What does /x/ think of this book by Alan Moore?
>>42109712A decent review for anyone unfamiliar with this book. Foolish Fish recommends it as a introductory book #1 for anyone just getting started in magic and doesn't know where to begin.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4aUM30jttg
>>42110383>recommends it as a introductory book #1 for anyone just getting started in magic and doesn't know where to begin.Where I can find more specific books about operative, practical magic? Anything that explains symbolism in books and grimoires?
>>42109712Yet to finish it. Bretty gud so far>>42110411Hmmm. What have you read so far? Just start with the classics and go from there(classics as in big names everyone knows, like i just bought crowleys magick in theory and practice, read that)
>>42110484>Hmmm. What have you read so far? Just start with the classics and go from there(classics as in big names everyone knows, like i just bought crowleys magick in theory and practice, read that)Various grimoires, but I need some books explaining the symbolism for executing spells and rituals.
>>42109712excellent book, still need to finish it but read all the "things to do on a rainy day" prose sections on magic. Those guys are not fans of chaos magic.
>>42110640>Those guys are not fans of chaos magic.loool, i always wondered why alan moore didnt like chaos magic and was mean to grant morrison, fellow comic book writer and occultist
>>42110411>Where I can find more specific books about operative, practical magic?I'm a fan of picrel, currently working my way through the lessons. I dig ceremonial magick a lot
>>42110686Yeah, Moore always publicly stated his distaste for Morrison.>>42111954I have most of the grimoires I need, same for astrological books and other stuff.My problems start when some incantations require things like "fur from 2 black cats that have just finished copulating", which is a symbolic thing and not the actual fur (well, if you manage to wait there for hours until they decide to fuck and then grab the fur, good job to you!).Or, spells for finding "buried treasures", where the "treasures" are actually "treasures buried inside of you", not actually buried treasures (even though there are spells for obtaining material riches).Or, any time blood is mentioned, where it can be substituted with wine.That's the stuff I'm looking for: keys to translate the symbolism of spells and procedures in magic books.
>>42109712Probably the best intro to magick for the complete and total beginner of all time. Simple, stunningly beautiful illustration, gives you multiple great jumping off points without spending paragraphs being an edgelord, schizo, or drowning you in jargon which is basically unheard of in occultism. If ever there was a “first book” to recommend to the complete and total beginner, this is it. Though I heavily disagree with his takes on practical magick/chaos magick, so I’d put it up next to ArchDukeBlueFluke’s Psychonaut Field Manual for nuance, with the caveat that it details Fluke’s personal chaote techniques instead of some kind of general knowledge.
>>42110640What do they prefer? Gardnerian nudism? Tantric sex magic? Astral projection to Shamballa? Solomonic pomposity?>>42112049None that I know of, unless some of the books I haven't read yet go into detail, like Aaron Leitch's "Secrets of the Magickal Grimoires".But it could just be about the ceremonial shit I don't give two fucks about.
>>42112124>But it could just be about the ceremonial shit I don't give two fucks about.What's your interest?
>>42112049>fur from 2 black cats that have just finished copulatingSo something funny, I read this and then I had to walk my dogs and as we were going around the neighborhood I saw these two cats that were getting it on. The black cat on the left dismounted and sat there staring at me, I don't think he appreciated that I was turning it into a peep show lol
>>42112397>The black cat on the left dismounted and sat there staring at me, I don't think he appreciated that I was turning it into a peep show lolThat was clearly a sign from a higher entity: you were supposed to wait in the shadow for them to finish, then grab some of their fur.Now, you'll never be able to become a true practitioner of magic....
>>42112405The thought did cross my mind, but I don't think they would've let me get closer considering I had my dogs with me. Traditional rivalries and all that.Plus I didn't let the black cat bust, so would it have really counted?
