"Do people think you’re strange? DO YOU?? . . . then you may be on the right track! ARE YOU ABNORMAL? Then you are probably BETTER than most people!"

— from The Book of the SubGenius (p. 9)

1A) JUST WHO DO I THINK I AM???

"Behold! Thou art The King of Swords and thy future is revealed by The Chariot! Thy sacred number shall be twenty-seven, for thou art doomed to walk the Path of Individuality. Expect to suffer many hardships, young man, for you are not of this world — and the spirits have big plans for you . . ."

— Madam Ilsa (AKA "That Crazy Lady up on the Hill")

Who I am is unimportant — in fact, you could even say that I’m a "nobody" (at least in the eyes of Society) — but let me tell you who I am NOT: I am not some sort of "guru" or cult leader, and have no desire to attract any sort of "following;" I am not acting as an agent of the intelligence services, the Illuminati, or the clergy on behalf of one of their disinformation mindfuck campaigns; I am not some unscrupulous con man attempting to fleece the gullible rubes out of their hard earned cash; and, perhaps most importantly, I make no claims of any "expertise" in these matters of which I speak. What do others think of me? I am well-liked and respected by those whom I consider to be my family, friends, and associates. Many people consider me to be a "genius," (whatever that means) and I have a reputation for being very honest. On the other hand, those whom I recognize as my enemies think of me as a very dangerous force which needs to be "taken out of the equation." They have stated that I am "a danger to Society," and believe that I ought to be locked in a cage, strapped to a gurney, and administered a barrage of toxic "meds" through an I.V. drip until my brain dissolves into harmless mush. It is best that your knowledge of me be kept minimal — for my safety as well as your own.

1B) DON’T BELIEVE WHAT YOU READ!!!

Roughly 90% of all mass-market paperbacks purported to be about the occult are rife with errors, misinterpretations, contradictions, speculations, and utter falsehoods — in other words, they are mostly lies and bullshit (most relevant books on the subject are rare hardcovers published between 1880 and 1920, although even the good ones often contain an abundance of useless filler material). Sure, by skimming through a stack of these travesties one might be able to glean a few scant paragraphs of significant value, but how could the average ignoramus know what to look for? No, most of these books are actually worse than a waste of time to read — they can be counter-productive and even dangerous. Be aware that the vast majority of individuals who profess a strong interest in the "black arts" are somewhat delusional, if not actually suffering from an acute mental illness, and their unfounded statements lack credibility (Indeed, the vast majority of serious practitioners know better than to be shooting their mouths off about such things!). If you choose to believe their unsubstantiated words without question, then you are a very stupid person who has no business studying such matters. Blind faith is the realm of fundamentalist zealotry, and has no value to the freethinker. Hence, the first cardinal rule for those seeking to understand the Great Mysteries is: "You are prohibited from believing what you read." I have no great interest in influencing the minds of the gullible, but I feel compelled to share that which I believe to be true; nonetheless, I am only a mere scribe who makes no presumptions of sagacity, and even my own honest words should be considered suspect. Believe nothing except that which you have experienced for yourself, and know to be real! When it comes to the occult, most people (even the seemingly earnest and well-meaning) are liars.

I am more trustworthy than other authors (perhaps?), but most of my research has been conducted in solitude. Although I am very familiar with the teachings of various Mystery Schools and "secret societies" I have never been formally initiated into any of them (nor bound by their vows of silence). I have, however, learned a few things which I feel may be of value to others who are struggling to understand that which is hidden, and feel that it is important to share these things while I am still able to do so. But be warned — even I may be mistaken in some of my beliefs, but I will never intentionally lie to you. The things of which I speak cannot be reproduced, tested, or "proven" under laboratory conditions, so many people will scoff and say, "No such thing exists!" However, I know that they are wrong, and by sharing these words with you I intend to do my best to "prove it."

My field of study touched upon all elements of the occult sciences, but focused primarily upon mentalism (communications and projections, specifically). Although I am familiar with the concepts of: astrology (several systems), comparative cosmology, numerology, divination, mediumship, healing, and various forms of ceremonial magic (about a dozen), these subjects failed to hold my interest so they will not be discussed in detail here (if at all). Does that mean that these subjects are valueless? No, it does not — it just means that they did not fit into my own personal system of interacting with the invisible. If something doesn’t come naturally to you, it will be uncomfortable to implement and very difficult to master (although you’d never be on the same level of mastery as a dedicated practitioner with an innate talent). If you are interested in these subjects, many books have been written about them (and a few of them are even worth reading), so feel free to research these matters for yourself.

