To all of the newbies.
Take it or leave it…My Magickal teacher told me my Apostle was Thomas the Doubter. Doubt leads to questioning, which keeps you sane. It’s called the Psychic Censor.
Magick has two paths, both are difficult. Ours is more dangerous because on our path Magickal grades are recognised, not awarded. Magick requires increasing commitment until your whole life becomes Magickal. It’s a cross between learning a musical instrument and a martial art. On our path it’s a race against yourself. When I was a young teeny-bopper I occasionally met Magicians who seemed to be full of it. Then stuff started happening for me. If Magick is crap, how come every generation has its Magicians – all of them peddling meaningless crap? Why? Some sort of subliminal cheap thrill?
[But just as a digression on highly successful, reprehensibly stupid and mind-numbingly destructive meaninglessness, Xtianity teaches that their god sent himself, to sacrifice himself to himself, in order to save humanity from himself! Well you can’t say their religion isn’t god-centred – and totally fucked-up!]
If I where you I’d be getting an inexpensive, soft cover, ruled page notebook as my first Magickal Diary and then I’d be doing a considered Black & White Mirror (see Psychology: That Old Black Magick). Also, learn and keep performing banishings, because banishing is far more important than invoking. You can use a banishing for all sorts of things. Invoking will also be easier with banishing under your belt. Whatever form of banishing/invoking you use, make sure you “see” your tracings and that they fly to the ends of the multiverse.
Now you’ve got an ‘O! so last century’ paper diary and pen you can get yourself a deck of Taro cards. Take your time. Research different card designs on-line. When you purchase a deck also purchase a 100% natural material – cotton, silk, hemp – and a 100% natural material bag. Wash both of these with water and dry naturally (at night if possible). The cards are wrapped in the cloth and therefore always only ever touch one side of that cloth. The wrapped cards are kept in a bag.
And that’s about as far as most ‘Magicians’ go - wrapped up Taro cards in a bag. E.A. Koetting has addressed how to start to familiarise yourself with the meaning of the cards by reading the horrid little booklets which come with most decks. I agree with him but let me say this, “Symbols are easy to come by; any system can be used – the difficulty lies in forging the magic link…It [the symbol] should become a basis for lateral thinking (or intuitive guesswork) rather than as a final answer to be mechanically interpreted.” Liber Null (Liber LUX Divination) Peter J. Carroll
The divinations of the Officer, the Digger, the Statesman and the Whore differ. They ask questions according to their expectations. Not so the Magus!
“The answers to one’s questions in divination are not conveyed directly but through the medium of a suitable series of symbols. These symbols must be interpreted by the diviner in terms of his problem.” Aleister Crowley Magick Part III Chapter 18. It begs the question as to why someone else’s interpretations deserve your attention. Those beginning in divination should at least initially work out their own understanding before programming someone else’s ideology into their head. After all, someone had to write the first Tarot or I Ching book and where did they obtain their arcane knowledge? From the same place you should!
“Meditate long and broad and deep, O man, upon this Wheel, revolving it in thy mind!.. Then, when thou know’st the Wheel of Destiny complete… thou art past through the Abyss.” Aleister Crowley Liber 333 Chapter 78 Experiment with your own methods of consulting your chosen divinatory system. Make notes in your Magickal Diary of divinations you have performed and their accuracy. Only at this point should you purchase other people’s books– because when you are being spoken to by a superior intelligence it’s rude to ask someone else what is meant.
That should be enough for starters. And if you’re not enjoying your Magick - you’re not doing it right!
Al.
