I’m looking for good beginner books on the following: 1. The occult2. Practicing magic3. Symbols and symbolismWhat are some of the best beginner books to start with? I want to “start at the beginning” and get a systematic and comprehensive view of these subjects. Oftentimes I’ll read things, see videos, etc. and it always feels like I’m jumping into the middle of something without the proper prerequisite knowledge. I always end up with lots of bits and pieces of knowledge but I feel like I don’t see the big picture. You guys know lots about this stuff so lemme have it. If you could begin all over, what books would you have started with? Thanks in advance.
>The Hero with a Thousand Faces>Man and His Symbols>Secret Teachings of all AgesPretty good starting place
>>42904319Thanks. Just started Secret Teachings recently.
Bump
Is this any good?
>>42904300these are all good for symbolism >>42904319For modern occult, Liber Null and Psychonaut by Peter J Carroll, and Agrippa's Three Books on Occult Philosophy, try to get the Eric Perdue translation. Crowley's "Book Four" is also good.For more traditional old fashioned pagan magic rather than modern ceremonial high magic, look into Traditional Witchcraft: A Cornish Book of Ways by Gemma Gary, and Seiðr Magic: The Norse Tradition of Divination and Trance will be plenty to get you started.
>>42904506Thanks. Will check em
>>42904300Do 2 alone, the rest are a bonus. Say what do you understand by magic. Though I feel disgust at the very idea of helping /x/
You've already been introduced to chaos magick, allow me. Chinese magick. It's chinese. It's old fashioned. You need to join a temple for some stuff so you're presented to the spirits. The author regents a temple, but he charges.
>>42904620Since you mentioned chinese magic (I am not the OP btw) what are your feelings/thoughts/opinions of Benebell Wen?https://www.youtube.com/@BenebellWen
>>42904300Frater Barrabbas bibliography spans detailed core guides on general ritual magic, specialized books modernizing witchcraft through high magic techniques, and advanced esoterica.Damon Brand/gallery of magick. Popular beginner books. several short easy to read book for specific types of goals and magic, stripped down and might feel a bit like 'jumping into the middle of something' though. Dr. Stephen Skinner is an acclaimed Australian author, researcher, and publisher who is widely recognized for introducing classical Feng Shui to the West and his monumental academic and practical preservation of the Western Esoteric Tradition.John Michael Greer a highly prolific American author, blogger, and former Grand Archdruid known for his uniquely grounded approach to the Western Esoteric Tradition. He frequently connects traditional occult practices, ceremonial magic, and Druidry with modern ecology, peak oil, and systems theory.His massive bibliography can be organized into four primary areas: Astrological Magic, Classical Magic Manuals, Celtic & Druid Traditions, and Occult History
>>42894322
>>42904502It is a very good book, but not for beginners since they cover a lot of topics. It is best digested by intermediates. The book is done in sessions, so the various topics are referenced and scattered throughout so it can be a bit overwhelming to keep track of everything. I would recommend starting it once you are at least familiar with the topics. RA and interviewer go into great depth during the sessions and are conscientious in their efforts to be a clear and concise with their questions/answers.
>>42904300Three Books of Occult Philosophy as mentioned earlier. Perdue's is the latest revised translation. A bit pricy, but it's three books and a nice addition to a collection. >Three Books of Occult Philosophy (De Occulta Philosophia libri III), written by German physician, theologian, and scholar Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa and fully published in 1533, is the most influential compendium of magical and esoteric knowledge in the Western tradition. >Agrippa systematically synthesized Renaissance Neoplatonism, Hermeticism, and the Jewish Kabbalah to elevate magic into a legitimate, dignified philosophical science. He structured his work across a three-tiered layout mirroring the Renaissance universe: the Terrestrial, Celestial, and Intellectual worlds.If you want to go even further back check out the Greek Magical Papyri and Egyptian magic.
>>42904662+1 on John Michael GreerPeople recommending Agrippa or PGM fail to understand the meaning of a 'beginner' book. They are the source material, bit definitely not an entry level.If you want to have the philosophy and practice explained in a plain fashion, look no further than JMG's circles of power and paths of wisdom. You can then proceed to study other shit from bibliography in these books as you see fit
>>42905118strong disagreethe meaning of a "beginner" book isn't one that's regurgitated opinionated modernized fluff, nor is it one designed to be easy to read for people that are not really interested in putting in the effort to learn and understand a complex subject to begin withthe meaning of a good "beginner" book is one that will provide the best and most rigorous foundation for whatever the learner wishes to build on, books that do not omit important nuances or historical information that provides critical context and depth to the knowledgeknowledge which is lost by over simplifying it and watering it down way too far, just so that any idiot can understand it, and in doing so possibly do harm to themselves or othersalso, don't get it twisted, I respect Greer a lot and think he's doing good work in the world, but not as an authorhis books are not ones I would recommend to anyone, but his way of life certainly is
>>42905145>You must understand how a kernel functions and how processors are built before you write your first 'hello world' in python!Sorry but no. An abbreviated introduction with an overview of the method is a much better starting point. Also, nowhere does JMG water down any information, nor does he claim to present a full picture in minute detail. If your goal is to begin to understand what occult practice is about and actually start practicing, you'd be hard-pressed to find better sources. If you're into just reading and sitting on your ass then probably you're right>Discrediting probably the most respected contemporary occult authorTell me you're not practicing magic without telling me you're not practicing magic
>>42905118Yes, usually, but op wanted a 'systematic and comprehensive view of these subjects', so unclear what was meant.
