BOOK REVIEW - Mastering the Art of Ritual Magick Booke 1
Mike
Barrabbas © 2008 Immanion Press ISBN: 978-1905713202
Paperback 204 pages $21.99 (U.S.)
Ordinarily, I don’t read other reviewers’ comments before I start
reading a book, but the author alerted me to a review which had panned
this book, so I took a look to see what had caused the dislike. The
gist of the comments amounted to the fact that this book was
confusing. While this may have been true, it is somewhat expected for
two reasons. First, this is a book of Ritual Magick, which is
slightly different from the more common Ceremonial Magick. Second,
this is NOT a “101” book, but is designed for intermediate (at least
semi-experienced) practitioners, so it makes certain assumptions.
Perhaps that reviewer’s confusion arose from the fact that she was
expecting a basic exposition of Ritual Magick, since the book is the
foundation of a trilogy. Since Frater Barrabbas assumes a working
knowledge of Ritual Magick to begin with he begins in the “deep end of
the pool.” This is most certainly not a beginner’s work. If you are
a novice you will be confused. You might want to buy this series and
put it aside until you are ready for it.
Another potential problem regarding the other reviewer (in my opinion)
is her youth. She is not yet out of her twenties and may
(potentially) not have enough magickal and life experience under her
belt. To an extent, this is evident since she dismisses Frater
Barrabbass’ non-amplification of statements without realizing that
they were more fully covered in his previous work (The Disciple’s
Guide to Ritual Magick). He consistently refers readers to this
earlier work, and to attempt to understand the current work without
having read it is like trying to understand advanced college courses
without having covered the prerequisite material.
Although I am not a practicing magician on the level of Frater
Barrabbas (I have not dedicated the requisite time or energy necessary
to work at that level), I have enough exposure to those kinds of
workings to recognize the essential truths of his work. While the
reviewer referenced earlier found reason to disagree with almost every
aspect of this work, having had more exposure to magickal workings (I
have been working low level magick longer than she has been in this
incarnation), I recognize that disagreement about technique and
attitude does not invalidate the workings of others. Like the
previous reviewer, I don’t entirely agree with Frater Barrabbas.
Unlike her, I took the time to read his earlier work and thus had a
basis to understand his positions.
Keying off the title of this series (“mastering the Art of Ritual
Magick”), I would not expect this to be a beginner’s book, since
mastery of a subject does not come at the start of one’s studies.
This is obviously intended as an intermediate series of works,
designed to prepare the reader (and encourage them) for further
independent, unguided studies and practices.
Expectations can color one’s perceptions. If you tackle a subject
expecting to find a simple answer, it is easy to be confused.
Conversely, if you expect deeply profound insight, you may miss simply
stated truths. Go into this book only if you have clearly defined
your own expectations and be prepared to give it more than one
reading. Do your preparation (Read The Disciple’s Guide to Ritual
Magick), and your homework, and you can expect to gain new insights
and benefits from your magickal workings; attempt it unprepared and
unwilling to work at it, and you will come away (at best) confused and/
or disappointed.
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> Mastering the Art of Ritual Magick Book 1: Foundation
> by Frater Barrabbas © 2008 Immanion Press
> ISBN: 978-1905713202 Paperback 204 pages $21.99 (U.S.)