I have thought of this lately, as I’ve started working with AoO again – although right now only with the more nebulous sigils like “soften reality” and such. Not much I can really do about that from a material, 3D perspective, right? But it’s showing returns already, after a few days.
You can probably blanket disregard that statement. Last year I worked with the AoO and did the Forbidden Initiation Ritual That Made Many People Angry and it did turn my life upside down for a bit, and throw me into a tailspin.
That said, there are a lot of things in magic & life where you are F’ing yourself in the A by doing nothing. Like, using a sigil to “interview well” but not applying for any jobs. What’s the point? Obviously you must apply for jobs to interview for, or the effort is pointless. But I also think, personally, that the majority of magic should not have personal effort attached. Or rather, no more effort than a normie would put into a goal; and oftentimes even less than that. I succeed most when I do not strive. You, in performing ritual, have the added benefit of magic and emotional alchemy on your side.
IMO, in the benefit of magic is to train yourself to replace lust for results with certainty of outcome and a good measure of patience.
Just my humble opinion, of course.