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- A
-
- STUDY GUIDE
-
- FOR
-
- MAGICK
-
- IN
-
- THEORY AND PRACTICE
-
-
-
- by
-
-
-
- BILL HEIDRICK
-
- Copyright ⌐ 1977 by Ordo Templi Orientis
- Reprinted from Issue 2, Volume 1 of the O.T.O. Newsletter.
-
- `
-
-
- Since we will have only one meeting of the Magick in Theory and Practice
- class this month, owing to the finish-up of the Rites of Eleusis, I thought
- it would be a good idea to provide this study guide for the book. I
- originally wrote most of it back in ╘77 e.v. for the second issue of the old
- O.T.O. Newsletter. Enjoy. -Wm. Heidrick
-
- Note that the chapters of Magick in Theory and Practice are numbered to match
- the Tarot Trumps or Atus. This can be something of a help in understanding
- the why and what of Crowleys writing. There are many footnotes and references
- throughout the book, and most of these can be ignored on a first or second
- reading. One particular exception, the matter of the letter F: This letter is
- sometimes the Hebrew letter Vau. Watch for it in formulas especially.
-
- In addition to several other aids, the reader of Magick in Theory and Practice
- will be better armed for the fray with a copy of Magick Without Tears (not the
- Motta pirate edition, despite his assurances to the contrary, the book was
- significantly altered by Motta. The Falcon Press is going under contract to
- O.T.O., at last report, and is Regardies editing work). This book is composed
- of letters written by Crowley to Jayne Wolfe. These letters explain many of
- the more difficult points in Magick in Theory and Practice. Grady McMurtry
- and Karl Germer were also involved in editing and publishing the first edition
- to varying extents. Crowley assigned Grady 25% of the copyright, personally.
- There is also a slender volume sometimes published separately under the title
- Book Four. This is an introduction to the technical aspects of Magick,
- especially the physical equipment and more basic methods. Liber Aleph is also
- very useful in this study.
-
-
-
- [ 1 ]
- Magick in Theory and Practice is roughly divided into two parts: Theory and
- Practice-hence the title. This Study Guide will chiefly concern itself with
- the Theory part. Notes will be added on some of the Rituals, but they require
- a more extensive discussion than is possible here.
-
- Obviously the first thing to do with the book is to have a good look at it.
- Mark especially the diagrams of the signs at the beginning and the list of
- recommended reading found in the middle. There are additional signs and
- gestures described in the essay with Liber V vel Reguli in the latter part of
- the book. Many of these signs derive from the Order of the Golden Dawn.
- _____________________
-
-
-
- [ 2 ]
- INTRODUCTION
- This is intended to perform several functions. For a person already able to
- confront Magick without undue scepticism, it may be unecessary. For the
- beginner, it includes a psuedo-rational exposition of the Magical world-view.
- I consider this introduction to be a series of images and tropes. It is
- intended to begin an opening of the more closed minded and to trap those who
- should not study this work. Crowleys definition of Magick is here, but that
- definition seems to reduce itself to include almost any deliberate action.
- Perhaps that is not so far off.
-
- Chapter O Basic philosophy and method. This is the real introduction to
- the book. Some knowledge of Qabalah, especially the Tree of Life, is
- necessary to make sense of it. Note also that Crowley espouses a Hegelian
- concept of "Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis" in his approach. This is also
- drawn from Qabalah.
-
- Chapter I Definition of terms and fundamental advice. Learn this before
- going further. The material is relatively light. Any difficult points may
- be returned to later. Such difficulty will be more a matter of trying to
- find problems that aren't there, then it will be of confronting real
- obstacles.
-
- Chapters II - VII Magical formulas. These are mental ways of organizing
- thought and ritual. The reader will not be able to understand them perfectly
- at first. They must be perfectly understood before any of the rituals can be
- fully mastered. Each of these chapters should be studied and learned in
- sucession before any but light reading of the rest is undertaken. Crowley
- provides a minimum set of correspondence columns from Liber 777 in the latter
- half of Magick in Theory and Practice. These chapters will teach you how to
- use that material, and therefore also how to use Liber 777 to some extent.