1C) LISTEN TO THE DEBUNKERS’ ARGUMENTS

"There are no rocks in the sky; therefore, rocks do not fall out of the sky."

— Antoine Laurent Lavoisier

"In my opinion, most believers in miracles, monsters, and mysteries are not hoaxers, flim-flam artists, or lunatics. Most are normal people whose normal thinking has gone wrong in some way."

— Michael Shermer, from Why People Believe Weird Things (p. 45)

Before I continue, I would like to recommend that you obtain and peruse a few copies of both Skeptic magazine and The Skeptical Inquirer, or visit their respective websites at www.skeptic.com and www.csicop.org. The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, or "CSICOP,"(psi-cop?) is allegedly supported by the CIA, and is devoted to ridiculing and "debunking" various claims of contact with the paranormal through scientific means . . . and even though they are propagandists, what they are doing is not entirely a bad thing. As I stated previously, most people who claim to be "psychic," "contactees," or witnesses to supernatural phenomena are either con men or loonies, and deserve to be exposed for what they are. However, PSICOP goes way above and beyond such noble work by, in effect, issuing a blanket statement that "things perceived as ‘supernatural’ simply do not exist," while merely pretending to put on a show of "unbiased scientific detachment" to make themselves seem trustworthy. Their presentation of the subject matter is so convincing that I, myself, might have even been inclined to agree with them — if I hadn’t seen evidence to the contrary on so many occasions. These things are very real, and a mob of delusional dipshits being ridiculed by a prominent CIA disinformation project will not make them go away (just more likely to be ignored).

1D) WHAT IS "ARCANE LORE"?

Arcane Lore is the title I felt was most appropriate for this book, which attempts to present a few of my own observations of the mysterious, as well as a few commonly held beliefs, and a number of significant quotes from a variety of sources. The majority of this work I believe to be factual (regardless of what the disclaimer might state), in stark contrast to much of the drivel currently in circulation. I have claimed these beliefs as my own, and I am not attempting to "convert" anyone else to my point of view. Indeed, most of my brothers hold widely divergent theological viewpoints, and that is a good thing — after all, no-one has a monopoly on Truth (only hucksters and demagogues claim otherwise). Be advised: even though I happen to believe something is true, the possibility exists that I could be wrong. Aye, it has happened before, and will probably happen again. Because of the subtle nature of paranormal phenomena, it is nearly impossible to conclusively "prove" certain things to be "facts" (and, conversely, it is equally impossible to conclusively disprove them — although the "skeptics" may choose to claim otherwise). I have been researching the occult since having an epiphany at the age of eight, I have a genius-level I.Q., and on numerous occasions various types of manifestation have occurred in front of witnesses who claimed to have seen the same thing — regardless of what some folks might have you believe about me, I’m not some sort of flaky, delusional, starry-eyed, crystal-carrying, "New-Age" loonie — no, I am a true cynic who believes in the Scientific Method (but the most likely explanation, however implausible, must be given serious consideration) and my brothers all will back me up when I state that, unlike the President of the United States, I do not lie. You may note that I tend to ramble at times, often going off on a tangent or touching on subjects addressed more fully in other sections. This may make things somewhat confusing, and I apologize in advance.

A substantial portion of this particular work is composed of quotes and excerpts culled from a variety of sources. Some of these quotes may seem redundant, but often it is necessary to see something from several perspectives before gaining a clear understanding of it. Most of these quotes have been transcribed verbatim, due to the fact that words have power and the individual authors have expressed themselves with great eloquence. Since most of these concepts are not original, I could’ve chosen to simply rephrase these statements in my own words, but I felt that this would result in a grave disservice to the reader. I have made a sincere effort to give credit where credit is due, and my inclusion of the words of others clearly falls under the "fair use" exception to the Federal Copyright Act. Please note that just because a particular source has been cited, it does NOT mean that I look favorably upon other things that particular source has said or done. Particularly in the chapter on black magic, the words of a few very negative characters have been included. Why? Because these sources seem to possess actual knowledge (however dark that knowledge may be) whilst more benevolently inclined souls may only speculate upon the workings of evil. Remember, "Light may be found in the camp of the enemy." Furthermore, just because a source has been cited, that does not mean that I am endorsing a source as "credible." Even flaky mental cases have occasional sparks of lucidity, but that doesn’t necessarily make them any more "advanced" than you or I.

