KarmaSutra
Banned
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2005
- Messages
- 4,821
- Reaction score
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- Age
- 51
"Magick isn't something you do, it's something we are." Donald Michael Kraig
I've been a Magickian since I can recall. As a matter of fact, I was ushered to The Path when I met mine Holy Guardian Angel at the age of twelve. Here's how this meeting transpired: I had always been curious about the "what happens when we leave this plane". Having been raised strict Catholic, I was enamored with the ritual of Mass. The consecrations, the prayers, the transmutations of bread and wine into blood and flesh; how we come to reach Apotheosis every Sunday, as all of our sins are washed away. Having found a deck of Tarot cards while perusing my friend's Mom's small library (which, fortuitously was Crowley's Thoth deck), I instinctively knew I could understand what the images said but I didn't have the training to internalize them into thought-forms to use as direction.
So my quest began. One day, I walked to Merlin's Books in Tampa on Dale Mabry and bee-lined to the Occult/Metaphysical section. Being a kid and broke as hell with only a couple bucks in my pocket for a drink, I perused the wall pulling book after book until I came to one which drew me in: The Book of the sacred Magic of Abramelin The Mage, which, as I'd come to understand as the goal, is conversing with one's Holy Guardian Angel. I held that book close to an hour wondering how I was going to buy it? Having thought it through - and battling my internal struggle of right-vs-wrong - I made the decision to steal it. I slipped the book in my jeans, asked the guy at the counter if he had any Green Goblin comics, after shaking his head (didn't even look up to answer me) I walked out nervous and shaking with anticipation that I was going to get caught the moment I left!
As I had a five mile walk back to my Dad's house, and constantly looking over my shoulder, I went half a mile and decided to wait for a bus, foregoing my drink to get home. This is where the Magick happened.
I sat on the bench devouring every word, every picture, trying to dissect the magic squares, when a calm voice came from my right. I closed the book immediately thinking it was someone from the bookshop coming to get me for my theft. Far, far from it. He was a black elderly man in his fifties or so. What was most curious were his bright blue eyes and pure white hair. What was more disturbing was that he never opened his mouth to speak to me. When my eyes locked with his he spoke telepathically.
Now, you may scoff and think this bullsh!t, and I don't care. I know what happened.
He spoke in a tonality free of any linguistic aberration or drawl. His words were pure and amazingly soothing. He asked what I was reading? I dropped my gaze having felt the pinch of Catholic guilt grabbing me, and showed him the cover. I told him I'm, "looking for God." I vividly recall him running his index finger over the cover then his words rang in my head saying, " My Son, look at me."
When I did he smiled the most gentle, warming smile I've ever felt. "You only need to look within your own heart to find God." Then he laid his hand on my shoulder telling me to be careful getting home.
He handed me the book as I glanced for a second the opposite way to see if the bus was coming. When I turned my head towards him. he was gone.
I never got on the bus. I walked and cried the rest of the way home. To've felt divinity changed everything. I knew right then there was more than this material existence. That's how my quest as, what Dion Fortune labeled, a Philosophical Magickian began.
Through the years I've studied and practiced various Magickal disciplines and paths, each of which have merit in their own right and something of value to offer, but the most robust, and truest, to me, is Thelema. Aleister Crowley's Thelema is best described as "The method of science, the aim of religion." What appeals most to me with the Thelemic perspective to the Magickal Arts is the freedom of it. Though there are rules and constraints in the rituals and the acumen has to be followed; but the joy of freedom. To be able to bring in your experiences and personality in the fold of your occult learning, is most alluring to me as a practicing occultist.
My aim in this thread is to hear other opinions, share experiences and help to learn from each other.
Incidentally, I still have that stolen copy of Abramelin which sits prominently on my bookshelf next to his brothers and sisters.
I've been a Magickian since I can recall. As a matter of fact, I was ushered to The Path when I met mine Holy Guardian Angel at the age of twelve. Here's how this meeting transpired: I had always been curious about the "what happens when we leave this plane". Having been raised strict Catholic, I was enamored with the ritual of Mass. The consecrations, the prayers, the transmutations of bread and wine into blood and flesh; how we come to reach Apotheosis every Sunday, as all of our sins are washed away. Having found a deck of Tarot cards while perusing my friend's Mom's small library (which, fortuitously was Crowley's Thoth deck), I instinctively knew I could understand what the images said but I didn't have the training to internalize them into thought-forms to use as direction.
So my quest began. One day, I walked to Merlin's Books in Tampa on Dale Mabry and bee-lined to the Occult/Metaphysical section. Being a kid and broke as hell with only a couple bucks in my pocket for a drink, I perused the wall pulling book after book until I came to one which drew me in: The Book of the sacred Magic of Abramelin The Mage, which, as I'd come to understand as the goal, is conversing with one's Holy Guardian Angel. I held that book close to an hour wondering how I was going to buy it? Having thought it through - and battling my internal struggle of right-vs-wrong - I made the decision to steal it. I slipped the book in my jeans, asked the guy at the counter if he had any Green Goblin comics, after shaking his head (didn't even look up to answer me) I walked out nervous and shaking with anticipation that I was going to get caught the moment I left!
As I had a five mile walk back to my Dad's house, and constantly looking over my shoulder, I went half a mile and decided to wait for a bus, foregoing my drink to get home. This is where the Magick happened.
I sat on the bench devouring every word, every picture, trying to dissect the magic squares, when a calm voice came from my right. I closed the book immediately thinking it was someone from the bookshop coming to get me for my theft. Far, far from it. He was a black elderly man in his fifties or so. What was most curious were his bright blue eyes and pure white hair. What was more disturbing was that he never opened his mouth to speak to me. When my eyes locked with his he spoke telepathically.
Now, you may scoff and think this bullsh!t, and I don't care. I know what happened.
He spoke in a tonality free of any linguistic aberration or drawl. His words were pure and amazingly soothing. He asked what I was reading? I dropped my gaze having felt the pinch of Catholic guilt grabbing me, and showed him the cover. I told him I'm, "looking for God." I vividly recall him running his index finger over the cover then his words rang in my head saying, " My Son, look at me."
When I did he smiled the most gentle, warming smile I've ever felt. "You only need to look within your own heart to find God." Then he laid his hand on my shoulder telling me to be careful getting home.
He handed me the book as I glanced for a second the opposite way to see if the bus was coming. When I turned my head towards him. he was gone.
I never got on the bus. I walked and cried the rest of the way home. To've felt divinity changed everything. I knew right then there was more than this material existence. That's how my quest as, what Dion Fortune labeled, a Philosophical Magickian began.
Through the years I've studied and practiced various Magickal disciplines and paths, each of which have merit in their own right and something of value to offer, but the most robust, and truest, to me, is Thelema. Aleister Crowley's Thelema is best described as "The method of science, the aim of religion." What appeals most to me with the Thelemic perspective to the Magickal Arts is the freedom of it. Though there are rules and constraints in the rituals and the acumen has to be followed; but the joy of freedom. To be able to bring in your experiences and personality in the fold of your occult learning, is most alluring to me as a practicing occultist.
My aim in this thread is to hear other opinions, share experiences and help to learn from each other.
Incidentally, I still have that stolen copy of Abramelin which sits prominently on my bookshelf next to his brothers and sisters.
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