>>42112496>The thought did cross my mind, but I don't think they would've let me get closer considering I had my dogs with me. Traditional rivalries and all that.Yeah, maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe...>Plus I didn't let the black cat bust, so would it have really counted?Not really, no.
p
>>42110686>>42112124Moore & Moore much prefer high magic to low magic, high magic being magic done for magic's sake and to create art. Alan Moore seems big on ceremonial magic. They consider chaos magic to be low magic, and basically say it's a dumbed down form that treats magic like a vending machine.They say in the book that magic should not be used for material gain to attain things without putting effort towards them, as one normally has to do. But given they made/make a living as artists, aren't they using magic for material gain? I guess there is effort involved.I'm a Morrison fan too. Although he's associated with chaos magic I'm sure he has plenty of knowledge and practice with other stuff.
>>42114865yeah saw a video on youtube about it from some guy who was accusing moore of being racist because he also bashed voo doo, keki can see the purpose of both high and low magics, so called low magic seems more accessible & practical compared to working through structured levels or degrees though
>>42109712Umm I know the cover is a blind to make it seem unserious, but I don't like it. It's too obvious that it's a blind.
>>42114989from the youtube videos i have seen on this book the whole book is a parody of so called bumper books which are a very british thing for a certain generation of brits.
>>42114989Its a beginners magic book. Teaching blinds should be obvious in a beginners book. I think it being obvious is a perfect teaching of rule 1 (never reveal anything clearly to the uninitiated)
>>42115466>(never reveal anything clearly to the uninitiated)sometimes the outcome is just soooo gd hilarious though. like yeah i see why that rule is there.but good lord, when a dumb dumb gets some fire from heaven, ohhh the lovely shitstorm he kicks up!! and then some bastards have to run in circles for hours trying to put out the fire, but it keeps catching onto new things.
>>42109712I've not read the book but didn't Moore say that he doesn't actively practice magic anymore because he "doesn't need to"? I'm not sure of the implications of his statement there (it would be in a fairly recent interview I think?)
>>42112199Anything practical.>>42114865I don't mind magic for magic's sake, but... I mean, just looking at the history of magic, it's long been tied with material gain. It seems like a stupid position to take.And I still find "high magic" boring. Let me get my fingers dirty, dammit.It all seems very weird, too, considering Alan Moore created the quintessential fictional Chaote.
>>42115872>Anything practical.So, I guess you do summoning and invocations from grimoires, or maybe you do recite psalms, like in the Christian magic systems?
>>42115898>Christian magic systemsEugh. Why, is it practical? Because I have ADHD and I'm not sure I can memorize and recite those lengthy incantations.
>>42115911>Why, is it practical?Because you just need to recite it, while concentrating on the effect of the psalm, facing toward East. That's it.No risks, no bad consequences, only positives outcomes.They're not as powerful as more heavier stuff, but doing it every day will slowly accumulate toward the effect you're praying off.>Because I have ADHD and I'm not sure I can memorizeWho said you need to memorize them...?There are small psalms books, use those.IN LATIN! NOT ENGLISH, ONLY LATIN!!!>and recite those lengthy incantationsLong? It'll take a few minutes at most...If you're in hurry, just do the first verse of the psalm. You just need to recite them (look how to pronounce them correctly, there are sites and videos for that), the vocalization under concentration and focus intent will do its job.
>>42116073>IN LATIN! NOT ENGLISH, ONLY LATIN!!!Why should that matter? The psalms certainly weren't written in Latin.>It'll take a few minutes at most...Yikes.>If you're in hurry, just do the first verse of the psalm.I was actually thinking of the incantations required for Solomonic magic. Have you seen that shit?
>>42116106>Why should that matter? The psalms certainly weren't written in Latin.Yes, but the best effect is obtained when the vocalization is in Latin, Ancient Greek or Hebrew.I mean, you can always choose the other two, but I thought Latin was the easiest, just considering the alphabet.>Yikes.Anon, if you're balking at just that, you're not going very far...>I was actually thinking of the incantations required for Solomonic magic. Have you seen that shit?I got the Solomon's Key book on my lap right now, anything specific?
>>42116147>anything specific?Not particularly, I don't have one in my lap.There's magic beyond what you're offering though.
>>42117125>There's magic beyond what you're offering though.Yeah, I know it...?