- Thelema Lodge can still supply copies of Liber 777 to O.T.O. members for
- $1.00 + postage and for $2.00 + postage to non-members. Crowleys formulas are
- his original contribution to Magical method.
-
-
- [ 3 ]
- Chapter VIII This sets the method for the whole of the Work. It must be
- studied well. It may be studied along with Chapters II through VII without
- full mastery of the former material first.
-
- Chapter IX Basics of use of sound and general notes on working. Necessary
- for ritual, but not absolutely necessary for understanding of general theory.
- Some valuable points of philosophy are to be found here.
-
- Chapter X Method of physical action in ritual. Necessary for the rituals.
-
- Chapter XI The critical work of performing Magick rests in the
- development of the Body of Light. This chapter introduces the method and
- concept. Master the ideas here before going on. Techniques come
- later.
-
- Chapter XII Technical instruction. Not all of this material is to be
- taken literally. Those who wish to become involved in this level of working
- should proceed cautiously and with instruction from those they can accept as
- teachers. Learn before you burn. Bloody sacrifice is not all it seems.
- Some of this refers to preconception birth control. Postpartum birth
- control is murder. Don't get the two confused! When Crowley says that he has
- sacrificed a child, he means that he has diverted the act of conception to
- magical ends. (or as M. Aquino put it, "...made a wish").
-
- Chapters XIII and XIV This must be studied closely. The material here is
- of very wide application in all workings.
-
- Chapter XVI, part 1 The main point is not to take a magical Oath until
- you are ready to set the pattern for your life's work.
-
- Chapter XV Read and reread this material until it becomes an integral
- part of your thought. This is absolutely basic material and attitudinal
- orientation. You can't even disagree with it until you at least understand
- it. Until you have a working understanding on these levels, you are a
- dabbler.
-
-
-
- [ 4 ]
- Chapters XVI, part 2 and XVII This is not generally important unless you
- are going into Goætic or Solomonic style working. If you like Faust,
- this is for you!
-
- Chapter XVIII Very important. Study closely. This material is essential
- to sucessful working and control. Without the knowledge presented here, your
- Body of Light will be effectively blind and blundering.
-
- Chapter XIX Specialized work again. Study it if it appeals to your
- interest. References here are mostly to the Rites of Eleusis, and you may
- still catch some of them in the San Francisco Bay Area by the time
- you [...read this]. Dramatic ritual involving significant numbers of
- people.
-
- Chapter XX This will appear obscure at first. It is the advanced
- theory of ritual design. Without this material, one cannot understand some of
- the shorter rituals given in the rest of the book. Some of the ideas
- presented here are misleading if looked at lightly. Study of this chapter is
- especially suited to extended work of a particular sort with a Magical Journal
- or Diary. In that, you would devote extended portions of your writing to
- developing ideas presented here. Devise experiments to make them real (not
- that easy!), and restate the ideas at greater length in your own words.
-
- Chapter XXI The material here is mostly advanced philosophy or Magick.
- Some parts will appear clear on first reading. This chapter may be read
- chiefly for entertainment until one has read The Book of the Law. While the
- theory chapters of Magick in Theory and Practice are being studied, one should
- practice several rituals. Study of Appendix III on pages 245 and 246 of the
- shorter edition of the book is advised. Rituals for special attention include
- Liber E (general exercises), Liber O (especially the Lesser Pentagram
- Banishment), Liber Resh (daily). The student is advised against Liber III in
- instruction #2, the basic method is excellent; but this particular technique
- is not for most people, including the most promising students.
-
-
- [ 5 ]
- Here is a brief note on some of the rituals in the ╥Practice╙ section of the
- text.
-
- Liber Samekh Excellent for gathering magical force. Should be performed
- only in conjunction with banishing rituals or in a consecrated place. The
- injuction that no names be used unless understood perfectly may be considered
- a trope. This is re-written from a Greco-Egyptian 6th century exorcism
- ritual, and contemporary material will be found in the Leyden Papyrus (Dover
- Books sells that, as well as an inexpensive edition of Magick in Theory and
- Practice). O.T.O. published a study of this ritual and its precursors by
- Regardie in O.T.O. Newsletter #6, 1978 e.v. (out of print). Liber Samekh is
- especially useful to study with the formula chapters, as a sort of work-book
- of the method.
