The Ritual Magic Workbook: A Practical Course of Self-Initiation

by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki

This is a carefully conceived course of instruction for anyone who wants to practice ceremonial magic, and has been written for students who are not part of a working group. Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki takes the student, month-by-month, through a full year of magical training. She imparts her years of hardearned experience in the clear, accessible, and often humorous style for which she is internationally known. Each month's work is concluded with practical exercises designed to give the student a sound working knowledge of ritual magic. Among the many topics covered are: Constructing and consecrating a temple Meditation and visualization techniques Working in an elemental temple Exploring the Inner World Pathworking the Tree of Life.

Genres: Occult, Magick, Spirituality, Magic, Nonfiction, Witchcraft, Esoterica

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki is a third-generation psychic who has worked with magic since childhood. She studied under W.E. Butler and with him was a founding member of the Servants of the Light School of Occult Science, of which she was Director of Studies.

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of the Servants of the Light course reading list. I actually tried to read it once before and got stuck in all the temple building instructions. On my second try I decided to read it straight through, and I am glad I did. There are some really useful exercises and ritual scripts in the rest of the book. I am glad I gave this book a second try.

[Anna Katherina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The tone of the book was weird in some areas, and alternatingly pompous or condescending on a level I found grating in others. But the points made by the author weren't altogether bad by any means. Nor were many of the exercises... The only real problem was that the book presupposes a certain basic level of familiarity with the Hermetic system of ritual magic, its terminology, etc, and explains absolutely nothing to the reader throughout the course of its instruction.

This isn't any sort of an issue at all, of course, if you're already familiar with the Hermetic systems. Likewise, it won't be quite as big of a deal if you're reading it alongside (or in addition to / at the same time as) more foundational texts, such as Regardie's Ceremonial Magic- or better, in my opinion, Griffin's Ritual Magic Manual. But it will be utterly useless, and frustrating and confusing both, if you're a complete beginner with absolutely no previous knowledge of Hermetic systems at all. In which case, if you've picked this book up, I suggest you put it right back down and first pick up at least one of the other two I've already mentioned, or some other foundational text on Hermeticism. You'll definitely be needing it since this is quite literally a workbook and not an instruction text.

That being said, I'm not terribly interested in, nor involved in, the Hermetic systems myself. So while I'm familiar enough with some baseline information that it wasn't horribly confusing to me once I figured out what it was on about, it didn't wind up being a very useful workbook for me in the slightest. More a curiosity read than anything- and mostly it just wound up being boring in the end, since the system of magic and I don't jive well. If you're interested in Hermetic systems, however, have been arm-chair-occulting-it for a while and are looking to dip your toe into the world of real physical practice finally, and don't actually mind the fact that it's a bit out of date? Then I might take a guess as to suggest it as a starting place.

[Helga Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Chapter 1 to 5. I read and applied in my life them with success. That was the motive to why I mark this books as one that I really appreciate. But the rest of the book make all to complicated and elaborated. Is good information but ritualistic. Be aware that the author said that is a ceremonial practice so that was what she do explain in detail the form and purpose of the rituals.

[Shahna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gift from my mother.
It used to be hers.

[Edric Unsane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book (for the most part) if you are new to ritual magic or need a refresher course. The author recommends that the aspirant take time (over a year) learning and practicing the material, which I certainly stand by. The outline of the book and the material it covers seem to be on the up-and-up, although the author believes that the Atlantians had a breeding program whose genetics survive to this day, which is sort of in the realm of "what are you on?" territory. There are most certainly better methods and books for learning ritual magic, and although I wouldn't recommend this title being your first introduction to ritual magic, perhaps it should be if you hit a wall 5...10...or maybe 30 books after you begin learning.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book. Delores is a wonderful teacher & an experienced ritualist. This book contains a great deal about magic & ritual. A must have book for anyone seriously interested in magic.
This book was part of my home work reading when I trained in a lodge.

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid primer, if a bit one size fits all approach.

[Jonathan Sykes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introductory text

[B S]

want to read this book