Nine Days to the Knight

Evocation Time

Most folks didn’t hear from me the past 9 days, or seemed "removed" due to the fact that I was preparing for another Goetic evocation. I decided to evoke the Knight again and see what I might be able to further learn from him. My evocations get increasingly better with each round and I’m hoping this is any area I come to “perfect” one day, if there is such a thing. AS most know who read my blog, I’m mostly only interested to evocation to full visual and auditory presence concerning the Ars Goetia of the Lemegeton.

It’s always interesting undergoing this ritualistic purification time. The whole magical act from retreat, abstaining and fasting, to building and preparing all the magical equipment is a noteworthy magical act in and of itself. I must admit, the nine days aren’t exactly easy for me and I find all sorts of circumstances arise when I have my mind set on focusing solely on magical ritual. As I do not have the luxury to remove myself to some solitary cabin in the woods or magician’s hermitage, I have to make do with moderating my day to day life with magical intrigue.  Determined to not be distracted, trying to be “holy”, and immediately cease various habits and ways of thinking can be difficult as the days and hours role on. It seems certain spirits put further tests in your way to challenge your resolve and determination.  Regardless, I refreshed my memory to recite the conjurations from heart and reconnected my will to come into alignment with the art.

For this evocation, I decided to borrow my close friend’s garage, as he lived just behind me and his family was not using it for anything for the time being. It had just enough room to do my operation and I thought I could make it work perfectly. In this time I constructed a new parchment hexagram, had a standing iron brazier or chafing dish, custom made. I also tried a few other experiments like Asterion Mage’s consecration and 9 day blessing ritual for the Hyssop oil for anointing my eyes and brows with; a very suitable and worthwhile exercise by my appraisal.

I must say I was fairly pleased with how everything was coming together and the new methods I was learning.

new hexagram design

Halfway through my days of purification, I became a bit worried as the garage needed to be tidied up and I was running out of time for getting it ready. Luckily, my friend and his family and I all came together and got it prepared in the nick of time. The very next day I decided to bless the “temple” space by doing an impromptu ritual which Dr. Lisiewski recommends in His HOWLINGS From THE PIT book. It involves taking 9 white unscented candles and placing them in the area of the 9 foot circle and during an aspersion ritual with holy water and prayers.   I also did some intense Middle Pillar type exercises and I incensed the entire chamber with church incense. For a closing, I decided to use the “Benediction of the Place” found in Ars Notoria: The Notory Art of Solomon:

The Benediction of the place.

“Blesse Oh Lord this place, that there may be in it Holy Sanctity, chastity, meekness, victory, holiness, humility, goodness, plenty, obedience of the Law, to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; Hear Oh Lord, holy Father, Almighty eternal God; and send thy Holy Angel Michael, who may protect, keep, preserve and visit me, dwelling in this Tabernacle, by him who liveth, &c”

.

 It was nice to see how much the atmosphere of a place could be changed after performing that work.

The Sunday before my operation I attended a local Catholic Church for Mass and received the Eucharist and underwent confession and gathered some holy water as well as stocking up on some more baptismal water which has come in handy.  I attended Mass once again, the day before my ritual and received communion one more time before undergoing my operation. The acknowledgement to the Catholic faith and ritual has been pleasant and interesting although I was not raised Catholic and the religion still feels somewhat foreign. I respect and acknowledge it for the origin of the magicians of the grimories among other things. I also became very aware of the passion for which the prayers can alter one’s consciousness when said with honest integrity and an open heart. Much of what their about use to seem completely outdated and somewhat disagreeable in ways but I found myself really reaching beyond the bare letters to what they desire:  Connection to divinity.

My operation was to begin at the twilight before Dawn which was about 5:1`8 am. The night before I went to bed early to get a bit of rest and ended up rising at 3:30 am for my ritual bath, prayer, and meditation before the ceremony. I then dressed in my white linen undergarments which consist of pants and a shirt of linen over my under-under garments. I loaded up the rest of my small important gear in the car and headed over to my friends long before the sun was up. No one was around and I appreciated the silence. My friend had given me the key to the garage to make sure it was secure, which I was happy about, since my circle tarp, candle sticks, altar table, and a few other important ritual equipment had been brought there the night before to make everything ready. Upon arriving in the garage/temple I arranged all the major furniture and folded my vestments and linen vesture in a neat pile near one wall. 

