Have been reading into W.E Butler recently, offers a good break from the usual authors...his writing style is much easier to relate to, cites examples of situations whilst teaching rather than saturating the reader with rigid logic and information, manages to place it into context better than Regardie for example although the two aren't to be compared. Anyway... he talks of creating a, 'Magical personality' something that most do but perhaps do not fully take to when choosing a motto for themselves, he also talks of the power of hypnosis and how it can be used to this effect and in magic in general, a very intresting topic. Have to say I'm ''slightly'' dissapointed as he dosen't go into much detail... in fact he goes into it in one book then promises to break it down in another but dosen't... his works are written in a certain style, perhaps too much the opposite of Regardie and Crowely, his approach makes it difficult to follow as no certain format is laid out but is offered enpassing, as though he were addressing a room full of students and has no time for detail or emphasis.

The idea is to create a persona distinct from ones self for use in magickal workings, using hypnotism to program the mind into assuming said persona when a certain item is put on, gives the example of a ring which is probably best. Of the opinion that his works are to be peiced together as in the chapter in, 'The Lords of Light' he talks of using self hypnosis to structure ones personality/mind in general then promises to explain further in, ''The Magician'' where the outline of a method is given. Thinking of using hypnosis in such a way is brilliant, programming the mind to be able to work on the inner planes instantly rather than struggle to achive and maintain that state of mind, controlling the will in that fasion to the point of being able to fully percive the work. To be honest the magical persona part irks with me as I'm not sure how so much can be done under one name and circumstance and then done away with under another... was wondering if anyone knows of anyone who goes into further detail on how to properly go about it as the 4 pages given is not much to fall back on when you find you have a split personality or worse because of it all., don't you find your true name at the end of the work?

Can se why people perfer to keep their own identities rather than adopt a new one while working, intergration would be an issue at some point I think but there you go, its all very intresting, tempted to give it a go as its linked to B.O.L work which is the next step in my magical career.

Has anyone taken to creating a magical personality or used hypnosis to aid their practice?

Peace
.M.