The Keys to the Kingdom

Although it would appear that I've been inactive of late, a lot has been going on. At the present, I am battling some health issues which have culminated into a surgery scheduled for next month. As a result, I may be incommunicado for a bit. However my work on the inner planes continues along. I have made many insights which are personal, but I would like to convey the importance of doing inner work -- thus achieving self realization.

Magic and spell work has been my focus for more than two decades. There comes a time along the path of the magician that a fork appears in the road, or perhaps what might even be perceived for some as an impasse. I have proven to myself that I am more than capable and proficient at manifesting situations and outcomes. Eventually, this no longer satisfies, at least not for me. What I'm saying is that at some point, the desire to go deeper and uncover the source of this process comes to the fore. Namely, self inquiry or the quest to discover your true or higher self and our connection to the source and creator of all things. The path of the magician converges with the path of the mystic.....

I'm not criticizing those who choose the path of the magician. Magic and spell work is what brought me where I am today, both inwardly and outwardly. In fact, I still practice magic, but the work is done mentally. I made this adjustment because of my health issues. It is what is known as psi magic/k. The ritual is done mentally, rather than physically. After all, the secret of a successful ritual isn't the candles, incense, sword and dagger. The real magic comes from within you. Ritual has always been a sort of psychological exercise to manufacture the needed energy and strength of purpose necessary for a successful outcome. I started by performing the Qabbalistic Cross and LBRP mentally. Projecting an image of myself in my mind's eye performing each step. This is very useful to enhancing your clairvoyant capabilities and aids you in truly visualizing, hearing and feeling the presence of the angels. Sometimes the physical movements can be a distraction to the seeing and the feeling. It's a lot to coordinate all these features at once. Give it a try and note if you're better able to perceive the spirits through a mental ritual. It certainly worked for me. I now do all my work this way.

Back now to the mystical aspect of the path.... I am here to give advice based on what my experience of 25 plus years has shown me. This path is actually much more difficult and challenging than performing magic. Sounds crazy and improbable but it's true. Examining and deconstructing yourself is a hell of a lot more work and effort. Human nature is to turn away from adversity and darker aspects of ourselves we don't want to face. I'm stressing the importance of this because I really feel that unless you do this part of the work on yourself, you are not truly performing the Great Work -- no matter how many angels and demons you've called up, how many sigils and seals you've created, or how many successful rituals you've performed. It does no good if you still allow your ego to rule you and don't recognize or perceive the difference between the ego and the real you.

Taking the time and making the effort to observe yourself, your actions and reactions to people and situations both past and present is vital. Your entire life and outlook will change as a result and most likely a great percentage of your ritual and spell work will decrease. Why? Because much of what you perceive to be faulty or lacking in your life will be taken care of through this self observation work. You will discover cycles and patterns that manifest themselves as problems. As magicians, sometimes we're too quick to rush off to a ritual to fix something when all that is really needed is observation and adjustment of behaviors and traits. This is the underlying reason why some aren't successful or proficient in magic. Their perception of people and events is skewed. Then, they deplete their energy performing spells and rites that are never meant to work. Your HGA knows why -- do you? Are you listening? Inner work will connect you to your HGA more effectively than Liber Samekh alone. It's through this inner observation that you will best be able to heed the advice of your HGA. It is through this inner work that the sacred marriage can take place and only until that time will you be merged together. Until then, you're working with the HGA as an outside entity or force. There will always exist a sort of disconnect and your work and development will suffer for it. It is imperative that you entrust yourself to your HGA. If you're always trying to take the reigns via ritual or earthly action without listening, you will constantly run into a wall or hit a plateau where no further progress will be permitted for your own benefit and safety.

Inner work may not be as sexy and exciting as magic, but it truly is the key to the kingdom and will help you to reach the pinnacle, or in qabbalistic terms, Keter and even beyond. Until this is done, you have not truly crossed the abyss. You're merely standing at the threshold staring out into the darkness. There is no way but through. It can be painful and unpleasant to put it mildly. You may re-live some events from your past that you buried away. You will encounter all of your weaknesses and inferior traits. Jesus' trial in the desert was his abyss. You will never know true freedom and peace until you walk into the darkness. Your HGA never leaves you. This is only a perception. However, it's up to you whether to fight or flee. In alchemical terms the dross must be removed to discover the gold within. Until then, you're only working with pyrite.