  I readied all the equipment through the chamber and lit the coals to have them ready by the time I began the invocations. 
   I owe a lot of success and the particulars of my methods of conjurations to Mr. J.K (Imperial Arts) whom I’ve molded my efforts of Goetic workings after. He mentions in his writings that he does not fill the room with incense smoke but rather gives it as an offering to the spirit AFTER its arrival. I haven’t quite been able to pull this method off and I vouched to incense the room thoroughly before evocation from the indication that the smoke does seem to have some correlation to the spirit forming its ethereal body and also from the Goetia’s direct quote which states: 

“The other materialls is [are] a sceptre or sword; a miter or cap, a long white Robe of Linnen, with shoes and other Clothes for y^e purpose also a girdle of Lyons skin 3 Inches broad, with all the names about it as is about the uttermost round [part of the] Circle, & also perfumes and a chafin [chafing] dish of Charcoles kindled to put the fumes into; to smoke or perfume y^ee place appointed for action. also annoynting oyles to anoynt y^r Temples & Eyes w^th; & fair water to wash y^rselves in. & in so doeing y^u are to say as david said (viz)”  (Bold mine)

Here it sates the ritual area is intended to be incensed and smoked in and by itself, as a matter of course and before the actual evocation.

The main beeswax candle that made the holy lamp for my altar was lit first. ( if you plan on reading ANYTHING or writing down the spirit’s remarks or recalling questions, etc. you will NEED a light of some sort when doing evocations at night). It was pitch black in those early hours and the KoS style candle was an essential, practical item. (The 4 outer candles didn't quite cut it) I took a moment to connect to the divine in order to “get out of my own way” enough to let the bliss take over as I spoke. I’m still working on this but each time gets better.  was impressed by how well I actually remember the lengthy conjurations though and never tripped up once after reciting each a few times.

The conjurations took quite a few recitations to bring any sense of the spirit’s arrival around. During this time it can be extremely difficult not to let feelings of doubt and despair creep in. 

When the atmosphere finally changed, and by changed I mean the walls where the spirit was to appear sort of blacked out and seemed to vanish without any discernible parameters. I started seeing small sparks or rather small flashes of colored lights and a few streaks in my peripheral vision and the incense smoke seemed to condense into a thick wall. I was a bit confused however as the glowing smoke that seemed to collect near the triangle did not form the spirit as I expected it to.  At first the spirit seemed hesitant to arrive as if something was keeping it from fully arriving. After a time though I noticed a large shadow on the wall that came into sharper view and the shadow seemed to become more and more discernible as the seconds went on. I simply stood there staring at it as it did so. It looked as if it simply came off the wall and formed itself into three-dimensional space. The image, which at first was a dark silhouette, became an apparition of an aged knight riding a rather large horse. By “large”, I suppose I mean that it was life size and took up the whole wall of the chamber.  I guess I expect them to sometimes be more compacted and to scale of the triangle. It appeared as an apparition not like in the sense that I could see through it, but that it appeared as if I was looking through a thick fog or smoke at it (which in actuality I was, the Myrrh incense was pretty abundant through the room).

The knight Furcas  could be seen in profile and looked a lot younger and healthier than I remembered seeing it the first time. It/he sill had the long white beard and stern look but with more vigor in his face than before. The weapon thing he held in his right hand in a downward slant was an uneven, two pointed looking spear which I had not seen in the physical world anywhere (and I know my weapons). He regarded me with a brooding stern, yet patient expression and simply waited. I gave the Address, removing my new parchment eight inch “card” hexagram from a linen pouch I made to hang from my lion belt and held it up before the spirit.  At that time the knight dismounted and stood nearer to me within the triangle. I set the hexagram in front of my altar lantern and noticed how the glow of the altar lamp seemed to glow through the parchment so it could clearly be seen by the spirit in vivid detail.

