Magical Knowledge Book I Foundations/ The Lone Practitioner

This book has lots of deep thought and execellent prose as well. This is something I would recommend on my webstore as a must have for the magician at any level.This book is like a professor's lecture; there aren't really any A-B-C instructions or steps; it is as the title states: Knowledge. I strongly agree with the thesis and theory the author presents here and know it to be true because I have experienced many of the things she has described.This book is veryb modern and relays some very useful information which is quite enlightening. One of the points she makes is not to get tied in to oaths with lodge members or dieties, because they can have so many reprocussions. This is completely true. Sometimes we tie ourselves into groups or even other spiritual people who are trying to help us. It is very difficult if not impossible sometimes to break those ties.The couple of things I don't agree with is she states not to continuously do protection rituals, that it is a waiste of time. I think it is very important to keep yourself and your space or temple cleansed and protected at all times because you may need this as a fortress during times of attack.I also don't agree that she feels that designing rituals to make life more comfortable is for knuckleheads. That's the whole basis and heart of paganism and magick--to fill the needs and THEN we can start to self-actualize and self-discover using magick. (Kind of like Maslow's pyramid).After all, a magician should be a community servant to his/her peoples, and one who is sickly and shoddy can't very well go around assisting his fellow man. I believe in self-advancement such spells to strengthen your finances, learning, health and well-being. There is nothing wrong with this, and nothing wrong with protecting and helping yourself.I very much like the acknowledgement from the author that magick can be used to devastate and truly harm. So many writers out there will not forgo their tight lips and admitt you can freakin' pummel someone with these forces. Depending on what or who you have after you, warfare is sometimes a necessary evil. Who wants to sit and let someone destroy them?This book is very valuable and one of the most interesting and philosophical reads I have undertaken along side the books of Ms. Fortune and Isreal Regardie. It is worth while and I believe it is very beneficial in it's content.

Those with a growing occult library are probably used to historical works, especially from the late 19th and 20th century delivered in formal English. So to read a book about magic that does away with just about every writing convention you may be used to is a real joy. I believe I broke into laughter about a half a dozen times in the first couple chapters as McCarthy manages to cut to the chase in a way that reveals her wisdom and knowledge over and over as the pages turn. The language is informal, peppery and presents (in this volume the beginning of) a magical path that is stripped down to its essentials, doing away with much of the regalia and ephemera found in ritual magic.As a Golden Dawner I feel it's important to learn from initiates outside the tradition, I find it often helps to ferret out the blind spots in one's own work. What I didn't expect was some very slight (and mostly playful) jealousy over the simplicity and effectiveness of McCarthy's system. Her progression is elegant and canted towards creating inner contacts very early in one's work. One of her most important themes is the idea of looking for unconditional change, asking for guidance without expectation. This is a general acknowledgement that inner contacts often have a viewpoint wider than the ego-driven human being.The early chapters deal with magic as theory, what can be expected and the problems one might encounter. These are so well written (in language almost totally divested of the technical) that even if one doesn't follow McCarthy's system, it's hard to believe any serious occultist wouldn't learn something. It should also be stated that the subtitle of this volume is Foundations/The Lone Practitioner and the system, while easily applicable to group ritual work, is written for the self initiate. Following the chapters that guide one from a basic and foundational ritual to the more involved, is basic information on the tarot and how to read it.One gets the impression from the first of these three that this book is just the tip of the iceberg. And while I've been with the Golden Dawn long enough to be assured of the course I'm on, I imagine it won't be long before I check out the next book in the series as McCarthy's no-nonsense approach is something I've already learned a lot from.

This is an interesting book describing the foundations of magic and giving some indications to get started on the journey of discovery in a simple way that is easy to follow. Some spelling errors remained in the book and seemed to have escaped the editor's attention which can be distracting but overall a really good read.

This work is a pragmatic walkthrough of magical practice and theory in a modern day setting. If you want to get to the root of magical understanding via a straightforward and no-nonsense approach then this book is for you.

Excellent book! It reminded me of a screening process whereby you're given the warnings, the weeding out process, so that in the end you're aware of the risks, and the potential benefits, but also the work involved. It is a path of serious study! not some 'hocus pocus' crap that some wish to find. It gives more than enough information to ensure that only those who continue are those who will follow it in respect, caution, thoughtful consideration, self-discipline and commitment!

Useful and well written guide to the Foundations of magical knowledge.

Fabulous read, very digestible