I am nothing but a humble student, and I make no presumptions of "mastery"— in fact, I may even be wrong in a few of of my suppositions, but the scary thing is that I seem to know a lot more about this stuff than the majority of "New-Age gurus" out there, so I guess that "qualifies" me to write a book of my own. Much of this book is purely theoretical, and it is largely based upon the writings of others. Because its focus is on the "unknown," and much of what is stated cannot be "scientifically proven," it would be best for the skeptic to view this as a work of fiction. If, however, you are more open minded, feel free to utilize this text as a Grimoire. Either way, it is intended to serve as a light in the darkness which will not fail you (think of inferior texts as dim flashlights with weak batteries). If it does not help you, at least it makes for entertaining reading. . .

1E) BASIC PREMISES

1.) Just because something cannot adequately be explained or understood by the "Scientific Method" does not automatically make it subject to ridicule and derision. There is a great deal about the world that we do not fully understand — and anyone who tells you different is either a dimwit or a liar.

2.) Just because something is invisible, one cannot automatically assume that it is not real. Things which are normally invisible to us can sometimes be perceived under certain conditions. We may interact with the invisible world, if desired.

3.) The invisible world(s) surrounds us at all times, and is populated by various intelligent (as well as semi-intelligent) entities. These entities (whether positive or negative) are attracted to our thoughts and actions, which they actively try to influence. If you are perceptive, these invisible entities will give signs of their presence. Powerful entities can influence our environment, if they wish, either to help or to hinder us. It is sometimes possible to communicate with these entities.

4.) Thoughts have force, and can influence things on a subtle level, even if one is unaware of this fact. With training, a sufficiently advanced student can actually create invisible "thought-forms" to do his bidding (this is the core teaching of most forms of magick). The strength, duration, and complexity of a particular thought-form is dependant upon its creator’s energy level and ability to focus. The creator’s intent can be "programmed" into the thought-form, giving it a type of artificial intelligence.

5.) The state of "Illumination" is transitory, as there are many aspects to it. Just because a student is fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the eternal (or even speak with an emissary of the Great Architect) does NOT mean that he has been "anointed by the Gods" and thus "divinely ordained" to dub himself a "guru" and start bossing his "lessers" around. Remember, "You can never stop learning," and, "Man cannot comprehend the true nature of God." Anyone who makes claims of omniscience is either a lunatic or a fraud.

1F) A PINCH OF THIS, AND A DASH OF THAT!

"YOU HAVE CORRUPTED THE SACRED TEACHINGS!!!" the traditionalists scream. Locked into their rigid cages of dogma, ritual, and superstition, they feel that the introduction of new ideas is nothing more than contamination which must be prevented at all costs! Often, these deluded fools don’t even fully comprehend their own system of choice (perhaps due to the fact that they’ve not yet been fully initiated into the higher degrees), yet they are prepared to defend its "purity" against any and all perceived outside threats. If they don’t feel compelled to actually attack you directly, you can reasonably expect to be the object of scorn and ridicule for daring to "mix belief systems." (At best, you’ll be lectured on the "immaturity" of picking and choosing which concepts you feel most comfortable with) You cannot reason with fundamentalists of any denomination, so conserve your energy for more productive pursuits. A few examples of this rigid mindset follow:

"Eclecticism may be defined as the practice of choosing apparently irreconcilable doctrines from antagonistic schools and constructing therefrom a composite philosophical system in harmony with the convictions of the eclectic himself. Eclecticism can scarcely be considered philosophically or logically sound, for as individual schools arrive at their conclusions by different methods of reasoning, so the philosophical product of fragments from these schools must necessarily be built upon the foundation of conflicting premises. Eclecticism, accordingly, has been designated the layman’s cult."

— Manly P. Hall, from Secret Teachings of All Ages (p. XVI)

". . . spiritual traditions cannot be used as some sort of Whitman’s Sampler of ceremonial form, mixed and matched — here a little Druid, there a touch of Nordic Mythology followed by a regimen of Hindu vegetarianism, a mishmash of American Indian rituals somewhere else — at the whim of people who are part of none of them. . . . to play at ritual potluck is to debase all spiritual traditions, voiding their internal coherence and leaving nothing usably sacrosanct . . ."

