High Magick: A Guide to the Spiritual Practices That Saved My Life on Death Row
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- Create Date：2022-09-24 06:53:08
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Damien Echols
- ISBN：1683649435
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Summary
“Magick is not a path for followers; it is a path for questioners， seekers， and anyone who has trouble settling for dogma and pre-formulated answers。 Magick is for those who feel the desire to peel away the surface of reality and see what lies beneath。 Like various persecuted forms of mysticism， magick promotes direct contact with the source of creation。”
—Damien Echols
Discover a Powerful Practice for Transforming Yourself and Your Reality
At age 18， Damien Echols was sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit。 “I spent my years in prison training to be a true magician，” he recalls。 “I used magick—the practice of reshaping reality through our intention and will—to stave off incredible pain， despair， and isolation。 But the most amazing feat of all that practice and study was to manifest my freedom。” With High Magick， this bestselling author shares his first teaching book on the powerful spiritual techniques that helped him survive and transcend his ordeal on death row。
Though our culture has consigned “magic” to fiction， stage illusions， or superstitions about dark practices， the magick Damien learned is an ancient Western tradition equal the Eastern practices of Buddhism， Taoism， and yoga in its wisdom and transformative power。 Here he brings you an engaging and highly accessible guide for bringing magick into your own life， including:
• What is High Magick？ Damien clears away the stigma and reveals the history and core teachings of this extraordinary art。
• The Four-Fold Breath—a foundational meditation practice to train your mind and body to channel subtle energies。
• The Middle Pillar—how to bring divine energy into the central channel of your body for empowerment and healing。
• The Qabalistic Cross—a centering technique to help you stay balanced and protected regardless of circumstances。
• The Lesser Rituals of the Pentagram—powerful practices for banishing negative energies and invoking energy to manifest your goals。
• Working with angelic beings and other spiritual allies to support your practice。
• Creating thoughtforms to assist you in your ongoing magickal development。
• Guidance for overcoming your doubts， enhancing your visualization skills， creating talismans， practicing magick ethically， and much more。
“Magick is a journey，” writes Damien。 “It’s a continuously unfolding path that has no end。 You can study and practice magick for the rest of your life and you will still never learn everything that it has to teach you。” If you’re ready to discover your untapped potential for co-creating your reality with the energy of the divine， then join this extraordinary teacher to begin your training in High Magick。
—Damien Echols
Discover a Powerful Practice for Transforming Yourself and Your Reality
At age 18， Damien Echols was sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit。 “I spent my years in prison training to be a true magician，” he recalls。 “I used magick—the practice of reshaping reality through our intention and will—to stave off incredible pain， despair， and isolation。 But the most amazing feat of all that practice and study was to manifest my freedom。” With High Magick， this bestselling author shares his first teaching book on the powerful spiritual techniques that helped him survive and transcend his ordeal on death row。
Though our culture has consigned “magic” to fiction， stage illusions， or superstitions about dark practices， the magick Damien learned is an ancient Western tradition equal the Eastern practices of Buddhism， Taoism， and yoga in its wisdom and transformative power。 Here he brings you an engaging and highly accessible guide for bringing magick into your own life， including:
• What is High Magick？ Damien clears away the stigma and reveals the history and core teachings of this extraordinary art。
• The Four-Fold Breath—a foundational meditation practice to train your mind and body to channel subtle energies。
• The Middle Pillar—how to bring divine energy into the central channel of your body for empowerment and healing。
• The Qabalistic Cross—a centering technique to help you stay balanced and protected regardless of circumstances。
• The Lesser Rituals of the Pentagram—powerful practices for banishing negative energies and invoking energy to manifest your goals。
• Working with angelic beings and other spiritual allies to support your practice。
• Creating thoughtforms to assist you in your ongoing magickal development。
• Guidance for overcoming your doubts， enhancing your visualization skills， creating talismans， practicing magick ethically， and much more。
“Magick is a journey，” writes Damien。 “It’s a continuously unfolding path that has no end。 You can study and practice magick for the rest of your life and you will still never learn everything that it has to teach you。” If you’re ready to discover your untapped potential for co-creating your reality with the energy of the divine， then join this extraordinary teacher to begin your training in High Magick。
