Angels and Archangels: The Western Path to Enlightenment

by Damien Echols

Learn to call on the divine assistance of angelic forces to shape your life in this in-depth guide from Damien Echols

"Angels do not belong to any one single religion, system, or dogma," teaches Damien Echols. "They don't care what religion we subscribe to. The angels are here to help us grow, evolve, and reach our full potential." With Angels and Archangels, this bestselling author combines his unique blend of hard-won experience and scholarship to create a breakthrough guide to understanding what angels are, how they make themselves available, and magickal practices to invoke their power to transform your life.

Damien Echols has helped ignite a wave of new interest in magick--the Western path of spiritual growth and awakening. Here Echols clears away the cultural confusion and misrepresentation of angels to provide a lucid and practical set of tools for working with these timeless forces for divine wisdom and healing power.

When Echols was wrongly convicted of murder as part of the West Memphis Three case, he had every reason to reject angels as being part of the dogma his persecutors wielded against him. "Never in a million years did I think that one day I would have a passion for the subject of angels," he says. "Yet these days, nearly every act of magick I perform involves evoking angels. Because angel magick works. Always. I've never found any other form of magick that comes close."

Genres: Occult, Magick, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Religion, Audiobook, Esoterica

281 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2020

About the author

Damien Wayne Echols, along with Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin, is one of the three men, known as the West Memphis Three, who were convicted in the killing of three eight-year-old boys Steve Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore at Robin Hood Hills, West Memphis, Arkansas, on May 5, 1993.

Damien Echols was convicted of murder by a jury and sentenced to death by lethal injection. He was on death row under 23 hours per day lockdown at the Varner Supermax. On August 19, 2011, Echols, along with the two others collectively known at the West Memphis Three, were released from prison after their attorneys and the judge handling the upcoming retrial agreed to a deal. Under the terms of the Alford guilty plea, Echols and his co-defendents pleaded guilty to three counts of first degree murder while maintaining their innocence. DNA evidence failed to connect Echols or his co-defendents to the crime.

Reviews

[Hulda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first came across this type of magick almost twenty years ago and it really resonated with me at the time. I had a couple of friends who were members of OTO and they taught me the basics. Later I started reading on it and practicing it more on my own, but I always found it hard to connect with the old texts and preferred the books by John Michael Greer (Circles of Power; Paths of Wisdom). Later, I continued to work with angels and archangels through the practice of healing and diverged from the path of ritual magick. I must praise Mr. Echols for this book, because not only is his book just as good as Mr. Greer's, but it is much easier to understand and connect with.

In Angels and Archangels he goes briefly through the history and the basics of angel magick (Enochian magic) is it was used in the Golden Dawn and Ordo Templi Orientis, teaching you about the different types of angels and how to work with them, as well as several important rituals for this type of work. Furthermore, he explains how he has developed his approach and encourages you to do the same and to develop your senses and abilities with diligent practice, giving you good pointers on how to go about it.

I find that this book is in line with the development of magick and spiritual practices in recent years. The general consensus in the community seems to be that spiritual work is being done on higher and higher frequencies and the old practices need not be as rigid as previously thought. Damien Echols has enabled me to approach Enochian magick with a fresh perspective and a deeper understanding. For that, I am very grateful. I will definitely go and buy his other book, High Magick, too.

I can happily recommend this book to those who are curious about ritual magick and angel work. In fact, if you are going to start with any book on the subject, start here!

[Richard Propes · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The ultimate goal of working with angels is to become one ourselves. That’s what people actually are—unconscious angels.” —Damien Echols

"Angels and Archangels: The Western Path to Enlightenment" is the latest book from Damien Echols, whose story as part of the West Memphis 3 is widely known but whose story after his release from death row is a just as riveting story of enlightenment, healing, empowerment, and a sharing of the spiritual path that helped him survive while incarcerated and has allowed him to grow into his current journey.

Echols is the author of "Life After Death," "High Magick," "A Course in High Magick," and co-author of "Yours for Eternity" with his wife, Lorri. "Angels and Archangels" is essentially an expansion of the foundation that Echols laid in "High Magick," a deepened exploration of the material and a practical exploration of the angels, archangels, and actual rituals utilized in the practice of high magick.

