BOOK REVIEW - Graeco-Egyptian Magick: Everyday Empowerment
Mike
2006 ISBN: 978-1-905713037 258 pages Paperback $21.99 (U.S.)
Are you as frustrated as I am by all the “101” books available in the
magickal field? Do you want something with a bit more meat to it?
Well, this book is a good place to start. True, it contains a great
deal of “101” material, but it includes translations of the original
sources, not just the tabulated results (although they are provided as
well).
Assumptions ARE made about the level of commitment on the part of the
magickian, as well as about the degree of comfort and expertise
brought to the study of the material.
For those out there who are more interested in reading about rituals
than actually doing them (you know who you are), this book will be
interesting. For those already familiar with Classical Greek
writings, it may be redundant. For those interested in working with
pre-Medieval magickal systems, it is invaluable.
The first 82 pages provide a fairly comprehensive background on the
deities and sources of the information, as well as explaining some
individual modifications made by the author. None of these
modifications, by the way, are at all radical, and all are explained
clearly
Each of the planetary rites consists of invocations, including the use
of “words of power”, none of which would be particularly useful
without the inclusion of Appendix 2: Pronunciation, which helps the
would-be Graeco-Egyptian magickian make sure that they are calling the
appropriate entity.
Many modern day magicians might be uncomfortable working without the
perceived protection of a magick circle. However, since the
magickians of the period lasting through the first five centuries of
the Common Era did not use a circle, it would seem that the best way
to duplicate their experience would be to duplicate their methods to
the best of our ability.
Granted that the author allows his personal perceptions and biases to
affect the invocations he uses (modifying the originals in order to
achieve specific results), he is honest enough to explain what he has
done, and more importantly – why he has done so.
Although I am not a Ceremonialist, by any stretch of the imagination,
I found it easy to understand Mr. Mierzwicki’s directions. I must
admit that I found a few areas where he and I disagree in regards to
the myths and their interpretations, and a few other items, but I kind
of expected that going in. I knew that my background in Graeco-
Egyptian culture was weak, and so I was willing to accept the fact
that I would find things to challenge my perceptions.
Although I am not sure how valuable this book will be for my own
personal development, I am able to see its overall value and
usefulness. If “high” magick is your forte, this book definitely
belongs in your library. It is not intended to be a “quick fix”, as
the rituals need time to work on many levels and cannot be rushed, but
working within this system will definitely yield benefits.
Mike
Here is that data.
Graeco-Egyptian Magick: Everyday Empowerment by Tony Mierzwicki ©
2006 Megalithica Books ISBN: 978-1-905713037 258 pages
Paperback $21.99 (U.S.)
ren
Thanks Mike. I don't read all the books you review but I do appreciate
the summaries.
Evergreen
> Graeco-Egyptian Magick: Everyday Empowerment by Tony Mierzwicki
> =A9 2006 ISBN: 978-1-905713037 258 pages Paperback $21.99
> (U.S.)
>
> Are you as frustrated as I am by all the =93101=94 books
> available in the magickal field? Do you want something with a
> bit more meat to it? Well, this book is a good place to start.
> True, it contains a great deal of =93101=94 material, but it
> includes translations of the original sources, not just the
> tabulated results (although they are provided as well).
>
> Assumptions ARE made about the level of commitment on the part
> of the magickian, as well as about the degree of comfort and
> expertise brought to the study of the material.
>
> For those out there who are more interested in reading about
> rituals than actually doing them (you know who you are), this
> book will be interesting. For those already familiar with
> Classical Greek writings, it may be redundant. For those
> interested in working with pre-Medieval magickal systems, it is
> invaluable.
>
> The first 82 pages provide a fairly comprehensive background
> on the deities and sources of the information, as well as
> explaining some individual modifications made by the author.
> None of these modifications, by the way, are at all radical,
> and all are explained clearly
>
> Each of the planetary rites consists of invocations, including
> the use of =93words of power=94, none of which would be
> particularly useful without the inclusion of Appendix 2:
> Pronunciation, which helps the would-be Graeco-Egyptian
> magickian make sure that they are calling the appropriate
> entity.
>
> Many modern day magicians might be uncomfortable working
> without the perceived protection of a magick circle. However,
> since the magickians of the period lasting through the first
> five centuries of the Common Era did not use a circle, it would
> seem that the best way to duplicate their experience would be
> to duplicate their methods to the best of our ability.
>
> Granted that the author allows his personal perceptions and
> biases to affect the invocations he uses (modifying the
> originals in order to achieve specific results), he is honest
> enough to explain what he has done, and more importantly =96
> why he has done so.
>
> Although I am not a Ceremonialist, by any stretch of the
> imagination, I found it easy to understand Mr. Mierzwicki=92s
> directions. I must admit that I found a few areas where he and
> I disagree in regards to the myths and their interpretations,
> and a few other items, but I kind of expected that going in. I
> knew that my background in Graeco- Egyptian culture was weak,
> and so I was willing to accept the fact that I would find
> things to challenge my perceptions.
>
> Although I am not sure how valuable this book will be for my
> own personal development, I am able to see its overall value
> and usefulness. If =93high=94 magick is your forte, this book
> definitely belongs in your library. It is not intended to be
> a =93quick fix=94, as the rituals need time to work on many
> levels and cannot be rushed, but working within this system
> will definitely yield benefits.
<yawn> More of the same tiresome, elitist, psuedo-esoteric
drivel: It's old and mysterious so it must be about real magick.