Reviews
Thunder Stone
，
Damien has humanised Western magick in a way I have never experienced before。 This book is a truly foundational text that is accessible to any initiate， and has really helped clarify a lot of concepts within Western Magick and Occultism that I previously had a lot of difficulty wrapping my head around。 Damien's story is worth reading about independently of the practices and wisdom included in this book。 What a remarkable man that he has made such gold out of the dark experience he has survived w Damien has humanised Western magick in a way I have never experienced before。 This book is a truly foundational text that is accessible to any initiate， and has really helped clarify a lot of concepts within Western Magick and Occultism that I previously had a lot of difficulty wrapping my head around。 Damien's story is worth reading about independently of the practices and wisdom included in this book。 What a remarkable man that he has made such gold out of the dark experience he has survived with his practice， and made it so accessible to the world that the transformative practices can extend beyond his being。 Check out his Patreon if you enjoyed this book。 Full of more gold。 。。。more
Angy
，
I picked this book up not remembering that Damien Echols was one of the teenagers falsely accused of performing Satanic sacrifice on three boys in the West Memphis Three。 As an outsider myself who loves metal music and magick， I can empathize so much with that case， knowing just how hard it can be to be misunderstood by certain communities。 Echols experienced an extremely horrible example， nearly being sent to death row。 This book wasn't so much a memoir as much as it was a practical magick guid I picked this book up not remembering that Damien Echols was one of the teenagers falsely accused of performing Satanic sacrifice on three boys in the West Memphis Three。 As an outsider myself who loves metal music and magick， I can empathize so much with that case， knowing just how hard it can be to be misunderstood by certain communities。 Echols experienced an extremely horrible example， nearly being sent to death row。 This book wasn't so much a memoir as much as it was a practical magick guide with some of his life experiences mixed in， and he did a great job with the blending。 It was fascinating reading about what he's been through and what kind of magickal practices helped saved him， and what he would recommend to others who have suffered。 I think he's also good at writing with an engaging voice as well as explaining magical concepts in a manner that is easy to understand， though he did touch upon a lot of basics here。 I am now very curious to read his other works。 。。。more
Markus Nylund
，
Great stuff。 But lots of exercises。 Kind of just breezed through the latter half。 Need to do the work properly。 Will research more and go to the source。 Nevertheless， this opened my eyes to a whole new world。 I'm just too depressed to do anything right now。 I am stuck in hell。 The worst prison of all。。。 Great stuff。 But lots of exercises。 Kind of just breezed through the latter half。 Need to do the work properly。 Will research more and go to the source。 Nevertheless， this opened my eyes to a whole new world。 I'm just too depressed to do anything right now。 I am stuck in hell。 The worst prison of all。。。 。。。more
Karina
，
So far so good
Pogo
，
I don't particularly buy into any of the underlying metaphysical assumptions that inform a "magickal" worldview， but I suspect that it can still enact psychological and behavioral changes that are beneficial。 I see most of the aims better addressed by other contemplative paths; Buddhism in particular， and that magick often simply has a cultural aesthetic to it more appealing to some。 Fair enough。 There is more visualisation and ritual involved than often found in more westernized/secular dharma， I don't particularly buy into any of the underlying metaphysical assumptions that inform a "magickal" worldview， but I suspect that it can still enact psychological and behavioral changes that are beneficial。 I see most of the aims better addressed by other contemplative paths; Buddhism in particular， and that magick often simply has a cultural aesthetic to it more appealing to some。 Fair enough。 There is more visualisation and ritual involved than often found in more westernized/secular dharma， though。 I'm a fairly dedicated meditator and was surprised to find that I could feel a decent amount of tingles and other sensations coursing through my body when just reading through the descriptions given in the book， so I don't doubt that such exercises could result in some heightened sensitivity and enhanced attentional skills at the very least。The story of what happened to Damien is interesting in itself。 Having myself enduring solitary confinement for a fraction of the time that he did （3 months） I can only imagine the trauma it presented， and his coming out a seemingly decent and socially engaged human being at minimum attests to the purpose and direction it provided him。 。。。more