-
- Appendix VI: "Grimorium Sanctissimum" The Latin portion beginning
- this section. This material may be interpreted as a method for securing the
- fluids of the sex act for magical application. It is unwise to attempt this
- work without instruction, an effective Body of Light under control, and either
- someone you know well or a clean H...3 test.
-
- Liber XXV Difficult. Successful performance of this ritual may be a goal
- to set in testing your own comprehension of this book. This ritual is the
- most important for those who would seek to understand the magical nature and
- invisible working of the O.T.O. Degree initiations. By comparison of this
- ritual with its explanations to the initiation rituals received in O.T.O.,
- the initiate will be able to learn how to perform unique ritual and Magick
- for each degree in O.T.O. Such a study is a very fit object for the K of E
- &W Thesis.
-
- Liber XV This is the principle group ritual of the O.T.O. and the central
- act of worship of the Thelemic Gnostic Catholic Church. It is also a
- complete, though symbolic, presentation of the IX technique advocated by
- Crowley in his private instructions.
-
- Appendix VII, Liber HHH Mostly in the line of the Order of the Golden Dawn.
- Alteration and adaptation to circumstances is valid.
-
-
- [ 6 ]
- Liber E Very important to take up with the study of the theory sections.
-
- Liber O Golden Dawn rituals for practical working. This material
- should be relatively easy to understand and is the basis for Crowley's own
- education in ritual Magick. It is assumed knowledge for the more elaborate
- workings presented before and after it in the text. The Lesser Pentagram
- Ritual is the single most important ritual to learn in the entire body of
- Golden Dawn and Thelemic literature. The version given here sometimes carries
- a typo. Find it also in O.T.O. Newsletter #4 (available from THELEMA LODGE
- for $1.00 + postage), tape M-6 ($3.50 + postage, O.T.O. members on this one),
- and Magick and Qabalah #1 (members 50ó, non-members $1.00, both plus
- postage).
-
- Liber Astarte Very useful. It may be undertaken without reading
- the rest of the book. Because the elements in it which can kill or drive the
- practicioner mad are not generally effective until considerable progress is
- made, it is better to study this material before you know enough to get
- hurt.
-
- Liber RU Yoga instruction. Should be taken up as an independent
- practice throughout one's working and study. It furthers all efforts.
-
- Liber YOD Another item that may be considered a sort of self-proficiency
- test. Very good mental yoga when attained. It furthers all efforts. Some
- hazards for the overly determined.
-
- Liber Thisharb For very advanced working only. Do not attempt it until
- skilled in all other workings and experienced by several years of magical
- practice. It may be studied, if the temptation to pactice it can be mastered,
- at any level. The traditional hazzards of ╥sickness, insanity and an early
- death apply. Still, what's life without some fuss or other?
-
- Liber B Its value is invisible for those who are not ready to understand
- it.
-
-
- [ 7 ]
- Liber Resh Daily use by all.
-
- Liber III Excellent discipline, if the part about the razor is not taken
- rashly. Crowley must have his little joke.
-
- ________________
-
-
-
-
- Those who are more interested in A\A\ should read One Star in Sight and
- collect the library in the middle of Magick in Theory and Practice. There
- is also Liber 185, published in Regardies Gems from the Equinox. The
- original A\A\ still exists, and is reached at 418 LODGE, P.O. Box 415,
- Oroville, CA. 95965 USA. Soror M, in residence, received A\A\ membership
- directly from Jayne Wolfe, who had it directly from Crowley. Soror M. is
- also approaching her Golden Anniversary of 50 years as an O.T.O. member in a
- few years, and only one other living person can make that claim!
-
-
-
- Sage advice: If you can╒t stand going to a plastic supermarket, you are
- meditating or medicating too much. Agoraphobia is nature's way of warning
- you that your work in Magick needs a break. This is not to be confused with
- disliking plastic supermarkets or the government. That can be symptomatic of
- good, mental health. Losing function is the thing to watch out for.
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