Overwhelmed

[Trakab]

Well first off I would like to introduce myself. My names Travis and I have always been interested in the Occult from a very young age (around 7-8) when I first started to think that just what we naturally see and hear is not all that is out there. I have tried doing research here and there but being raised in a "hardcore christian" home it hasn't really been the best of things to come out with or practice. I've looked on multiple forums and found this to be the most active of any that I have come across. I have seen so much information that it is a struggle to even keep it all in and keep it straight. Simply what I need to know is, where do I begin? I know its not something you can just jump into and expect results. I'm prepared for the time i must spend but I cant find the begining...

[Ramscha]

Well, first a warmly welcome here [yay]

You are right with your impression the field of magick materials is overwhelming in its size, especially when you go into detail.
It depends of course in which direction you want to go. That is one of the questions every newcomer has to face I guess: "What is my way?".
Whatever your decision is, I would recommend you 2 books to beginn with, they cover quiete good the basics and give you a first gaze what you are dealing with independent from a certain religious direction or dogma:

Jan Fries - Visual Magick pdf
Peter Carroll - Liber null & Psychonautic

Of course there are lots of other good books and this is just my personal recommedation how to beginn with but I did not want to burry you under tons of book recommedations with the intetntion to cover all possible ways. I wish you fun and success on your way and if there are any questions I guess I speak for some other users too if I say that we are willing to help with any problems and serious questions [wink]

Ramscha

[Asurendra]

Hello,

I would recommend YouTube videos by Robert Bruce or Astral Boband also the Hermetic Hour with Poke Runyon. Also, look intoMilo DuQuette and some of his books.

[Ramscha]

Ah, Youtube videos, good point Asurendra, thank you for reminding me [grin]

I would recommend for a beginner the channel of the german occultist Eliphas Leary:
http://www.youtube.com/user/tmafkap

He makes videos in english (and german, but the content is the same) to different topics, introduces some more detailed topics as well as the basics like meditation of control of your thoughts. It is a good addition to some maybe a little bit dry books and he is always open for questions.

[Trakab]

Wow thank you very much Ramscha and Asurendra for the information. Ill be sure to read up and watch up. Thank you very much.

I have been looking into many i guess you would say beliefs such as shamanism goetia chaos magick. I really want to move forward, well i guess start my path in goetia. But something I still dont understand is if I continue my path in goetia is it a kind of set in stone thing. I dont really know how to express my question except for that is it possible to dual-practice? or does that kind of sound stupid to you all [shh]. Ive always been interested in astral projection and dream magick and things out of this realm. If i start my path down goetia is that being cut off?

[Clockwork Ghost]

...if I continue my path in goetia is it a kind of set in stone thing...

Nope - you can choose to switch paradigms whenever you feel like it, and the chaos magic element of what youre studying would even encourage a healthy mix of paradigms and belief systems. Goetia isnt really a good place to start a study of magic, as its big, nasty, complex and you need to follow the instructions to the letter if you want it to work. Still, if youve progressed this far without driving yourself insane then maybe you have a nack for it?

I'd suggest you continue to pursue shamainsm, mixed with with chaos magic (which openly supports a shamanic paradigm anyway) and give the Lesser Key a bit of a rest until youre more in tune with your magical side, then take up the Lesser Key a bit further down the track when you have more of an understanding of the dynamics that make such a system work.

Meh, I dunno - just have fun and try not to invoke anything too huge to get rid of... [wink]

[Trakab]

Thank you case that is exactly what I needed explained.

Meh, I dunno - just have fun and try not to invoke anything too huge to get rid of... [wink]

Don't worry I dont plan to bring out some 900' demon -_- or somethin like that