Ceremonial Magic - Month Three

[Toad]

Ceremonial Magic Class – Month 3

The following is my best attempt to sum up this months chapter in Ms. Norwicki’s (D.A.N) book. These are her thoughts here…and I have done my best not to color them with my own. This is a very busy month…more so than any other to date.

Finishing Touches

D.A.N. starts this months chapter discussing some of the finishing touches that we will want to add to our temple. Chairs, flame retardant cushions, flower vases, offering plates, book stands etc. are all mentioned briefly. She also mentions other Qabalaistic specific accoutrements such as Ashlar’s.

Quarter Candle Sticks

D.A.N. goes into some detail on making either hanging or free standing 4.5’ to 5’ tall candle sticks for each of the respective quarters.

Magical Implements

D.A.N. dedicates a good portion of this month to the construction/acquisition of various magical implements (wands, cup, sword, pantacle (not misspelled)).

The Wand

D.A.N. suggest that 4 wands are needed…one for each correspondence of earth, air, fire, water. She has a relatively ingenious suggestion of fashioning one wand but with a slit in the end one could attach a piece of flint for earth, a sea shell for water, a feather for air and multi-colored cloth to illustrated fire.

She did include a ‘tree calendar’ that suggest different woods for different birthdays. I can type it out if there is interest.

The Cup

D.A.N. talks a length about the meaning of the cup in the chapter. While she doesn’t give us an specifics about the cup or its material she does suggest a meditation using the cup.

Leaving the empty cup on our altar we are to meditate on it for several days. We are to see the cup from the inside…we are to put ourselves, our memories, our joys and pains into the cup. Once this is done we fill the cup with wine and drink it down along with all that we mentally places in the cup. In this act we accept all that we are, what we will be and what we came from.

The Sword

D.A.N. speaks in depth about the sword in the chapter. To quote D.A.N. “ To the Modern Magician his magical sword is a reservoir of strength and energy that he may draw on at will.”

D.A.N. indicates that while its preferable to make your sword…short of being a blacksmith, we will probably end up buying ours. She does stress that even if we do end up buying the sword…we must ‘earn’ it. Like the knights of old who would pray for days to be ‘worthy’ of the use of their sword…we are no better and must endure the same sort of ordeal.

D.A.N. recommends that the process should entail placing the sword on an altar on sacred ground. With regards to the knights this was traditionally a church…however she indicates that any sacred ground will work as long as the site has never been used for ‘evil’. Once our site is located we are to spend the night with the sword on the altar as we pray that we prove worthy of the sword.

We are then to name the sword and to keep this name it total secrecy.

The Pantacle

The Pantacle is a 6”(ish) disc of wood or metal that represents earth and the magicians link to earth. It is generally adorned with symbols of the magicians choosing, though it can be used without symbols until these are worked out. The symbols are totally left to the magician and should be a source of meditation and much thought and work. D.A.N. was also kind enough o point out that the Pantacle may or may not change as the magician progresses. Its quite normal for a Magician to go through several Pantacles before he/she comes to the right version.

In place of the pantacle…it is apparently acceptable to use a horn (as from a steer for example). In this case the horn should be sanitized thoroughly (duh) and its opening embellished with metal and feet of metal made so that the horn can stand by itself.

Dedicating the Temple

Its not time to begin to think to whom/what we are going to dedicate our temples to. D.A.N. did point out that dedicating the temple simply to ‘the light’ is perfectly acceptable. This exercise should, like the pantacle, be one of thorough contemplation.

In this process we should also select our ‘temple guardian’. The temple guardian can be any creature from the magicians mind. D.A.N. suggests a process of finding an illustration of our guardian and meditating on that image. We are to place the guardian at the entrance to our temple, arm him with a password and instruct the guardian to allow no one entry that does not know the password. From this point forward our guardian should be honored in our temple operations.

Preparation of Self


Our meditations this month should center on the various magical implements, temple dedication and guardians and such. No further meditative subjects are assigned. We are to continue with breathing, relaxation exercises and to continue with our inner temple construction.