Kaven
，
while i’m not quite ready to practice a ton of what Damien lays forth （in part due to reading on audio & not having the text before me） but he lays out the practices & explanations in super transparent & accessible ways。 i’m a fan of Damien’s approach & life story。
David Given Schwarm
，
A lot of practices are introduced， detailed instructions， and valuable reflections。 One reads the book and then spends the next three years on the homework。 The exercises build on each other in an intuitively obvious way。 Very laid back， approachable attitude--very easy to follow。 A GREAT background story behind all that he does。 Worth checking out if you have any interest in the field。 Or love Pearl Jam。
Incorrigible Reader
，
Fantastic book！ Author's own life story is inspiring and unforgettable。 The explanation of the Middle Pillar， Kabbalistic Cross， and the LBRP are the best I have ever come across。 The explanations are so good， you won't have any questions about the doing of the practices。 The author starts you out slowly。 All the exercises are very doable and newbie-friendly。 There's none of the become completely thoughtless for 10 mins。 kind of stuff here。 If you are concerned about disturbing your household me Fantastic book！ Author's own life story is inspiring and unforgettable。 The explanation of the Middle Pillar， Kabbalistic Cross， and the LBRP are the best I have ever come across。 The explanations are so good， you won't have any questions about the doing of the practices。 The author starts you out slowly。 All the exercises are very doable and newbie-friendly。 There's none of the become completely thoughtless for 10 mins。 kind of stuff here。 If you are concerned about disturbing your household members with what little chanting there is in rituals like the Middle Pillar， then I would suggest turning on some music to create background noise， while you practice ;） An invaluable resource for beginners。 The author is almost always giving you options for customizing the practices to your needs。 Proceed with this book as you wish。 Here's one way。 Note down the exercises in one section。 Do them for a few weeks。 Move on to the next section。 The exercises that resonate with you， do them forever :） 。。。more
Ellen
，
Definitely more instructional than I was expecting but absolutely fascinating nonetheless - felt in places like "HotGD Rituals for Dummies" which is honestly something I've been looking for on the down-low for a good few months so was very much appreciated。 and what a fantastic voice！ Definitely more instructional than I was expecting but absolutely fascinating nonetheless - felt in places like "HotGD Rituals for Dummies" which is honestly something I've been looking for on the down-low for a good few months so was very much appreciated。 and what a fantastic voice！ 。。。more
Owlvine
，
Damien Echols' voice is no-nonsense。 His book is a pleasure to read - accessible for the beginner， and a joy for those who have been on "the path" for years。 High Magick begins with Damien introducing us to his incredible life story， and the part magic has to play in living through the horrors and injustice he has faced。 He goes on to outline the fundamental practices of Ceremonial Magick。 Each exercise is written clearly and is easy to understand。 At the end of the book he shares several practi Damien Echols' voice is no-nonsense。 His book is a pleasure to read - accessible for the beginner， and a joy for those who have been on "the path" for years。 High Magick begins with Damien introducing us to his incredible life story， and the part magic has to play in living through the horrors and injustice he has faced。 He goes on to outline the fundamental practices of Ceremonial Magick。 Each exercise is written clearly and is easy to understand。 At the end of the book he shares several practical workings useful for every magician （or witch！）。 I loved these！It is clear that Damien is a kind soul who writes only to aid budding magicians in their "Great Work"。 And though he does not apply the title to himself， he is a brilliant teacher。 Thank you Damien！ 。。。more
Dodie
，
Is this book for you？ I think it depends on your experience and what you are looking for。 This book is a beginners book。 There are a lot of “practice exercises” that use breathing， visitations and mantras。 Then after having a daily practice using those techniques you move on to more complex rituals like the middle pillar， TLBR among a others。 If you are interested in Western mysticism and have no experience then this book is for you。
Pocket Coven
，
A beautiful， personal story told through a perfect balance of memoir and applied technique。 I began reading this book wanting to learn theory and finished it with a much greater understanding of the workings of high magick。
Bon Tom
，
