It’s interesting that you describe humans as having the “size of a microbe.” Little microbes are capable of destroying entire civilizations. The Little microbe that caused the flu after WWI, the “war to end all wars,” killed more people than the total number of people killed by that war.

As an martial artist will tell you, size has nothing to do with who wins a fight. It is only the observation of the materialist who thinks that size is the only determining factor. It is the materialist who, because he doesn’t understand the greater reality of the spiritual universe, declares that magick doesn’t work.

Indeed, for him, trying to work magick is a fool’s errand. He wastes his time trying to shift the laws of the universe. The magician, on the other hand, actually learns the laws of the universe and works with them. To those who refuse to see, the easiest thing to do is deny the magician’s success.

Once again… I appreciate you taking your time to answer his questions.

You can always contact me via my email: DonK@llewellyn.com

I wouldn’t want to misrepresent the Ciceros in a reply, so I would suggest contacting them directly through their website:
http://www.hermeticgoldendawn.org

Concerning the paths on the Tree of Life, one of the most respected books on the subject is Gareth Knight’s “A Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism.” That was originally a two-volume set, and the material in question is in the second volume. I believe it is now available in one united volume.

I have worked with both low and high magick, also known as natural magick and ceremonial magick. In my experience both are completely effective…but they are not equally effective for all people. If someone is more attracted to and comfortable with one style over another, he or she is likely to have more success with that style.

I hope this answers your questions, and thanks for your kind comments.

I do have a few questions for you that my brother who is incarcerated wanted to know and I didnt know where I could ask it at. I hope this is the appropriate place. If not… please let me know because we use your books together via email. Here is what he sent me….

concerning the self initiation into the golden dawn by Cicero

why use the goddess Themis for the ritual of initiation? isnt themis a greek goddess when the rest of the rituals are cenetered on egyption pantheon/ is it good to mix? confusing to me

Paths on the tree of life, not really understanding them could he recommend a good book to help me further understand. one not written in code?

do you believe that what we call lower magick is just as effective as higher magick? wicca vs ceremonial

He would be just thrilled if I was to send him your answers to these questions.

Thank you for all you do for the Pagan community. I plan on getting your Sex Magick book soon. I love Modern Magick. It is the best way to grasp information before moving into the Golden Dawn by Regardie. I also loved your interview on personal life media on sex magick.

I would respond to your question with a two-part answer.

First, you’ll know something is effective when it works.
Second, break down each of your magickal practices into its component parts. Include such things a the weather, the phase of the moon, whether you’re tired or energetic, you emotional state, and each aspect of the ritual(s) you’re performing. Record this in your magickal record or diary.

Then, change one of those aspects. Try the ritual with just one of those aspects changed several times. If it’s effective, keep it. If not, go back to the original pattern and try something else. This is like a scientist doing investigative research.

You can always return to the basic starting practices. They are often reported, practiced, and written about as they have worked for many people.

I hope this helps!

We have been working on foundation and understanding. One of the things both you and Regardie say is… not to move forward until you have memorized and fully understand the concept of the current instruction (lesson). How will I know what aspect to modify or even when an aspect is the problem and not my inexperience in the ritual work?

Thank you for your comments. However, I must respectfully disagree.

Magick existed long before there was any religion—if you define “religion” as an organized system of faith and worship. If you define “religion” in a different way, then by your definition you might be correct.

I would be more inclined to say that magick has been a part of every magickal system much as the wheels are part of every automobile. The wheels aren’t the automobile by themselves, but the car doesn’t work well without them.

All science is only proven until something comes along and disproves it. Atoms were thought to be the smallest things until that was disproven by the discovery of subatomic particles. Subatomic particles were thought to be the smallest things until the discovery of quarks.

The problem with “proving” magick or any scientific endeavor is that no matter how we try to get rid of the variables, there may still be one that we don’t fully appreciate or understand: our minds. Our minds determine what the variables are, how the testing should be done, etc. But we don’t think of our mind as a variable because everything we think and do is filtered through our minds.

So really, all science and magick allow us to do is better understand the reality that is interpreted by our minds. For most people Newtonian laws work just as well or better than quantum mechanics. And I believe that is really the key: does it work? For many thousands of people today and throughout history, magick absolutely does work.

So is it a “proven” science? I believe it is, at least as much as any science can be.

So we may disagree, and that’s okay. I believe we can disagree without being disagreeable.