[Toad]

As most probably know…I jumped the gun a wee bit early so I have actually been working on some of the Month 3 projects for a week or so.

Finishing Touches –

I of course am using a temple cloth…still I have included several touches that I use on my permanent altar. The flower vase is a wonderful idea…I now keep fresh flowers on my altar most of the time. I have also added a pine ‘bonsai’ tree and a bamboo plant. The plants and flowers add so much…I should have done this long ago.

As for a chair…well that is not practical with my situation…however a meditation mat has been a very handy addition that I am sure to get years of use out of.

Quarter Candle Sticks -

I purchased a lathe a couple months back. Rather than use DAN suggestion of a broomstick with a wood base and top…I am going to make some turned candle sticks that I can break down (using a joint like a pool cue) for easy storage. Adapting both DAN’s ideas and the 4 archangel representations in Poke’s books each of the quarter candle sticks will have, an 8”x10” frame behind the candle with will have the blown up pics of Raphael, Gabriel, Michael, and Auriel as my quarter guardians.

The Wand –

Flat out…I don’t like DAN idea of the one wand with slits. Seems to me that as soon as I get deeply into a ritual my ‘flint’ would fly across the room and injure someone...it just seems a fragile design. I also don’t like the idea of 4 wands…but that’s just me.

I have a couple ideas on this one. I have been messing around with a few different ideas. I think that I am going to wind up with one wand that has attributes of the four elements. I am envisioning a wand that has for example compartments that could hold a vial of water, or a compartment for earth, etc. I am unsure if I can pull this off…but I am having fun dinking about in the garage. The wife thinks I am a complete nutter…and she is probably right…but its enjoyable.

The Cup –

The cup was fairly easy for me to select. I have an antique blue glass chalice that is an heirloom of sorts. It will be used for this purpose.

The Sword –

In practical terms, the sword makes no sense in my particular situation. However the quote from DAN “To the Modern Magician his magical sword is a reservoir of strength and energy that he may draw on at will.”, has caused me to throw practicality to the wind. I am of course going to purchase my sword…I am actively researching this one. Having never purchased a sword before…I am finding initially that the greatest difficulty is wading through the vast amount of junk that is available out there. =)

The Pantacle –

While some of you will find this particular implement simple *coughs and looks at Mol*…the design for this is proving challenging in the extreme. I of course have as much time as I need…but I am drawing a total blank here. I will most likely be working with an un-illustrated Pantacle initially.

Dedication of the Temple –

I am torn at this point about the object of dedication for my temple will be. Thankfully I still have time to decide. =)

My temple guardian on the other had was decided almost immediately. I still have meditation work to do here…but my form is selected as is my password. My guardian is on duty as it were…he just needs a bit more juice. =)

Preparation of Self -

I have been working on my exercises a great deal. In fact I will make this a separate post, either later tonight or tomorrow.

[Toad]

I promised an overview of my current battery of exercises but before I delve into this, lets talk a little about our building of our inner temples. Last month DAN gave us the visualization exercise of building our temple in our minds eye once we had that we were to imagine a spiral staircase leading up to a second level that houses an identical temple. This month she encourages us to continue the level building upward with each successive step upward representing increasing sephiroth of the tree.

I have worked at this internal temple building diligently.

My temple is the size of a large cathedral. The main entryway from the east is a large archway some 20’ wide. On either side of the entry are large marble columns that extend from the floor to the ceiling some 30’. There is a large oak door that when closed and barred is impervious to light, sound as well as physical and astral breach. The floor is of the finest Italian marble…alternating cream and black checkered pattern excluding the inner circle which I will talk about momentarily.

The interior walls and ceilings are painted with myriad of scenes that vary themselves according to my whim. At the four quarters on the walls are hung a massive iron torch in the shape of a massive human hand. The flames that burn in each palm provide the ambient light that illuminates the temple in the evenings. The ceiling is of clear glass with an intricate wrought iron framing. The stars or sun are always viewable. Along the walls are numerous intricately carved high back wooden chairs with red velvet cushions. With each chair is a foot rest of 1’ in height.