While I would love to say that I have followed Echols's journey from release, the truth is that I largely became more aware of Echols's post-release life thanks to his wonderful appearance in the Tamar Haviv music video for "The Good Has Won," an absolutely delightful song with a video I still play on an at least weekly basis if not more frequently.

Following the video, I began exploring what Echols had been doing post-release. While I had not read "High Magick" prior to reading "Angels and Archangels," I have since done so and doing so is something I would definitely recommend as it lays a solid foundation for the easily accessible, informative, and enlightened information and teachings that Echols offers here.

"Angels and Archangels" may seem like a quick read as quite a few of the pages have simple descriptions of the angels and archangels, but if you are a practitioner of magick or truly interested in it then the book becomes a slower read as it's material that needs to be understood and integrated into one's daily life. As I went further into the book, I found my reading slowed down as my mind integrated the weaving together of information with ritual.

With "Angels and Archangels," Echols provides beautifully written and accessible guide to calling on the divine assistance of angelic forces to shape one's life and accelerate spiritual practice. Echols stresses that these forces are present whether we believe in them or not.

In this book, Echols shares that the angelic forces respond to our calling not because we "tell" them to but because they perceive the divine within us.

The material that Echols covers includes:

1) A basic and clearly understandable guide to the angels and archangels honored throughout the history of mystical traditions including their names, element associations, tarot associations, Tree of Life Associations, and Zodiac associations.

2) Foundational practices and medications for building magick skills.

3) Clear, understandable guidance on calling on angels for blessings, protection, invocation, the creation of talismans and sigils, and for other purposes.

4) Clear, understandable guidance on advanced magick rituals, material for which it truly helps to have read "High Magick" first, including the Rose Cross, the Celestial, and the Shem Operation,

5) Clear, understandable information regarding the Holy Guardian Angel, which Echols explains to perfection.

Into the fabric of "Angels and Archangels," Echols weaves his own life experiences and his own magick experiences - especially those practiced while incarcerated. He explores the reasons for using high magick and provides what has to be one of the most clearly written, understandable, and accessible guides to the practice of high magick that has been written.

Echols builds a strong foundation for the material he presents including an understanding of the history of high magick and its relationship to other faith traditions including Buddhism, Christianity, and others. He also explores the history of practices, rituals, and symbols utilized including those that carry with them negative connotations in modern times.

There's a tremendous energy that is present throughout "Angels and Archangels," a breeze of enlightenment that flows from page to page and is obviously present in Echols's words, knowledge, insights, and testimony.

"Angels and Archangels" is an essential addition to any magickal library from a man who has both lived its truths and learned how to teach its truths. For those seeking a better understanding of the angels and archangels and the angelic forces and how to call upon them, "Angels and Archangels: The Western Path to Enlightenment" is a valuable resource and a most enjoyable read.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Am I into angelic magick now? I suppose I am. This book is extremely approachable for the beginner. However, I cannot speak on how accurate the information is. A lot of what the author writes is based on personal gnosis (which I don't mind at all and it is clearly stated as personal gnosis in the book). If I were more versed in angelic magic, maybe I could say whether the information is credible or not. Regardless, I think this book is a good launching pad for beginners who may be intimidated by other texts. Read this as a primer and then further your studies from there!

[Louhikärmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damien Echols's High Magick got me quite exited, and in all its simplicity it might just be one of the best introductiory books to ceremonial magick out there. Compared to that this sequel was bound to be a dissapointment. It's not bad per se though. It does build more on the practises introduced previously, this time with clearly more personal style, with great emphasis on visualizations of different angels. A big portion of the book is a catalogue for presenting angels of different zodiac signs, tarot cards and so on, which didn't work at all as an audio book but probably makes a nice reference on the bookshelf. The subtitle of the book is a bit too grandious and doesn't really get delivered, though it's nice that the endgoals of these rituals doesn't get lost in the process.