— Ward Churchill, from "Indians ‘R’ Us?"

"Each part of our religion has its power and its purpose. Each people has their own ways. You cannot mix these ways together, because each people’s ways are balanced. Destroying balance is a disrespect and very dangerous. This is why it’s forbidden."

— Matthew King, Oglala Lakota Elder

To some extent, I actually concur with these statements. As you shall see in the following chapters, many of those on some sort of directionless "New-Age" quest for meaning are little more than pathetic clowns playing make-believe, and any mishmash of various conflicting belief systems would likely result in a ludicrous mass of contradictions trimmed with gaudy baubles and awhirr with pseudo-mystical theatrics. "When in doubt, baffle ‘em with bullshit"— the rubes eat that silly shit up (and are willing to shell out big bucks for a good show), but anyone who truly knows would hold such degenerate showmen in the lowest of contempt.

Alternately, however, there have been a few seekers of truth who were sincerely disappointed with the facade of certain strictly regimented belief systems — particularly if they truly possessed certain gifts, yet were being actively dissuaded from asking "too many questions" (If your mentor is uncomfortable addressing certain topics, it may very well be because he is not familiar enough with them to answer your questions without guessing — in other words, he feels threatened that his ignorance will be exposed!). Basically, what I’m trying to say is that if a given belief system cannot (or will not) provide answers to reasonable questions, then it just makes sense to seek your answers elsewhere; and if you happen to disagree with (or feel uncomfortable with) certain teachings, then you should (within reason) feel free to reject (or alter) them. Most formalized systems would eject you for taking such a stand, so many initiates (the smart ones, anyhow) search for truth in secret. A few significant quotes which seem to support an "eclectic" world-view follow:

"I maintain that Truth is a pathless Land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect. That is my point of view and I adhere to that absolutely and unconditionally. Truth being limitless, unconditioned, unapproachable by any path whatsoever, cannot be organized; nor should any organization br formed to lead or to coerce people along any particular path. The moment you follow someone, you cease to follow Truth. I have only one purpose: To make man free, to urge him towards freedom; to help him break away from all limitations, for that alone will give him eternal happiness, will give him the unconditioned realization of the self."

— J. Krishnamurti (1929)

"As there may be many roads which will ultimately lead us to the same mountaintop, so there are many systems of occult training. The end in view of every system is the same. It is to first evolve conscious lucidity, the rest will then follow."

— Zolar, from Zolar’s Encyclopedia of Ancient and Forbidden Knowledge (p. 81)

"The true nexus of the occult movement is devotion to a common ideal, but this ideal is approached by an infinite diversity of paths, as many as the breaths of the sons of men."

— Dion Fortune, from Psychic Self-Defense (p. 224)

"Absorb that which is useful."

— Bruce Lee

1G.) THE "NEED" FOR SECRECY

At one time — even in the fairly recent past — openly being known as a "witch" would surely have resulted in persecution, exile, or death. In today’s more enlightened age, our religious freedoms are protected by Law, thus one can wear a pentacle, ankh, rune, or other "pagan" device without fear of being chased down the street by torch bearing villagers — although Christian fundamentalists (Fundies) may still engage in petty harassment (which can range from vandalizing your home to blacklisting you from gainful employment — "Good Christians" that they are). As long as you’re a law-abiding citizen with friendly neighbors and job security, you can pretty much adhere to any theological dogma that you like — including one of your own creation! However, a few folks still seem to think that paganism is something to keep hidden — almost like they’re ashamed of it, or something! This usually amounts to nothing more than hypocrisy (i.e., the Freemasons who swear bloody oaths of secrecy so the specifics of their rites are not publicized, thus possibly endangering their "standing in the community"). Then again, no-one likes to be the subject of ridicule — a weapon which the ignorant commonly employ to attack that which they do not understand. And (get this), the things which are most commonly cited as "evidence of wrongdoing" are these (often horribly explicit) oaths of secrecy!

