The Basics of Magick

I have had many people ask me where to begin in practicing magick. After all these years I feel that it is time that I should share these things with you. Perhaps some of you will be adept enough to understand these things and courageous enough to step into a life of magick. And then again, some of you are just looking for a thrill or a quick path to success; then, my guidance in these articles are not for you.

What is Magick

The most basic and most widely accepted answer to the question, "What is magick?" is:

Magick is the art and science of causing change in accordance with the will -Aleister Crowley

A simple yet effective way to explain this famous quote from Crowley, is that the magician according to his will effectively and predictably enables change in the world around him. This process begins within, as magick is the science of knowing the self, in order to be able to cause change through the art of magick.

Magick is not based on faith; it does not work just because a person believes it will. This is fundamentally true. Consider though in some cases why this basic principle of faith works - If the person believes that magick will work it becomes thier will that it can. Realize that it is still the will that guides the subsequent action and reaction. According to the words of Crowley, every act of intention is an act of the will.

The Ancient Tradition

For centuries, and through many different traditions, magick has been known as an art and a science. Since magick is a science and an art it takes intelligence, wisdom, intuition and knowing to really be able to experience the awe-inspiring realizations and events that magick can bring into a life that is worth living. This is the path of the adept of magick. The ultimate goal of magick is to cause change according to the will; but without having understanding or control of the will there can be no change caused by magick. That is why, self-knowing is the first and greatest challenge that magick affords.

Magician, know Thyself!

Where Do I Begin with Magick?

First you have to realize that success in magick or in anything else in life which requires skill depends on practice and training. Without your commitment to making yourself [mentally] stronger and more wise than you are - and more spiritually aware than you are today, no change can happen.

Nothing successful can come without struggle and effort. You must work at making magick a part of your life every day; and this means eliminating distractions like television and games. Distractions that will prevent you from working on your goal; your constant battle to become spiritually aware. You must also realize that you will have to do a lot of reading and research depending on what you are studying or practicing.

There is much to face and it seems that it is an uphill battle, and it is! Without having fundamental experience in magick, predictable success in magick is difficult because there is no other experience to compare it with. Your only option is to keep working at it every day with dedication, learning from success and being your own teacher.

I am going to give you a very brief but vivid example of the kind of dedication and determination that it takes to succeed in magick. If you start to dig a hole one day using a spoon and then only come back and dig a little more every so often, you will never dig the hole that you thought you wanted to dig. However if you get in there with a shovel and keep at it over and over with determination, you will have had your goal met in a much shorter and more efficient way. Do not waste your time and effort on things that will not bring you success and stick to the proven classical methods of magick until you learn where your talents lie.

You must learn to push yourself in three different ways; physically [through your senses] spiritually [through meditation and practice] and intellectually [by reading the classic books in magick]. This is the three-fold formula for success.

Your First Book

In the meantime, the first and only book that I recommend for the beginning of study in magick is the classic book, writ by Aleister Crowley, titled "Magick Without Tears". This book is available online, in html at This Site, or you can have this book in paperback from Amazon.com by clicking here Magick Without Tears

Crowley illustrates in this book what the basic fundamental ideas of magick are; and he explains the mechanics of magick [in his style]. You should read this book very slowly and take your time in understanding his words as he explains some very important facts about living as a magician and occultist.

Plan to spend at least six months reading over this book; it will greatly aid you along your path. It will open you to many different metaphysical concepts if you allow it to by reading his work and absorbing his knowledge.

Crowley's writings are very technical but what you want to learn from it is a basic idea of what the path of magick is. Of course, Crowley had his own personal view within his work, but he addresses the same basic concepts of magick that are "universal" and found within all traditions of magick.

Take your time reading and studying Magick Without Tears..Take the time to understand every sentence that you read in your books that you choose to read. Enjoy learning and realize that the search for knowledge never ends. Also, realize that nothing is final; you will experience many different things and these experiences will shape you over the years; so what you know now you may not necessarily agree with years later.

Exercises To Practice

The exercises that I have written are very basic and they are formulated from my experiments. There will be information on how to do each exercise. Each one is formulated to get you to the next step so you should begin at the beginning and work your way up from there.

Along with the exercises are notes and quotes from other occult authors, so that you can see different methods and also so that you will have other references for you to study. You must be hungry for knowledge because this is what you need to gain wisdom and finally, power.

My recommended course is to read magick without tears, and read the next articles in this series. Your journey begins today, with the first step. It will be the greatest journey of your life.

"Concentrate on the fire in the beginning and so continue to avoid the embers in the end" -Parvati