I had chosen to contact him again after consideration furthering my progress with spirit contact and interaction and also at the suggestion of my magical colleague and goetic mentor, Mr. J.K. (Imperial Arts). A sheet of questions and a separate sheet for the charges were written out with a veritable sheep skin parchment seal that would be used for the contract, or if things got disagreeable, to be placed in the black box with sulfur and asafoetida. 

Taken probably 6 minutes after the ceremony's close

I had difficulty hearing the spirit’s reply’s to my questions and what it said to me despite asking it to “speak clearer and louder” which after a while I took to be some fault of my own. The spirit also seemed somewhat restless and I saw the darkened windows begin to gray with the approach of dawn before I knew it and found myself running out of time. I issued my charge to it regardless, the full contents of which I am keeping to myself. It seemed agreeable to the terms although I cannot say I feel completely satisfied with the clarity of the exchange. As it grew lighter I felt the atmosphere almost lifting on its own accord so I recited the license to depart and waited until the garage became, just an empty garage once more. I knelt before the table in the circle and opened my handwritten copy of the Goetic prayers and invocations to where I recorded

The Conclusion of the whole work, and Confirmation of the Science obtained.

“Oh God, Maker of all things; who hast created all things out of nothing; who hast wonderfully created the Heaven and Earth, and all things by degrees in order, in the beginning, with thy Son, by whom all things are made, and into whom all things shall at last return: Who art Alpha and Omega: I beseech thee though a sinner, & unworthy, that I may attain to my desired end in this Holy Art, speedily, and not lose the same by my sins; but do good unto [110] me, according to thy unspeakable mercy: who doth not to us after our sins, nor rewardeth us after our iniquities, Amen.”

This prayer is actually intended for the exercises and prayers of the “Ars Notoria: The Notory Art of Solomon” but it seemed fitting to add for my thanks for giving completed a goetic evocation to a degree and not being turned into ash or something. I also offered a prayer for my gratitude in being able to perform the rite. I packed up my ritual attire, feeling that the operation went well considering but still had a long way to go before I had any sense of mastery over this art. It was probably more humbling than anything but I did not have any precognitive feelings of dread or disorder thinking that the spirit had gained some sort of upper hand or something.

Taken soon after my completed ritual with my phone. I use the compass app to set my directions as accurately as I can.

With study and practice over the years, the Goetia, as given in the Lemegeton has really seemed like an “updated” operation from a magus who was intimately familiar and initially well versed in the versions from the Key of Solomon and also the Heptameron. With obvious connections between the three, the inclusion of the Goetic spirit seals, increased measures of protections like the Solomonic ring and notable lion skin belt of names, this magician seemed to procure have more of a buffer zone between the spirit’s influences and himself than given in the two aforementioned arts. In my view, these inclusions and modifications were made by a magician(s) who took the lot of their experience and knowledge from other sources to make it into a unique, albeit personal, workable art. 

A Journey into Fire

A few weeks ago I offered a few close friends (who were willing) a chance to experience the sensation of true astral projection and exploration in the astral planes. The first person to volunteer was a gifted seer, veritable Druid in the Celtic path, and long time friend.

 In the two experiments given bellow I was lucky enough to have a partner who had been developing his spiritual sight and practice consistently for many years. That is to say his dedication for daily meditations, rituals, and following his path is impressive by anyone’s standards. We had known each other for over a decade and working together was quite easy and productive.

 My method for inducing the effects for astral projection is to have the subject experience the deepest level of trance and relaxation as they are able and to physically experience the notable effects of pre-astral travel before the actual experience occurs. They are led to feel the quick vibrational hum of the energy moving about them, the experience of rocking or spinning, loosing sense of direction and gravity, and the sensation of lifting out of their body.