It is understandable that outsiders would quite reasonably assume that your group must be "up to something" when the stated consequences for violation of these oaths entail such penalties as "having one’s tongue pulled out with red hot pincers" or "having one’s eyes burned out with molten lead!" And what, pray tell, are these mysterious secrets which require such extraordinary measures to protect them? Usually they amount to little more than a silly nonsensical "Word of Power" (although only counterfeit "Words" would be divulged to low level initiates), or the fact that adherents might be pledging fealty to a deity other than Jesus (gasp!). In my humble opinion, unless you’re actually undertaking illegal acts, "oaths of bloody retribution" have no place in a religious ceremony!!! This is Goddess worship, not some plot to distribute methamphetamine or overthrow the government! Bloody oaths are not only ridiculously archaic, but they are also counter-productive due to the fact that they negatively effect a group’s morale as well as its public image. If someone holds a dagger to your throat and commands you "never to speak of these things outside of the circle," politely tell them that, perhaps their group isn’t right for you, then quickly make your exit (a derringer is always a comfort in such circumstances).

A few quotes on the perceived "need" for secrecy follow:

"Occultism not being in good repute with the general public, men in public positions cannot afford to have their names associated with it; their interest is therefore carefully concealed, and they only speak of it to those upon whose sympathy and discretion they can count."

— Dion Fortune, from Psychic Self-Defense (p. 225)

"We had invented our own texts and slang which are subject to the ridicule of their scholars who nevertheless always seem to want to hang out around us and come to our meetings and poke into our ceremonies."

— Ishmael Reed, from Mumbo Jumbo (p. 194)

"More than ever, the truth must be kept from the reach of the profane: not only for love of the truth, but also out of charity towards those who would desecrate it."

— Saint-Yves d’Alveydre

"YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!"

— "Colonel Jessep," Jack Nicholson’s character from A Few Good Men

1H.) "THE TOOLBOX"

If you are truly serious about delving into these matters, you really need to be properly equipped. Doing magick without the right tools is, indeed, possible, but it is also rather foolish. After all, you wouldn’t hike through a forest without a proper blade or go for a cross-country drive without a spare tire and jack, would you? True, the tools are unnecessary for actual performance of technique, but they are comforting to have close at hand in the unlikely event that "something goes wrong." Furthermore, if you intend to appeal to the spirits through formalized ritual, it really is recommended that you at least spend a few dollars on a couple of candles and some nice incense — the spirits like these things, and it’s important to make a good impression.

At the bare minimum, you should always have the following items close at hand:

1.) SAGE WAND: These are small bundles of dried California White Sage (Salvia Alpine) leaves tied together with a length of natural fiber thread, forming a "wand" which can be burned to produce smoke for cleansing, healing, and banishing. These wands are available through most "New Age" type establishments. This smoke is incredibly powerful, and the sage wand should always be treated with the utmost of respect, as it is truly a sacred plant. Use the smoke to purify yourself and your surroundings prior to conducting any sort of ritual (be sure to disconnect your smoke detectors first). Sage smoke will repel all but the most powerful of negative entities. Avoid the use of sage "smudge sticks" (which appear to be thick bundles of thin grasses), as they produce far too much smoke for indoor use and are very difficult to extinguish (unless you want to immerse it in water). Always keep an eye out for dropping embers, and have a plate (or clean ashtray) handy for when you set it down. Dipping the end in melted wax will help it to "catch" quicker. ALWAYS BE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT A HIDDEN EMBER IS NOT SMOULDERING WITHIN YOUR "EXTINGUISHED" SAGE WAND!!! Note: although California White Sage is recommended due to its commercial availability, virtually any variety of desert sage brush may be substituted.

2.) CANDLES: Candles are an important part of any ritual. Most orthodox practitioners will specify that only particular numbers and colors should be used for specific purposes, but this is only partially true. If a particular number or color has a special meaning for you, personally, it can be used to better enable you to properly focus your energies, but a substitution will not automatically result in some sort of "metaphysical disaster." I recommend that you purchase the best quality candles you can afford. Pillars are self-supporting and slow burning, thus far better than either tapers or votives. Unscented beeswax candles are always preferred over perfumed paraffin. If you are having trouble deciding upon what color to use, white, green, yellow, and blue are all safe choices. Avoid red, orange, and purple, as they have many negative connotations. Always trim your wicks (to approximately 1/2"), always use a snuffer, be sure to keep a small fire extinguisher close at hand, and NEVER LEAVE CANDLES BURNING UNATTENDED!!! Note: Although new candles should always be used for important rituals, half-burned candles, and even candle stubs, will work fine for routine use.

