Visual Magick: A Manual of Freestyle Shamanism

by Jan Fries

A new edition of the highly acclaimed manual of freestyle shamanism, suitable for all those inspired by such figures as Austin Spare and Aleister Crowley, and who feel the imperative to develop their own unique magical way. Visual Magick aims to build vision, imagination, and creative magick. It shows how magicians, witches, artists and therapists can improve visionary abilities, enhance imagination, activate the inner senses, and discover new modes of trance awareness. The emphasis is on direct experience and the reader is asked to think, act, do, and enjoy as s/he wills. 'One of the best books on magick I have read in a long while.' Phil Hine in Pagan News 'A practical modern grimoire.' The Cauldron

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

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Steve Cran]

This is my first time reading a book by Jan Fries and let me tell you that I am hooked. This author speaks to me in a way that other authors just can't .Maybe because he is the only one that is writing the truth.

His exploration into Visual Magick starts off with sigils, those seeds or pods of information that grow into or manifest into the fruition of our true will. Sigils were first popularized by Austin Osman Spare. The idea is to let the sigil, once you have made it enter into your subconscious or deep mind. From their the subconscious will work on it making your wish a reality, that is if it is in accordance with your true will.

Sigil working may shake things up a bit. In order to become real the subconscious may force you to change, change your view about yourself or something else quite earth shattering. The ego, which likes to control, is quite uneasy with this. To get past the ego and let the sigil slip into the subconscious may require physical exhaustion or a crisis. I will take the exhaustion.

The ego or conscious mind limits us in many ways. It block our creativity and deludes us into thinking we are less then what we really are. This is why ordinary people do extraordinary things when they are possessed by some spirit. In reality this just another one of their many selves stepping up to the plate. The ego loses control.

The Gods,totems and demons are all reflections of our deep mind. They are not seperate from us. Jan Fries gives a thorough explanation on how to invoke a trance , do automatic writing, art and mandala making. This is the next level of chaos magic. It will open your mind and new vistas. I have got to read more of this author.

[C.A. Young]

While I do have a quibble with the use of the term "shamanism" in the title, this is maybe the most comprehensive and sensible texts on what this kind of work can and should be in the modern age. As one who feels strongly that the extraordinary is best experienced in concert with critical thinking, Fries' ability to root the exercises and concepts in the text in a worldview that is inclusive of skepticism was welcome.

Highly recommended.

[Justin]

Really easy to read and understandable presentation on sigil magic! The author is accessible and presents his material in a really creative novel way. Highly enjoyed the book and my only wish is that it was longer. If you want a book that points the way into making your own magic system or just a more successful spin on your current system I recommend this book very highly.
Down side, towards the end a mix of theory and practice suggestions that make it have a jammed up feeling, would like to have seen more separation between these towards the end.

[Garrett]

Great expolaration of "Freestyle Shamanics",Sigil magic,NLP,Trance work, Automatic drawing, and alot more practical information on how to create a personal Magical system. A modern occult classic book imo.

[Constantin]

I guess it is ok as a book for someone who is completely new to the concept. Although to me it seems to be "another book about imagination and the spirits of nature".
Not really practical information, but it sure gives some good food for thought and perhaps enough information for one to start doing their own research on some subjects.

[Justin]

A comprehensive review of interfacing with the self/subconscious using visualization/imagination. About sigils and automatic writing type stuff

[Andre]

Uma leitura repleta de camadas e significados, perfeita para aprimorar técnicas de visualização criativa de resultados e possibilidades.

[kit]

Absolutely phenomenal book. Most articulate non-dogmatic magical text I've read. I wish this could have been my first read in the field.

[C]

essential. a book to refer back to full of wonderful ideas and exercises.

[Adam]

Visual Magick is one of those core books on well, I want to say chaos magic and sigil work with other practices thrown in, but it's more like freestyle occultist practice that is eminently practical and full of useful information. It says "Freestyle Shamanism" in the title as it's an old book, and that was before everyone realized they were being a moron and misusing that term egregiously, but besides that I only have good things to say about it.

It is hands down one of the more practical books that I return to regularly, and actually fueled some very interesting artistic projects on my part (abstracts, strange glyphs, other oddities, automatic artmaking). But, I'm a visual artist/occultist type, so a lot of it was applicable to that sort of thing. It really spoke to me and I learned a lot of things, and if you do the practices the stuff within simply works. Although it did work in a way I'd say is unique to me- perhaps the whole idea of the book, actually.

