The best Magic Studies books: Reddit reviews

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

This is an excellent translation with full-color plates: https://www.amazon.com/Egyptian-Book-Dead-Integrated-Full-Color/dp/1452144389/ref=sr\_1\_1?dchild=1&keywords=book+of+the+dead&qid=1627075690&sr=8-1

This is always what I recommend for magical training. This is SPECIFICALLY magic training. The author leaves it up to the individual to customize it for their own personal religious/spiritual traditions, should you want to.

If you are not looking to become a hermetic magician I would say ignore his ethics comments, but other than those, the practical sections of this book are a perfect guide. It’s entirely results based.

Initiation into Hermetics is the best training manual available to the public I have ever seen. There is nothing better than Initiation into Hermetics for basic legit magical training imo.

Remember training is a full time job (or at least should be worked as a part time job, obviously more training is better than less)

It’s very very hard training, but it’s all legit. If you do it right, you’ll come out of the other side a true witch.

But remember unless you dedicate yourself to your training, all you’ve bought is a paperweight.

Don’t skip steps even if you believe you are already beyond them. Don’t move on before you have mastered each step. It will take a few years to complete if you work this book seriously and daily

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs is a great resource for the many, many uses of herbs and other plants in magickal rituals.

Edit: Also, a ttrpg with accurate herbalism mechanics sounds cool as hell, I'd love to play it when it's complete!

Modern magick by Donald Michael Craig.

Goes from simple dream journals to goetic evocation.

I'm still at the beginning, but its a pretty great book :)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0738715786/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_AM2Y9RZY0YGYYCAP2GDC

The most recent translations aren't going to be free and available online. I'd suggest going to your library or ordering a copy via Amazon. This is an excellent version, but there are less expensive, earlier editions available as well.

I have the translation by Raymond Faulkner — the old British Museum version, but there's a new one at a very good price:

https://www.amazon.com/Egyptian-Book-Dead-Integrated-Full-Color/dp/1452144389/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

I'm not Jewish, but have read a bunch on the Qabalah from an occult perspective. I can very much recommend the Chicken Qabalah by Lon Milo DuQuette and its accompanying Son of Chicken Qabalah. A tarot card deck doesn't hurt, too, to help understand the correspondences placed on the Tree of Life :)

The Zohar is on my to-read list, as I have heard it to be a good resource and more from a Jewish perspective, but I haven't read it myself.

Some, though not all, of the cheaper versions of "Book 4" and sometimes "Magick in Theory and Practice" and "Equinox of the Gods" alone, are terrible. These bad ones are clearly publications of versions found online and have terrible formatting and punctuation.

There are also well formatted versions of Parts I&II as well as MiTaP and EotG, but are just those parts.

The "big blue brick" is usually $60-70 on Amazon, and in my humble opinion, is worth it. You get Parts 1-4. You get amazing annotations. You also get a boatload of Libers you will want in the Appendix. See the Table of Contents inside "Look Inside!" on Amazon.

tl;dr Shorter versions often are just Parts I&II, or are really shitty. The big blue brick is awesome.

You might be jumping to conclusions here, even with a curse much of your life success or failure is due to your own effort, beliefs, and other factors.

If you still think it's a curse, do the master protection ritual from this book. If it's still a problem it's probably an internal factor that's affecting you.

I found the section. The misspellings are not present in my translation. In fact all of the language is different in my book. It seems like your PDF and my book had different translators.

You can preview it and see the same section on Amazon at the link below.

https://www.amazon.com/Initiation-into-Hermetics-Franz-Bardon/dp/1885928122

It's called the "Human Being: The Body" in the book. In the book, it reads:

> The external visible appearance of the body resembles a beautiful garment, and beauty with all its aspects is...

The rest goes on like that. In the book it's grammatically correct and doesn't have spelling errors.

General protection:

https://www.amazon.com/Magickal-Protection-Against-Bullies-Violence-ebook/dp/B00UL9VFUO/ref=nodl_

Though for your case, having archangel tzaphkiel help you “establish emotional boundaries” specifically targeting this sleep disturbance seems it would likely be more effective.

Can work with Tzaphkiel here: https://www.amazon.com/Archangels-Magick-Rituals-Prosperity-Divination-ebook/dp/B078T8MWPY/ref=nodl_

You shouldn't consult anyone for black magic removal, you'll probably get scammed, I haven't seen anyone who's actually trustworthy on the internet with that stuff. Chances are, they'll take your money and you will be none the better for it.

From what you've said it may be likely that you or your family's been seriously cursed. The best way to stop this is to clear the energy in your house through banishing and create a field of general protection around you.

​

It should be pretty easy to completely solve all these problems yourself. Use the money that would be wasted on someone who claims to do black magic removal and buy this book. Use the sword banishing from it twice a day on your house and also do the master protection ritual from the book. If this doesn't clear up the curse, use the ritual to repel a curse from that book too.