The center of the temple is of blackest black onyx. Bordered with silver and gold forming a perfect 9’ circles the names of the four archangels, Raphael in the East, Michael in the South, Gabriel in the West and Auriel in the North, are inlaid into the onyx with mother of pearl.

Just outside of the circle in the Southeast is an altar some 3’ square and 4’ tall. In each of the four corners of this altar burn an oil lamp. In the center of this altar sits my ‘mandala’ with an 8” Citrine sphere on top. Incense of the finest resins burns in an urn in the altar under the sphere…the smoke rising up encircling the sphere. At the base of this alter sit several stools of 1.5’ tall.

The center alter is 3’ square by 4’ tall. The altar is usually covered with a black silk cloth with tassles with a smaller white silk altar cloth. In the center of this altar burns an oil lamp. Sitting on this altar at all times is a vase with 3 red roses.

I of course have a full selection of robes and magical implements (chalices, wands, etc).

When commanded a spiral staircase will grow from the center of the temple… the onyx of the circle melting and reforming into a growing staircase that glides through the glass ceiling as if pushing through a large piece of clear jello.

If one is of sound condition you may take these stairs up. Passing through the ceiling/floor the first few times is a challenge. Its as if the higher on the stairs you climb the heaver you feet become. Once you do climb through you immediately wonder how you drew a breath in the lower level. You also immediately notice that this temple *EXACTLY* like the one below it is much brighter, though it doesn’t appear to come from the torches on the walls. Its as if the walls and floor give off a dim blue light of their own.

Once again, when commanded another staircase will grow from the center circle and extend through the ceiling. I have visited the third temple a few times though I admit to rebounding fairly easily without total and utter concentration.


I have found that at first this temple was vague…almost ghostly. The more I work with it the more vivid it becomes. At this point the 1st level is as if I am watching a movie. A recent development in the past couple of weeks are full auditory and olfactory sensations.

I frequently use this temple for various exercises, LBRP, Greater Pentegram and Hexagram rituals, etc.

Its truly a gift to carry a temple of this caliber around in ones head.

[Toad]

OK...for some exercises.

One of the big things I have been working on is astral projection. It could be argued that I have little business dabbling with this ability at this stage of development. However, I accidentally projected and since that date I began a lot of research and systematic work of the projection.

My projection method thread (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?p=537585#post537585)

I tossed this out in general population to draw some more discussion about AP. I was a bit afraid that if I left it in this thread not a whole lot of folks would see it.

I have more exercises that I am working on. I will post more in a bit.

[Lunacie]

Great stuff. I was too busy with sick kiddies most of the month to do much on this. I'm pleased to find that I already own a pantacle. It's a wooden piece about 8 inches square and half an inch thick. I drew a pentacle and some specific protection runes on it, and my good friend used his wood burning set to burn them into the wood. I've had it for about 8 years.

I love the idea of one wand to use in calling the elements/quarters. I can see it with a stone chip in one end and a small sea shell in the other, and a feather attached to it with a red ribbon. I already have all of these items, just need to gather them together. Kewl.

And I like the idea of the large black silk altar cloth covered with a smaller white silk cloth. Represents the balance in nature, eh?

Ah, but when will I find time to meditate and create the temple within the mind? *sigh* Somehow I will find time, or make time. At least I have much more room in my mind than I do in the house. :lol:

Thank you once again, Toad, for sharing this information and inspiring me with your own ideas.


~ edited to add the missing word "will". Possibly the most important word in this post, eh? Luna

[Toad]

Great stuff. I was too busy with sick kiddies most of the month to do much on this. I'm pleased to find that I already own a pantacle. It's a wooden piece about 8 inches square and half an inch thick. I drew a pentacle and some specific protection runes on it, and my good friend used his wood burning set to burn them into the wood. I've had it for about 8 years.

Lucky dog! The Pantacle is being rather elusive for some reason. Oh well…it will come when its time…of this I have no doubt.


I love the idea of one wand to use in calling the elements/quarters. I can see it with a stone chip in one end and a small sea shell in the other, and a feather attached to it with a red ribbon. I already have all of these items, just need to gather them together. Kewl.

