Bookcraft

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by Nathaniel

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Bookcraft

Indie publishing, 2014A State of Mind

http://astateofmind.eu

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by Nathaniel

Practical Magick for Beginners: Tips, Advice and Best Practices © 2014 by Nathaniel.

FIRST EDITIONIndie publishing, 2014

ISBN: 978-83-64699-02-3

All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles and reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the author.

Self-published under the A State of Mind brand, an official website of the author.Website: http://astateofmind.eu Email: nathan@astateofmind.euWegierska Gorka, 2014

facebook.com/astateofmindblog

Support Indie publishing by sharing your reviews of this work on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com. The author appreciates your support.

Additional Credit:Primary font for A State of Mind's Logo: Fertigo, by Exljbri. Title's font: Droid Serif.

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Table of Contents

Beginning Magick...................................................................9Why Do You Want to Learn Magick? 9

Learning Magick 15

Living with Magick..............................................................23Energies and Entities in the Life of a Magick Practitioner 39

Talking to Spirits – On Magical Communication With Entities 47

Crafting and Using Magical Items........................................57Crafted or Bought – Which One to Choose? 57

Crafting Amulets 62

Creating an Altar 65

Rituals and Spellcasting........................................................71Magical Safety – Sort Of... 79

Tips for Defense Against Malicious Magick 85

Afterword..............................................................................95

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by Nathaniel

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Foreword

This book is not a how-to manual to any specific system of magick. There are many types of such systems: Enochian magick, different schools of Ceremonial magick, different traditions of pagan magick, Wicca, elemental magick. Too many types to even mention. But this book is not about any specific system at all. It's about my personal perspective upon magick – my practices, techniques, methods, mixed with both theoretical and practical advices and tips.

In this book, I teach you how talismans and amulets can be crafted; why magick comes with a price and what kind of a price it may be; how to communicate with spirits and magical beings; how new knowledge can be gained; how a room or entire building can be magically cleansed; how your magical sensitivity and intuition can be developed; how the energies and beings can be sensed; what kind of dangers you should look out for; how to protect yourself against malicious magick; what kind of magical books should be read; how an altar can be created or how to craft your own incenses.

I will not teach you how to attract love, money or cast a curse or charm on some other person. On the contrary, I will explain why practical magick is never about casting curses or casting magical love spells. But even without it, this book, as I hope, will be very useful to every reader.

I hope that this book, along with The Essentials of Magick, will help you safely kickstart your magical practice without too many mistakes during first few years. Let's begin!

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by Nathaniel

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Beginning Magick

It's ten o'clock in the morning, and I'm sitting by my desk, trying to begin the first chapter of this book. The question that I wish to answer is: why do people want to learn magick and how do they start this process of learning. At first, I thought the answer to this question is simple – but I was mistaken.

Why Do You Want to Learn Magick?I have fallen into the interest of magick all by myself – no one

ignited this interest in my mind nor heart. I was a young boy who started to read paranormal books and magazines about mysteries, ghosts and ancient civilizations. For this day, I remember the first time I read the book of Erich von Daniken on his “ancient astronauts” theories. Throughout the next few years, until I was about 15 or 16 years old, I was just enjoying some random “mysterious” read. Later on, because of a computer game, I became interested in psychic abilities. For the next few years, I was trying to develop these psychic abilities myself. I just believed that psychic stuff is real.

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I was reading articles about telepathy and telekinesis, and I was trying to develop these abilities myself (I succeeded, by the way). Before I reached the age of 18, I was already interested in magick – Norse runes, rituals, ceremonial magick, demonology and exorcisms – these were the subjects that interested me. All of this seemed so real for me – I know that magick is real, so why not learn how to use it? Because I used to read all these websites about psychic development, it wasn't difficult to find articles about a different approach that is: magick. So I began to read and learn over time. Quite soon I began to consider myself and expert in the field – oh, how young and naïve I was back then. Suffice it to say, I was a real amateur back then!

Thinking of yourself as an expert too soon is a dangerous thing – learning magick requires a lot of knowledge and experience, and it takes many years to gain these. A few months are not enough; you need to spend a lot of years learning the basics. Even then, you're no expert. I'm not an expert, either – because I don't know everything there is to know about magick. Fortunately, I know my way around energies, if you know what I mean.

Years ago, I was creating websites and managing an on-line discussion board about psychic abilities and magick. This way I was able to talk to people with similar interests. I felt good about it, because I had little friends at the time –, I was quite misunderstood in school and the neighborhood. I was “different” and I felt “different”. Learning magick was enforcing this feeling of “being different”. I felt good because I know something these mere mortals didn't think is possible – that was my thinking process back then, which, as I understand today, was not a proper thinking.

And the interest in magick evolved further and further over time. On my 23rd birthday, I became a Reiki practitioner, and I also became interested in spiritual development for good. Since then, I was already exploring the world of magick and spirituality with a serious approach. In the past years, I have recognized so many thinking patterns and things which are quite common in the world of “popular magick” these days.