The sword banishing will clear any negative energy in your house and in your energy field if you do it twice a day, this prevents the curse from doing any more damage. The master protection ritual should eliminate the curse completely and stop the bad luck and unfortunate occurrences. It will also make your life generally better and establish very powerful magickal protection around you.

Avon Books. This is the Amazon page. The Necronomicon https://www.amazon.com/dp/0380751925/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_HTaaGbBWTQ5GN

I actually secretly bought mine when I was a teen (so help me if my mother saw it xD) from the book store Borders back when it was still open

If you buy GoM's chaos magick you'll find chaos magick isn't really chaotic. It's really just "DIY Magick".

I'd say working with demons is where you'd need some added protection. (I've only worked with one but there's a different mental approach you need.)

If you're really worried about protection, start with protection magick!

https://www.amazon.com/Magickal-Protection-Against-Bullies-Violence-ebook/dp/B00UL9VFUO

There's also a lot of healing magick in Archangels (Raphael(I think?) in particular is a good archangel to work with, focuses on healing).

The authors of the GoM books say continually, just do the magick. Three weeks of thinking about doing magick is three weeks of transformation you've missed out on.

I read a description of "Initiation into Hermetics" by Franz Bardon on Amazon. It said:

> Franz Bardon is considered by many as the greatest adept of the 20th century. A tireless worker for the light, he survived Hitler's concentration camps but died a victim of Communist persecution in 1958. He left behind him four legendary books which have become acknowledged classics of occult literature.

As a believer in and neophyte practicioner of magick, I mean this question seriously. How do you die a victim of Communist (or really any kind of) persecution when you're supposed​ly the greatest adept of the century? Can't you magick your way out of that sort of thing? Am I misunderstanding how magick works?

If all it says is get a necronomicon, then get a necronomicon.

https://www.amazon.com/Necronomicon-Simon/dp/0380751925/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Necronomicon&qid=1600597572&sr=8-1

I did. Full of juicy horrors and gruesome details on how to summon them.

Best of luck

You can get a great copy on Amazon. I have this exact copy. https://www.amazon.com/Egyptian-Book-Dead-Integrated-Full-Color/dp/1452144389/ref=sr_1_2?crid=ZJKGG79TMZRB&dchild=1&keywords=the+book+of+the+dead+egyptian&qid=1601058837&sprefix=the+book+of+the+dead%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-2

Agreed. As both a writer and an old witch, and given the vast diversity of witches your best bet it to read a book or two for actual witches to get a basic foothold (I’d suggest Bucklands Complete Guide. It’s pretty straightforward though not perfect and it’s only $15 on Amazon and will serve as a great reference to have on hand as you write. Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft (Llewellyn's Practical Magick) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0875420508/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ijEdFbXASM10V ) then just write and have someone proofread afterwards.

Some big thing to keep in mind: - not all witches are Wiccan. Those words are often used interchangeably by some but not all of us are Wiccan. There are many kinds of witches just like not all Christians are Baptists. There are many kinds of Christians right? Now throw in that many people who practice magic and observe the holidays prefer to call themselves pagans. - you don’t have to practice a craft based religion to practice magic and you don’t have to do spells to practice a witch/pagan religion. I can believe in the religious aspects of Strega but not perform spell work. Or conversely I can do spell work and not believe in any of the religious teachings. You can meet witches of all different t faiths including Christian witches. - not all witches believe in deities. While many rituals involve symbolism for god and goddess (lord and lady) this doesn’t mean that all witches believe in either. Just as you may meet Christian witches you are also likely to very meet atheist witches. -I’m sure you already know that we don’t make deals with the devil and most of us don’t believe in a Satan (including Satanic witches who are in actuality - like Satanist - atheists who do not believe in a devil or god)

Best of luck

If you want a good training guide, I recommend Initiation into Hermetics in the theoretical section there is a part on the topic of religion I think you’ll find useful. And as far as the practical section goes, It’s the best training manual available to the public I have ever seen. There is nothing better than Initiation into Hermetics for basic legit magical training.

Remember training is a full time job (or at least should be worked as a part time job, obviously more training is better than less)

Don’t skip steps or move on to the next step before mastering the one you’re on. This is a very results based training guide so you’ll know when you have achieved what you’re supposed to. It’s very very hard training, but it’s all legit. If you do it right, you’ll come out of the other side a true witch.

But remember unless you dedicate yourself to your training, all you’ve bought is a paperweight.

If you want a good training guide, I recommend Initiation into Hermetics . It’s the best training manual available to the public I have ever seen. There is nothing better than Initiation into Hermetics for basic legit magical training.

Remember training is a full time job (or at least should be worked as a part time job, obviously more training is better than less)

Don’t skip steps or move on to the next step before mastering the one you’re on. This is a very results based training guide so you’ll know when you have achieved what you’re supposed to. It’s very very hard training, but it’s all legit. If you do it right, you’ll come out of the other side a true witch.

But remember unless you dedicate yourself to your training, all you’ve bought is a paperweight.