For what it's worth, if you read anything about Echols's mental state before the trials and then consider that he spent the next twenty years in conditions closely imitating a concentration camp, it's a small wonder he's even alive, not to mention appearing relatively sane on his Youtube channel. So he's a living proof these practises definitely do something, at least if they're a right fit for the practitioner. I kind of wish I would've got more out of this, but perhaps I've already found some books more fitting to my personal preconditions.

[Aurora Dimitre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's the thing--even if you don't particularly believe in everything that Echols says here, there is a lot to be said about wanting to better yourself and aiming to reach higher than just stagnation. Stagnation is the enemy and if the way for you to work past that is to visualize angels, then, shit, you visualize some angels!

As I've mentioned before, I absolutely adore how Echols writes, and I would read his grocery lists. That remains true with this book. While I'm not particularly spiritual, I can appreciate a well-put-together sentence; Echols brings up his lack of formal education at one point and it's like, fuck, man, if there was ever an argument for reading it would be that a man who had that little formal education but read like hell can write like this. It kept my attention even when I wasn't particularly interested in what was going on, and I will continue to buy and read his magick books because, like I said--would read the man's grocery lists. He's up there.

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damien Echols provides an interesting update on two of the basic techniques of the Golden Dawn system of magic: the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram and the Lesser Ritual of the Hexagram. These techniques are opened up to working with a greater number of angelic forces, building up on each other for greater pathways of manifestation and spiritual growth.

[Alex Gruenenfelder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by the infamous Damien Echols, a Satanist teenager turned occult philosopher who was falsely imprisoned for many years for a murder he didn't commit, I have meant to read this book for a number of years. I was fascinated by Damien's story as a high schooler interested in magic and darkness, so I added this compelling title to my list. However, this is apparently Damien's second book on magic and he refers to the idea of reading the first for more context repeatedly, so perhaps I'd recommend that first. I'd also recommend reading it in print, because I honestly zoned out for periods of time and found it hard to memorize things as a result: the greatest problem with occult audiobooks is that magical lessons are meant to be read and studied, not simply listened to.

Seeking enlightenment himself, Damien believes that magic can work for all people, but he puts less emphasis on the material than the spiritual benefits of these practices. Ample attention is paid to manifestation and the tarot, so you may already be familiar with many of the ritual concepts within if you are knowledgeable of these practices. I recommend this book to magicians, occultists, witches, and others interested in the tragic yet inspiring story of Damien Echols.

[K Kriesel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly, I listened to the audiobook and I don't recommend it. There are many lists in this book and it just gets tedious.

Extremely inaccurate history not based on actual archeological studies. Also glosses over the differences between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the unaware, Damien Echols spent years on death row (yes, death row!). Accused of murder despite lack of evidence, the case of Echols and the rest of the “West Memphis Three” represents the utter nadir of the 1980s and 1990s Satanic Panic.

Throughout his incarceration, Echols studied and practiced Western ceremonial magic. He developed an affinity for working with angels. Echols walked free following a controversial “Alford Plea,” and has since written several books on magic
.
The tone and word choice gives this book a dense, dry feeling. Authors on ceremonial magic often come across that way, and it can be difficult to learn about this path for that reason. Nevertheless, Echols packs his writing thick with information and insight, making it a worthwhile read, if a bit slow to absorb.

Much of it reads like a catelogue of information or encyclopedia, and I can imagine many budding magicians eagerly flipping through a well-used copy of this book. I actually recommend using the book like that - read it once through, then refer back as needed.

If you’re hoping for Doreen Virtue-esque meditations on love and light-filled guardian angels, this book will disappoint. Expect an older, more nuanced approach to the concept of angels.

Echols has never seemed one for unverifiable personal gnosis (at least not in print), and draws from the deep, fertile well of the Western occult tradition. He does an excellent job covering Tarot and its connection to traditional angelic spirit work, and it was this part of the book that most interested me.

Tarot has long been used as a method of connecting with spirits, and Echols provides the necessary toolkit for this in an angelic context. The descriptions of astrological correspondences for angelic beings are worth it for me, too.

