9 Day Purification

[Bekee]

I'm wondering if anyone who does Goetic/Solomonic magic actually does the recommended 9 day purification beforehand? (During which one fasts, abstains from sex and sexual behaviors, goes to confession, etc.) If so, does it help?

[Clockwork Ghost]

I'm wondering if anyone who does Goetic/Solomonic magic actually does the recommended 9 day purification beforehand? (During which one fasts, abstains from sex and sexual behaviors, goes to confession, etc.) If so, does it help?

Yes, and yes. It's always best to follow a paradigm fully if you plan on using it for a period of time, even if you're just a Chaos Mage doing a paradigm hop. I found the nine day purification to help with Solomic magick on many levels, though you have to be careful to maintain a degree of common sense, and not drive yourself to the point of physical sickness or exhaustion during that time.

[Bekee]

you have to be careful to maintain a degree of common sense, and not drive yourself to the point of physical sickness or exhaustion during that time.

Interesting, since my impression was that that's the actual purpose of this preparation. One version of the Solomon grimoire (which says 7 days instead of 9) even specifies one ought to avoid sleep during the period. What would you say it does for you, the way you do it?

[Clockwork Ghost]

Interesting, since my impression was that that's the actual purpose of this preparation. One version of the Solomon grimoire (which says 7 days instead of 9) even specifies one ought to avoid sleep during the period. What would you say it does for you, the way you do it?

Even avoiding sleep, there are ways to rest yourself. Meditation when you're really tired can bring a very powerful sense of peace, for example. I can't speak for everyone, but when I go for long enough without sleep I develop sort of an obsessive focus and a sense of 'no mind'. If you are planning on going for such an extended period without sleep, don't also try to work or retain anything but the barest degree of social interaction - it is supposed to be a period of extreme cleansing. Be prepared to stop the period of purification if you become ill, either physically or mentally, during the time spent doing it.

The way I did it was to talk to a doctor and a psychiatrist before hand to make sure it was possible, and that I wasn't just entering into a fools errand. I was warned not to do the period of purification, as going that long without food and sleep can be dangerous if you don't approach it sensibly. I was instructed that I should stop immediately if I began to feel unwell, and not to think that quitting was a sign of failure. My doctor told me to keep up a regular intake of fluids, and to use broad spectrum multi-vitamins. My psychiatrist said I should meditate as much as possible, and focus on things that resonated positive energy for me. Both people have known me for a long time, and I have discussed my occult practices extensively with them in the past. For the record, both professionals advised me that it was a stupid idea, but realised that I was going to go ahead with it anyway, and so therefore acted to make sure I didn't go completely insane or kill myself.

After four days I was really ready to give up. Up until that point it had been getting progressively harder, and I was constantly doubting why I was doing something so extreme. When day five came around, I sort of developed this blankness and stopped thinking. I don't know if you practice mindfulness, but the state as very similar to an extreme form of mindful meditation. I didn't leave my room from this point on, other than to visit the toilet and to refill my water bottles. I also started taking electrolytes, which I didn't consider to break the rules as I was also taking multi-vitamins. Up until day five I had been visiting people, and had been told that I was extremely reckless. People also commented as time went on that I looked 'like death', had gone grey, and my eyes looked like portals to Hell. After day five I gave up visiting people, as I wasn't leaving my room, but would ring people and give rambling 'confessions' as to how I felt, and whatever I was thinking at the time - which really wasn't much at all.

Time became extremely mutable - five minutes would seem like a day, then the next four hours would pass in an instant. I already hallucinated and heard voices, I have schizophrenia, but the voices and hallucinations took on strange forms directly related to the demons of the Lesser Key. I drew circles all over the place with chalk, and would sit in them until my legs went numb before standing, walking around my room, and sitting back down in another cicle. I would also often get powerful stomach cramps, and would have to lie flat from time to time until they went away.

When the nine days was up I performed an evocation of the demon Asmodeus, as he is the demon I feel closest to within the Solomonic paradigm, and managed to manifest him within the Triangle through the use of incense burning in front of a Black Mirror. We talked for around five hours, during which time I performed a ritual to cure my sex addiction. I then released him, ritually cleansed the area, and slept for just over 48 hours. Strangely it was quite hard to get to sleep at first - it was almost as if my body had forgotten how to sleep. I took a larg dose of anti-psychotics and managed to pass out, and don't remember dreaming. After I awoke I ate, was sick, called my doctor and was advised to get checked out immediately. My doctor told me to eat only soup until I managed to keep it down long enough to digest it - this took two days. My psychiatrist advised me against doing this again, a sentiment which was echoed by my doctor.

I hope this answers your question