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That's a short story of my beginning.

Whats Your Story?

Know that it is not that rare –, such “plot” as described above is quite common, especially among young people. The interest is ignited somehow – because of a book, a movie, a computer game, or a meeting with someone who is a mage, a shaman or a spiritual walker. In my case, books of ancient civilizations, printed magazines about ghosts and paranormal phenomena and computer games portraying psychic abilities and magick caused my interest in magick.

The common theme is as follow: a young person feels “different”. This person may show Anti-social behavior to some degree or may experience problems with socialization, especially with other kids or teens at school. The person lacks friends and social bonds. Because of this, a person seeks a hobby or a subject, in which he or she may become an expert only to seek social acceptance or people similar to him or her. So far, it's quite normal – so if you feel like I describing you, know that we all seek acceptance. We, not as magicians, but as ordinary people, rarely find it around, and usually we have to go for our journey of self-realization to find our true purpose, friends and family. There's nothing magical about that.

But when a person seeks an interest in magick because of the social problems, this is when it gets interesting. Because two things may be going on. Either the person is making a dangerous mistake by taking interest in something not mean for him or her or the person is guided by the spiritual forces. Well, we all seek spiritual guidance, but not all of us seek to learn magical abilities. So when an interest in this is slowly growing within your heart and mind, this is the time when you have to ask yourself some serious questions. One of these questions is important: do I wish to learn magick to feel good about myself or because I'm guided by the spiritual forces?

Answering this question may not be easy for a beginner. Which is why the first question to ask yourself is: do I want to learn

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magick because I feel like not belonging anywhere, or because I don't have any friends and I just want to feel better about myself?

If the answer is positive, here's the thing – don't study magick. If your intention is to feel better about yourself, or feel better about others, or if you wish to learn magick so you can have your revenge, or just feel better than others or more mysterious or more powerful, or because you want to cast love or sexual spells, well – these are wrong intentions. The source of all these intentions is a sick soul. Sick, because you feel like nobody likes you, or like you're not worth anything, or like you're not good at anything (and no one will go on a date with you). These problems can be solved not with magick, but through healing. By improving your self-esteem and self-confidence.

You may need to read some motivation books or books on positive thinking. Or you may need to find a true friend who will support you. Or maybe you need to heal relations with your family. Or maybe you just need a few sessions with a psychotherapist. In any way, there are many ways to improve your self-esteem and self-confidence, and you don't have to learn magick to do so. When self-esteem and self-confidence are high, the interest in magick may disappear. If this happens, congratulations! You're a free person, go and have fun with your life!

If the interest does not disappear, then we may consider other possibilities; reasons why you are interested in magick.

Karma and Stuff

One of the possible reasons why you are interested in learning magick is your karma – this term has a lot of meanings in the modern world. In this book, I mean that you may have been practicing magick in one of the past life times (past incarnations), and now this interest and practice is re-awakened. Here's a trap – a lot of people seek meaning in their life, and they often feel good about the possibility of continuity. No matter what, they prefer this option of past life practices, they want it to be real at all cost. But in reality, the “karma reason” is very rare, and it's quite possible that you never practiced magick before in any of your past lives.

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But if this happens to be true, and the interest in magick is coming from your past life, you can either follow it or find a way to get rid of this interest. Because no one said that practicing magick is all right. You may not want this, but you are blinded by your past experiences, you may not be conscious of the fact that magick is bad for you. And now, the realization is an opportunity for you to find ways of spiritual healing and breaking the karmic cord. Giving up magick, because perhaps the Universe (God) have something better for you for this particular lifetime.

You don't have to do anything! You have a free will.Another reason for an ignited interest in magick is related to

otherkin. An otherkin is a term used for non-human souls that are incarnated into a human body. Angels, fairies, nature spirits, demons and other spirits may incarnate into a human body. Some people say that the human body is the only physical body which is capable of achieving enlightenment – that's why some spirits incarnate, because they seek enlightenment. Other spirits incarnate because they have been sent here to heal our civilization, too. There is a different problem which may occur here – I call it a “Messiah syndrome”. This happens when a person wishes to learn magick to help others at all cost – don't force a belief that you have been sent to this world in order to help others. Just flow with your life, don't try to save everyone (it is NOT possible, trust me) and if you feel like you have a destiny to help others, give up this right now! Maybe you want to help others, but don't try to explain it with some spiritual stuff – just live your life. If you get into this Messiah syndrome too far, you may lose your sanity and find yourself in a mental hospital, or at least destroy your life for good.

In any way, the otherkin feels a natural attraction to magick – because an otherkin, before incarnation, uses magick as energy manipulation, naturally. It's logical for an otherkin to try to use magick naturally as a human being, and that's how an interest in magick is ignited, as well. But don't think of yourself as some otherkin, please. Often, people who feel bad about themselves, try to explain why they feel different through this otherkin theory. But in reality, it's just an excuse for avoiding healing themselves, and

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they're completely human. Unless you're an advanced practitioner of magick, don't worry about this otherkin stuff.