3.) INCENSE: A lot of practitioners are very particular about what scents are most appropriate for certain purposes. Good quality incense will elevate the vibrations of your environment, making it less accessible to negative energies. Don’t cheap out and buy the "12 for a dollar" bulk incense if you want good results. By far, the finest quality incense for spiritual purposes, at any price, are the handmade Tibetan "Clear Light" sticks available from Mandala Incense. If you cannot obtain this, a top quality sandalwood would be appropriate. An alternative to incense is the candle-heated aromatherapy diffuser, in which about a half-dozen drops of an essential oil are diluted with water and evaporated. Since these oils often start at about $15 an ounce (inexpensive oils are usually synthetic), lavender oil is probably your best choice if you can afford only a single vial.

4.) PLATE & CUP: Some practitioners specify that one needs a "chalice" fashioned from silver or gold, but this is an unnecessary expense. I use a fancy saucer and coffee cup which belonged to one of my ancestors. When making a food offering to the spirits, they should always be served first (table scraps would be insulting). A selection of various delectables can be placed upon the plate, and a suitable libation (wine, liqueur, or fruit juice) can be poured into the cup. The offering should be placed amongst the candles and incense, and should remain undisturbed throughout the night. In the morning, it should be dumped outside, where it can be eaten by squirrels and birds (alternatively, it could be burned). Although opinions vary on this, I’d caution you against eating any of this food yourself, feeding it to pets, or allowing it to be disposed of in the garbage (although if your dog really seems to want it, it probably won’t hurt to let him have it — as long as you weren’t inadvertently entertaining negative spirits!).

These four items are the "bare essentials," but your toolkit can be expanded if you wish. Common additions are: a ritual cloth (to be used as a table covering), a sweetgrass braid (to be burnt as an offering to the spirits), a protective talisman of some sort (usually silver), a short length of iron rod (for "problem" banishments), a pad & pen (for journal entries, as well as automatism), a large mirror (for trance meditation, scrying, energizing, and defensive purposes), and a pipe (for the inhalation of the smoke from various sacred herbs — DO NOT OBTAIN ONE WITH A PIPESTONE BOWL UNLESS YOU ARE A LEGITIMATE MEMBER OF A RECOGNIZED NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE!!! Your pipe can be of virtually any size or shape — the decorative ritual pipe I use is "handcrafted" from a 2 foot galvanized steel pipe and elbow, which allows it to serve a "dual purpose"). Some people like wands, daggers, cauldrons, robes, and bells — although I have no use for such items in my system. If something works for you, however, feel free to include it.

1I.) IS "ARCANE LORE" RIGHT FOR YOU?

Probably not. Remember: most "respected occultists" (how’s that for an oxymoron?)

would strongly disagree with much of what I’m about to present to you, as my theoretical statements do not jibe with their "sacred teachings." Furthermore, I’ve committed the unpardonable offense of "mixing and matching" bits from various belief systems — which I feel quite justified in doing since not only do each of the different belief systems only provide a handful of pieces to the overall puzzle (due primarily to cultural biases and limited perspective), but they all pretty much say the same thing anyway (they just use different terminology). So, if you are a serious student of the black arts who has devoted himself (or herself) to a single traditional system of study (Wiccan, Thelemic, Golden Dawn, Egyptian Rite, etc.), you will probably be quick to denounce this blasphemous work as "rubbish." If, however, you happen to have an open mind about such things (in other words, you do not have blind faith that your spiritual leader "knows everything about everything"), the lessons contained herein may prove useful to you. I have, after all, read through well over 300 books pertaining to these matters in the course of my research (not all of them, however, have been listed in the bibliography), and have been living with this stuff for all of my life, so I’ve probably picked up a few things of value which I can now pass along here.

However, you must realize that not everyone has the aptitude to adequately deal with this sort of stuff. If, for example, your emotional immaturity has enabled some white-coated thought-Nazi to start you on a daily regimen of toxic pharmaceuticals to prevent "mindcrimes," then you can forget about working magick altogether — this knowledge is not for you, pillboy! If you grew up in a Christian fundamentalist household, and have been indoctrinated by their rhetoric since infancy, the guilt and fear hardwired into your brain may very well prove crippling, and will be difficult to overcome. Not only must you possess an open mind, above average intelligence, and the ability to focus your mind on a single thing, but you really need to have been endowed with certain "gifts" for this stuff to work properly. Sure, everyone is probably "psychic" to some degree, but don’t kid yourself — either you have it or you don’t. How can you tell? A few common indicators of psychic aptitude follow:

a.) How is your memory? Do you have great powers of recall? Would you consider yourself to have a "photographic" memory?