Apparently Kraig talks about a ‘Universal Weapon’ or something along these lines…I will do some research into this (I have the book) and post what I find. Perhaps some more ideas to be had there.


And I like the idea of the large black silk altar cloth covered with a smaller white silk cloth. Represents the balance in nature, eh?

Hmmm…I always thought of it as showing duality in all things….evil/good, male/female, order/chaos. Of course nature certainly fits nicely within that frame work.



Ah, but when will I find time to meditate and create the temple within the mind? *sigh* Somehow I will find time, or make time. At least I have much more room in my mind than I do in the house. :lol:

It’s amazing the time one can find when we decide to… I have worked on this exercise during meetings, in my office, in the living room as the family runs around. The distractions are actually helpful at this stage as they serve as training aids.


Thank you once again, Toad, for sharing this information and inspiring me with your own ideas.

I am just glad these posts are in some small way helpful Lunacie…

[Toad]

OK…some more info on the practical exercises that I am working on… The following is my current ‘schedule’.

0600 My Alarm goes off

I do DAN relaxation exercises followed by 10 minutes of breathing exercises in my asana. Following this I do my morning exercises. I alternate between free weights and aerobic (heavy bag) activity. After my work out I have begun taking a cold show. After my shower I perform my LBRP and middle pillar exercises. It’s a wonderful way to start the day.

I generally work 8 to 5 and during this time my work dictates when I can continue my real work. =) Generally I can squeeze in some visualization/meditation time around 10 for 15 or 20 min.

At lunch…everyday I perform a LBRP, Middle Pillar and usually a Greater Pentagram and Hexagram Ritual or sometimes the Star Sapphire Ritual in the temple of the mind. I am blessed in my job in that I have the liberty to close my door. The 20 or so minutes I spend at lunch have been incredibly valuable.

The last few days I have been projecting at lunch as well. This has proved VERY interesting. The building I work in was built in 1905 and lets just say there is a lot of history there. The building (a 22 story building) was added on and there are some truly interesting architectural ghosts of the original floor plans (walls that are no longer there…etc).

Usually around 2 or 3 I manage to steal another 15 to 20 minutes of visualization and meditation time.

After coming home I dedicate all my time to my kids until they go to bed. The wife and I usually get an hour or two before I perform my last LBRP and middle pillar exercise and projection exercise before going to bed.

That my general schedule of activity…it remains the same on Saturdays though I am of course not at work. I take Sundays off and rest from all my activities. Its good to give the mind a break. =)

I have also been working on a few other practices…I guess you could call them exercises…but they are new and have not been fully integrated. I will post a bit more of them in a bit.

So…what about everyone else?

[Lunacie]

Lucky dog! The Pantacle is being rather elusive for some reason. Oh well…it will come when its time…of this I have no doubt.

Yep, I'll bet it will. Syncronicity, eh?


Hmmm…I always thought of it as showing duality in all things….evil/good, male/female, order/chaos. Of course nature certainly fits nicely within that frame work.

Uh huh, evil/good, male/female, order/chaos, day/night, I feel that these all are examples of things that bring about balance, but calling it duality would maybe have made more sense.

[Toad]

Here she is...with the final coat of poly curing.

This altar design is from Poke's book "Dark Mirror of Magick". The first attachment should be the book diagram.

The hole is used during angelic invocation to feed an incense holder that sits on the first level. The smoke exits through the top surrounding a crystal sphere. This setup along with tratakam is Poke's method for invoking the archangels.

The rest of the shots are just the finished product as she sits in the garage with the last coat of poly drying. I made this altar so its easy to convert it between the invocation setup and a standard double cu be altar for other rituals.

Now I am just waiting on my sphere...

[mol]

It looks outstanding, Toad!

[Toad]

It looks outstanding, Toad!

=) Thankee...

I am working on some candlelit shots with the sphere and incense going from the low angle Poke recommends. If I can get it on camera it will be cool.

[mol]

=) Thankee...