Finally, there is a third reason the interest in magick is ignited – “the call”. It's when some spirits of a specific type decide that you're perfect to serve some spiritual purpose, like a shaman do – it's just an example. First, avoid the Messiah syndrome and don't try to find answers if there are none. And if you are called by the spirits, don't worry – they will guide you.

Innate Abilities

There is a different beginning which may be part of your own experience – an innate ability. This is related to karmic past or otherkin theory. Some people simply begin to see spirits, or hear voices, or feel the energies and can do magick naturally, even if they're very, very young. In their case, such innate abilities may result in different storyline. The parents, or a grandma, or the aunt, they may be aware enough to recognize what is happening to the child and the ability to use magick (and, for example, see the spirits) may be supported in its development. This often happens in case of magical tradition which runs throughout the family.

More often, the natural abilities are being suppressed by the family – only to awake, for some reason, when the person is 20, 30 or 50 years old. Because no magical ability can be suppressed forever. Finally, the ability may be suppressed by the person itself when this person experiences something strange or scary enough to suppress the magical abilities automatically. In such case, these abilities may re-awake again many years later, either on its own or because of an intensive magical training.

Getting Into a Group

Another reason you may be interested in magick is that when you wish to join, or already have joined, some a group, for example, a magick circle or a pagan group. First, a magick circle is pointless. To be honest, I would be careful about magick circles that are organized around the magical practice itself – they may not be trustworthy, or their members may be dangerous. There's a

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simple logic here – if there is a group of friends who just want to talk about magick and stuff, that's OK. But if there is an organized group of people who wish to practice magick together for no other reason than learning and using magick, then something smells bad here – beware!

Often, magick is a part of specific cult – a religious cult of some sort. This happens in the case of paganism quite often these days – but it is not limited to paganism.

Often, when you join a pagan group, for example because you feel attracted to some deities or local, old traditions, then some people in this group may be practicing magick. Magick in its many forms is an integral part of pagan worship. Thus, by seeing how some people use magick, you may be interested in this, as well. But know that in pagan circles, usually there's a specific person doing magick – let's say a kind of a pagan priest or a shaman, etc. Those people are usually called by the spirits to serve their community – that is why they learn and use magick.

As a standard pagan, a member of a bigger movement, you won't have to practice magick other than one related to ceremonies or personal rituals of worship.Again, think why do you wish to join a specific magical or spiritual group. Is it to develop spiritually, or to find people who think alike and practice stuff you want to practice, or is it because you want to feel better. That last intention is a problematic one – it may blind you enough that you won't notice if you're entering a dangerous cult. Please, be very careful!

Learning MagickIf you're a person who wants to start practicing magick right

away, then know you're not the only one. A lot of people would like to do this, forgetting about the importance of learning theory, first. A famous philosopher and thinker, Kung Fu Tse, said that if I tell you something, you will forget. If I show you something, you will wonder. And if I let you do something, you will learn. So yes, learning by doing magick is the best way to learn magick, actually.

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But as much as I agree with this, I must state: theory is very, very important. And everything starts with gaining more theoretical knowledge, because you must know what to do before you do something.

Knowlege Comes From Reading

Learning magick requires a lot of reading. A lot of knowledge has been written down and today it is available in a form of books, articles, but also (to slightly ignore the title of this subchapter) from listening to recorded lectures (or simply audiobooks). And there are hundreds of thousands of books that you may wish to read in order to learn magick. But in order to do so, you have to learn how to recognize what kind of books (and articles and recordings) is useful for you.

When I began to study magick, I did so by reading books about magick, obviously – something about practical witchcraft or Chaos Magick, or the works of Aleister Crowley. I read books on ghost hunting, paranormal experiences and hauntings, and about exorcisms. I read books about rituals to attract money and girls (fortunately, later on I have learned how naive and pointless that was). All of these books were focused on practical aspects such as rituals or spell casting, or about banishing spirits, or casting Tarot cards or summoning spirits.

In reality, these are not the best books to start with – I know that now. I think that beginning with practical books that try to provide spells like some forms of safe recipes for food is not a good idea. What a beginner should start with are the books that cover the theory – teach about the laws of magick. If you're truly interested in magick, don't start with any type of book that titles are similar to “30 spells to attract love, money and unlimited power”. You should start with anything that goes into “introduction to magick”, as my own The Essentials of Magick. Then read a few books about magical self-defense and protection, because some basic understanding and safety goes first, always.

There's one more type of books you should read – like books about folk legends and myths and old culture, to learn the different

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types of folk magick and magical beliefs throughout the world. Read scientific papers and books about magick throughout the years, and old religions – pagan, animistic or pre-Christianity, these are the time periods you should be interested in. Read myths and stories of different cultures, because they are full of magical elements. A lot of knowledge is stored within such sources.