And, as mentioned, it's one book I've returned to regularly. It taught me a lot, and rereading it isn't wasted time. It also has some of his artwork scattered throughout the book; this is as worth looking at as the text is worth reading. It was my first book by him, and I'm currently working through several more. Fries is an simply an extremely sharp and intelligent author. This book is also not terribly long, compared to the other books by him I'm slogging through. It really is a book I wish I'd found earlier on.

[William Alan]

Jan Fries writes about magic as though somebody left the door unlocked and he cannot quite understand why everyone else is still waiting for permission to enter. Visual Magick is playful, unruly, experimental stuff: sigils, trance, automatic drawing, spirits, movement, imagination, altered states, and whatever else happens to work once you stop insisting that magic behave itself. The drawings alone make the book feel like somebody’s private magical notebook has escaped into print. Fries is particularly good at returning authority to experience, encouraging you to experiment, notice what happens, and develop a magical language that actually belongs to you. The “shamanism” terminology has aged awkwardly, but the freestyle approach remains wonderfully alive. Reading it makes magic seem less like inheriting an old mansion and more like discovering you have been carrying the building materials around all along.

[Jon Daniels]

Fries writes the way I wish more occultists did, try this, notice what happens, change it if it sucks and dont ask permission from some dead lodge officer first. Theres sigils, trance, visualization, drawing and alot of messing with the inner senses, but the real point is learning how to build your own magical language instead of inheriting one whole. Feels very Spare without becoming a Spare cosplay, and I came away wanting to draw stranger things and shake around in the dark for awhile.

[Red Dragon Raccoon]

Truly amazing and insightful about the nature of freestyle and intuitive practices. I especially liked the parts about connecting with your environment.

As someone who has always struggled with visualizing this book really opened the doors for me to realize that there are many different approaches to visual magick and that the best magick is what works intuitively and on a personal level.

[Matthew]

This feels like an important read. It’s refreshing to come across a magician’s boom that doesn’t purport to be an end all be all authority on one’s particular experience while still giving some great tools and exercises to build skill. Loved it!

[Florry]

A classic in modern occultism. Every read you can take something new from it, and is one of the first books I recommend to neophytes. The exercises are simple and profound, allowing anyone in any situation to sit down and do them if they please.

[CJ Hattingh]

Enjoyable and easy read. There are a few practical exercises given that can be incorporated into one's practice but for me there were a couple of nuggets of wisdom to chew on and digest around the nature of spirits and the human psyche.

[Shinji007]

This is the second book I have read from this author. While it seems at times to be very unorthodox, I suppose that is precisely why I like it as it breaks the usual concepts out of preconceived boxes.

[Maxim Alpin]

Don't waste your time.

[Haley Strickland]

These rituals are fluid yet comprehensive and allow your magick to be a part of your creative process. I am so excited to be in nature and impliment some of the practices in this book.

[Italo Wagner]

Bem relaxante de ler e explicativo, ainda faltam treinar alguns exercícios, mas é realmente algo que até um completo iniciante iria entender

[Diogo Silva]

sempre um prazer reler

[Peter Crispin]

This is the best book I've read about how to develop and build a relationship with your imagination.

[Helen]

very useful.

[Duc]

Read and will be read again. This book is recommended by Aiden Wachter, the author of 'Six Ways'. I believe that Aiden might have gotten the idea of X from Jan Fries and developed it further! 'Weaving Fate' talks about this idea.

[Andrew]

An easy read to understanding Visual Magick...a book that gives a good overview if the subject...allowing the opportunity as to what other areas related to it that you might want to pursue after reading it...for someone who maybe just starting off in this area....a great book to begin with....

[Kamila]

The first part of the book was very nice and informative (seemed like a psychological self-help book using magic-related words to explain the generic concepts). The latter part has been too focused on magic itself without much of a background in psychology, which was a pity.

[Edric Unsane]

Pretty damn good, no nonsense, magic.

[gromhaven]

An Excellent book of Jan Fries. Of easy lecture, and with a good balance of Theoretical / practical information. Highly recommended!

[EyeOfEyes]

I recommend this to anyone interested in Magick... I think it is wonderful for beginners especially.

[Simon Vigneault]

Unusually creative yet practical book on magic.