Advanced Magical Arts: Visualisation, Mediation and Ritual in the Western Magical Tradition

by R.J. Stewart

Advanced Magical Visualization, Meditation and Ritual in the Western Magical Tradition. Only a generation ago much of the material in this book would have been regarded as 'secret', for private group use only. Much of it has been developed by small groups of dedicated people during the last decade - a particularly fruitful period of growth in the magical arts. In "Advanced Magical Arts," the author draws upon the coherent, mature and enduring systems of magic, long preserved in our Western culture. With beautiful illustrations by Miranda Gray, he offers a series of fundamental aspects of the magical arts, which he supports with practical examples of visualizations and rituals. R.J. Stewart is a highly respected Scottish author and composer who has worked, researched and written extensively on music, folklore and the Western Esoteric Tradition. He is the founder and organizer of the annual Merlin Conference.

Genres: Paganism, Magic

194 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 1989

About the author

Robert John Stewart (Bob Stewart) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father came from a Gaelic speaking family originally from the Western Highlands. His mother was Welsh, from a Welsh speaking family from the Gower Peninsula in South Wales, with a tradition of singing and playing the Welsh triple-harp. He is known today as a composer, author, and teacher, with 40 books in publication, translated into many languages worldwide. He is widely experienced in theater, film, and television, and is a skilled performer and presenter.

Reviews

[The Elves · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is much about R. J. Stewart’s Advanced Magical Arts that didn’t appeal to these elves. He spends an inordinate amount of time, in our opinion, expressing his concerns and displeasure with those who he thinks don’t take magic seriously, and those who mix the magic of Eastern and Western cultures, with Victorian magicians and various other things. There is also a lot of guided visualization in the book, which doesn’t appeal to us as readers, but which is actually integral to what he is trying to achieve.

For what this book actually is, is a genuine attempt to create an Initiatory and Mystery system on the order of the Eleusinian Mysteries that is truly based on Western European Culture with the strong flavor of the Celtic, both Pagan and Christian. If one were to take these guided visualizations and act them out as a theatrical performance and magical initiation we could see that they could be quite powerful. While this book didn’t entirely appeal to us, it may be what you are seeking.

The Silver Elves authors of The Book of Elven Magick: The Philosophy and Enchantments of the Seelie Elves & The Book of Elven Magick: The Philosophy and Enchantments of the Seelie Elves, Volume 2.

[Taylor Ellwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book the author shares a number of rituals and walks the reader through the mechanics of each ritual, as well as explaining the underlying process that informs the ritual. These rituals are specific to the magical tradition the author is part of, so what makes this an advanced book on magic has more to do with the tradition itself, and how the rituals in this book contribute to a person progressing through that tradition. Beyond that particular facet, the book doesn't necessarily lead to a more advanced understanding of magic in general. A lot of what the author shares can be applied across tradition, in terms of the mechanics, but you'll find similar instructions in those traditions. With that said this is a good book to have n yur magical library if you are interested in western esotericism and in particular with utilizing magic for spiritual work.