 This was the first experiment I did with him to experience the astral plane. His record is below:

"First the sensation of rising was gentle but palpable. I was very aware of Fra. Ashen's voice during the entire experience. Before leaving the room, which I could not see very well, I was suddenly rising through the floor of a hospital room in the midst of a surrounding privacy curtains, around a bed that contained a man whose face was in very bad shape, bloody, swollen, he looked to be completely unaware, the vision quickly faded and I was back rising through the roof of the house.
Sense of relaxation was very intense now, the vastness of the blue sky was high, very high above me. I saw for a moment a bird, a black bird, crow or raven flying above me. Again that vision faded and I was back in a dark relaxed state with lights moving before my vision. Moving into space was unsettling, but not dibilitatingly so. The light grew before me and as I moved into it ti was totally encompassing. Again there was a brief vision of a room, totally white, like light infused cream, with table and chairs also white. Again this faded but the feeling of the room was still there.
As Fra. Ashen directed me to see a guide a face appeared before me, very androgynous in appearance, but beautiful and kind in a stoic way. There were not words exchanged at first only impressions. Impression of frequent visitations by his kind to our planet, conveyed with some humor but some gravity. Felt his energy encompass me, almost like wings, an energy exchange or communication, perhaps both.
When I asked how I could easily contact him he pointed to my forehead and heart and said, “Through these places.” Strong impression of needing to work closely with the Operator. When I asked his name there seemed to be a moment of consideration on his part. Impression he had many, eventually he said, (name was given but am omitting it for blog). As I was returning, I saw a very detailed vision of a long rod of aquamarine filled with energy, and pearlized light. Coming back was very comforting and the feeling or dropping back in was not bad in anyway, like a feather falling on a windless day."

Elemental planes. 

This was an exciting proposal for me as it allowed me to recreate magical practices I had delved into during the earlier parts of my magical training and discovery while sharing it with others in a dynamic way. My early foundations for ritual/ceremonial magic were based upon these certain principles and it seemed more than appropriate to come full circle and acknowledge just how much my abilities and methods have matured over the years. In this sense, the practices as well as my magical tools have undergone quite a metamorphosis to encompass my understanding and experience as it has developed.

Hypnosis used with the effects of the “Magician’s Voice” to draw others into a shared mystical  experience has been a great tool.  I find that if I can just “get the person there”,  the rest of the ceremony will follow suit without me having to paint the picture of what things “should” be like. The person experiences what they will all on their own with their own perceptions.

I construct the ritual by utilizing my formula for astral projection coupled with the portal opening invocations by the “Opening by Watchtower” – In this instance, specifically for the Fire element.  I assist others to experience the realm of fire and the beings which inhabit it. The traveler will is seated within a magically concreted circle facing the south while gazing at a large, and specifically made fire Tatwaa board. I have them stare at the symbol while taking them through some breathing and deepening exercises. Post hypnotic suggestions are placed to take them into a deep state of mind and form a strong bond with the symbol they are gazing at.

The experience below was again done with the same friend and magical coworker I mentioned above. We have continued to work together and have been vastly enjoying the results and benefits of every operation.

After the chants have been said and invoking done with my fire wand, the subject forms  a strong astral connection to the symbol or Tattwa. I will help deepen the level of focus and assist with the ability to project through the tatwaa as a doorway to the Fire realm. – Sound like fun?

FIRE ELMENTAL REALM EXPERIENCE

My magical chamber is set up with TRITHEMIUS circle. An altar was set to the South coverd a scarlet silk covering. My fire wand, a brass censor, fire incense, and candles, as well as few other fire element corresponding symbols are all placed on the altar. my personalized Fire altar tablet with additional Tejas tattwa card are set outside of the circle directly in front of the seated subject. A large “portal mirror” acts as the stand and resting doorway for the tablet and Tattwa card. The subject sits in a comfortable chair and is seated directly behind the altar, placed within the circle facing south. Fire signs drawn over subject’s third eye with fire wand and fire sign portal (upside down V) drawn on his third eye with consecrated fire oil (the likeness to Oil of Abramelin)

As the subject contuse to deepen and star at the fire card, I begin the peremptory and traditional LBRP

