Rating: 
Summary: The best Evocation rites I've encountered
Review: If you want to be a full-fledged Goetic magician, this is definately a MUST. If you are ecclectic and like to steal ideas and mix them up, I would also recommend this tome which is well researched, logical, and still very original. It doesn't matter one bit if this author is inventing or re-discovering using facial optical distortions in a mirror; if it works for you go for it. It is.....bizarre. Just to experiment, simply turn out your lights, light a candle to illuminate your face from below and squint into a mirror. This psychological /optical illusion works without the occult paraphenalia, but with it and the right mind set, it can be a most potent operation.
Rating: 
Summary: Fills in the blanks.
Review: In the simplest of terms, Solomon's Magick fills in the blanks. As practitioner of Golden Dawn methods and as one who has a great respect for Franz Bardon's system, I must say that I've always been just a tad confused. G.D. methods assume too much. The practitioner is left wondering if that's all there is to magick. Bardon's methods are great, but take FOREVER--and the assumptions in his book regarding how long it should take a person to reach certain states are more than a little overly optimistic. Runyon presents a in clear terms what the others are missing--even aside from accessing the spirits of the Goetia. On top of it--it's easy. Don't get me wrong...the work must be done, but once done the work really pays off. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this book outlines one of the most workable methods of magickal development on the market. On top of that, Runyon never suggests that a person can achieve these things with no work or with no study...just the opposite in fact.
Rating:
Summary: A work of Art
Review: Mr. Runyon is truly an artist. His dramatic and eloquent presentation of the art of Goetic evocation really leaps off the page. It certainly inspired me! Immediately upon acquiring the book, I proceeded to build the altar and triangle, practice the yogic and self-hypnotic techniques, and within a couple of weeks I was staring into the face of Mystery. This is a good presentation of an alternative system to the Golden Dawn style of magick. Highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: Decent.....however
Review: Overall, I feel this is a decent book. The Angelic Invocations required before one goes onto the Evocations are beautiful. But, even with that you start with the LIRP as presented in the author's stylized way. The way he presents two parts of the ritual really bug me...because it appears to me he may have "re-discovered" too little, or hasn't bothered to study the ritual properly. I will quote some of his directions:"Because these are Earth Pentagrams they must be visualized in bright, neon green"1 Then it directs you to the endnote: "This is bound to confuse and upset some 'authorities' and their students who insist that Earth Pentagrams should be visualized in an astral electric blue color...The G.D. color scales are NOT what we see on the astral, they are what we project and impose in order to accomplish our purpose. You are creating Earth Pentagram, not skrying one that's already there--so, don't make 'blue' water Pentagrams for the Earth Quadrant. Make 'um green." He gives some true statements about the projection of color. However, he seems unaware of the reasons behind using a blue pentagram in the ritual. Water has nothing to do with the usage of the pentagram in this ritual. Very little research will show that the reason it is blue(not green, which would be the flashing color of Fire seen on Michael)is that the pentagram is a symbol of Geburah. Geburah is related to martian influence and color is red...opposite the tree is Geburah(which is blue). One purpose of the ritual is to create a balanced space, so with the fiery symbol of Geburah we balance it with the color of Gedulah. This is the reasoning behind the blue pentagram. My other major dislike of this book is the six-pointed star he uses...the energy of the unicursal star is quite different from the one originally used. The difference I will let the read discover for him/herself, but you need to know it is a different energy pattern. From these points alone I am led to question the rest of the book's "discoveries". Such as the redone Master Mandala. I realize the Order he is involved in is not exclusively G.D., but a mix of that and Paganism. Which could be his reasoning for the pentagram color change as in modern Wiccan and such the Earth's color is usually seen as green. This is a decent book however, and he seems sincere in wanting the reader to succeed with his system. Therefore, that is encouraging and he has a list of reccomended reading which has many good titles for the student to learn from. I would just say to whoever buys this book as I did. Use common sence when reading about anyone's new found "knowledge". Don't blindly trust anyone...do research on your own and come to your own conclusions. .... 770!
Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff
Review: The author comes off as a bit of a salesman at times but perhaps that is part of his charm. I found a handful of questionable things in his book but it doesn't take away from the overall magic he discusses. I doubt that anything was truly gifted to him as far as "re-discovery" goes but it's scholarly innovation is extremely useful and refreshing. In addition Runyon has digested reams of older knowledge already available and placed them into an understandable format. I bought this book and the VCR tape that goes with it and I liked them both aside from the small things I listed above. You can learn much about evocation and invocation from this book and VCR tape.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Look Any Further!
Review: The word to describe this book, if you have the power to speak after trying it, is WOW! Caroll Runyon really did a number on me with this fine creation of COMPLETE creation. To be honest, the book was on my shelf for about 6 weeks before i attempted the first evocation. I was speechless. I read the entire book before trying anything, and I was impressed by the chronological order, the fine descriptive narration and extreme profession the writer displayed. Moreover, I was somewhat sceptical about the whole Solomon manuscript and the 72 spirits. Then, all of a sudden, the power of trial imposed belief on me. IT WORKS! and I was stupid and silly to doubt that since the roots of this 'magick' go back a long time and are witnessed in many constructed religions. Before personal belief took place, there is history, and this time im sure anyone who simply reads this books will be amazed by the degree of information provided, and whoever attempts one of the evocations will not be disappointed. It's no conventional magick, it's a new spice and something that is spiritually tangible in a way and focuses on the bright side of humanity. I simply loved it, this will be held in the sacred place of my library!
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Summary: Pure Genius
Review: This book is a beatifull re-discovery of an anceint technique that actualy works and provides the basic framework in which someone can inanate themselfs and begin practicing efective goteic magick.
-GrayMagiker(self ininated magi, a fool with full credidtials)
Rating:
Summary: Awesome "hands-on" guide to Ceremonial Magick!
Review: This is clearly one of the best "hands-on" guides to Ceremonial Magick that I have ever read! Mr. Runyon not only offers a comprehensive philosophical and historical approach to this anicient art, but also gives the reader the practical "hands-on" guidance to apply these traditional principles to enhance the student in the quest of accomplishing "the Great Work." He presents a formula which includes the best of eastern mysticism and western occultism. This book is highly recommended for the beginning student of ceremonial magick as well as the seasoned and experienced adept who has been searching for a book that successfully provides a proven step-by-step formula for invocation and evocation ritual magick, Yoga, Kabbalistic magick, and goetia - utilizing the ancient rites and secrets of the Dark Mirror. If you are to own only one book on Hermetic Ceremonial Magick - this is the one!
Rating:
Summary: This Book is Magick!
Review: This is not only an excellent collection of well researched information on Goetia, but written in a manner which makes Goetia practical and comprehensible. The author has applied his creative energies to making Goetia an easier system of magick to work with for the practicing magickian. Higly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: This is the best book ever
Review: This is the best book ever on evocation.I really loved it.The entire focus is on doing magick.Not talking about magick.I really really must congratulate Mr. Carroll Poke Runyon on doing excellent work.He really does magick.Not like most of the other book writers who talk magick and spirituality , but if some one asks about how to do magick they are completely at loss.
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