While my own occult practice tends more in the direction of witchcraft, I spend a few years focusing on ceremonial magic. It still exerts a lot of influence on my practices, and I could see myself referring back to this book often.

I give this book three out of five stars. I didn’t enjoy it as much as Echols’s earlier book, High Magick. I also think the encyclopedic tone might be somewhat alienating for beginners.
I do recommend this book, but only for those with some existing knowledge of the subject matter to build on. Pairs well, as I said, with Echols’s earlier book, or existing texts on Enochian and other angel-based traditions.

[Krystian U · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self-promotion and lots of information you can find in other sources from Israel Regardie, Dion Fortune and Crowley. More copy and paste ideas, however there're also some interesting information and like his approach to LBRP although I'm not looking forward to author's other books.

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent guide by a remarkable man. Everything is presented clearly and eloquently.

[Keno Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a full blown grimoire on high and low magic

[Lachrymarvm_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I looked at Damien Echols’ book “Angels & Archangels” (pub. 2020) on a few visits to a bookstore before I finally bought a copy. I had been thinking about crafting a sigil utilizing the energy on the planetary day of Jupiter, which would correspond to Tzadkiel of Chesed. I wanted help in the form of ideas for visualization, confirmation of the correspondences I was using, etc. The chapter “Archangels of the Tree of Life” was very helpful as a reference, and this ultimately sold me on the book, as well as another on “Archangels of the Elements” (aka the cardinal points used in the LBRP).

But the main reason I picked up this book was because I found Damien’s previous book, “High Magick” to be such a helpful resource. And I can safely say that I really spent time with the practices in that book over a number of months and re-reads. However, “Angels & Archangels” is self-described as a continuation, which presents more advanced practices in addition to expansions on the introductory ones in “High Magick” – I must be honest and admit I haven’t attempted the more advanced material yet (such as the Rose Cross Ritual, the Celestial Lotus, the Lesser Hexagram, and the Shem Ha Mephorash).

Damien himself says in ch. 8 that “Just as you can’t go from sitting on the couch for months and expect to finish a marathon the very next day, you must have some basic mastery […] before you engage in the complex techniques…”. But I have no doubt that when I’m ready for them, I’ll pull this book from my shelf again for Damien’s excellent and accessible instructions. For what it’s worth, I’ll probably try the Lesser Hexagram next (I’ve been working on the Greater Pentagram since the summer, which is not in either book but I digress…)

This is a very pleasant hardcover copy and with the dust-jacket off, there is a glossy Qabalistic Tree of Life etching on the front cover. It also has plenty of illustrations in black and white throughout.
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[Crista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting read. Books on ceremonial magic have come across to me as very intimidating in the past, written by very serious people sharing very serious information in a very serious way. They are lofty and impersonal very much on purpose, and it's easy to imagine the author as a dedicated scholar more than any sort of living, breathing practitioner of what they are teaching. This book isn't like that. Not to say that Mr. Echols is flowery or fluffy in his language or approach to ceremonial magic, as he clearly approaches the subjects he's writing on very seriously. But I would struggle to name a book that made me believe in the power of the magic that it sought to teach me more than this one.

For those maybe less interested in Mr. Echols' personal history, this book isn't a narrative of his imprisonment or release, and focuses very pointedly on magical method (though I would definitely recommend researching him further if this book resonates with you). It's also not a beginner book; while reading his previous book, High Magick, is not listed as a prerequisite to reading and understanding this book, I would probably recommend reading it first. Not as much because Angels and Archangels is unreadable without doing so, but I get the feeling it would give you a better feel for the author's mentality if you did.

The magical information is straight forward and easy to understand. There are plenty of diagrams to break up the text, an easily accessible reference section, and a nice bibliography. The information is shared in a straightforward, approachable way that was easy to understand, and I found the concepts easy to grasp. It has definitely left me more interested in the ceremonial side of magic than I was before, and it's a book I feel like I will be back to read again in the future. If you're a fan of learning how high concept magic can be approached and applied in practical ways, this is definitely a book you should pick up!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this purely for the glossary of angels for research for my urban fantasy books, and it changed my life in the most meaningful way. I grew up in a religion with absolutely no tradition of angels, so when I stumbled upon it at B&N, I bought it for reference and then I read everything else in the book as well.