I am working on some candlelit shots with the sphere and incense going from the low angle Poke recommends. If I can get it on camera it will be cool.
Rock on! Make sure to post those when you get them. Too bad you dont have a digital camcorder...we could shoot some video. :p

[Toad]

Rock on! Make sure to post those when you get them. Too bad you dont have a digital camcorder...we could shoot some video. :p


My G3 can take up to 3min digital video...though in low lighting I dont know how that will work. I surely will give it a try though.

[Toad]

As I said above…I didnt like our authors suggestion for wand designs. And I just couldn’t see the point of having four different wands.

I looked into Kraig's 'Rainbow wand' which I found lacking.

Here is my 'universal weapon':

The wood is oak. This particular oak was gathered from a tree that was struck by lightening. I turned the wood myself on my lathe and carved the other pieces by hand. The tip holds a very nice quartz point. I spent quite some time looking in different shops until I found the right crystal. The butt section of the wand has 5 stones set into it. I know that my particular selections may not be 'by the book correspondence' matches...but they felt right to me. I have Amethyst representing spirit, citrine representing air, carnelian representing fire, blue sodalite representing water, and hematite representing earth.

All in all I am tickled with how this turned out. =)

[Toad]

I think I alluded to this on occasion in previous CM class threads…but I am gradually becoming aware of quite a different approach to CM operations apart from the traditional ‘visualization’ methods.

This method of visualization when performing various magical operations has been somewhat the standard for some time. The Golden Dawns teachings, Crowley’s variations there of…even most modern Wiccan operations seem based on visualization. While this method unquestionably works…it does require a tremendous amount of work and dedication to be truly proficient in its use.

From my limited exposure to true magical operations to this point I am finding that the focus of the mind (truly having a quiet controlled mind at will) was/is a very difficult proposition. Using the established visualization exercise certainly work in my case…I have found that self hypnosis is a much more efficient means of ‘quieting the mind’.

I should state that while I personally find the inclusion of Self Hypnosis as incredibly beneficial in my case. I am not trying to present it as the ‘end all be all’ technique. In addition I still find that visualization work as very valuable. I look at SH as merely another tool.

As I have read it and understand it. The GD specifically forbade its members from using hypnosis back in its early existence. From what I gather they considered hypnosis as a low brow parlor trick of sorts. I find it telling that when you read an author that comes from a GD background the SH techniques are never mentioned. Our existing author fits very cleanly into this category.

The first person I ever heard mention this technique was Poke Runyon in “The Book of Solomon’s Magick”. Just as an aside…those following this class whether it be current or in the future…I cannot stress enough how incredibly potent this book is. I highly recommend its purchase as it is the single most revolutionary text on actually performing magical operations that I have ever seen.

Anyway – with all this said…I ran across this quote in Liber Aba by Aleister Crowley.



The object is to posses a body which is capable of doing any particular task that may lie before it. There must be no selection of a special experience which appears to one’s immediate desire. One must go steadily through all the possible pylons.

Frater P was very unfortunate in not having magical teachers to explain these things to him. He was rather encouraged in unsystematic working. Very fortunate was he, to have found a guru who instructed him in the proper principles and technique of yoga, and he, having sufficient sense to recognize the universal application of those principles, was able to some extent repair his original defects. But even to this day, despite the fact that his original inclination is much stronger towards Magick than towards Mysticism, he is much less compotent in Magick. A trace of this can be seen even in his method of combining the two divisions of our science, for in that method he makes concentration bear the Cross of the Work.

This is possibly an error, probably a defect, certainly an impurity of though, and the root of it is to be found in his original bad discipline with regard to Magick.

Perhaps with my current state of development and the techniques that I am using…I am afraid that I may be reading more into this passage than was intended. On the other hand…I find the for in that method he makes concentration bear the Cross of the Work. incredibly interesting.

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[mol]

I think it is touching upon the point you are trying to make in regards to self-hypnosis techniques when approaching ceremonial magic. You see, Crowley and others (myself included) use concentration techniques, Yoga, fixation, symbolic meditation, etc to achieve results. These techniques require the mind to be fixed and concentrating. However, the technique of self-hypnosis does not require this, instead it focuses more on the 'floating' or wandering aspect of the mind...which is, much stronger. As we all know...it is easier to daydream than it is to concentrate.

