"The proper working ritual is at the heart of the Western magical tradition." Israel Regardie.

Many people ask me "what is ceremonial magick?" "how does it work, can anyone practice it?". Well I hope to give you a basic under standing using three Ceremonial Magicians. Aleister Crowley, Israel Regardie and Gareth Knight.

First let's look at how Crowley describes it.

"Ceremonial Magic is the art of uniting the mind to a single idea. It's methods are;

1. The Holy Qabalah. Union by knowledge.

2. The Sacred Magic. Union by will.

3. The Acts of Worship. Union by love

4. The Ordeals. Union by courage.

5. The Invocations. Union through speech.

6. The Acts of Service. Union through work.

United by the Supreme method of Silence."

Well that seem's pretty clear.

Now Gareth Knight describes it thus. "Ritual or Ceremonial Magic is one of the greatest tools of occult training and work. It is, of course, work of a somewhat more advanced nature than the more generally known techniques of meditation and visualization,concentration, and physic sensitivity,.." ..... "It is discipline and method of occult practice wherein all the faculties of the student are employed in pursuit of the Great Work. The first part of occult work consists in fashioning yourself into an instrument worthy of use by the forces of Light, and the Second part is dedicated service to God and man that follows from this."

Much better isn't it?

Israel Regardie states-"Any and every exertion of the will" also he states "The result which the Magician above all else desires to accomplish is a spiritual reconstruction of his own conscious universe and incidentally that of all mankind, the greatest all conceivable changes." Regardie also points out-" The daily repetition of ritual brings about an enormous increase in psycho-spiritual sensitivity and provides essential preparation for....that state of spiritual enlightenment that is the true goal of occultist."

OK now we have an idea of what Ceremonial Magick is and how it work's. We can say that Ceremonial Magick is the Art of Spiritual Enlightenment thru Ritual work on a Daily basis's. This can be done thru Ritual Invocation as the old saying goes "Invoke and Inflame thy self often/in prayers".

Crowley explains it as-"Invoke { within/ to bring down and be come vassal} The link is the magician , other links can be used such as devices, Good for short, sudden and dramatic expansion. Invocation Ritual performed until need/ ritual is no longer needed, to call forth energy.

* enflame thy self in prayer; persistence, work thru IAO." Well you can visit the Theory and Formula site for more on the formula of IAO. It's best to in my opinion to work with a ritual that you write, after getting the basic's down. Here's some good advice.

*every magician must compose his (own) ceremony in such a manner as to produce a dramatic climax.

*Inhibition is no longer possible or even thinkable, and the whole being of the magician. No minutest atom saying nay, is irresistibly flung forth. In blinding Light amid the roar of ten thousand thunders, the union of God and Man is consummated.

* The subsequent invocations, the gradual development and materialization of the force, require no effort.

*Learn to rise on the Planes, limiting your rising to the particular symbol whose God you wish to invoke.

*Recite a mantra suitable to the God. Assume the God form of said God.

* YOUR OWN RITUALS ARE FAR BETTER THEN THE MOST POLISHED RITUALS BY SO CALLED "EXPERTS", AND PROFESSIONAL MAGICIANS.

Invocation is just one tool you can use in your Rituals. There is Evocation of Spirits. which is of a more advanced nature. Scrying,Astral travel, Ritual work with the Qabalah and Tarot. The Great Work is the Uniting of the Lower with the Higher, Of Man and God. Ceremonial Magick requires Hard work and dedication, it's not for example like candle magick, were you can just pick up a book and master it in a few day's. It is a Life Time work it requires you to make hard decisions whether to study or play. It's not for the Mentally lazy or those who want just love spell's or money spell's or to call them selves's by silly titles like "Wizard or High Sorcerer". It is the graduate school for the occult student. You will need a firm understanding in the following. Qabalah and Tarot. Mythology and History. Symbolism and Philosophy and Psychology.And of course Magick.



Books used on this site and to read;

Magick by Aleister Crowley

The Practice of Ritual Magic By Gareth Knight

The Tree of Life.

and

Ceremonial Magic By Israel Regardie



(c)copyright 2000 Ienpu.