Damien writes about things like the ego and issues of transcending one's frailties in the most articulate and easy to understand way. There's no flamboyance or unnecessary language here. It's beautifully written for that reason alone. I don't mean that he doesn't utilize language in a gorgeous manner. He does that. It's simply not done for show. He is clear, concise, and eloquent.

I'm no longer religious, though I consider myself spiritual. This book gave me even more of an understanding of all the ways that I could evolve, and some of that with the help of angels. Before this book, I should mention that I didn't believe in angels at all though I had written about them (loosely and without any conviction) in a 5 book series where they play a very minor role. In my newest series, one of the main characters is an angel. I needed more depth though and this book provided that.

One of the best aspects of this book is Damien's challenge to work with angels yourself. He issues the challenge as a sort of "try it and see." He also advises you to ask for what you need and when you do any of the rituals, to simply believe that they're working, that the angels are hearing you. So, I tried that. Not believing (really, though, because I'm a skeptic having left my religion over 9 years ago and becoming an atheist) that anything would happen.

I was wrong.

[Jeannine Morin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel really bad giving Damien Echols this rating, he's someone that means so much to me, but I did not like this book, or believe in the philosophy, or the practice of invoking angels. Just like Demons, I believe Angels and archangels are to be left alone unless they have made direct contact with you. What is it with people wanting to invite something into their body? What makes you think an angel wants to be inside of you? Demons do, but for their own purpose, and why would someone ever take the chance of invoking when Demons could be right there waiting for you to make that mistake. I just don't believe in this belief of wanting something alien and foreign in your body. I also feel like people came up with their own ideas and descriptions of what angels are, especially the archangles. There are no female angels, and Gabriel is definitely not a female! I don't know why people could claim to find hidden knowledge or coming up with something like that and claim it as truth or a possibility. I absolutely hate when someone refers to Gabriel as a female.
I gave Damien two stars because he was so well educated in all the topics that he provides in his book, despite me not believing in most of it, he put everything together perfectly. I love his dedication, and I totally think it is awesome that he believes in what he does. I would never call someone stupid for believing in what they want too (within reason) but it just isn't what I know and believe in.

[Edric Unsane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this title in exchange for feedback and review purposes.

The first thing I'd like to point out is that Angels and Archangels, as Damien Echols points out within the introduction, is a companion book that builds upon his first book, High Magick. This may have been a bit of an annoyance if I had not already read said book. I agree with the author that the reader should read High Magick first.

Angels and Archangels is, at its core, a book filled with practical, no-nonsense, instructions on growing our magical and mundane lives with angels and their correspondences. The author's experiences add depth and understanding to the methods laid out within the book. The language and grammar in the book allow the material to be both accessible and approachable.

Overall, the book was a pleasure to read. It is written well, and is easy to comprehend. What's more important is that the methods and practices featured within will change your life exactly as the author claims. If you want to better yourself with the powers of Angels and Archangels, this book is for you.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate Damien sharing something that helped him. Seeing the drastic change in his personality, this is powerful stuff. I mean the guy went through 20 years on death row and came out the other side as a calm, well spoken, humble guy who is trying to help people. Or, he’s just snowing everyone.

Damien presents the information in a very approachable way. So many books on this topic are dry. So many books are lists of instructions with little reason as to why you would do any of this to begin with. I do appreciate The explanations and personal experiences that were included.

The more I read about this stuff, the more strongly I believe it is obvious, and the people who think it is evil are idiots. It’s just psychology. It’s just programming your brain to regulate your emotions. It’s just identifying your goals in detail and programming your subconscious to figure out how to get there. That’s it. It’s sad that it is misunderstood, and kept from people who need it due to ignorance.