[Toad]

‘Try not to piss yourself…’

At least that’s what he told me when I asked for any last minute advice before I attempted my first angelic invocation. While I did…and still do find that advice quite amusing I had so little understanding of just how serious he was.

You may have read something that suggest that once you truly begin to walk the path of the Ceremonial Magician you will begin to see and experience things that will test your mind, body and soul. In one of my more favorite books on CM the author is adamant about the fact that a CM must be in sound physical condition before beginning operations. He gives the distinct impression that this work is not for the feint of heart.

Like many novices I was hesitant to put much weight into this simple suggestion. After all I am a grown man…I can handle myself. Pfffht! I am only now beginning to see just how hopelessly clueless I really am.

I will, at some point, provide a full account of the experience that truly opened my eyes…but for now I will spare the gory details. Suffice to say that last night I had my first TRULY successful invocation. Think me a loon with this statement if you will…I care not…but…the Archangel Michael visited me last night upon my request.

For the record…I did manage to ‘not piss myself’. I do now have infinitely more respect for this simple yet sage advice. I realize that many other novices out there will dismiss this just as I did. At least this way I can say I warned ya!

[mol]

Congrats on the success, my friend. I had no doubts that you would be successful.

[Toad]

I think it is touching upon the point you are trying to make in regards to self-hypnosis techniques when approaching ceremonial magic.

I am glad that I am not just reading things into this passage...or at least I am not the only one if that is the case. =)


However, the technique of self-hypnosis does not require this, instead it focuses more on the 'floating' or wandering aspect of the mind...which is, much stronger. As we all know...it is easier to daydream than it is to concentrate.

Hmmm...I am a little confused by this part Mol. I of course may just be misunderstanding you statement mind you.

SH to me is neither floating or wandering. To me I liken it to a method of temporarily clearing the crap out of ones mind (how am I gonna pay this bill, is my son going to give us a heart attack, will I ever be able to deal with my daughters boyfriends, etc) and focusing your concentration in a very short time. It feels almost like I am cheating by using SH to clear the mind and set my focus. However, I dont feel like its daydreaming. Again maybe I am just not following your examples...

[Toad]

I had no doubts that you would be successful.


Heh - least that was one of us! =)

[mol]

SH to me is neither floating or wandering. To me I liken it to a method of temporarily clearing the crap out of ones mind (how am I gonna pay this bill, is my son going to give us a heart attack, will I ever be able to deal with my daughters boyfriends, etc) and focusing your concentration in a very short time. It feels almost like I am cheating by using SH to clear the mind and set my focus. However, I dont feel like its daydreaming. Again maybe I am just not following your examples...
I think we are just dealing with some misinterpretation. Don't you love the english language. I am trying to express the difference between meditating on symbolism, for example, and SH. The true are quite different. Meditation upon symbols requires a great deal of intense concentration that must not be broken (at least, in my experience) whereas I am finding SH to be much more forgiving. I liken the experience to daydreaming for lack of a better word, basically.

[Toad]

I think we are just dealing with some misinterpretation. Don't you love the english language. I am trying to express the difference between meditating on symbolism, for example, and SH. The true are quite different. Meditation upon symbols requires a great deal of intense concentration that must not be broken (at least, in my experience) whereas I am finding SH to be much more forgiving. I liken the experience to daydreaming for lack of a better word, basically.


Ahh....yes...now I see what you mean. I agree whole-heartedly.

[NightBathen]

Toad,

This is good stuff, I have a question about the sword though. Gardenarian wiccans insist that a sword is too large and broad to be considered for solitary ritual. That its true use comes best in the hands of a high priest or priestess, with the wealth of the covens energies being poured into it and directed. The athame (or ritual knife) I am told is more suited for individual use. Its size and ease of use make it able to retain energy on a smaller scale more proficiantly. What are your thoughts?

[Toad]

Gardenarian wiccans insist that a sword is too large and broad to be considered for solitary ritual. That its true use comes best in the hands of a high priest or priestess, with the wealth of the covens energies being poured into it and directed.

