Congratulations. You have a passing curiosity or sincere interest in the art & science of magick. We have several centuries of manuscripts and books about its theory and practice. Some assessments are from spectators and critics, and some are accounts by devoted and highly developed practitioners. Yet, all hold their own domain of specialty, cultural influence, energy signature and consumption level depending on the spiritual maturity of the writer and reader/practitioner. Moreover, some things you may never learn from a book but directly from a living, breathing teacher. Alchemy. Hermetics. Divination. Kabbalah. Spells. Ritual work. Extra-sensory perception. Invocation. Enochian magic. Folk magic. Theurgy, etc. The gamut of venues for magical expression fill encyclopedia books.

Developing one’s education and experience in this subject matter requires trial and error, luck, direction and grit. Many students begin by being what is coined as an “armchair magician.” He buys several books to read, seeking to grasp the material that will help him build out a mental map about magick. What is it? How to approach it? What is its theory and application? How to practice? What to practice? How does one view the mechanics of the universe and the self? What are these many published practitioners saying about it? What do I resonate with? Which concepts am I unable as of yet to grasp? How do I interpret and integrate new magickal experiences with a previous belief system? Is it even worth it?

Unless fortune takes you directly to the heart of your innermost treasure trove, most students begin by accessing low hanging fruit on the tree of magick and with time and continued desire, come upon new material and people to aid them with their gradual progress on the path. Many pitfalls exist but also uncountable joys. It’s a subject that many dabble in, but few stay in the pond to deep dive and discover the previously unimaginable depths. It is undoubtly laborious, but more so rewarding when one is committed to trekking its mountain.

Magick is arcane and steeped in mystery. The Hermetic arts are considered a sacred art, where silence is considered one the the four pillars of King Solomon’s temple. Silence being an attribute of this revered art makes it even more impenetrable to the wandering beginner. Yet, silence is a metaphysical fundamental. The Middle East culture notably acknowledges this universal law – stay silent on your goals and that which you value, less someone sends you the evil eye or projects their naysaying attitude to interfere with your plans. We intuitively can understand this, and have probably even experienced having reduced stamina or access to something we previously declared to what we unsuspected, but ended up being, unsupportive ears. With experience, one is attentive to and grasps the nuances between disclosure and safe-keeping in the inner temple. Who do you want to trust and open up to?

Magick can be used for harmful and destructive means, yet the pound of flesh extracted is very detrimental to the practioner and strongly advised against. I note this for any practitioner who practices curses that may come across this blog. What magick does is amplify who you already are. In kind, so are the consequences of your actions amplified upon you, for better or for worse. Later I’ll have to go into the various wheelhouses that play into the magician’s inner landscape once he begins working with energies outside of his personal energy and how to “project manage” and work with all the drudgery .

This brings me to the driving take-away behind writing this. Genuine success in magick requires discipline, structure and tenacity. Your personal relationship with it may twist and turn through time and space. The development of your magician-self may twist and turn as new terrains of life, age and practical experience greet you day-to-day. It requires commitment, ongoing assessment, quality/quantity control, adaptation, continual practice, balance and union with your budding, unfolding innermost. For you are ultimately responsible for taking it upon yourself to be an ambassador and steward of your magickal development should it call to you. Take charge. It’s all up to who you see in the mirror. Cultivating this inner ambassador/steward is particularly important should theurgy attract you.

The practice of magick is like a pie. It takes applied effort, attention and will power to break through the crust of some workings. Most never make it past the crust or a passing glance, hence why so many discard magick as a farce. Yet, it is not something all are meant to study, grasp and practice. Just as not everyone shares the same hobbies, not everyone is intrigued with unraveling this mystery. Yet, once you do pass the layers of crust, you find yourself in the pudding. That’s where it’s at. If you are looking at the crust and don’t know where to begin, one tool to put in your metaphysical toolkit is faith. Even if you happen to find yourself hitting a wall face first for years, if your faith and commitment to this undertaking echos through the eternal, refusing to give up and constantly applying yourself through various means and with pure intent, doors shall eventually be opened. Then you may even realize that the hurdles placed before you ultimately strengthened and refined you. They were the rock you sharpened your sword upon for the rest of the road ahead. In the words of a former teacher, gambatte. It means good luck and train hard.