Only later, you may refer yourself to more modern books. But these are still far from practical magick. I recommend reading about magical practices in tribal cultures, or in the ancient world, and reading anthropological works on shamans, medicine mans, healers and witches of the both old and modern days. This can teach you a lot.

Only after learning about history, culture, common elements of magick, and magical safety, you can move on and look for more practical books about things which interest you: specific spirits or beliefs (Asatru, Wicca, psychic growth), Tarot cards, runes and so on, so on. This way, you build up a theoretical foundation for more advanced or simply more focused knowledge.

In addition, I have to say this: the market is full of books that aren't very safe when it comes to practical magick. Some books are very fluffy, very “New Age”, written only to bring money to the author. Always look through the reviews and opinions of other readers, and always trust your own logical and rational thinking. Still, it is very useful to read these “new age” books, too, because this way you can learn what may go wrong, and what should not be done. In addition, you can learn what mistakes other people can make and thus, how to help them in the future – if this is what you wish to do one day. Also, let's say that you prefer something known as “white magick” - this is magick, which does no harm. It's still worthwhile to read the books on black magick or magical attacks. This way you can learn how such attacks are performed and, in result, what to expect and how to defend against such.

A final tip for learning the theory of magick may surprise you. Terry Pratchett has explained a lot of magical rules, principles and laws in his book of the Discworld series. If you're interested in magick from any perspective, you should read Pratchett's books on

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witches – Nanny Ogg, Granny Weatherwax. In these books, you can find a lot of practical tips for using magick, and learn the laws of magick, as well. Believe it or not, but what Pratchett writes about magick is very, very true. Don't forget about the Rincewind series, too!

Basic Practices and Techniques

Sooner or later, you may wish to begin the actual practice. What should you start with? Everything starts with your mind. The mind must be peaceful, steady, focused and able to concentrate right away when it's needed. A mind free of worries, concerns and fears, a mind able to focus and remain calm and steady at any time will not only be more powerful in magickal work, but it will be more difficult to break by malicious magick or spirits.

My first steps were focused on that which related to psychic development. I've started working with Silva's method of mind self-control, and with the recordings of Robert Monroe, called “The Gateway Experience.” Both methods used in the form of simple meditations, some guided by audio recordings, helped me learn focus and basic techniques of concentration and mind control. Over the next years, these techniques helped me in researching my mind, healing bad memories, beliefs and experiences. Healing of these is very important on the path of spiritual growth, as it puts the mind in peace, creating a feeling of serenity. But it's also important on the path of magick – a quiet, calm and peaceful mind (and soul) controls energies easier, and it's far more protected against malicious magick.

Both Silva's method and the Gateway Experience (based on Hemi-Sync technology) recordings helped me learn how to put myself in the Alpha state. Alpha state is a famous altered state of consciousness, which is far calmer and relaxed. This is the state in which a lot of magick stuff takes place, so it's useful to learn how to put yourself in such state easily. It may sound a bit scientific, but it's simple – magick requires focus and relaxation at the same time, your mind must be calm and focused, and your body relaxed. This can be done through various techniques, but once it's done, you're

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in a state of mind defined by the Alpha waves of your brain. Quite simple.

There are two techniques to start with which I may recommend to some of you. And here's a tip: there is a lot of techniques that help you improve your mind. Some techniques work for some people; other techniques work for other people. What has worked for me may not necessary for you, and it works the other way around, too. Explore different techniques and practice that which gives you better results.

The first technique is a technique of focusing on a single object. Just pick up an object of any sort, place it in front of you and begin to stare at it. Try to stare at it for as long as possible without getting distracted. You may use a stopwatch to see how long you can remain focus. As soon as you get distracted by something from your environment (sound, image, movement), stop – this is your base time. The next day, try to remain focused a bit longer, and longer and longer. Continue this practice for a few weeks until you can remain focused for 15 minutes at least. This is just the beginning, but it should be enough for every beginner.

The point of this practice is to teach your mind not to get distracted by unnecessary things, and help you improve your concentration on that which you intend to focus upon.

Another technique that you may use is a technique of calming down your mind and putting it into the Alpha State. Sit down – you may choose an armchair as long as you do not fall asleep. Close your eyes, relax your body and begin to count down. For the first week, count down from 100 to 1 – speak the digits in your mind. Count each digit every second or two, and take your time. Again, if you get distracted, this time start again. So if you reach 10, and you get distracted, you should start with 100 all again. It may be difficult at first, but after a few weeks, your mind will get better at this.

Count down from 100 to 1 for the first week. On the second week, count down from 90 to 1. On the third week, count down from 80 to 1 and so on, until you reach the time when you can count down from 10 to 1. The point of this practice is as follows:

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after reaching one without any distraction or movement of your physical body, your mind should be already in the Alpha State. As you make the starting number lower and lower, you finally learn to enter the Alpha State in seconds, by counting down from 10 to 1. And this will be very useful in the future, when you need to focus and relax your body and mind for the magical practice of ANY sort.