Light trance induced where I had him begin to stare at the tattwa card and focus his gaze on it as lit all the red candles and placed fire incense on the censor. I then raise the fire wand in my hand and perform the Opening by watchtower, “And When after all the phantoms are banished, thou shalt see that Holy and Formless Fire! That fire which darts and flashes through the hidden depths of the universe. Hear thou, the voice of fire!” I thrust my fire wand three times toward the tablet, plus symbols of the realm of fire, then an invoking pentagram of fire with the fire Kerub) within the center. Strong, focused intentions are directed toward opening the astral door way to the realm of fire through the tablet. I intone with vigor, “OIP TEAA PEDOCE”, and point my fire wand at the center and intone ELOHIM.  “In the names and letters of the great Southern Quadrangle, I Invoke ye, ye angels of the Watchtower of the South!”

Energies in circle and room immediately change as I turn to the scryer/subject and guide him to astral travel state as he continues to stare, I find the right time and have him close his eyes, knowing he’s able to see the inverse tattwa image on his retina…

..With a successive count from 10 down to one, I suggest the Tattwa image growing larger and larger and him being drawn like a magnet toward it. It continues to move closer and grow larger till it become the size of a door way. With a focused breath of release of astral momentum, I could sense the scryer’s energy move out toward the south and fire tablet. At this Point I chanted the Divine name: Yhvh Tzabaoth followed by Archangel: Michael, and Angel: Aral. Further suggestions of allowing images and sense to become acute and experience the Fire elemental plane were given… then I remained still to sense the experiences myself.

Scyer’s Experience:

“As Fra. Ashen’s voice began to direct me through the tattwa I could easily see the reversal of color of the red and green. The doorway being green through my logical associations with color and put them aside and let the experience be. Stepping through the triangle, it lead me into foliage, seeing pulses of light zipping through leaves, vines, and branches. The idea of communicating life force was very evident, in green life. At his point my vision faded out again and I could not see. The I was able to barely see a city formed of shining brass and black and red marble, towers and spinnerets of shining gold, and above it all a great burning presence life suns next to one another and overpowering in light and heat. This was when Fra. Ashen invoked the Archangel Michael. There was so much movement, and I am such a terrible multitasker that it was hard to follow the beings the flashed and moved everywhere, with such rapidity of motion and speed that it took me a long time to get my bearings in all the chaos.

I had to shut my sight down for a few seconds and ask for a being to stop and converse with me. As my vision returned I saw only a face of flame very intent on me. When I asked his name and who he was he cried out “EFREET!!!” Raising his arms and suddenly the scene behind came flooding into vision. A red plain of smooth lave and on the lava sat thousands of brass vases and out of the vases shot pillars of thin fire straight in to the sky. Where the fires touched the ether, above them formed stars, thousands of them.

The Efreet spoke of purification and that it was that energy that connected it with water. It said that healers must bring the presence of fire with them when healing to burn away what was most harmful and unneeded. He talked of connecting into the fire to energize and push through obstacles, it’s energy linked to all four of the forces that fuse the golden key. That fire had many forms some cooling, destructive, purifying, but all was passionate energy.”

The session was concluded by a hypnotic command to do an about face and once again see the astral door way of the fire Tattwa in front of him (the Scryer) and have him once again step through the portal back into the room, a quick 1 to 10 count was given and a Closing by Watchtower of the fire portal was done with a banishing pentagram of fire drawn over. No LBRP was done and the room remained ENERGIZED for a time…… Very positive and amazing energy flowed through both of us the entire reminder of the day and evening. After the operation, I left to run 3 miles and teach my martial arts class with plenty of energy left to burn!

HERE COMES THE SUN! …do do do do

A Sun alignment NO magician would want to miss!

                 Sun20 -Leo-19'46"

TALISMANS FOR SALE!!  LEO’s you Don’t Want to miss this!

A student of mine who is currently undergoing the complete process for DSIC made me aware of a VERY potent Sun election which occurred today at Sunrise. Naturally this was an opportunity I could not miss!

