Whenever I give workshops, I begin by writing the letters TFYQA on a blackboard. Well, actually I now have my computer write them on a screen or blank wall, but you get the idea. The letters stand for "Think For Yourself. Question Authority." I explain that neither I (nor other speakers at various metaphysical events) are lying or trying to deceive. Rather, we're doing our best to explain some complex material. Sometimes it will be clear and make sense. Other times the approach of the teachers just doesn't do it for you. From Slide Presentations That's all okay. I suggest that people pay attention and try out what the lecturers have to share. "If it works, that's great, because now you

As I reported in a previous post, author and occultist Kenneth Grant left his current incarnation last month. I never met him. I wish I had. My copies of his first trilogy of books are well worn from study. There was a time when he only had a few books published and nothing new had appeared for several years. I used to say that more people talked about what they thought Grant had written than had ever actually read anything by Grant. Today, a lot of his books are available—some quite expensive—and if you're interested in reading his works I would strongly urge you to read them in their order of publication. I wish I'd met him and had a chance to talk with him. Reading is one thing,

When I first started an in-depth study of occultism, I tried to read everything that was available. I quickly realized that the available books generally fell into two large categories, books that were mostly ridiculous inventions by their authors to take advantage of people interested in occult topics and books that were older material or about older material, perhaps with modern commentary. After a period of reading everything, it became fairly easy to separate the good from the bad, the serious from the ridiculous, the wheat from the chaff. And then came Kenneth Grant's first book, The Magical Revival. Original cover of first edition in my collection. I read this book not knowing what

A few months ago I made a post to this blog entitled, "Vibration: A Key to Magick." In it, I describe the process known as the Vibration of Words of Power. I think knowledge of this technique is so basic to magick that I cover it in depth within the second lesson (chapter) of my Modern Magick. A reader named John Santos asked a question about this in relation to the performance of the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP). He wrote, How about repetitively vibrating the God Names in the LBRP? It seems more comfortable for me than a single round inhalation and then exhalation to bellow(vibrate) one God Name. Is there any problem with my method? I think this is a great