The above techniques are very simple ways to train and discipline your mind, yet they may take a few months to master. It's worth it, because in the future, you will benefit greatly from these simple practices. In addition, the techniques may look like very non-magical – and you're right. Because they are here simply to train your mind. They may also teach you that you should always start small and slow – it's a safety tip for magick, too.

With a focused mind that is capable of relaxing and calming down easily, you won't have any problems with making magical offerings, casting cards, practicing divination, creating magical shields, or performing any form of magical ritual, whether it's big or small.

Starting a Magick Journal

When I started learning magick, I started to write my “magick journal”. In it, I used to write down anything new that I've learned from books. I made notes on beliefs, practices, techniques, books that I've read, people I've met and thoughts I came up with. Over time, this became a very useful thing. Not because it's a how-to manual to magick, but because it's a collection of beliefs and experiences that, as I realized at some point, were false and required a lot of healing.

It's because we have a tendency to learn things that are not necessary right or safe. Over time, as we gather more experience and knowledge, we learn what kind of unpleasant practices we've tried in the past. With new knowledge, we know what requires healing: what false beliefs must be changed into correct beliefs; what kind of energetic cords must be cut off; what kind of open gates in our mind must be closed so that malicious spirits cannot

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enter our mind. All of this can be found in your journal. So when you start learning magick, start a magical notebook, as well. Write down your knowledge, experiences, tips, advices, write down anything you experience, learn or read.

After some time – months or years – go back to your notebook and read it. Some things will be up-to-date; some things will be useful, but some things will be subjects to healing. That's very useful on your path. When I got back to my notebook after five years of studying magick, I've found a lot of things to heal. I've healed all the sigils which I've implanted into my mind; I've healed all the runic formulas I've written down into my aura; I've closed a lot of holes in my soul – created by false beliefs and dangerous practices, or practices that, as it turned out, were not my tradition - and all of that have strengthened my magical defenses.

Vows and Initiations at the Beginning of Your Journey

At the beginning of your practice, you may be strongly interested in different practices, which require you to be initiated into them, or in different paths that include worship of deities. What I truly suggest is that you should not agree to any forms of initiation or worship and that you should not listen to what most spirits say. Stick to this policy for the first year or two of your intensive magical studies, especially when you're young or when you just started the search for your individual path.

I say so, because I know how people change their beliefs and opinions - you may be interested in Wicca today, just to become interested in Asatru tomorrow, and become a Buddhist in the end. It's normal when you still search. And as you search for something that suits you, you may be tempted to initiate yourself into different practices, or make promises to spirits or deities and such. This is something that is very difficult to get out later. Don't make any vows to anything or anyone, because if you change your mind, then changing the vow, or getting rid of initiation to a specific practice may be very difficult.

Also, try NOT to implant any sigils or symbols with your aura (like energy field), body or mind. Don't make magical tattoos at all

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and think this way: "Am I going to stick to this path for the rest of my life?" If the answer is "no", then avoid initiations, vows and such unless you become sure.

If you did take some kind of vow, or you've been initiated to some practice, or implanted a symbol in your mind or energy field, then don't worry too much – all of these can be taken out and recalled. Vows are often released by taking them back after you become aware of the vows. Initiations can be taken off by spirits, or experienced shamans, healers or mages. Symbols can be taken out through becoming aware of them and using visualization or help from the spirits to burn them, or take them off and cast them into the fire, for example. If in doubt, consult someone more experienced.

***

After gaining some theoretical knowledge, it can be tested through personal experiences. As you learn and then practice, you will notice what things works for you and what things do not work. You will notice what effects you get with your practices, what improves the effects and what makes them weaker. Pay attention to your experiences, feelings, emotions, results, events and everything that happens to you after you begin your magical practice.

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Living with Magick

Once you begin to practice magick, you must realize that a true mage is not a person that lives a normal life (well, this is a bit more complex to explain later), and performs a ritual from time to time like some kind of a hobby. Magick is no hobby at all. A true mage lives with magick all the time. It doesn't mean that a true mage use magick all the time – rather, a true mage is aware of magick all around him. This makes him aware that encounters with spirits or energy interaction can happen all the time. And this makes the mage take care of his energies and the energies of his home, and taking care of the thoughts and emotions he carries in his mind and heart. That's what I will discuss now.

Usually, people assume that magick is all about spells and rituals, and sometimes about magical wands or amulets. But in a lot of cases, magick is more about self-improvement, practice of self-discipline and personal healing. The mind of a magick practitioner must be disciplined and calm, because often this is what makes magick quite safe and controllable. That's why in my practice, I rarely perform things that are actual rituals. Instead, I focus on improving my mind and heart through meditation and

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different forms of spiritual healing. There are two things that should be mentioned here:

1. A disciplined mind is capable of performing safer magical doing than an undisciplined mind.

2. A healed mind requires fewer rituals and spells to achieve what it wants.

When you take a closer look on the practices of the old magical orders of any form, you may notice that a lot of introductory practices were related to some form of meditation, or the improvement of focus, or the healing of unwanted thoughts or behaviours. This was done by multiple practices and guided by other techniques, as well. For example, in the Order of the Golden Dawn, a famous XIX century magical order, the Tarot cards were used to guide the practitioner of magick through a long process of magical learning.

