My apologies if you have received this message in another form via blog or list…
Magickal 911: The Expanded Intro
My goal is to put together a general Magick-Occult troubleshooting handbook. The idea is that if a practitoner is having difficulty with a type of operation or encounters a problem of of-yet-to-be defined origin, this guide may very well be of use. Below I have attempted to address the questions, which I have received from various people about my upcoming book, currently titled Magickal 911.
First, I would like to try and clarify the matter of for whom I am writing this book.
I am currently intending to *address* people who are starting off their magickal practices from the POV of Neo-Pagan background experiences and concepts. However, the subjects will go far beyond typical circle casting and creating and executing Sabbat rituals. I am writing this book because it seems to me that the word “Pagan” is frequently interchanged with the word “Occultist”, which I find inaccurate and misleading. While many Pagans include magick as part of their cosmology, practice of same is not required generally speaking to practice many forms of Paganism. I am looking to consult with magickians (Ceremonial, High, Left hand Path, Chaos etc.) witches, shamanistic practitioners… just about anyone who has experience in any of a rather wide variety of occult topics. The idea is that this book is going to be a trouble-shooting guide for not only novices, but for more knowledgeable people who find themselves out of their area of expertise, and don’t know where to start looking for diagnostic information or solutions. After all, not all magickal practitioners routinely deal with God-possessions. Different types of cleansings may be more effective than others for certain spiritual conditions. No, I will not claim that the book will “be to everyone’s taste who practices any type of Magick”. What I will say is that like the utterly legendary Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy of sci-fi fame, this may prove to be a friendly and indispensable (if not somewhat apocryphal) companion to those entering the wider world of magick beyond their current tradition or of area of expertise.
I am thinking that there will be at least two ways by design to utilize this book.
One will be to look up potential problems by subject (different chapters cover different general areas) or by symptoms (Flow charts! I love if-then flow charts!) . In the back would be a largish glossary of different terms from a large number of spiritual cultures and traditions. There would be a resource guide for different types of lore, as this book is not going to be more than a few hundred pages. (I’m not going to attempt to compile, for instance, an exhaustive guide to stones, herbs, and every existing spirit key) Anecdotes will be an important part of the book; both to help the reader better understand situational factors and potential pitfalls.
Subjects would include:
-Dealing with Incorporeals by type (such as Fae, The Dead , Angelic beings, Lower-planar beings (aka: Demons, devils, etc), Gods/Godlikes and Totemic Spirits)
-Possession (God-Possession vs. Lesser beings, voluntary vs. non voluntary)
-Protection (General) including: circle casting (identifying type, structure, style, function) warding, imbued objects (such as amulets and talismans), personal shielding…
-Curses (identification, methods of combating, related hazards)
-Alternate Planes (via Gates, Pathwalking etc)
-Disturbances in various energy systems (such as those relating to the aura and charkras…)
(Topics will get more plentiful and more specific over time Please feel free to send ideas for topic areas!)
For instance, if someone wanted to look up information about Circle Casting, they could find information on –purposes of circles (setting boundaries, protection, energy regulation). Aspects of different styles of circles (For instance, most people don’t realize that when you are calling elementals, you may be dealing with a limited form of spirit contract as part of the deal), Solitary vs. Group circles (and traditional “job assignments” such as Summoner, Tyler, Squire etc.) Circle casting tools. Theatrical aspects vs. Practical aspects…. Then there would be anecdotal “This worked greats” and “This was a bad plan” examples.
So, the first thing potential interview subjects will receive from me is a potential list of subject areas. So, a person might just want to address potential issues having to do with summoning work, or communicating with a certain type of spirit. Some might want to get the whole spectrum of topics in the book and answer what they liked. The questionnaire is currently in development. I am now collecting preliminary contact info from people who are willing to fill out questionnaires, or be interviewed. As per usual, all information is for research only. Names or aliases will be used at the interviewed party’s discression.
This is a big project, and I am very appreciative of all the replies and interest I have received so far. I am hoping that the topics list and first series of questionnaires will be ready no later than December 1st, 2007. I am projecting to have the majority of interviews conducted and questionnaires collected no later than May 1st, 2008.
Thanks again for responding to my request,
Sincerely,
Tannin Schwartzstein
bonesand@gis.net
Co-author of The Urban Primitive and Inviting Hera’s Blessing
Proprietor of Bones and Flowers in Worcester, MA |