Intriguing to say the least。 Of course， I would probably brush this off as superstition or unnecessary complication and overly elaborate superstructure above the basic tenants of meditation and visualization， but this is coming from the man I highly respect。 I mean， if somebody is walking the walk， that's him。 And after reading， I must say it's really not too far gone from what I've already been doing with my decades in higher autogenic training。 So I'll definitely give this a fair try in my own Intriguing to say the least。 Of course， I would probably brush this off as superstition or unnecessary complication and overly elaborate superstructure above the basic tenants of meditation and visualization， but this is coming from the man I highly respect。 I mean， if somebody is walking the walk， that's him。 And after reading， I must say it's really not too far gone from what I've already been doing with my decades in higher autogenic training。 So I'll definitely give this a fair try in my own little laboratory。 。。。more
Damien
，
I like to imagine that Echols is such a nice guy that I almost hate to write this review。 I wanted so much to like it， but it was extremely disappointing。 When I started reading this book， I originally made notes as I went from page to page about what I thought was good and what was bad about it， but there were so many things wrong with it that I gave up。 I'll simply state my main pet peeve about the book。 Echols Magick （not "High Magick" or even "Golden Dawn Magic"） relies too heavily on the Mi I like to imagine that Echols is such a nice guy that I almost hate to write this review。 I wanted so much to like it， but it was extremely disappointing。 When I started reading this book， I originally made notes as I went from page to page about what I thought was good and what was bad about it， but there were so many things wrong with it that I gave up。 I'll simply state my main pet peeve about the book。 Echols Magick （not "High Magick" or even "Golden Dawn Magic"） relies too heavily on the Middle Pillar Exercise。 The Middle Pillar Exercise was never a part of the original Golden Dawn。 It was not even important in the Stella Matutina， the latter day offshoot of the Order after the major 1900 schism。 It was nothing more than an outline of an idea that Robert Felkin had， a skeletal ritual that Israel Regardie changed into what it is well known as today。 In reality， the modern day Middle Pillar Exercise is nothing but Regardie's baby， and even then much of his additions were inspired by Crowley's Equinox。 Echols tells us that magick is not for followers， but stressing the importance of this trendy Qabalistic exercise says something else。 Just because something is popular does not make it something more than what it is， and I never really thought it was important or necessary。 But to explain why would require an essay too long for this review。 All of Echols' teachings on magick， and his rituals， are more his own versions than anything traditional。 And that is fine。 He can do it however it best may suit him。 I just could not recommend this book， or his classes to any beginners， and even then， only to those who are already well versed in the subject matter and have years of experience， as well as good critical thinking skills。That said， if it means anything at all， I wish Echols all the best。 I have no animosity toward him as an individual human being。 。。。more
Hugh
，
Very good， focuses on the personal work at the root of the practice。
Teal Deer
，
I read this very slowly， over months， and finished it on a full moon， and that feels exactly like how it should be。
Diana Rajchel
，
This is the book I wished I had as a beginner in 1996。 Echols does something I have only seen once before: he actually explains what the basic Golden Dawn rituals are supposed to do， in plain language。 He also， in relaying his own experience， clued me in to why the Middle Pillar gives me such trouble at times。I was also intrigued to see his passage on urban shamanism。 While I differ with him over his belief that you can’t call wild nature in a city - the coyotes of San Francisco and the bears an This is the book I wished I had as a beginner in 1996。 Echols does something I have only seen once before: he actually explains what the basic Golden Dawn rituals are supposed to do， in plain language。 He also， in relaying his own experience， clued me in to why the Middle Pillar gives me such trouble at times。I was also intrigued to see his passage on urban shamanism。 While I differ with him over his belief that you can’t call wild nature in a city - the coyotes of San Francisco and the bears and mountain lions of California beg to differ - his work is very much parallels to my own in working with both neighborhood and city spirits。I believe I have finally found the book that I can recommend to others with “start here！” 。。。more
Ton
，
