Magic Simplified: A Series of Practical Exercises for Developing the Neophyte Magician

Rating:
Summary: Difficult Exercises, but they pay off
Review: The exercises in this book are difficult, just mastering the relaxation exercise was hard for me to do. However, once I did, I found that I could make better use of my time. I am still working on the later exercises, and patiently hoping to be able to master them.

Rating:
Summary: Difficult Exercises, but they pay off
Review: Within the vast array of modern magic books, only a very few cut straight to the chase and provide practical everyday exercises. This gem does it well.

Draja Mickaharic doesn't seem to adhere to the philosophy of the "Golden Dawn" type string of books currently dominating the bookstore shelves. This manual will not show you how to "do rituals" or "evoke the gods" like so many other books make it seem like anyone can do without training. Mickaharic's book rather expounds the techniques required in order to prepare the magician for further endeavors in magic.

Inside this wonderful, simple, and elegant manual of exercises lies potential to effectively change your life in unimaginable ways. That sounds kind of sweeping, but if you have the will to follow through with the exercises, you are on your way to truly becoming a magician. Magic according to Mickaharic seems to be PHYSICAL change in accordance with the will, instead of psychological change, which most current books seem to talk about. But the definition of magic aside, after working the first exercise, relaxation, you will notice subtle changes in your daily life. The benefits reaped from the first couple of exercises alone make this book priceless. The progress can be slow in coming, but as Mickaharic states, "no book, and no teacher can promise either a short cut or a royal road to becoming a practicing magician."

If you have tried any of the exercises in Bardon's "Initiation Into Hermetics" or Sadhu's "Concentration" but had a difficult time like I did, you may want to give "Magic Simplified" a shot. Mickaharic doesn't belittle or give you a bunch of jargon to wade through like so many older magic books are so good at doing, but rather lays out exercises in simple and clear terms.

Don't get me wrong, no new age fluff will be found here. This is all lean, 0% fat. Be prepared to work hard however, and you'll find amazing fruits to be reaped.

Rating:
Summary: The Best
Review: Within the vast array of modern magic books, only a very few cut straight to the chase and provide practical everyday exercises. This gem does it well.

Draja Mickaharic doesn't seem to adhere to the philosophy of the "Golden Dawn" type string of books currently dominating the bookstore shelves. This manual will not show you how to "do rituals" or "evoke the gods" like so many other books make it seem like anyone can do without training. Mickaharic's book rather expounds the techniques required in order to prepare the magician for further endeavors in magic.

Inside this wonderful, simple, and elegant manual of exercises lies potential to effectively change your life in unimaginable ways. That sounds kind of sweeping, but if you have the will to follow through with the exercises, you are on your way to truly becoming a magician. Magic according to Mickaharic seems to be PHYSICAL change in accordance with the will, instead of psychological change, which most current books seem to talk about. But the definition of magic aside, after working the first exercise, relaxation, you will notice subtle changes in your daily life. The benefits reaped from the first couple of exercises alone make this book priceless. The progress can be slow in coming, but as Mickaharic states, "no book, and no teacher can promise either a short cut or a royal road to becoming a practicing magician."

If you have tried any of the exercises in Bardon's "Initiation Into Hermetics" or Sadhu's "Concentration" but had a difficult time like I did, you may want to give "Magic Simplified" a shot. Mickaharic doesn't belittle or give you a bunch of jargon to wade through like so many older magic books are so good at doing, but rather lays out exercises in simple and clear terms.

Don't get me wrong, no new age fluff will be found here. This is all lean, 0% fat. Be prepared to work hard however, and you'll find amazing fruits to be reaped.