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The Llewellyn Encyclopedia

Term: Great Work

DEFINITIONS

Great Work: The union of Man and the Universe, the fusion of the Microcosm and the Macrocosm. The integration of the Lower and Higher selves.
source: The Thoth Companion, by Michael Osiris Snuffin

Great Work:

The path of self-directed spiritual growth and development. This is the object of your incarnation and the meaning of your life. The Great Work is the program of growth to become all that you can be—which is the realization that you are a "god in the making." Within your being there is the seed of Divinity, and your job is to grow that into the Whole Person that is a "Son of God." It is a process that has continued from "the Beginning" and may have no ending but it is your purpose in life. It is that which gives meaning to your being.

In this new age, you are both teacher and student and you must accept responsibility for your own destiny. Time is of the essence! Older methods give way to new ones because the entire process of growth and self-development has to be accelerated. Humanity has created a time bomb that’s ticking away, and only our own higher consciousness can save us from self-destruction. But—have faith and do the Great Work for it is all part of a Great Plan.

The Great Work is not denial and restriction but fulfillment. There’s not just one narrow Path, but many paths—one for each of us.

Suggested Reading:

Denning & Phillips: Foundations of High Magick

Carl Llewellyn Weschcke


ARTICLES

Review of the Law of Attraction Tarot
Summary The Law of Attraction Tarot is a complete system designed to help you better understand the principles of the LOA, to identify and analyze your goals, and to effectively achieve those goals. The full color book in the kit version ...
Relevance:  33 % 33%


What You Should Not Expect from Magic
Everyone who gets into ritual magic has pretty much the same goal—he or she wants to rule the world. They may not admit it even to themselves, but they are thinking: Suppose, just suppose, I could learn to hurl lightning bolts from my fingertips, ...
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Alchemy
The word alchemy is an Arabic term comprised of the article "al" and the noun "khemi." The later word relates to "Khem" the Coptic name of Egypt. Alchemy thus means, "that which pertains to Egypt." Thus the words alchemy and chemistry are a reminder ...
Relevance:  33 % 33%


The Astral World
The word "astral" comes from the Greek word meaning "related to a star" and it originally described the heavens of the Greeks and the abode of their gods. The concept of the astral world expanded in time to refer to what the ancients called ...
Relevance:  30 % 30%


Louis Culling and the G∴B∴G∴
The G∴B∴G∴ stands for The Great Brotherhood of God. The promise of the Order was "A Shortcut to Initiation." That was the headline of a 1931 announcement appearing over a Chicago box office number. The founder of ...
Relevance:  30 % 30%


Review of the Universal Fantasy Tarot
Universal Fantasy Tarot Review Summary: Although loosely based on the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, the Universal Fantasy Tarot also plumbs fantasy writing and art, ranging from the stories of H. P. Lovecraft to the art of Arthur Rackham and Barry ...
Relevance:  30 % 30%


Review of the Wicca Oracle Cards
Summary: The Wicca Oracle Cards invite the user's intuition and imagination into each quiet image. Each card is a doorway leading to worlds waiting to be explored. By going through these charming and deceptively simple portals, seekers can find ...
Relevance:  30 % 30%


Restoring Romance with Astral Projection
Introduction. Our goal here is not so much formulaic as it a reminder of what romance and sexual interaction can be, as it was when “we were young and filled with anticipation for the great adventure that is Love’s Promise.” Even ...
Relevance:  30 % 30%


The Shamanic Journey
Regardless of other specialities - which may include plant medicine, divination, or healing rituals - the key approach of all shamans both ancient and modern is the shamanic journey. This is a special state of trance consciousness that enables ...
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What is Ritual?
Ritual is the medium through which the art of magic is practiced. It consists of an action or series of actions, which may be entirely mental, or mental and physical, by which the power of magic is released and directed towards the fulfillment of a ...
Relevance:  27 % 27%


Review of The Book of Shadows Tarot, volume 1: As Above
Summary The Book of Shadows Tarot is the first deck in a two deck set. Each deck is designed to work on its own as well as in tandem with its partner deck. This volume, As Above, is a unique deck using the structure of Tarot to explore the beliefs ...
Relevance:  27 % 27%



This article is about the nodal axis from the perspective of evolutionary astrology. A central teaching within Evolutionary Astrology is that the Soul contains within it two antithetical, yet co-equal, desires: one to return to source, and one to separate away. Evolution occurs as the Soul progressively purges and exhausts separating desires from... read this article
The Mibramig Magical Tarot
Cultivating Bliss: 4 Ways to Explore Your Inner Garden
Exercise: Asking for a Dream Visit from a Loved One in Spirit
The Final Secrets of Enochian Magick
Career Opportunities for 2013 by Sun Sign

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The Hidden Factor of Magick
"Will this ritual or spell really work?" There are really only two possible answer to this question: "No" or "I don't know." There are some...

Dreaming with the 4 of Cups
The Book of Shadows Tarot, volume 2: So Below is now available! This morning, I shuffled my deck, fresh from the box and drew a card for this...

I Saw Your Future And He's Not It Author Louise Helene on Examiner.com
Check out a fascinating interview with I Saw Your Future And He's Not It author Louise Helene on Examiner.com, detailing her book and relationship...


One of the questions I often receive is a request for contact with an occult group, order, coven, etc. As a policy, I don't recommend such...



Llewellyn's 2013 Moon Sign Book Llewellyn's 2013 Moon Sign Book
Conscious Living by the Cycles of the Moon

By: Llewellyn
Price: $10.99 $5.50 On Sale!
Llewellyn's 2013 Astrological Calendar Llewellyn's 2013 Astrological Calendar
Horoscopes for You Plus an Introduction to Astrology

By: Llewellyn
Price: $13.99 $7.00 On Sale!
Llewellyn's 2013 Witches' Calendar Llewellyn's 2013 Witches' Calendar
By: Llewellyn
Price: $13.99 $7.00 On Sale!
Llewellyn's 2013 Witches' Datebook Llewellyn's 2013 Witches' Datebook
By: Llewellyn
Price: $10.99 $5.50 On Sale!
Llewellyn's 2013 Magical Almanac Llewellyn's 2013 Magical Almanac
Practical Magic for Everyday Living

By: Llewellyn
Price: $10.99 $5.50 On Sale!