b.) How is your ability to concentrate? Are you able to focus on a single complex task? Are you able to form highly detailed pictures in your mind?

c.) How well developed are your creative abilities? Are you able to tell a good story or produce a work of art?

d.) How well developed is your intuition? Do you often "sense" things before they happen? Do you feel that you can accurately "read" people simply by looking at them for a few moments? Are you usually correct about such matters?

e.) Have you developed the ability to slip into a trance state at will? Do you frequently "daydream?" Do you often feel a separation of consciousness when engaged in certain activities (i.e., driving, sports, sexual intercourse, etc.)? Do you sometimes feel as if you’re "walking through a dream?"

f.) Have you noticed an unusual number of coincidences throughout your life which have served to bring you to the point you’re at today? Do you strongly believe that certain individuals have a specific Fate or Destiny which they are being externally compelled to achieve?

g.) Do you sometimes feel as if you are "being watched" when you know you’re alone? Have you ever felt a "presence" nearby, which you couldn’t explain? Have you occasionally felt something (like a cobweb) lightly grazing your face or hair when nothing seemed to be there?

h.) Have you ever thought that you heard classical music faintly playing, but were unable to discern the source? Have you ever heard your name clearly being called when no-one was there? Have you ever been spared from a potentially injurious situation by listening to an "inner voice?"

i.) Does it seem as if your eyes sometimes "play tricks" on you? Do you occasionally see movements out of the corner of your eye when nothing seems to be there? Do you ever see movements in the shadows or colored sparks of light in the air?

j.) Have you ever had a significant "paranormal" experience? More than one? Was it shared by other witnesses?

k.) Do you feel a strong "connection" with plants, animals, or nature? Could you provide specific details as to the nature of this connection?

l.) Have you always felt an unusual attraction towards various "occult" trappings (i.e., candles, oils, incense, crystals, fetishes, skulls, or even various Halloween decorations)?

m.) Do you have unusually vivid dreams? Have you ever dreamt of driving a car or getting in a fight? Have you ever dreamt of wandering through endless hallways or reading a book? Do you hold intelligent conversations in your dreams? Have you ever dreamt of falling, floating, or flying? Do you sometimes dream that you are someone else? Have you ever watched yourself in a dream, as if you were watching a character on television? Have you ever dreamed that you were having a dream? Have you ever suddenly realized that you were "only dreaming?" Have you ever suddenly woken up in the middle of the night with the distinct impression that you had just "dropped" onto the mattress or received a powerful "jolt" of some sort? Have you ever had a dream which you remembered for years afterwards?

n.) When drifting off to sleep, do you ever get the distinct impression that someone is shining a flashlight in your face? Have you ever had the experience of seeing your room through your closed eyelids? Have you ever suddenly "sat up" in bed and realized that your body was still lying prone?

These are all strong indicators of psychic ability (however, a few of them are also recognized symptoms of mental illness as well, due to the fact that there is often a very fine line between geniuses and madmen as well as between mysticism and delusion). How many apply to you? Be honest with yourself. If none of these indicators seem familiar, you’d probably just be wasting your time experimenting with magick, and might even feel resentful when things don’t work as well as you expected. These things aren’t for everyone (regardless of what many flaky "New-Age" pagans might have you believe), although they are entertaining to read about, aren’t they?

1J.) THE POWER OF HOSTILITY

"Damn! We kicked that boogyman’s ass, didn’t we?"

— Scribe 27, dripping with ectoplasm, to a shocked and dismayed group of dilettantes to whom he had just demonstrated the protective properties of cold iron.

Hostility? What place has hostility in the working of magick? This isn’t a text on Satanism, is it? No — although this text does briefly discuss various aspects of "black magick" (in order to better defend against it), I would never encourage people to harm others for selfish and spiteful reasons — not only is such activity wrong, but (due to the "Law of Return") it is actually counter-productive. Why then, do I speak of hostility? This is a somewhat controversial point of view, and one that I’m sure most other authors would strongly disagree with, so I shall attempt to state the facts (as I perceive them) as clearly as possible. Please bear with me as I do so.