The fact is that there isn't anyone involved with this book,
including any readers, that can demonstrate any magickal skills
at all.
What you will get if you study this book is more material to
play the role with.
Which is all that can be said for every book that's supposedly
about magick that Mike has reviewed.
At least he's consistent.
But to be fair, he doesn't have much to work with. All the
supposed material on magick he has access to comes from
scholars, not magicians.
Sid
--
Sidney Lambe
Wiccan Priest and Apprentice Magician
http://tinyurl.com/7vs9zb
usenet4444 (at) gmail (dot) com
Mike
> usenet4444 (at) gmail (dot) com- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
You know Sid, you consistently take exception to the books I review.
I therefore have a very simple request: Please give me some
recommendations of books you feel would be helpful for mnagickal
practitoners. I am always open to ideas and thoughts beyond what I
normally encounter. And I really want to be halpful to the
community. So how about you help me help the community? You can
contact me through email, or on the newsgroups, whichever you prefer.
I'll be waiting for your suggestions.
Mike
Evergreen
>> On alt.religion.wicca, Mike <gleason.m...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > Graeco-Egyptian Magick: Everyday Empowerment by Tony Mierzwicki
>> > (U.S.)
>>
>> > Are you as frustrated as I am by all the =3D93101=3D94 books
>> > available in the magickal field? Do you want something with a
>> > bit more meat to it? Well, this book is a good place to start.
>> > includes translations of the original sources, not just the
>> > tabulated results (although they are provided as well).
>>
>> > Assumptions ARE made about the level of commitment on the part
>> > of the magickian, as well as about the degree of comfort and
>> > expertise brought to the study of the material.
>>
>> > For those out there who are more interested in reading about
>> > rituals than actually doing them (you know who you are), this
>> > book will be interesting. For those already familiar with
>> > Classical Greek writings, it may be redundant. For those
>> > interested in working with pre-Medieval magickal systems, it is
>> > invaluable.
>>
>> > The first 82 pages provide a fairly comprehensive background
>> > on the deities and sources of the information, as well as
>> > explaining some individual modifications made by the author.
>> > None of these modifications, by the way, are at all radical,
>> > and all are explained clearly
>>
>> > Each of the planetary rites consists of invocations, including
>> > particularly useful without the inclusion of Appendix 2:
>> > Pronunciation, which helps the would-be Graeco-Egyptian
>> > magickian make sure that they are calling the appropriate
>> > entity.
>>
>> > Many modern day magicians might be uncomfortable working
>> > without the perceived protection of a magick circle. However,
>> > since the magickians of the period lasting through the first
>> > five centuries of the Common Era did not use a circle, it would
>> > seem that the best way to duplicate their experience would be
>> > to duplicate their methods to the best of our ability.
>>
>> > Granted that the author allows his personal perceptions and
>> > biases to affect the invocations he uses (modifying the
>> > originals in order to achieve specific results), he is honest
>> > why he has done so.
>>
>> > Although I am not a Ceremonialist, by any stretch of the
>> > directions. I must admit that I found a few areas where he and
>> > I disagree in regards to the myths and their interpretations,
>> > and a few other items, but I kind of expected that going in. I
>> > knew that my background in Graeco- Egyptian culture was weak,
>> > and so I was willing to accept the fact that I would find
>> > things to challenge my perceptions.
>>
>> > Although I am not sure how valuable this book will be for my
>> > own personal development, I am able to see its overall value
>> > definitely belongs in your library. It is not intended to be
>> > levels and cannot be rushed, but working within this system
>> > will definitely yield benefits.
>>
>> <yawn> More of the same tiresome, elitist, psuedo-esoteric
>> drivel: It's old and mysterious so it must be about real magick.
>>
>> The fact is that there isn't anyone involved with this book,
>> including any readers, that can demonstrate any magickal skills
>> at all.
>>
>> What you will get if you study this book is more material to
>> play the role with.
>>
>> Which is all that can be said for every book that's supposedly
>> about magick that Mike has reviewed.
>>
>> At least he's consistent.
>>
>> But to be fair, he doesn't have much to work with. All the
>> supposed material on magick he has access to comes from
>> scholars, not magicians.
>>
>> Sid
>>
>> --
>> Sidney Lambe
>> Wiccan Priest and Apprentice Magicianhttp://tinyurl.com/7vs9zb
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> You know Sid, you consistently take exception to the books I review.
> I therefore have a very simple request: Please give me some
> recommendations of books you feel would be helpful for mnagickal
> practitoners. I am always open to ideas and thoughts beyond what I
> normally encounter. And I really want to be halpful to the
> community. So how about you help me help the community? You can
> contact me through email, or on the newsgroups, whichever you prefer.
>
> I'll be waiting for your suggestions.
>
> Mike
What I know about magick is in the articles linked in my sig.
These ideas are found, buried in garbage, in most of the world's
credible metaphysical/spiritual/esoteric writings.
For example: In the Crown of Jewels Sutra in the Mahayana Texts
of the Pali Canon, the Buddha says that we create our own reality
with out thoughts.
Jesus says, many times and in many ways, that we simply have
to knock, and the door will be opened -- that a person who
believes/has faith can ask a mountain to stand aside and it will.
The shaman Don Juan, in Tales of Power, says that the world is
so-and-so because tell ourselves it is so-and-so and makes it
clear that our beliefs form reality.
The Seth Material says the same thing.
And so on.
Beliefs are spells.
None of these passages include rituals of any kind.