Plan Of Study. Options

My plan of study

I just thought it would be cool if I posted a plan for my further studies into the world of ceremonial magick. (and also so I will know what I am going to do and stick with it.)

Things already done:
Read The 4 books of occult philosophy by Agrippa.
Memorize LBRP.
Read first part of short course on Skrying by Rowe. (the mediating and magical world part)
Some various others introduction to Ceremonial magick type documents.

(first month)
1: To do the LBRP twice or more everyday.
2: To practice mediating for at least a hour a day.
3: start Reading Book of Ceremonial Magic By ARTHUR EDWARD WAITE
4: Start reading Kabbalah ??? by Mathers.
5: Start forcing my mind to allow me to be the master.
6: Study various other small texts.

(second month)
1: Continue to do LBRP twice or more everyday (given for all the rest of the months too)
2: Start building magical world while mediating.
3: Read the Magus
4: memorize and practice MP.
5: study Hebrew letters and more Kabbalah texts.

(third month)
1: Finish reading The Short course on Skrying by Rowe.
2: Work on beginning Skrying.
3: Memorize and learn LIRP.
4: Read Key of Solomon.

Please add anything else you can to the lists that would help me a lot, and more things to read that I can get free around the internet, or get given by someone. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/book.gif) I’m going to take things slow, and try to gain a understanding and such from reading while at the same time. Thank you all very much in advance!

Peace.

This post has been edited by Tarem: Sep 19 2006, 06:43 PM

I would agree mystical kabbalah is the way to go. It gets pretty thick at times, and at points during reading it I woulkd think to myself "why is she repeating herself" and then two paragraphs later i would see why that repetition was so necessary. It can get a bit trying at times, but read it through to the end - its worth it. I would recommend with anything that you read take notes of page numbers and places in the book which you found something either that you really liked, and stuff that you didnt understand. Go back over it, seek explanations from other sources.

The Middle Pillar by Israel Regardie is a book i would recommend to anyone. It is the perfect book for anyone who has "doubts". The book shows the correlation between modern psychology/psychotherapy and ceremonial magick. It shows you how even if the forces you are working with arent "real", the effects of ceremonial magick on the subconcious and concious of the person using it, if used properly with self honesty, are real and beneficial. The great thing about this book is also that it forces you to ask a lot of poignant important questions about your motivations behind wanting to embark on the path of magick. Regardie references a lot of what is really very basic psychology, but stuff that we as humans still forget all the time. This book forces you to remember. Are you using magick because you are overly power hungry? Is it because you have an inferiority complex? If you are a male is it because your father was a less than ideal parent? Are you using it as a tool to "escape" from life?

These and many more questions are asked and Regardie shows how these are often realities for a lot of beginner aspirants; but that the use of magick, common sense, and counselling together can actually be used to heal these wounds in ways and as fast that counselling alone could never do. The reason this book is so good is because this psycholgy stuff is really important to be aware of and to work with in your magickal path. If you dont become aware and make use of it its the stuff that will come back and bite you on the bum when you start getting into ritual work. Whether you see it as "demonic possession" or "mental illness", these can be the results for people who are nursing psychological scars and dont deal with them honestly and openly whilst on their magickal path; especially when they start to deal with the higher powers. I know im going ona lot, but:

IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THIS STUFF!!!!!

As Nero said; keep a diary of everything. I suggest three diaries, but find out what works for you:

Diary 1 is for dreams - write all the dreams you remember down as soon as you remember them. (Sometimes this isnt until a day or two later - i write the dreams inorder that i had them, but i also make a note of when i actually remembered it and what i was doing at the time - this can provide some great insights).

Diary 2 is for magick - write down what happened during every meditation, ritual, or travel in the body of light straight after you finish so it is still fresh in memory - even waiting for a few hours to write it down can see your memories distorted. Cross reference what you experience in terms of colour and symbology against the experience of others - is this the colour usually associated with the energies ruled by this planet? and questinons like this should be asked.

Diary 3 is for effects - in this diary i write about where i see the effects of my work beginning to manifest in my day to day life. In my feelings, interactions, and experiences. I write down here any of my more than just a coincidence experiences as well. In a "chance" encounter I had on the street with one cheeky old adept, in response to my off hand remark that our meeting at that time was e pretty amazing coincidence he scoffed and replyed sardonically "Yes I suppose if you believe in coincidences". He also warned me that it is at the "hanged man" where many stumble on their journey.

My final piece of advice is one from Regardie. He suggests that the training of the will should be given great attention. This should be done on several levels. Go for at least a month without eating something you alwasy do - and will find it hard not to. The same without saying something you always say. The f word proved most difficult for me. After that try the words I and me. The essence being that anything that is habitual requires a great force of "will" to stop doing. Hence exercising your will. Regardie also recommends cutting yourself everytime you slip up. It is no ones business but my own as to whether i employ this tactic or not. But this extreme measure is not something to be taken lightly, and i am in no way recommending it, i am simply stating it so that i could not be accused of omitting information. I must say though that it could be very easy for this practice to become unhealthy psychologically - remember the words of Hermes: "As above, so below".

Anyway, enough of this rant. Last thing is to remember that magick isnt everything (even though of course it is), but my point is to keep your feet on the groung and stay heavily involved in worldly affairs. Walk the dog and chat to the bitchy neighbour who bores you with his talk of detergents and politics. This also is the real world - the aim of magick is to unite all of them (the real worlds that is)!!!

Good luck and sorry again for the rant - I love the sound of my own keyboard.