I've been reading tarot and practicing the LBRP since last year。 Finding traditional and accurate resources， I've been performing a very strict LBRP。 But after reading Damien's High Magick， I have created my own version of the same ritual。 Just with a few tweaks and added flourish， I feel a more personal connection to this path than I ever have。Some traditionalists are very particular about following exact instructions， but as you research the LBRP online， and start bugging practitioners twitter I've been reading tarot and practicing the LBRP since last year。 Finding traditional and accurate resources， I've been performing a very strict LBRP。 But after reading Damien's High Magick， I have created my own version of the same ritual。 Just with a few tweaks and added flourish， I feel a more personal connection to this path than I ever have。Some traditionalists are very particular about following exact instructions， but as you research the LBRP online， and start bugging practitioners twitter or instagram accounts， you'll see that most if not all add their own flourish and mark on it。 I highly recommend this book to a beginner， and maybe even an intermediate who is trying to find their own voice on this path。 It's a wild ride。Love and Light 。。。more
Alan D。D。
，
Interesante， informativo， muy detallado， y con una estructura sólida。 Definitivamente un libro que ayuda a desarrollar habilidades más allá del reino físico， aunque hubiese preferido que el autor compartiera una bibliografía， referencias， o lecturas recomendadas al final del libro。 Solo por eso， no le doy cinco estrellas。 No obstante， es uno los libros que le recomendaré a los demás si no saben por dónde empezar。Interesting， informative， very detailed， and with a solid structure。 Definitely a bo Interesante， informativo， muy detallado， y con una estructura sólida。 Definitivamente un libro que ayuda a desarrollar habilidades más allá del reino físico， aunque hubiese preferido que el autor compartiera una bibliografía， referencias， o lecturas recomendadas al final del libro。 Solo por eso， no le doy cinco estrellas。 No obstante， es uno los libros que le recomendaré a los demás si no saben por dónde empezar。Interesting， informative， very detailed， and with a solid structure。 Definitely a book that helps develop skills beyond the physical realm， although I would have preferred the author to share a bibliography， references， or recommended reading at the end of the book。 For that alone， I'm not giving it five stars。 However， it's one of the books that I will recommend to others if they don't know where to start。 。。。more
Liv Pasquarelli
，
This was a great book with practical advice that can be used anywhere。 It's great for beginners and it emphasizes how we don't need tons of expensive crystals， herbs， and potions to practice magic。 This was a great book with practical advice that can be used anywhere。 It's great for beginners and it emphasizes how we don't need tons of expensive crystals， herbs， and potions to practice magic。 。。。more
Lithakazi Soshankana
，
1。 I didn't like this book2。 It's a guideline and if you follow the instructions for the practices as per the book， it may be a year until you get through it。3。 You can call the practices Magic（k） if you so choose， but it is basically meditation， energy work and a lot of visualisation， which are done throughout any and every spiritual work I have ever come across and it only works if you believe。4。 Mentions archangels， the cross and the likes， and also quotes from the Bible but claim that these 1。 I didn't like this book2。 It's a guideline and if you follow the instructions for the practices as per the book， it may be a year until you get through it。3。 You can call the practices Magic（k） if you so choose， but it is basically meditation， energy work and a lot of visualisation， which are done throughout any and every spiritual work I have ever come across and it only works if you believe。4。 Mentions archangels， the cross and the likes， and also quotes from the Bible but claim that these practices and knowledge were of a time before Christianity， which scholars can attest to， but it just goes to show that this is a variation of the monotheistic and Abrahamic religions（mentions Enoch and Elijah）。5。 What I learnt: There was an earlier religion called Zoroastrianism， which came even before Judaism and is considered to have been the first religion to refer to angels。6。 To me， religions are starting to look a lot like science。 Someone comes up with a theory， majority of scientists accept it and then decades later， someone comes with a variation of that theory and the scientists of that generation accept it， and on it goes。 Judaism borrowed from Zoroastrianism。 Christianity borrowed from Judaism。 Islam borrowed from Christianity and Judaism and on it goes。7。 At the end of the day， if you believe it works， "it will work。" If you believe the practices in this book are magick and you practice them， then you are a magician。8。 How I have presented my thoughts on the book is how the practices are presented in the book， i。e。 step 1， 2， 3。。。Personally， I hated the book but if it's only aim was to guide amenable people into the practices， I give it 4/5， it gives a step by step guide。 If the book also aimed to try and win people over though， then a 1/5 for effort but it wasn't very convincing。 There is nothing special or attractive about the book， no actual writing gift so to put it， it was just a book from a man with something to say。 。。。more
Sandy Postlethwayt
，
