I’m a Magician first and foremost.
Crowley is great, but only if just like him you’re a genius with a classical education.
Arthur Edward Waite is a waste of time and money. Still popular with armchair types, dictionary to hand. Spent early on studying Wicca, but who doesn’t. In January 1976 I had the paperback of The Devil’s Prayer Book !
Before the internet you’ve absolutely no idea just how fucking hard it was to get anything useful, all the more so when you were just growing pubes and don’t have money or a driver’s licence. It was cruel but I persevered.
Taoist Magick is great and has a lhp but it’s not my scene. The Tao de Jing is a nasty little book but well worth the effort; as is Sun Tzu’s The Art of War and Machiavelli’s The Prince . All three are political in nature.
Of the two Anton’s - LaVey and Long - both taught me precious, learnt knowledge. However, it was Peter James Carroll who made me a Magician!
Al.