What do you think?
Rate this book
The Covert Side of Initiation
For decades, members of the esoteric community have considered anyone with magical skills and abilities to be a magician. As a result, there are few magical training systems designed to turn students into magicians, and many magical training systems designed to turn students into people with magical skills and abilities.
The magical training system developed by the Czech adept Franz Bardon and contained in his three books–'Initiation into Hermetics', 'The Practice of Magical Evocation', and 'The Key to the True Quabbalah'–is designed to turn students into magicians. Unfortunately, many students of the system seek only to become people with magical skills and abilities rather than genuine magicians. For this reason, they often spend years stuck on the system’s basic exercises.
In this book, Virgil discusses some key components of magical training that are hinted at but not expounded upon in the text of Bardon’s books. Completion of these components is what distinguishes people who are magicians from people who merely possess magical skills and abilities. In the process of discussing these components, Virgil also elaborates on magical principles explained in his previous books, offers helpful advice for common problems magicians will encounter during their training, and elucidates one of the most misunderstood exercises of Bardon’s training system.
The magical training system developed by the Czech adept Franz Bardon and contained in his three books–'Initiation into Hermetics', 'The Practice of Magical Evocation', and 'The Key to the True Quabbalah'–is designed to turn students into magicians. Unfortunately, many students of the system seek only to become people with magical skills and abilities rather than genuine magicians. For this reason, they often spend years stuck on the system’s basic exercises.
In this book, Virgil discusses some key components of magical training that are hinted at but not expounded upon in the text of Bardon’s books. Completion of these components is what distinguishes people who are magicians from people who merely possess magical skills and abilities. In the process of discussing these components, Virgil also elaborates on magical principles explained in his previous books, offers helpful advice for common problems magicians will encounter during their training, and elucidates one of the most misunderstood exercises of Bardon’s training system.
226 pages, Paperback
Published February 8, 2018
5 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Virgil*
3 books5 followers"Many years ago, I stumbled upon a book while browsing through a bookstore in Pittsburgh. My favorite color is sky-blue, and it was the sky-blue color of the book’s cover that caught my ee. The book turned out to be about paranormal phenomena, and the chapters covered a wide range of topics – everything from faith healing, to cryptozoology, to angel hair, to skyquakes, to flying saucers. It was the chapter on ESP that intrigued me the most. I was fascinated by the idea that the human mind, through training or natural talent, could accomplish amazing feats that modern science could not explain. My interest in that topic and my decision to pursue that interest led me down a long path. Over the next six years or so, I read numerous books on occultism, experimented with Solomonic evocation, studied the Qabalah, became proficient in Tarot reading, hand-built a working temple and a complete set of ritual tools, worked through two courses on ceremonial magic, and discussed these subjects enthusiastically with anyone who would listen. At some point, I began to tire of this. I went through a dark period in my life and the difficulties I faced during that time, as well as the fact that I had no one to turn to, forced me to introspect and examine myself in order to figure out what I needed to do in order to move forward. I ended up getting rid of my magical tools and my books, and relegating occultism to a thing of my past.
About three years later, I stumbled upon the early writings of William Mistele by chance and was introduced to the works of Franz Bardon. While reading through IIH the very first time, many things clicked, and I immediately began to see why I had made no progress along my magical path previously, despite my enthusiasm and dedication to the art. The whole book resonated well with me. Furthermore, because the system was so different from anything I had practiced before in terms of its style, purpose, and inner source of inspiration, I could work through it without feeling like I was returning to my messy and dark past. The powerful and easily visible positive effects that conscious breathing, conscious eating, and the magic of water had on my life helped me regain my faith in magic. The next few years of my life were spent unlearning much of what I had learned before and making a fresh start. By becoming an empty cup, I was able to take in all the lessons and benefits, both obvious and subtle, Bardon had woven into every exercise of his system. My views on magic, its nature, and its purpose changed drastically throughout this period as I began working my way through the steps of IIH. The most important lessons I learned during this time, I have collected together and will publish in an upcoming book.
Currently, as far as magic is concerned, my main source of new information is my own research; in other words, my own direct experience working on the inner planes and interacting with their inhabitants. The focus of my research is the air element, and at the present moment, I converse often with Apilki, Capisi, and a familiar spirit given to me by Capisi to help me master a certain magical technique she has taught me. I consider the three of them to be my best friends and teachers in that regard. The element of air has a balancing and harmonizing property. Having grown up in an unbalanced and chaotic environment, I am particularly interested in how the air element can be applied magically to heal such environments, as well as to influence peace negotiations and other situations in which a harmonious atmosphere can lead to a significantly more favorable outcome. In addition, I am also interested in and study methods of enhancing the effectiveness of the self-transformation techniques contained in the first two steps of IIH, in particular autosuggestion and the magic of water."` ~Virgil
About three years later, I stumbled upon the early writings of William Mistele by chance and was introduced to the works of Franz Bardon. While reading through IIH the very first time, many things clicked, and I immediately began to see why I had made no progress along my magical path previously, despite my enthusiasm and dedication to the art. The whole book resonated well with me. Furthermore, because the system was so different from anything I had practiced before in terms of its style, purpose, and inner source of inspiration, I could work through it without feeling like I was returning to my messy and dark past. The powerful and easily visible positive effects that conscious breathing, conscious eating, and the magic of water had on my life helped me regain my faith in magic. The next few years of my life were spent unlearning much of what I had learned before and making a fresh start. By becoming an empty cup, I was able to take in all the lessons and benefits, both obvious and subtle, Bardon had woven into every exercise of his system. My views on magic, its nature, and its purpose changed drastically throughout this period as I began working my way through the steps of IIH. The most important lessons I learned during this time, I have collected together and will publish in an upcoming book.
Currently, as far as magic is concerned, my main source of new information is my own research; in other words, my own direct experience working on the inner planes and interacting with their inhabitants. The focus of my research is the air element, and at the present moment, I converse often with Apilki, Capisi, and a familiar spirit given to me by Capisi to help me master a certain magical technique she has taught me. I consider the three of them to be my best friends and teachers in that regard. The element of air has a balancing and harmonizing property. Having grown up in an unbalanced and chaotic environment, I am particularly interested in how the air element can be applied magically to heal such environments, as well as to influence peace negotiations and other situations in which a harmonious atmosphere can lead to a significantly more favorable outcome. In addition, I am also interested in and study methods of enhancing the effectiveness of the self-transformation techniques contained in the first two steps of IIH, in particular autosuggestion and the magic of water."` ~Virgil
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 5, 2018
This book is a must for anyone on the Bardon path, you’ll be amazed how much your understanding will change for the better, I’m only chapter 4 of this book, and I realised I haven’t been studying IIH right, I misinterpreted Franz Bardons words.
February 27, 2018
A Missing Key
A Great Book . Short and Sweet !
A 10 star book. Not much to be said. Just read it .
A Great Book . Short and Sweet !
A 10 star book. Not much to be said. Just read it .
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews