Rating: 
Summary: This IS the ONE for beginners and experienced as well
Review: After all those years of wondering about magick and trying to find a book which really teaches you the REAL secrets of magick, this book wins the ultimate MUST HAVE. Very good for those who are starters in Magick. This book lets you understand and learn the Whats, the Hows, and the Whens of Magick. You will be able to understand other books on the Occult once you have finished reading this book. Most of the beginners would like to jump to COOL Magick like Goetia - then upon reading it and trying to summon things - nothing happens - then you start wondering if you have to read between the lines, well, in a way yes. So, before jumping to those more advance versions of Magick, this book will be your guide to understand what Magick is and how to use other Magickal or Occult books.
I know many who likes to skip chapters just to learn what one wants to learn. If you are serious in Magick, take your time to go from the beginning. You need to build up sufficient knowledge of how to let Magick happen. As for experienced Magicians, I would say that this is a good reference.
This book is mainly based on Kabbalistic Magick and a few Low Magick (nature magick). Too bad there isn't much on Enochian. I've been followin the lessons in the book and I can say that: its not complicated and Magick WORKS (this statement are for those who are sceptics)!!
All in all this book provides you with good history in Magick though not in detail but still not too boring. For those serious in this, I would also recommend the audio tape to pronounce the difficult words there are in the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but....
Review: Actually, I think I'd give this book 3.5 stars, but that wasn't really an option. At any rate, this is a very solid book, and a great introduction to the basics of magickal theory and practice for the beginner. (Consider this the Cliffnotes of the Golden Dawn...and go ahead and start here. It'll simply explain some of the more difficult and essential concepts.) I read this book first, and it made possible further, more complex excursions into magickal reading. I would recommend following this with something like the Cicero's Self-Initiation to the Golden Dawn, which is a bit more complete. Granted, DMK isn't teaching GD magick, per se, but it's not a bad idea to read the other, longer, and much more informative tome (he also freely admits, as has been pointed out by other reviewers, that this is NOT a book with a subtitle like "the only magickal text you'll ever need", nor does it hold any pretense to that effect). I would also recommend reading around before attempting to practice the section on evocation, and maybe getting a more complete grimoire.
I strongly disagree with the Thelemite who said that proper initiation can only be gained by initiation from a higher-up. Regardie felt that self-initiation was possible (and this is more a GD text than a Crowley one) and SO did Uncle Al...he specifically rewrote many rituals for the A.'.A.'. to be memorized and performed by initiates for themselves. The claim that proper initiation can only be obtained through a higher-level initiate is primarily insurance for the payment of dues in any order. Is it helpful? Certainly. But it can be done at home.
Finally, I'd also recommend purcashing Franz Bardon's Initiation into Hermetics or, at least, Georg Lomer's Seven Hermetic Letters to be utilized with this or the Cicero's Self-Initiation. The Golden Dawn path is more ritual-oriented, while Franz Bardon uses more meditative techniques and exercises. Together, they are extremely worth-while.
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL BOOK
Review: I remember the first time I was introduced to the techniques taught in this book. I was hiking in Spain and met woman who happened to live in Chicago, just as I do. Small world! She was the one who introduced me to this book. She taught me the lower bansishing ritual, which is taught in this book and is used to "banish" energy out of your space that isn't yours, to keep yourself "clear". When I did this with her it was as if I could feel a pair of "hands" reach from the Earth and grab my ankles and pull me tight to the ground, as if to strengthen my grounding. After this intense amazing experience I knew I had to learn more. Once I got back to Chicago I jumped on[line] to order a copy. I'm so impressed with how the book is laid out. The author is very personable, very easy to understand and very "VERY" responsible as a mystic teacher. He gives you a little history of the teachings and is to the point.
I know that everyone experiences energy on their own level but if you want a wonderful book that helps keep you clear of influences that you do not want in your space, get in touch with your higher self and your ultimate creator then I recommend this one. It seems that everytime I undergo one of the lessons I experience a phenomenal situation that seems to unfold for months. It's been a year now and I have yet to complete all the lessons! I have to go at my own pace!
Great work Donald!
Rating:
Summary: Top notch, excellent beginners book!!
Review: I have been reading books on magic for years. I have dabbled with visualization and pathwork. I have remained a dabbler because most books were not precise and left me with doubts as to whether using a system would be safe or effective. This book is like a text book, leading you through the material in a logical and orderly way. I recommend this to anyone who wants to learn magic. This is definitely THE book for beginners. it starts out slow and safe, introduces you to different concepts, gives history and meaning of rituals, and tells you that it is not the definitive book on the subject and encourages you to explore and study.
Rating:
Summary: Aspiring Magicians, Neophytes & Seekers Everywhere
Review: Kraig gives an impressive volume of quality information and instruction in this one work. His style is firmly rooted in the Golden Dawn tradition, but he is fairly open to other systems of belief and practice. This work is an excellent first occult book, and is quite good as a soul source of instruction. Some of the information, though, DMK has modified to fit his world-view--if this bothers you, Modern Magick may be trying at times.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't do any better myself
Review: I have had this book a few weeks and I am on the LBRP, which isn't very far mabye, but I am takeing my time with this book. I think the only problem with this book is that it is too practicle and unobtrusive. It would be incredably easy to take for granted the neccessary precautions required of an uninitiated explorer of the magickal arts. Kraig has managed to create a very dynamic and grounded system based on GD, which i truly commend, and I would, and have, recommended this book to friends interested in beginners magick outside of a magickl order.
Rating:
Summary: An all you can eat for the Kaballah beginer
Review: I have been a wiccan for several years now, but I consider myself as possessing real powers only from the moment I started practicing from this book. I didn't know much about kaballah and that stuff except for the fact that I'm an Israeli, so I speak Hebrew. I saw lots of books , and saw that many of them misinterpeted many Hebrew words, and also mispronounced them into sorry excuses for Hebrew words. This guy really knows what he's writing about!!! In a short time of practicing the stuff from this book (one at a time, like a good boy) I started feeling powerfull. Many people say this book is basic- but well, if this is basic, than DAMN I don't know what advanced is- because I can feel my whole body and astral layers quivering and vibrating after performing even the most basic of the rituals presented in this book- and I had so many weird experiences showing that the author knows how to teach us "lamens" how to "move" things.I really really recomend this book to everyone who wants to practice kaballah. For the beginer and expert, this book is a complete theoretical and practical book- both to learn from and study new rituals, and as a referance for all the basic and important things about kaballah. This book is excellent, and I have never ever read an occult book better and more practical than this one. Out of a bunch of [stuff] loaded books this book stands out as the no. 1 book on kaballah. I would give it 13 stars, not 5.
Rating:
Summary: What is magic?
Review: Before I discovered this text, I was ambivalent to the idea of magic. What does it mean? On the one hand, I had ideas that magic was something evil and anti-Christian; while on the other hand I equated it to the fantasy world of tricks by entertainers like David Copperfield the magician, or fairy tales like Cinderella. This book has certainly dispelled much of my ignorance on the subject. I am learning that magic is multifaceted, very spiritual and is a very practical tool (or way of life for many) to spiritual development and personal upliftment. The path suggested by this work is not for the lazy. It requires discipline and commitment. The coursework provided is practical and explanations are as simple as one can expect from a subject matter that can get quite complex. I believe the complexity of the subject matter makes it necessary for one to spend a reasonable amount of time and effort on each lesson, as suggested by the author, in order to master the exercises. For those who are not interested in the practice of magic, however, this book provides more than a glimpse into the world of the practician. It also reveals that in our daily lives, we all practice and or experience a little bit of magic every day. Just being alive and functioning in a world as complex as ours, is magic at work. If you want to get the most out of this work, follow the instructions carefully. Do not rush. Take the time to practice the excercises, master them, and savor the results.
Rating:
Summary: You need this book...
Review: If you're working a ceremonial magic path, you need this book. It's practical, honest, and straight forward about what you need to know and what you have to do to develop the skills you need.
Rating:
Summary: A good start
Review: Yes, this book may oversimplify a bit, but Crowley and Regardie are hard reads to someone with no Magickal background. This book will get you started with good basic simple info on the main subjects you need to know, and has an excellent bibliography to keep you going. This is the "1st grade primer" for aspiring magicians- if you have any prior knowledge, an unnecessary book, but if looking for a 1st book for your occult library, buy and read before spending money on the "classics" because you probably wont understand them yet anyway. Also, for Pagans and Wiccans, a good view of a slightly different path. In other words, buy this FIRST, then dive into "Magick in Theory and Practice" or "The Golden Dawn", it will make them much easier to grasp. Will also make those cool Grimoires you bought like the Keys of Solomon usable.
|
