Goêtic Common Sense

by Frater Acher

In this comprehensive essay I am exploring an inside view into the ancient figure of the goês: What does it mean to do spirit-work according to genuine goêteia? Which patterns of practice as well as social positioning do we observe from the time of the Ancient Greek to modern practitioners of this path?

Leveraging extensive bibliographical references, I am drawing on historic, anthropological and biological research, as well as my own lived experience as a goêtic spirit-worker. What we will discover are stark contrasts to text-based magical traditions such as Solomonic Magic. More importantly, we will be able to define a series of practical observations – largely independent of time and space – that can be called Goêtic Common Sense.

The text is illustrated throughout with original drawings by the magnificent David S. Herrerías. We are making this material available online and free of charge as a contribution to the magical community. A printed version is being planned for the summer of 2022.

LVX,

Frater Acher & David S. Herrerías

69 pages, ebook

First published December 1, 2021

About the author

Frater Acher is the author of theomagica.com as well as a friend and collaborator of Quareia Magical Training. He holds an MA in Communications Science, Intercultural Communications and Psychology as well as certifications in Systemic Coaching and Gestalt Therapy. He has studied Western Ritual Magic in theory and practice at I.M.B.O.L.C. (magieausbildung.de) and has been actively involved in magic as a lone practitioner for more than twenty years. Frater Acher is a German national, and after several years of living abroad, he is now resident in Munich, Germany. Previous publications include 'Cyprian of Antioch: A Mage of Many Faces' (Quareia Press 2017) and 'Speculum Terræ' (Hadean Press 2018).

The Holy Daimon online project is a resource dedicated to research into, and the translation of ritual manuscripts from the 15th to 18th century with a focus on texts of daimonic theurgy.

Reviews

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Jake Stratton-Kent finished his 'Encyclopedia Goetica' series there have been many authors who have tried to draw inspiration from that work but often add nothing that is even remotely as interesting compared to Kent's series. Frater Archer is the exception. He went from having the best blog about Western esoterics on the net to producing some of the best contemporary books on Western occultism. This is a free essay that can be found on his website that is being reproduced as a limited printed book. Since one can read this work legally for free, I highly recommend anyone interested in it to do so.

[Pxan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is the author's site, you can get the book here: https://theomagica.com/goetic-common-...

So this is a book exploring the figure of the Goes in ancient Greece, a somewhat of a precursor to witchers, working with spirits independently of the official creed and convention. Usually, there were frauds and charlatans, though we can learn many things from their approach to spirit work. And I am not only referencing magick.

Even if you don't practice magick I highly recommend this book, the drawings are beautiful and in such a short time it provides plenty of resources for further study and practice.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good straightforward read. I particularly liked the section on Goêtic Implements. It introduced a few sources I wasn't aware of so I found it informational besides laying the groundwork for interacting with spirits and such. I think it put a lot of things in perspective. Again, linear straightforward easy to read. Kudos.

[Lethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute little read; i wonder if acher read deleuze, given that he uses the concept of dividuality here and speaks of rhizomatic (sorry, mycorrhizal) networks both here and in his trutmezzer