A disciplined mind has less “holes” which can be used by malicious energies and spirits to attack the mage. But also, a disciplined mind focuses easier and makes the magical practice far more effective than an undisciplined mind. That's why the first things I mentioned in this book earlier were related to practicing focus and peaceful states of mind.

Now, regarding that second point, that says: a healed mind requires fewer rituals and spells to achieve what it wants. Indeed, this is a fact. True practice of magicks makes your mind powerful enough so that even rituals or spells or any other forms of focus and metaphor aren't necessary. The mind, even subconsciously, can achieve anything you need in an honest and safe enough way. A lot of people begin magick in order to attract things they want. But remember that magick comes at a price – if you use magick to gain something, one of these days you're going to pay for it somehow. That's why I rarely use magick for any kind of “gain”. Instead, I heal my mind, and all which I need in my life comes to me when the time is right.

Thus, whatever kind of magick you wish to practice, always look for practices that heal and discipline your mind, first. This will make your magical path a lot easier. Meditation and breathing

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techniques lead to releasing anything that you hold in your mind, which is unpleasant – like traumas, bad memories or hate, etc. Then you can use other techniques like affirmations, or forgiveness or emotional (inner) dialogs with yourself, to heal your emotional response to the things that were released from your subconscious mind. Even psychotherapist can help here. People are often driven by their emotions. The fewer emotions and memories control your current life, the better practitioner of magick you become.

Lower and Higher Practices

Before we proceed further, here are some additional thoughts.Nothing is static - it applies to your magical practice, as well. In

the past, I've been interested in hardcore occult, Chaos magick and Norse Runes. But when I began to practice Reiki, a spiritual healing method, and meditate and do a lot of spiritual stuff, the interest in the mentioned practices of occult, runes and magick, slowly faded away. It's because my new practices of Reiki and spirituality were more "bright". By this, I mean something that New Age practitioners call "higher vibrations." Some magical practices have lower vibrations. It doesn't mean that such practices are evil or negative - they just have lower vibrations. Other practices have greater vibrations, and the thing is that if higher vibrations overcome lower vibrations. That's why we use practices of higher vibrations to deal with unwanted energies of lower vibrations. Like we use sacred fire to cleanse negative energies or we light with Reiki to get rid of energetic dust upon objects.

This affects the practitioner in general. If you've been practicing some "low vibrational" things in the past, and you begin something of "high vibrations", the past practices may become pointless in your new perspective and you may give them up and focus on something new, "higher". This may happen when you also practice some things which aren't good for you, and you start to spend your time among people or in places of high vibrations. Like people who meditate for real, or in sacred temples or places of power. This knowledge is useful for those who wish to free themselves from destructive practices or pursuit spiritual growth, or protect

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themselves against unpleasant, malicious energies. On the path of inner growth, evolution is a constant element.

Some people need to start with "lower things" in order to grow up. It's all about karma and reincarnation. If you've been "good" in the past lives, you are grown-up enough to start with some more spiritual practices in this life. If you haven't been good enough in the past, you may need to start with some lower practices which will help you cleanse yourself and prepare yourself for some higher practices. Please NOTICE: this is a huge simplification of things. Saying that a practice is "lower" or "higher" doesn't mean it's better, worse, nobler or more shameful. It just means that's a perfect practice for a person on a specific level - and this practice can truly benefit this person. I, too, started with some lower magick practices and moved up over the period of ten years.

Establishing a Routine

Know this: the journey of self-improvement ends only with personal enlightenment, and there's a long way to achieving this. As you practice magick, you establish some form of routine. It's not a daily routine in most cases. Instead, there are some things that you work with from time to time, repeatedly. So you read books on magick to gain knowledge; you cleanse the energies around you in your home or workplace once a week; you cleanse your own aura at least once a day; and you practice breathing techniques from time to time to relax your body and release subconscious emotions so that you know what requires healing in order to become a better person.

Some people, if they prefer a more fancy-magical way of learning about their “inner demons”, fears and worries, use Tarot cards or Runes – they consider these as oracles, and they ask questions. The cards or runes tell those people what kind of problems they hide within their mind and heart. Once the problem become conscious, it can be released and healed through contemplation, psychoanalysis, meditation or working with affirmations and forgiveness.

Also, another practices can be applied to this routine, like the

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practice of learning to enter the Alpha State or the practice of focusing on an object. Or even a practice of creating a ball of magical energy, which, as fluffy as it may sound these days, is an important basic skill to many magical paths.

And that's a routine – those are the things that most people interested in magick do. Only then, once this routine is established and becomes a part of the life of the mage, the rituals can be performed. Like once a month, or even once a year, or simply for each full moon, or for each sabbath and so on, depending on the tradition the mage follows.