>>42905230Yes, but also a beginner book on magical practice. It could be argued Circles of Power takes you from the very beginning to a fairly advanced in this regardAs for the comprehensive view of the subject of magic>Circles of PowerYou get a comprehensive bird's eye view of how magic works and why you do it. It's a very good place to start, as it gives you introductory information in a very digestible fashion, instead of flood of information you can't make heads or tails of. If you need more - you have all you need in the bibliography; Agrippa, Bardon, GD, you name it >Paths of WisdomThe overview of hermetic kabbalah, similarly presented in a way suitable for a complete beginner. Once again, after reading the introductory material you have an option to deep dive into the details of the symbolism or take up some other source material referencedI'm not saying it's the only way, but it's the way that will save you a lot of headache and reading through fat source materials without proper contextSide note - without actual ritual practice you will hit limits to your understanding. That's why JMG is so good an author for a beginner - he stresses the practical dimension of the occult and provides an easy entry point
>>42905183>this person disagrees with me and is therefore a fraudYou are a delusional narcissist shilling for your own egotistical beliefs and not for anything academically valuable to a beginner that needs to understand the whole subject entirely from a historically formal context if they are just starting out. You are projecting your own advanced understanding of the subject onto these books because you are evaluating them from the perspective of a person who already understands the subject somewhat and found them to be highly elucidating to you and many others, and you mistook that for GOSPEL and now you are trying to refute suggestions that are extremely appropriate and much more so than the drivel that helped you over your hump in life.Simple as.I have no more attention for you either. Go fuck yourself and pray the other anon keeps feeding you what you want so you have another excuse to keep shilling for your pocket hero.
>>42904647I only know sparsely her fu sigil book. Too verbose, sparsely to the point, we are almost in 2027...
>>42904300magic is not real cucklet if it was it would be proven in a lab useless cuck
>>42905288most alleged mages and warlocks do that. its all a big larp else they wouldnt sell books, if you had magic you would be rich, never mind those who say it cant be used like that,. the mental gymnastics of bullshiters like that are just wow
>>42904502the consensus is its trash
>>42904662>>42905062>>42905118Superb. Thanks
>>42905230I just meant something that is comprehensive in terms of a broad, sort of top-down survey of the land like a rough map. So I know the rough boundaries. Systematic in that it follows a trajectory or order that makes learning it more streamlined than just jumping around from subject to subject without it seeming piecemeal. Thanks, m’nigga
>>42905323Idk, I've seen stuff, granted, I've had my story of trying chaos magick and it fumbling like everyone, I still think it is a worthwhile interest. Yet, shamanism seems to just werk for me. You neednt eat more shrooms than Mario and Luigi, no drugs needed, just enter trance, open (I think this word is apt) yourself up to the journey, and see what you see and who you meet in your travels.You might just end up talking to spirits , your own Spirit Animal Guides, befriending some beings from other planes, and it's not like visualization where you script everything, this is why I said "open up to the journey", you actually interact with spirits that move and comm their own way. Without input from your mind. You might receive healing too etc. You probably think this is psychosomatic, nothing wrong with understanding from our own perspective, I do see my spirits, wether animal or otherwise, as part of my being. Plus it's agreed upon by psychology pros who use shamanism as therapy, as the reasoning.
>>42904300I always suggest you start with the foundations. For western occult that's pretty much the top row. Corpus Hermeticum, Plato Timaeus, Critias, and Phaedo. Plotinus. The bible. And the gnostic texts, especially Secert Book of John. Throw Enoch in there too. Then I woul read some eastern stuff, Upunishads, the Gita, and Dhammapada.From there if you want try your hand atm at magick get Condensed Chaos which will teach you the practical basics of chaos magick. One of the goals of chaos magick is to strip it down to the bear essentials for a successful magical operation so it's a good place to start. Basic Psychic Development by John Friedlander is a good place to start with meditation and building up your mental ability, witch is vital to more advanced magick. Then it's kind of up to you. Runes, Quaballah, elementals, pagan pantheons, planetary magick, cuthulu mythos, angels, demons, whatever entities you want to tackle.Also people brought up Jung which is very good, but I wouldn't start with jung himself. I would start with something like Jung's map of the soul.
>>42905732I've been toying with the idea of going full shaman for some time. Any recommendations,
>>42905732The psychological model is moot. To an idealist everything is psychological including reality itself. The Hindus say Maya exists in the dream of vishnu, The Hermeticum says reality is Nous or mind. I think therefore I am. The only thing you can say that truly exists is your mind. And even that may just be a fragment of a much greater mind. So is it all in your head? Yes. But so is everything else.And it all being mental dose'nt mean it's just you imagining everything. If consciousness is fundamental, and the true state of things are mental beings, they could enter your perception and be non physical. Like an outside independent thoughtform entering your mind.