[Abdullah Furqaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a practitioner of Abrahamic-based magick and techniques rooted in both the Islamic and Western Hermetic Tradition, this book is certainly one of the best out there. It is both extremely profound and easily accessible. Most books on the occult are either "outdated" tomes written in arcane English, ancient grimoire with references to obscure entities, or hippy-dippy New Age fairy-crystal bullshit. This text is a must-have for any serious practitioner of the occult (or even someone who is just interested in learning about angels!). While Echols is by no means a scholar or an intellectual, the information and background he provides about some of the rituals and entities is well-informed - some of his statements on Chaldean and Sumerian magickal traditions may still be in question within academic circles, but nevertheless, Echols has a beautiful heart (if you ever get a chance to listen to him in podcasts or interviews, check him out!), he shines, dazzles, and simply picking up this book will draw angels unto you!

[Logan Roche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much and will definitely be coming back to this book often. The instructions on meditation, visualization tips and tricks, and why certain rituals involve different symbols and what they mean, are exactly what I have been looking for. I heavily recommend this book to anyone who is a beginner in Thelema, Angel work, invocation, evocation, Hermeticism, Astrology, Buddhism, and spirituality in general. The way the author explains it is like you are getting advice from a friend. Really clear examples and really insightful stories.
I read and annotated the full book in 3 hours. Literally couldn’t put it down.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible guide to practical magick for beginers that leaves you with tactics and inspiration for developing profficiency. This book handles aspects of science (mainly astronomy and physics) well, culminating to Echols literary and esoteric gift - Lil. The rituals laid out in this book are inviting and approachable with only concentration, will, and a cup needed to complete everything! It is a useful manual that I see myself using for years to come.

[Vab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to angel magick and great sequel to Damien's High Magick book, with some more advanced Golden Dawn-esque rituals.

Have yet to try any of the rituals as I discovered they're a little bit beyond what I'm currently capable of, however this will be a great reference for angelic correspondence data and sigils which I'll be returning to very often. Will update my review once I'm able to practice the rituals.

[Lisa Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Damien Echols books are excellent, and always engaging. I found this one to repeat some of what was in his book before this one, High Magick. That being said, if one hadn't read his previous books, this is an excellent guide with a few of his own changes to some of the main rituals. Overall it is an informative read and I would never hesitate to recommend Damien's books. He is one of my favorite authors for sure.

[Dagen Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book with a wealth of information on everything from the LRP, LRH, the Shem Operation, and so much more. Damien Echols does an amazing job on sharing his years of accumulated knowledge and experience with higher intelligences. I cannot suggest this enough for those wanting to take their practices further!

[Peter Thompson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Erm....

Damien Wayne Echols, along with Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin, is one of the three men, known as the West Memphis Three, who were convicted in the killing of three eight-year-old boys Steve Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore at Robin Hood Hills, West Memphis, Arkansas, on May 5, 1993.

So went well for him ,would you pick up this book and expect results?

[Alexander Adrien Ren Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this late last year and it's one of my first books on high/ceremonial magic and Christian witchery in general. I was very pleased by the sigils, descriptions and associations of the angels, as well as the twelve hours of the clock for his best ritual. Well done, can't wait to get my hands on High Magick!

[The Celestial Chapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly good book that goes through all the archangels thoroughly with both simple and complex exercises to summon contact with them. Also other good rituals that I include in my everyday life, I am grateful to have shared Damien's knowledge of the invisible world and the ways they can enrich our lives.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used it to understand rituals and beliefs of those who practice this type of magic. Found that you'd probably get the same results with a good meditate and some tumo but whatever works works. 6/10, Would do some dirty stuff with but would get over quickly

[Lauren Martinkus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve now read everything by the author and this one is by far my favorite (which is saying a lot, because I love love love Damien and his wife Lori) but this one was truly fascinating and taught me SO much about a subject I had previously dismissed.

[Nancy Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook, narrated by Damien Echols himself and it’s wonderful. The high rating is totally warranted, in my opinion. It is very user-friendly and upon finishing Part One, one can begin invoking angels right away. Part Two includes more advanced meditations, designed to prepare our energy bodies to “cross the abyss” unscathed. I had not read High Magick before beginning this one and was not confused, but I imagine it would be a good companion.