Practical solid adviceAn easy read that's enjoyable。 I enjoyed the practical side of things & the way it's written。 If the subject interests you & you want to explore it more， you need to read this book。 It's really good！ Practical solid adviceAn easy read that's enjoyable。 I enjoyed the practical side of things & the way it's written。 If the subject interests you & you want to explore it more， you need to read this book。 It's really good！ 。。。more
Justin Sanders
，
Damien has a really comprehensive approach to the discipline of high ceremonial magick。 This is a book that I will for sure return to。 The biggest thing I noticed was how he gave an in-depth approach and in plain terms the process of visualization。 I did not realize the middle pillar rite was so easy to do！ I had been searching online and nothing seemed straight forward this is a great way to teach as well as learn about ceremonial magick。 Another takeaway is when he gave the clear insight on ch Damien has a really comprehensive approach to the discipline of high ceremonial magick。 This is a book that I will for sure return to。 The biggest thing I noticed was how he gave an in-depth approach and in plain terms the process of visualization。 I did not realize the middle pillar rite was so easy to do！ I had been searching online and nothing seemed straight forward this is a great way to teach as well as learn about ceremonial magick。 Another takeaway is when he gave the clear insight on charging water with intent and using it in a way that is helpful。 I knew this method but his approach seemed to use the middle pillar method too while setting the intent for the water to be drank。 。。。more
Vab
，
Great introduction to Western esotericism and energy work with ceremonial magick
Pravin
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Damien Echols had a troubled life。 Born in a small town in the USA's Bible Belt， he grew up as a metal-listening， bible-bashing angsty teen。 In the early 90's him & two of his buddies were charged with the murder of three boys in Arkansas。 Echols was sentenced to death & spent 18 years on death row。 Echols was released in 2011， due to newly discovered forensic evidence coming to light， disproving his involvement in the murders， & the notion that the murders were part of a satanic ritual。So why w Damien Echols had a troubled life。 Born in a small town in the USA's Bible Belt， he grew up as a metal-listening， bible-bashing angsty teen。 In the early 90's him & two of his buddies were charged with the murder of three boys in Arkansas。 Echols was sentenced to death & spent 18 years on death row。 Echols was released in 2011， due to newly discovered forensic evidence coming to light， disproving his involvement in the murders， & the notion that the murders were part of a satanic ritual。So why would you want to read this book？When I was about 14， I came across a form of western spirituality， which practitioners called Magick。 Damien states that the type of enlightenment sought by eastern yogis over a period of lifetimes， is achievable in a single life time using this western occult theory。Now， I'm a highly skeptical individual。 I take any religious doctrine with a grain of salt， & mostly ignore religion in general （If you watch the first chapter of Zeitgeist， you'll see where I'm coming from）， however， Damien's experience with Magick & its practical uses was almost magnetic to me。Damien was featured in the Midnight Gospel， a trippy series on Netflix that presents interviews with interesting people set in fantastical other-worldly alternate realities。 In Damien's episode， he speaks to length about how Magick saved his life & preserved his sanity。 Even when you remove all the occult， pseudo-religious jargon， I was intrigued by his practices。 I viewed his rituals as a form of western meditation。I picked this book up to see exactly what his methods were。In this book， he goes on about angels & other supernatural phenomena that I simply cannot take to heart; I just don't believe in certain mystical things that I cannot explain scientifically。 However， there are certain chapters in this book with methods & rationales that I can reconcile。1） Everything is energy。 This is objectively true to me。 Every inanimate object & living being has some form of energy & are given form & structure by the universe。 2） His invocation of the moon & sun produced a physiological reaction in my body， & a definite feeling of calm & energy in my mind。3） His beliefs on enlightenment & consciousness after death hold somewhat true with what I know about the brain's chemistry when we die， so for the most part I can agree with some of his tenets。 What I cannot reconcile with my own beliefs are:1） Angels & other supernatural beings can be invoked to provide tangible & intangible changes in your life。2） That using Aramaic （ an ancient language ） as part of a ritual following Kabbalah's tree of life， provides any empirical difference in behaviour & material gain。Why would you want to read this book？1） Invoke the moon & the sun， once in the morning & once at night。 