Under the same process of Drawing Spirits into Crystals, I got in contact with archangel Michael and subordinate solar spirits and angels. In crafting these rare talismans, formulas were utilized (sufumigation blends and Invocations) from the Veritable Key of Solomon by Stephen Skinner and David Rankine.  The talismans which I created are some VERY potent Sun talismans, using authentic calf parchment paper, some regular parchment paper, and very last of my LION SKIN. I wasn't able to spend time on exact detail as I was working within the Sun's time frame and with the limited consecrated tools I had with me in the circle.

I awoke early, a good half-hour before the first hour of the Sun and took a ritualized shower and headed downstairs to my magical room. I prepared everything within my circle, blending the Sun incenses/sufumigations together, prepared the ink, colors, and materials I would be using. The following seals are what I constructed within the hour to the best of my ability and materials I had with me. I must say I’m quite pleased by what I was able to turn out and the utter potency of  these seals were filled with during the ritual. Bright was my chamber, and warm as if the sun had peeked through the very roof and floors of my house. I felt St. Michael present as well as other solar energies as I focused my work and called them to consecrate my talismans.  The invocations used were based from the VKoS  with my added intentions and are given below:

Incense of the Sun on lion skin

Some of the material I was working with

Prayer for Sunday from the Veritable Key of Solomon

“Lord Adonai, who has shaped a lowly sinner in your image and resemblance, from base and abject clay and earth, to initiate him for the remainder of time into the deep knowledge of your ineffable wonders, deign by the virtue of the Holy Names, which you made your servant Moses write on the Mystical Tables, to bless and sanctify all my Operations and ventures. O Arabonas, Jerablem, Jodadae, Zophiel, Eloy, Abraxas.”

Invocation for Sunday from the Veritable Key of Solomon

From the VKosS

“Come, Heavenly Spirits, who are bright and resplendent with the rays of the Sun. Luminous Spirits, who are most prompt to obey the powerful voice of the great and wondrous Tetragrammaton, come to assist me in my Operation, which I undertake under auspices of the torch of the day, which our Creator has created for the use of all Nature. I invoke you to this purpose, to bless, empower, and consecrate materials and these seals which I will craft during this most potent hour, indulge me and come to my entreaties, which I make to you in the name of Him, who has desired to bear the glorious titles of Amoriam, Adonai, Sabaoth.”

Conjuration of Sunday from the Veritable Key of Solomon

“Oh happy spirits, who have been created to look at the face of Him, who is seated upon the Cherubim; I conjure you, Spirits, full of power, in the names of Sadai, Kadosh, Phah, Zaraye, Elohim, by the name of the first light, which is the Sun, that you come and contribute to the happy success of the Operation I am undertaking. I conjure you anew, that you use your virtue and power to separate the evil-doing spirits, who may detract from the benign influences of my work. I repeat my Conjuration by the virtue of the Divine Names, Abaye, Radiel, Caracasa, Amadeyel.”

Description of the Pentacles from the Veritable Key of Solomon

Pentacles and Talismans For Sunday under the Sun for Honors and Riches

Intuitive Lion Skin LEO Talisman showing front and reverse side with hair

Sun Talisman Showing Solar King, sun, symbol, and lion on LION skin

Showing King Talisman above and Archangel Michael sigil on Lion skin below
-Bottom SOLD

Sun Talisman on lion skin

Close up of Archangel Michael Sigil on Lion skin
-SOLD-

Sun Talisman on calf parchment paper vellum from the VKoS
"For Honors and Dignities For Sunday under the Sun."

Sun Talisman on calf parchment paper vellum from the VKos
 "For Honors and Riches For Sunday under the Sun."
2nd version

Sun Talisman on calf parchment paper vellum from the VKos
"For Honors and Riches For Sunday under the Sun."
1st version

Sun Talisman on calf parchment paper vellum from the VKos
"At the sight of this Pentacle all Spirits will obey For Sunday under the Sun."

