When I first encountered the figure, the infamous, Aleister Crowley, I, like so many in my generation, was taken aback by a man who seemed to not only revel in his debauchery and depravities but seemed to encourage and find new ways to expand them. Crowley represented the dark side of magick to eyes accustomed to the feel-good, white light worship found in many new age sections of the local bookstore.
It’s no small surprise then that questions about his work to my peers were quickly silenced, lest I too fall into the darkness and elitism that is ceremonial magick, The O.T.O, The Golden Dawn and their ilk. Though all different sects in and of themselves, to people raised on the Neo-Wiccan movement of spirituality, rules, order, rank, and being a “novice” in and of itself was scary. With eclecticism there comes no right or wrong way to do something. There are no elders and no Heirophants. Anyone with a mouse and a keyboard could become a Lord or Lady, High Priest or High Priestess. Such was not the case with ceremonialists who insisted on titles and initiation.
My own studies however have brought me not only to Crowley’s door step, but to his parlor. It is from him and the instruction of the Buddhists that I am attempting to master myself before I delve deeper into the hidden depths of ritual, magick, and what can be achieved with it. Magick is taking on a scientific bent in accompaniment with the sacred spirituality contained therein. While my mind itches to rush forward, my body accepts its limitations of shallow breath, a destructive diet, and a lack of discipline and instead forbids me from pushing headlong into my studies unprepared.
The pursuit of perfection in body is followed closely by my desire to cleanse my mind of distraction and this is where Liber III vel Jugorum and The Eight Fold Path come together in my psyche to create a system that will help hone my mental facilities for the interesting times ahead.
As of now, I focus primarily on bringing my life in equilibrium with The Noble Eightfold Path;
1. Right View
2. Right Intention
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration
All 8 principles create, to me, the perfect canvas of a neophyte while allowing maturation of the spiritual self beyond magical expectation. In short; these practices will help strengthen me beyond magick and lay the foundation for the change that will eventually come through intense practice.
The techniques taught by Crowley in the Jugorum are what I choose to implement until which time my will is in accordance with that of my HGA. This, coupled with daily meditation, cleansing, and banishing should bring me into the proper vibration to continue my work until I feel ready to approach an order for initiation. I shall be using a separate journal to chronicle this journey in its entirety and look forward to sharing it with all of you.