Taking Care of Energies Around You

As you work with your mind, trying to establish your magical routine, another aspect of this routine becomes important – the aspect of cleansing the energies that surround you.

So here's what my life looks like. To simplify things, I will use the term “aura” in regard of the energy field that surrounds me or you.

I wake up in the morning, and after the usual (breakfast and such) I'm heading to my office. Once I reach it, I cleanse myself with simple methods: white sage incense and Reiki symbols – these two simple techniques cleanse my aura of unwanted, “negative” energies like emotions or intentions of others. Usually, I collect these as walk through my town into my office. Negative emotions and intentions can be picked up everywhere: in the store, on the street, or just while passing a person. Even when someone dislikes the way you look, move or behave may cause negative intentions of that person hit your aura.

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Another popular method of cleansing yourself is a technique of visualizing a “waterfall” made of bright, light energies. Usually, people visualize pure white energy they associate with a Higher Power. To use this technique, you can simply relax (remember Alpha State?) and visualize yourself standing under a waterfall of white, pure and healing energy which cleanse your aura of negative and unwanted energies. Feel like the light energy sweep through your aura and clean the energies you want to be cleansed. It's a very simple technique used by many.

White sage and easy use of Reiki symbols can cleanse basic energies like emotions and intentions. As I go back home in the afternoon, I repeat the cleansing process again, this time after the return trip. This is sufficient.

Sometimes, I may get emotional in my office and my home. In such cases, white sage and Reiki is used to cleanse the rooms of unwanted emotions or intentions which I might have created.

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Some white sage

Bookcraft

Because whenever you feel something or intend something, either good or bad, the energies of these feelings and intentions fill the room, as they are projected from you towards your environment. At this time, these energies may influence everyone around you, whether you like it or not. That's why they must be cleansed on a regular basis.

Often, I'm asked to help someone through magick or some energetic technique. In such case, I often enter the energy field of that person. In this field, which we often call “aura”, we can find this person's own emotions and intentions, along with a lot of pain, suffering, sadness and such, as well as the emotions and intentions that this person collected, for example, while walking on the street. Thus, after each of such close contacts with someone spiritually, I need to cleanse myself, as well.

Whenever I help someone on distance, or even perform a simple art of clairvoyance to “see” the energies around someone, I collect unwanted energies upon my aura. It's because energetically, I do not simply connect with the person that is my “target”, but I also take a trip to this person's place of residence. It's an “energetic” trip. And I may collect unwanted energies on my aura from that place, too.

After performing some kind of magical ritual which included elemental energies, or “black magick” energies, like in case of cutting an astral parasite cord, or cleansing someone after a curse has been taken off, I have to use more powerful methods of cleansing. Using a salt to take a cleansing bath, or taking a bath in some magical herbs, like a thistle herb, both are great ideas that I use when it's necessary. Of course, in all these situations, I am supported by my magical shields and a collection of personally crafted amulets that deal with some kinds of energies. I will explain how you can create your amulets later in this book.

As we live our life, we visit different places. Each place has its unique energetic signature, and each place is filled with different energies. As we visit these places, we collect these energies upon our aura. These energies may support us (like energies from a place of power or a sacred temple) or spoil us (like places of

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murders, great hate or places of black magick power). The thing is that unless you're an experienced person with strong magical senses, you should cleanse your aura on a regular basis no matter what. As you become more experienced, you begin to notice what kind of energies cover your aura. If those are negative energies, you cleanse them. If they're positive energies, like coming from a place of great healing power, you learn to hold them on your aura for as long as needed. And here's the thing. If you're not experienced enough, cleanse the positive energies, too – because too much of powerful, light energies of healing may cause a lot of troubles. For example, they may force you to release so many negative emotions from your unconscious mind that you won't be able to heal them, and you may end up with emotional illness. An experienced mage will be able to sense and define how much of such positive energies he or she needs for now, and he or she will get rid of the amount he or she doesn't need.

Sometimes, I'm asked to cleanse some place of unwanted energies. To do so, I have to recognize what kind of energies I'm dealing with. To do this, I use my magical senses and clairvoyance. Sometimes, they're just energies of weak emotions and intentions. In such case, white sage and some Reiki are enough to cleanse the place. Sometimes, a malicious spirit may be present in the place, and he must be sent away (“into the light”, as some people call it). Sometimes, a portal to the world “beyond” is open in the place, and it must be closed – otherwise, unwanted beings and energies will come through it to mess around. Sometimes, I'm dealing with very heavy and powerful energies of hate or black magick. In such cases, stronger magical work is necessary – a lot of powerful light energies must be channeled, a lot of powerful herbs and resins must be burned, as well, to clean the place.

How do I recognize what is going on in case of a place that needs cleansing, or in case of a person that needs some cleansing? How do I know there's black magick energy in the room, or there's a curse upon a person? I can see it and sense it as I've mentioned. The ability of clairvoyance (or some other form of “clair”) and the ability of sensitivity, both of them develop over time. To develop

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these, time, patience and practices are necessary. Magical sensitivity develops with time as you progress in your skills of magick. The more energy balls you create; the more offerings you give; the more magical symbols you draw; the more rituals you perform – the stronger your magical sensitivity becomes.