Sun talisman from intuition showing Sun, Michael in Hebrew
 Leo sign surrounded by Sun sigils of Great and moderate fortune

REVERSE of Sun talisman from intuition showing Sun, Michael in Hebrew
 Sun Character sign surrounded by Sun sigils of  intelligence and daemon

Lion skin Solar talismans are $85.00

Calf skin parchment/vellum talismans are $65.00

Paper parchment talismans are $36.00

I had a tremendously prosperous magical undertaking this morning and I hope other magicians did as well. :) These seals could not have been created at a better time! I'm looking forward to seeing how the ones I am keeping for myself are going to work! Anyone who needs a little profitable "sunshine" in their lives will certainly benefit from these. I would love to hear feed back from those who obtain these.

 

I took a brief recess from intense magical workings these past few months, with moderate workings, research, and meditations keeping me in the flow. Luckily, with obvious signs boosting me back toward another round of evocations, magical journeys, and discoveries, I have reignited my passion for specific spiritual exploits and intense grimoric undertakings.

A few months ago, I butted heads with a few respected magicians who I have come to call respected acquaintances more so than simply colleagues. The issue arose when I became disheartened after I read so many magicians downplaying the effects and purpose of the so called “physical manifestation” phenomena which occurs during classical evocation of spirits. At first, many of the arguments were based on semantics where the word “physical” should have obviously been replaced with “visual” as I have yet to read where any magician is convinced that the spirit actually takes on “physical/tangible” form. It may refer also to the actual PHYSICAL effects the spirit or conjuration ceremony has on the physical environment: poltergeist activity, banging on walls, flashes of light, winds in a sealed room, etc.  However the phrase most likely is meant to dictate that the spirit looks solid as if indeed, a physical being was standing before you in the room.   

My arguments for the support of and importance of this type of conjuration have already been expressed in a previous posting. My reasons for brining it up again are not to reiterate old arguments but to express a realization I had during contemplation and meditation of my previous experiences and also determination to continue performing these types of rituals.  I really feel that spiritual evocation in this particular fashion is at the Height of magical aptitude for a truly gifted adept. One I’m determined to perfect to the best of my ability. It is not simply another method in the wide array of magical undertakings.  It is not the completed end to means either, but certainly one of the most powerful feats afforded to the western Magus. Allow me to expound on this further:

  When done properly, a ceremonial magician engages their highest potential of personal power and will to effectively pull a non-corporeal entity into/onto the physical word and actively engaging it in visual and auditory conversation. Granted, there seems to be a measure of mental and spiritual exaltation involved for the operator to be able to fully behold the spirit, ( meeting it part way) but the effect is second to none, scans complete and utter possession which is not a personal pursuit of mine.

Arguments about the grimorical importance of classical magicians calling spirits to full blown visual appearance were thrown about as if the textual proof was the final say on the matter. Fortunately (or not) that discussion is solely for magical scholars and researchers who have not experienced the event first hand.  I dare say that every successful magician who has achieved this outcome. ( I know of three that I believe have achieved it) will argue that there is no comparison between evocation to “physical  manifestation” and “other forms of spiritual contact” . The event takes quite a great deal of energy and preparation to perform successfully and furthermore, ability to actually bring it about. 

The above realization was made more concrete after years of failure, half-successful attempts and disillusioned acceptances of other modified forms of spirit contact. Luckily never settling for "good enough", i pressed on. Magic in and of itself is multifaceted, stretching across countless measures and methods, cultural and religious filters for achieving a multitude of ends. However, the degree to which those actions produced effects in the physical world, and to witch degree you can observe and objectively experience these workings are debatable.  Evocation, of what I deem a traditional way hits on multiple aspects of Adepthood despite the intense phenomena which occur as result of a successful operation.

   The very time it takes to learn the ritual by heart, create and collect all the necessary and typically rare items, plan out and perform the entire ritual correctly, and work through the rigorous purification process before performing the actual evocation, is a testament to the ability, discipline, willpower, determination, and tenacity of not only the magician, but to to the validity of the ritual. Very few  magical workings can attest to achieving so many dynamic spiritual paradigms . Indeed, few magicians have the desire, or means to even carry out such a task.  It is typically the magicians who never try are the same  magicians who scoff heaviest at such “purest ideals".