It's an amazing feeling when you feel the energy of these celestial bodies enter your body & emanate as a powerful aura of energy around you。 Moon invocations give me the most refreshing sleep I've had in my life， with a heightened ability to enter a lucid dream。 Moon invocations also allow me to deal with inconvenient truths about myself subconsciously， & when I awaken， I feel less burdened by my own inadequacies & failings。 Sun invocations give me all the pep in my step I need for the day， where stress & worry pour over me like water flowing off of a ducks back。 These two practices， I internalise as meditations that I do almost every day。2） It gives you an interesting take on how meditation can be used to direct your mental energy towards preserving its sanity， & puts you on the path to finding solutions to whatever problems you are facing。 3） Finally， these are the words of an exonerated man， who found solace on death row away from the omnipotency of the Judeo-Christian God。 It's a fascinating read into western occult spirituality & ceremonial practices， that I feel haven't been well documented since Crowley died。 。。。more
Joey Scharbrough
，
Damien's life and incarceration on death row demonstrates perfectly how horrible situations can lead to one's need to call upon higher forces。 That is exactly what Damien did as his death sentence loomed in his mind， he decided to call upon the power of high magick， as a last ditch effort to gain freedom， if even only in his mind。 Whether it would actually work or not， desperation prevailed。 Years later after being released， he decided to write about the powers that granted his mind peace， hope Damien's life and incarceration on death row demonstrates perfectly how horrible situations can lead to one's need to call upon higher forces。 That is exactly what Damien did as his death sentence loomed in his mind， he decided to call upon the power of high magick， as a last ditch effort to gain freedom， if even only in his mind。 Whether it would actually work or not， desperation prevailed。 Years later after being released， he decided to write about the powers that granted his mind peace， hope and in the end， freedom。 I have followed the story of Damien's plight from the beginning and never imagined he would ever be set free。 For that to have actually happened， it indeed would take a miracle。 His down to Earth approach to explaining how to perform the magick that set him free， is refreshing after reading so many manuals full of hoity toity language and complex detailed instructions in other books。 If you are seeking a book to get you started upon the path of high magick， then I think this is a great place to start。 Definitely for those wanting to delve into Golden Dawn and Thelemic system of magick。 Enjoy and happy workings！ 。。。more
Louise Finlayson
，
Excellent readSome interesting observations and ideas。 Damien clearly knows his stuff， and explains things simply but completely。。。。I’m glad the world now has the chance to hear him。
Petra Schuller
，
to be honest。。。。i skimmed more than i read。。。。yes its his views on things and no i dont think its a "needed" book if you are practicing。 i had problems to get through it as its not exactly what i expected it to be。 if you follow a certain path in your practice， this book wont likely give you answers you might be looking for。 to me it was， im truly sorry to say that， i waste of time to read。 not because i lack interest， not at all， but as for my path its just not suitable and didnt give me any gr to be honest。。。。i skimmed more than i read。。。。yes its his views on things and no i dont think its a "needed" book if you are practicing。 i had problems to get through it as its not exactly what i expected it to be。 if you follow a certain path in your practice， this book wont likely give you answers you might be looking for。 to me it was， im truly sorry to say that， i waste of time to read。 not because i lack interest， not at all， but as for my path its just not suitable and didnt give me any greater view on insight on things i already learned and read about。 i do understand this book got hyped。 if it helped you in any way， good for you and i am happy for you。 。。。more
Christian
，
Gee， what can you say？ Heavy story， not so heavy reading。 This is probably not a bad starting point for the targeted audience。 Still， this is far too much "energy-babble" for my taste。 Still some quite useful applications of magic in daily usage in here。 Since this focusses on Golden Dawn-type magic， it could use a little bit more historical context （well， like， basically every book on magic on this level）。 But than again， this would put the target-audience off。。。 Gee， what can you say？ Heavy story， not so heavy reading。 This is probably not a bad starting point for the targeted audience。 Still， this is far too much "energy-babble" for my taste。 Still some quite useful applications of magic in daily usage in here。 Since this focusses on Golden Dawn-type magic， it could use a little bit more historical context （well， like， basically every book on magic on this level）。 But than again， this would put the target-audience off。。。 。。。more
John
，