Another way to develop sensitivity is a direct practice. A simple way is to learn how to sense your magical energy ball – I will teach you how to do so later on, along with the lesson on creating magical shields. For now, you may pick up some magical symbols like a pentagram (with only one tip facing upward – it's a protective symbol), a circle or a celtic cross. You may also choose some “brighter” symbols like the four symbols of Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki – you can find a link to them in the resources section of this book, or below. Just remember – sensing energies is often called “scanning.” Whenever you perform such scanning and sensing of energies on a person or object or symbol, even if it's a photo in a book, you should break an energetic cord which is created between you and this object. It may be tricky. Just in case,

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A Pentagram Amulet

by Nathaniel

if you're not experienced enough, then, for example, if you scan an object from a photo, you should break a cord between you and the object itself, and the cord between you and the photo of the object. Again – just in case.

Once you have a symbol in front of you, just focus on it and try to define what feelings it gives you. What emotions you can feel while looking at the symbol, what color would you associate with this symbol. Pay attention to your thoughts and memories, even the songs or films or TV shows and books which you recall while focusing on the symbol. Sometimes, as you sense something magically, our mind (or even guardian spirits) provide us with the memories of things we've seen or experienced in the past. Things that have the exactly same meaning as the thing you're sensing at the moment. Practice this with the symbols mentioned earlier, as it's a safe and simple practice to start with. After you're done practicing, visualize an energy cord between you and the symbol, and then imagine big scissors cutting this cord. Which is how you break a magical connection with the symbol or a person, or an object or entity.

And the intuition develops as you progress on the path of inner growth – with meditations, breathing and healing the released memories, worries and concerns, so there's not much to say about it right now. Later on, you can learn to develop the ability of clairvoyance – I've written an entire manual on that subject, “The

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Three Reiki Symbols

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Art of Seeing” which is available on Amazon. Just be aware that it's a bit more advanced practice.

Once both the senses and intuition are developed, I can see energies, curses and entities, and I can sense them: their types, intentions, purposes. This way, I know what is it that I'm dealing with. You may learn this too, with time.

Sometimes, in order to cleanse the place, incenses will suffice, and in other cases, a banishing ritual is required. Generally, no incense will banish a malicious spirit away, while on the other side of the coin, there is no need to perform a banishing ritual when you're dealing with some sad energies in the air.

Usually, I take great care of the places I work and live. I cleanse them on a regular basis. Each day, I use Reiki and white sage to deal with emotions and intentions. Each week I recharge the magical shields which are placed around my office and flat. From time to time, I use my drum, or some wind chimes (made of either metal or bamboo), or a Native American flute to cleanse the area by using special practices of using sound to perform magick. Every three months or so, I perform a complex ritual of cleansing, which includes sound, Reiki, magical symbols and a lot of powerful incenses.

And most important of all – I try to remain positive and happy in the places I live. Always try to remain calm, peaceful and happy in your home. This will generate a lot of positive energies. You can support this process by listening to meditative music, playing sacred instruments (bamboo or Native American flutes, or other tribal flutes, then some drums, or Tibetan bowls and similar) and even meditation will help. The stronger the positive energies in the place are, the better for you. If your home is a positive place, it will counter any negative energies you may bring to your home from outside or generate inside it by itself. Of course, only to a degree, but it's a great support. Also, a positive place you call home is more protected against malicious energies, magick and spirits. Often, meditating and practicing spiritual techniques can cleanse the area. When you truly meditate, or work with advanced Reiki practices, or practice Buddhism or similar spiritual

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techniques, you generate a lot of “light” energies. They can cleanse the energy of the room or even the entire house.

Here's a simple way to cleanse the place using some basic magical tools.

Dealing with unwanted energies is simple. I start with cleansing. I fire up some charcoal in a censer, and I start with some white sage incense. Once the white sage burns out, I add some herbs, like thistle or tansy. After the herbs, I burn some resins: myrrh and olibanum for one, and then I finish everything with a large dose of spruce resin, which is a powerful local resin used for a lot of magical practice here in Poland. Spruce resin can be collected from already-damaged spruce trees. It's advisable to offer the tree something in return, like a small gift – just like you do on the altar. Such resin does not require cleaning. You can cast it right onto a charcoal.

After incensing, I cleanse the area with Reiki symbols additionally – after years of practice, I have them working very

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Spruce Resin

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well. Then, I place magical symbols of protection within all the walls, the floors and the ceilings. The simple form of ritual is done as the energy has been cleansed.

More work must be done when the place requires us to deal with unwanted spirits that cannot be negotiated with, but that's a more advanced subject, which I will skip for now.

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If you like it, get your full copy today from Amazon. If you own a Kindle device, you can purchase the Kindle edtion, and if you prefer the old school, the book is available as paperback, too!

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