Another reason why I place SO much emphasis on this type of practice is that it a veritable MAGICAL TEST unlike any another. It might be comparative to a full fledged ring fight after years of training, conditioning and working your ass off. You only know if you GOT WHAT IT TAKES, when your finally in the ring (or circle as it were) For the Olympic athlete who dedicates their life to being the best at what they do, the chance to prove themselves at the games is an opportunity of a life time.  There are not many TESTS a magician can put themselves to. How do you REALLY gauge proficiency and level of achievement? If you’re a comfy New Ager, you’ll stick with the folks that assure you that “whatever you do will be fine and that of COURSE your magic/spell worked! Just maybe not how you thought.”

All too often, magicians get swept away in the fluffy, “everyone’s right” and “of course you are powerful” flimflam of the modern, overweight-sloppy, pagan movement which is an embarrassment to the magical community as I view it.

This is not to come off as insulting or even “superior” to others. Far from it, these standards are what I hold myself to. If you find yourself insulted, you may what to ask “why”?

 Look, anyone who claims personal power of any degree and leads and unhealthy and unsuccessful lifestyle does NOT have any powerful effect over the real world ( let alone…themselves).  Quite the opposite in fact, most likely they are being consumed by their own disillusioned fantasies and personal justifications. As within so without guys, the circumstances don’t lie.  These types of people have NO REAL MAGICAL POWERS TO SPEAK of.  –Period- I have little regard for the se types of people, and pay no heed when they try to “inform” me of their particular magical quality. I take these hard truths under account myself and see OBVIOUS areas where I need improvement. If I don’t look hard enough at myself, I find myself coming up with self-justifications and excuses….a poor road to magic and development.

SO back to evocation:  Here is my gauge for my magical development since it is extremely difficult in the textual sense. Difficult not only to produce the intended result of “physical manifestation/appearance” but to keep a level head during the entire rite, to stand sometimes over an hour after having fasting and preparing, all the while taking notes and trying to record exactly what the spirit is telling me, word for word without falsely interpreting it. I do this all while trying to maintain a very exalted state of mind/being.

The magic is not just “In the results” guys! It’s just part of the whole process. Since my purpose for magic is not just to get that extra money, extra, influence, power, protection or what have you, its in the very action in and of itself. The “how”. I may be an energy or experience junkie, but this is what fuels me in ceremonial magic; the whole big KABOOM, beginning to end, the intense experience and follow up. If given the choice, I would NOT elect to skip the dramatics and just get to “what I want”. To me that would be missing the whole point.. I realize others don’t feel this way and that is fine. I don’t mean to push my methods on others, just express the passion behind my own. Occult knowledge is not solely gained from the spirit, but from the performance of the evocation itself.

SO needless to say, I am relatively unconcerned with most modern and abridged forms of magical workings and pay them and the magicians who practice them little mind.Granted, a point I agree with is that the physical items and strict ceremonies will not be as necessary as experience and understanding increase. However, I feel this is a justification many people jump to way to early without first really achieving the results I mentioned before.

ON ANOTHER NOTE>…….

Recently a new influx of magical workings and possibilities has been on the table and I’ve been passionately pursuing old passions and abilities. Despite my primary passion for Ceremonial magic in spiritual evocation, I’m once again exploring the astral worlds by heading there myself…..and taking others with me.

When I was fifteen years of age, I learned how to hypnotize people after reading an article about it and trying it out on a close friend. Soon afterword I was hypnotizing my immediate family and close friends. One method which has been quite successful has been assisting others to astral project while under a deep state of hypnosis. So successful was the method that my father who at the time was the biggest skeptic and attributed the phenomena to heightened imagination, came awake shocked after feeling the literal and very real effects of lifting out of his body.

Some experiments are set in place to conduct purposeful projection to locations of the physical nature and then not so physical nature. The purpose: For beginners, it will be a shared knowledge of experience and experimentation…then, who knows. Already, a close friend and magical colleague has experienced a tremendous voyage while having an out of body experience...