Additionally I’ll recommend a fantasy series to you. It’s called “The Mists of Avalon”

If you want a good training guide for magic, I recommend Initiation into Hermetics . It’s the best training manual available to the public I have ever seen. There is nothing better than Initiation into Hermetics for basic legit magical training.

Remember training is a full time job (or at least should be worked as a part time job, obviously more training is better than less)

Don’t skip steps or move on to the next step before mastering the one you’re on. This is a very results based training guide so you’ll know when you have achieved what you’re supposed to. It’s very very hard training, but it’s all legit. If you do it right, you’ll come out of the other side a true witch.

But remember unless you dedicate yourself to your training, all you’ve bought is a paperweight.

Buy some books on the subject, Is recommend some history books on the subject rather than book that have spells and what not. I bought the big blue which is a work book that goes over everything in general and it has been very helpful thus far.

https://www.amazon.com/Bucklands-Complete-Witchcraft-Llewellyns-Practical/dp/0875420508

I'm relatively new to magick so I hope that other more experienced practitioners will comment on this and correct me if I'm wrong.

If I were you, I would read Magickal Protection by Damon Brand and do the "cancel a curse or supernatural attack" spell.

Miriam Lichtheim's Ancient Egyptian Literature is a must-have for anyone interested in the culture. It's a collection of English translations of texts from all the periods of Egyptian history, and while reading later summaries, commentaries, and analyses is fine, all good scholarship includes primary sources. Short of learning to read hieroglyphics, this is the next best thing.

The original publication was in three volumes (Vol. I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms, Vol II: The New Kingdom, and Vol. III: The Late Period), but it looks like the latest edition has them all in one volume.

Raymond Faulkner and Ogden Goelet's <em>The Egyptian Book of the Dead</em> is another great addition to a library. It's an English translation of the Papyrus of Ani with full-color reproductions of the papyrus.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0877289190/

"A male child of perfect innocence and high intelligence is the most satisfactory and suitable victim."

It wasn't a metaphor.

Yeah, from my point of view, CE5 is basically calling ‘stuff’ to physical manifestation. I think it’s dangerous because you are mostly aiming for whatever to come and show itself.

What will come will be largely influenced by your internal state and expectations. So if you think a blood moon can be dangerous, even subconsciously, you increase the risk of getting something nasty.

Practice loving kindness meditation for a while first. When you think you are doing that well, try it.

But you should definitely also learn to banish and protect yourself if things go sideways. The most effective and simple stuff would be the Sword Banishing from the GoM: https://www.amazon.com/Magickal-Protection-Against-Bullies-Violence/dp/1508842787/

Overall, I think it’s much, much wiser and safer to call on specific entities in a classic occult context and methods, rather than doing the equivalent on standing on a street corner and shouting ’Who wants to be friend?’.

Also note that aiming directly for physical manifestation can be dangerous because it’s strongly ontologically shocking.

I agree here. The first step is consider common sense, rather than jump to the most magickal answer possible. I am sorry your partner was unfaithful, of course. Best to cut em loose and move on.

Now after the common sense part we move to the next consideration. Without out sounding to snooty (due to my Ceremonial/High Magick preference) I would consider a banishing ritual prior and post to what your doing. If, of course, you're not already doing that. It's always best to spend sometime cleaning your energy, aura, or how ever you would personally define it. Wiccans have grounding rituals and also use, or have variations of the LBRP. I would strongly look into that. I'll post a link.

Also consider Damon Brand's book Magickal Protection: Defend Against Curses, Gossip, Bullies, Thieves, Demonic Forces, Violence, Threats and Psychic Attack (The Gallery of Magick). You can find that here: Magickal Protection link

Your emotions during workings can be very important as well. When you journal note how your emotional state is and over time you can find out what your emotions can tell you about your magickal effectiveness. Even the weather can have an affect on how your ritual is going to work out. Some people do their best magick pissed off during a thunderstorm. Some do well happy on nice snowy day. You have to find those combinations.

Before your next spell maybe try some meditation as well. Control of the breath and mind can go along way to helping us "disconnect" with any harmful emotions that can mess a working up.

Best of luck to you!

Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram - LBRP Link

They’re really awesome and he’s really credibly funny! Look into his chicken Qabalah books 😂

https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Qabalah-Rabbi-Lamed-Clifford/dp/1578632153

https://www.amazon.com/Son-Chicken-Qabalah-Cliffords-Practical/dp/1578636159

These appear to be based on outdated translations (Farangi, in particular, is using Budge. Who was good in his day, but now effectively useless for Egyptologists).

Based on the revised edition of The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Faulkner and Goelet, Jr), the translation is closer to "my name has not reached the offices of those who control slaves" (p. 129). In this case, the deceased has not become embroiled in any dispute or issue relating to property, specifically captive labourers.

The Papyrus of Ani, one of the most famous copies of the Book of the Dead is a good start.

https://www.amazon.com/Egyptian-Book-Dead-Integrated-Full-Color/dp/1452144389/

The deceased travels through the underworld, through a hall filled with gates and rooms, through a judgment hall, across the sky, and into the western lands.