Jack –

First in reply to the above quote…I would like to just point out that I personally care very little what any Wiccan authority says about the use of ritual tools. I don’t mean that to come of as snobbish…honestly. I point this out simply because it’s very clear to me, based on my research, that all of the Wiccan operations and use of ritual tools were borrowed or invented long after CM was established. This is one of the reasons why I personally pay very little attention to Wiccan operations. I prefer to go to the source if you will. This is by no means my way of saying that CM is the pure or correct way. It’s simply how I choose to operate. =)


The athame (or ritual knife) I am told is more suited for individual use. Its size and ease of use make it able to retain energy on a smaller scale more proficiantly. What are your thoughts?

Speaking for me personally the thought that a smaller item stores energy more efficiently just doesn’t quite ring true. If you think of energy as water (just for example sake)….the athame would be a cup where the sword would be a bucket. Once the bucket (sword) is full one can draw on the stored energy. I almost see the sword as a power cell of sorts. I also don’t see how the swords use is suited to a group or a solitary given this frame of thinking.

I will readily hand over the convenience aspect to the athame. Being smaller an athame is much easier to work with…especially in a confined space.

Again this is simply my personal view…I am not trying to preach that this is the only correct way by any means.

I still stand by a personal cardinal rule for any magic operation (this applies to ritual tools as well)…but I firmly believe that the most important aspect of any magic operation is that the tool, correspondence, means, method, etc makes perfect sense to the magician. The magician must clearly understand why he/she is using a sword or athame (for example), that distinction is up to the magician to make in his/her own mind. I honestly do not believe there is a 100% correct answer to the ‘method’ of magic. While I clearly value what the magicians that came before me thought about tools, methods, etc…I personally feel to make the magic work…I must make it my own.

[NightBathen]

wellspoken toad, as always, I am left with little to interject upon, I myself dont use tools at all, atleast physical ones. To each his own. Bravo

[Toad]

I myself dont use tools at all, atleast physical ones.


Very interesting that you would mention this...I have been experimenting with this very thing...assuming I have correctly understood your meaning.

I have been using my own internal temple to a great degree. I can easily see where I would use this internal or astral temple to great effect.

However, I am at the stage of development where the physical construction of the tools is immeasureably valuable. These physical tools are a crutch of sorts. I use them in the physical world, and then when using them in the astral they are much more vivid and in trun more powerful.

I do hope that at some stage of developement I will be able to abandon the physcial creation/utilization of these tools. However, I do know and accept that one must learn to walk before he can run. =)

[NightBathen]

Toad,

Why not bring them with you? You pour just as much energy into the physical tools as you would an astral tool. They leave a traceable astral signiture, it is called a thoughtform, once you have done this, use their energy to create other tools.

[Toad]

Why not bring them with you?

I *believe* that I am bringing them with me. I didnt say that very well did I? :D

What I was trying to get at is that once I have created something physically it is much easier to use the same tool/space/etc astrally (or even build upon it astrally) My internal temple is a prime example of this. In the physical my 'temple' is a temple cloth...in the astral my temple is of such a magnatude that King Solomon himself would approve. I will eventually be better equipped to bypass the seeming physical prerequisite. =)

One thing at a time...

[NightBathen]

do you practice solo?

[Toad]

Yes...practice that is.

I do have a few friends that are 'practitioners' one of which being a very accomplished magician. So I do at least have some guidance other than just these forums and my books of course. :D However, my primary instructors are Crowley, Duquette, Regardie, Runyon, Dee, etc. =)

[NightBathen]

so you dig satanism huh? how does it speak to you?

[Toad]

so you dig satanism huh? how does it speak to you?
Huh? Where did you come up with that?

[NightBathen]

Was I wrong? Sorry if I offended, a little imp told me. Guess I'll just throw him back in his cage and nock him around a bit :smoke:

[Toad]

Was I wrong? Sorry if I offended, a little imp told me. Guess I'll just throw him back in his cage and nock him around a bit :smoke:

HEHE - No...not offended at all. Just seemed to me to come out of left field.