>>42114903That'd be Gordon White. His take is that everything in the book is dated, and Moore's dismissive attitude toward things like voodoo is kind of racist, which I guess it is. Gordon also likes to think himself an authority on magic and clearly has a bit of an ego about it though. Cool enough guy, anyway. His podcast is fun.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD_yVbUev0E
>>42109712anyone read this book and get results from it?
i'm a freedomfag, i take it the term "blind" means "a front or cover that is overtly goofy and silly". but i dress up serious things in goofy silly covers all the time.
Promethea by Moore is a good comic about magic.
I bought this in 1998 as a young teen and it is unironically the best beginners magick book. JH Brennan very underrated.
>>42116073What psalm?
I like Grant Moore and I like Alan Ericsson.
>>42124175Psalm 90https://www.vatican.va/archive/bible/nova_vulgata/documents/nova-vulgata_vt_psalmorum_lt.html#LIBER%20IV%20(Psalmi%2090-106)
that book looks so fun i bet it has loads of really neat parlor tricks to really wow your friends!!!
>>42125053I reject Jesus Christ
>>42128184Alright, but the psalms still have powers.Just like people using Hebrew names and alphabet in their rituals, while despising and rejecting anything that has to do with Judaism.
>>42110411>Where I can find more specific books about operative, practical magic? Anything that explains symbolism in books and grimoires?Try for basic books on chaos magic to understand importance of symbolism, belief and their connection to practical value of a ritual/spell. Liber Null + Psychonaut combo, for example. Grimoires, the brutal truth is, are practically useless for average modern occultist as either they're outright fanciful lies or have practical value only from the stanpoint of someone deeply familiar with all elements of the content, the cosmology and symbolism behind them already.In general, vast majority of spells/rituals have little of inherent power and are more like mnemonics for someone developed enough to already be able to manifest some magic without them.
>>42129676It's a mirage. You just know these things, faith does the rest, it's chaos magick, not real pressence, I know this because I used to be a Christian mage. Generally I sperged on damon brand and co books, and kabbalah stuff, and I dig deep, in the end I found salvation on a non-demiurgic gnostic religion I found by accident, at first it was like, pick your ownd adventure, and the gnosis kept flowing, until one day (I wrote it on Quora), I predicted a beacon from Hell Star System would come to Earth, 2 years later, 3i Atlas was here... And it's been coming up clean since then, all coming true, allegedly, Motherships are coming next, because our Sun is damaged. Hell Star System Gnosticism. Yeah, I know it sounds way out there, especially since it's demonic/infernal gnosticism.
>>42127922I just got a copy. It a nice book, hardcover, nice illustrations. As far as reading goes, a very easy Though I'm only a couple pages in. Would recommend it so far.
>>42109712I was disappointed after the long wait. spotted some errors that should have been caught before printing
>>42132894>errorsN-no, you don't get it! They're... blinds! Yeah, blinds! Famous occultists don't make mistakes, they're intentional to see if YOU'RE paying attention! Yeah, that's it!
>>42132894Elaborate on those mistakes, please.
>>42132894>spotted some errors that should have been caught before printingReally?I didn't notice them, but the book is so big they probably escaped me.
>>42133984>>42134071>>42134091I'll take photos of what I noticed later, after work. I haven't looked through it for a few months
>>42134296Alright, looking forward to it.
>>42134604one thing I can remember without looking was in the tree of life section. If I'm remembering right, they highlight each sephira in an image next to some text describing it. in one instance, they fucked up and the relevant text and image are not next to each other due to poor formatting
almost home
I think they could have worked out a way to get the sephira into closer proximity to their descriptions. the first one isn't too bad, as the image comes in at the tail end of Kether
I can see this confusing people who aren't as aware of the proper placements as most of us likely are
by the time we get to Malkuth, there's no image at all to reference, because it's on the previous page in the midst of a huge description of Yesod.
I mentioned a spelling error earlier, but I'd have to skim through to try to find it, because I can't remember what it was. I'll have to get back to you guys on that one
>>42136611>>42136614>>42136622>QhabbalakchOh, I never bothered with that shit, I wouldn't know what I'm looking at.
Last bump
>>42111954Did you get results yet?
>>42123763>Promethea by Moore336 pages... :(
