's book, move onto the First Tier of the reading list towards the end of the book. Start with Dracula, then select what attracts you. It's nice to key in what you're reading with the nature of the working month itself (say 'Remanifest' and Peake's Is There Life After Death? or 'Indulgence' and LaVey's The Satanic Witch or Xeper and Aquino's MindStar). I can put up what I think are the best readings for each month if you'd like me to but I don't want to hamper anyone else's ideas.
If I'm "on script" I usually print out rites a day or two before I do them. Before the 4th I will do that for the 'Opening Rite of Try'. When I do, I will copy it here for the first working so that you can see what my ritual formulae looks like. This will also let me address a couple of unfortunate typos in the Webb text.
On the evening of the 4th of August those embarking on this curriculum will carry out the 'Opening Rite of Try'. Before then, it is essential to begin, as soon as possible, the 'Daily Energy Inventory' from the book. This should be done every night for the duration of the curriculum. The only exceptions are those nights when an 'Opening' rite or 'Initiatic' rite are due to occur. As a general rule, these will be the two nights around the New Moon. Ideally, the 'Initiatic' rites will happen on the nights before the New Moon and the 'Opening' rites on the nights of the New Moon. Sometimes the Moon becomes New during daylight hours. In that case, as good symbolists, we want the 'Initiatic' working to occur on the last night of waning and the 'Opening' rite to occur on the first night of waxing. This means that you'll be doing rites two nights in a row and then back to the Energy Inventory for the rest of the time. Get used to the cycles of the Moon. They're going to teach you a great deal about what patterns are at work in your life.
Other magical work can be carried out provided that it is 1) non-initiatory and 2) resonant with the curriculum. If you need to do some sorcery or divination, that's fine. It's a good idea to use Webb's 'Frame Rite' around any rituals so that there is a link with the initiatory work. All ritual work for this curriculum must take place after sundown and before sunrise. Practising the various techniques as you go about your day is fine.
It would be a good idea to get through as much of Webb's book as possible before the 4th of August. This isn't a Masonic system where psychodrama comes from surprise; knowing the rites in advance will help you to prepare for them (not least in gathering the items you may need) so that when it's "curtain up" you can give it your all. And you really must give it your all. Treat this curriculum as a once in a lifetime encounter with the most Secret and Powerful aspect of yourself, an aspect that you would normally never go near. It may well be. When you get through Webb's book, move onto the First Tier of the reading list towards the end of the book. Start with Dracula, then select what attracts you. It's nice to key in what you're reading with the nature of the working month itself (say 'Remanifest' and Peake's Is There Life After Death? or 'Indulgence' and LaVey's The Satanic Witch or Xeper and Aquino's MindStar). I can put up what I think are the best readings for each month if you'd like me to but I don't want to hamper anyone else's ideas.
If I'm "on script" I usually print out rites a day or two before I do them. Before the 4th I will do that for the 'Opening Rite of Try'. When I do, I will copy it here for the first working so that you can see what my ritual formulae looks like. This will also let me address a couple of unfortunate typos in the Webb text.