While I do believe that I have taken as unbiased a look at Satanism as I can...I agree with parts...and disagree with others. I would not say that I dig Satanism though. =)

To each his own...as you so wisely put it.

[NightBathen]

Crowley, I mean what a guuy huh?

[Toad]

Crowley was a nutball...brilliant...but a complete madman!

[NightBathen]

we all go a little mad sometimes! (sorry, couldn't resist)

[mol]

we all go a little mad sometimes! (sorry, couldn't resist)Yes, we do. Kind of like your Satanism comment. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with Satanism at all...Crowley does NOT EQUAL Satanism.

Crowley != Satanism

Not trying to smack you around about it, but I like to point this out to folks who make the mistake of relating the two when there really is no relation except for Crowley's genius use of gematria and his need to piss off his parents and the world.

[Toad]

Well I have finished all of the month 3 exercises that I intend to complete.

My wand is completed. I have selected and consecrated my Cup. I have my pantacle, well the base anyway...I am still toying with the design for it...but for now I will use it plainly.

My sword is selected and I have completed my consecration and meditation on its incorporation. I used an operation similar to my ring cleaning and dedication. I was not sure how practical the sword would be, but following my intuition I acquired one. After its consecration I am quite pleased with its purpose as a medium for storing energy.

I have also completed my temple dedication. I finally chose to dedicate my temple to Thoth. For in this temple I am striving to gain wisdom of all things and of course to better learn to perform magic. Thoth was perhaps an obvious choice, though I did spend considerable time meditating on this particular decision. The final decision was made for me in a dream.

My temple guardian is in place. While I have completed a rudimentary illustration to help in building this creature, I expect to further evolve and redraw this illustration. My guardian is in place though. He is on duty and he is regularly observed in my meditations and operations. In the simplest of terms...he is on duty. =)

The only thing that I have not gotten complete is the quarter candle sticks. I have made a set but I am not at all pleased with them and have basically thrown them out. I didn't make the bases large enough to support the top heavy nature. I built them in the garage on a cement floor...and they were fine there. However, put them on carpet and you are looking at a major fire hazard. I will carry this project over to next month.

I am going to attempt to write up DAN month four outlines today. I am however finding myself moving away from her core teachings.

At this point I am aware that I am pretty much on my own. I know there are several others who are working through the earlier lessons. For them I will continue to post the framework that DAN has presented in the course book we are using. However, I thought it prudent to point out that while I will be using some of her exercises and projects...I will be altering my personal outline drawing from several different sources. By doing this...I am NOT suggesting that the direction I am going to take is going to be correct for everyone else. I would encourage each of you to use what makes sense to you and abandon the rest.

That said...I do love the suggestions, questions, comments and well...anything. It's getting lonely out here. =)

[NightBathen]

hi toad :)

[Alqouin Vameos]

hello, your altar looks really nice, can I ask what color did your pick for it? Did you leave it with just a wood grain finish? and what was your reasoning behind it? I notice the Golden Dawn and others suggest it to be all black and other people suggest black with a white top. Anyway I am assuming it should have some meaning as to the color choice. Correct if I am wrong. :)

[Toad]

hello, your altar looks really nice, can I ask what color did your pick for it? Did you leave it with just a wood grain finish? and what was your reasoning behind it? I notice the Golden Dawn and others suggest it to be all black and other people suggest black with a white top. Anyway I am assuming it should have some meaning as to the color choice. Correct if I am wrong. :)


Let's see...

My altar is finished with a 'fruitwood' wood stain. It matches my bedroom where it lives. I have read that with the altar...it should be white. I personally am quite happy with the wood stain...though I do use altar cloths on occassion. The cloths serve my purpose when I am performing a ritual. While with the wood stain it is fairly unobtrusive as a 'shrine' when I am not using it in ritual.

Like you I have read of differing color recommendations from various magical 'authorities'. I still maintain that if the magician is comfortable with a tool/shrine/etc THAT is the most important thing. =) In other words...do what feels right. The wood stain was/is right in my case. =)

[Alqouin Vameos]

Ah, Thank you for your explanation :)