The vast majority of "New-Age" authors would have us believe that unless one is "pure of heart, with ill will towards none," one cannot commune with higher Intelligences and any magickal workings will inevitably "backfire." While this is true, to some extent (i.e., we are defined by our thoughts and actions, like attracts like, and we "reap what we sow"), their interpretation of the magickal laws is often so warped that they tell their readers that, in essence, a true adept must "love his (or her) enemies unconditionally." They usually justify this nonsense by stating that "the outer world is merely a reflection of the inner world" (again, partially true), and that "negative thoughts and actions attract negative energies." While these crystal-carryin’ wussies might, indeed, have a point (usually at the top of their heads), it is clearly a false statement that "love conquers all" (while such an approach might work versus the "Guardian of the Gate" and other constructs of the subconscious, you’ll be in for a nasty surprise if you attempt it versus an external threat). After all, one would not be very successful at repelling a physical assailant intent on robbery and rape by "showering them with love" — indeed, such naive foolishness might only spur them on to even worse atrocities! Why, then, do so many mystical authors insist that negativity is always wrong? Quite simply, because they are ignorant, and believe that any hint of negative energy will corrupt the practitioner, eventually steering him down the "left-hand path" of "black magick." Passing along such dilute and incomplete teachings is irresponsible and negligent.

Every individual has equal access to both positive and negative energies. Like the Taoist Yin-Yang, these energies must be brought into balance, or else the result will be instability. If you choose to deny that you have negativity within yourself, and actively suppress it, it may fester and mutate into something you will no longer recognize — and when it is inevitably released from its cage (usually at a time of great emotional stress), you will be unable to control it. It is important to acknowledge the shadow within, and familiarize yourself with its strengths as well as its weaknesses. It cannot simply be condemned as a shameful "bad thing" never to be studied or discussed. It is an extremely powerful force (as is the power of positive energy, when properly applied), and it would be foolish to ignore or devalue it.

As a magician on the Warrior Path, I have a great appreciation for the force of negative energy. Warriors have the power of death and destruction within their grasp — very negative energies, indeed, but they could only be considered "evil" if misused. After all, it is not "evil" to defend yourself, your family, or your country from wrongful aggression, is it? Sometimes these negative forces can be legitimately applied in the name of righteousness, and only a pacifist would call a man "wrong" for defending himself and his loved ones. You see, although the "White Light" can be used to great effect by a positive-minded adept, and it is oft hailed as the "ultimate weapon" in the magician’s arsenal, not all of us have easy access to it. Furthermore, if one’s access to the White Light is somewhat limited, they could easily be outmaneuvered and overcome by a powerful negative energy well-versed in the ways of magickal combat. Why? Because, like the pacifists, some magickal dabblers are afraid to take responsibility for their own safety, instead relying upon "God" or their "guardian angel" to protect them from danger — but what happens if, after they’ve cried out for help, their antagonist is still there? Now they would be in a position of weakness, because the one thing they were relying upon to save them did not work! If you don’t have some sort of a "backup plan," you’re gonna be fucked. The White Light is probably the most powerful force in the universe, but if, for whatever reason, your access to it is being temporarily blocked, you’re gonna need to take an alternative course of action (and no, "giving up" is not an option!).

What do I suggest? Throughout this book references will be made to various tools and techniques which can be used to repel a supernatural attack. You will find no instructions here for conducting questionable "banishments" which rely upon unintelligible incantations and elaborate sigils (which many other systems rely heavily upon), nor will you be provided with a dubious list of "Archangels and Saints" to call upon in time of need. Instead, a number of tried and true methods of defense (i.e., smudge sticks, wards, magickal weapons, thought-forms, etc.) will be detailed, as well as a lengthy outline of the various methods of "astral combat." These secrets have been culled from hundreds of books on: witchcraft, shamanism, sorcery, Classical Ceremonial Magick, folklore, mythology, and even occult fiction. Most of them, however, have one very important thing in common — they agree that a righteous individual with sufficient willpower, a bit of creativity, and a few "tricks up their sleeve" can succeed in holding the Forces of Darkness at bay without help from anyone else. How is this done? Through preparedness, preventative measures, and, in a worst-case scenario, the immediate execution of a skillful counter-attack. Remember, a counter-attack is a hostile act! Against a determined, vicious assault your prayers and blessings won’t amount to much more than a fart in a windstorm, and even a witch’s athame will be of little help if it is poorly constructed and you don’t know how to use it. You need to be able to stand up for yourself if you aspire to self-mastery, and by reading this book you’ll learn how to do so.