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Temple of Witchcraft #4
The Temple of High Witchcraft: Ceremonies, Spheres and the Witches' Qabalah
"This is foremost an engaging textbook designed for home schooling the advancing witch, and it is encyclopedic in its rituals, charts, and even homework assignments."―Publishers Weekly
Take your spiritual evolution to the next level by mastering the essentials of ceremonial magick. In this much-anticipated fourth volume in Christopher Penczak's award-winning series on witchcraft, he introduces the concepts of the Qabalah and the rituals of high magick, and explores the deeply interwoven relationship between these traditions and the Craft.
The teachings in this book correspond to the element of Air, guiding you into the realm of creative and critical thinking, communication, knowledge, and truth. Four preliminary chapters introduce the basic concepts, history, and skills you will need for your journey. Next, twelve formal lessons, in the witches' traditional year-and-a-day format, provide instruction in the fundamentals of ceremonial
The Qabalah The Tree of Life Symbol and sigil magick Elemental constructs Qabalistic Cross The four worlds and their correspondences Middle Pillar Pathworking The Ritual of the Rosy Cross Invoking and banishing rituals Fluid condensers Barbarous words of power, magickal constructs, and the Goetia The book's thirteenth lesson culminates in a ritual initiation fusing the traditions of witchcraft and high magick―the creation of your own Reality Map. The cosmology you create will be based on your own spiritual experiences as well as the philosophies and practices of ceremonial magick.
Take your spiritual evolution to the next level by mastering the essentials of ceremonial magick. In this much-anticipated fourth volume in Christopher Penczak's award-winning series on witchcraft, he introduces the concepts of the Qabalah and the rituals of high magick, and explores the deeply interwoven relationship between these traditions and the Craft.
The teachings in this book correspond to the element of Air, guiding you into the realm of creative and critical thinking, communication, knowledge, and truth. Four preliminary chapters introduce the basic concepts, history, and skills you will need for your journey. Next, twelve formal lessons, in the witches' traditional year-and-a-day format, provide instruction in the fundamentals of ceremonial
The Qabalah The Tree of Life Symbol and sigil magick Elemental constructs Qabalistic Cross The four worlds and their correspondences Middle Pillar Pathworking The Ritual of the Rosy Cross Invoking and banishing rituals Fluid condensers Barbarous words of power, magickal constructs, and the Goetia The book's thirteenth lesson culminates in a ritual initiation fusing the traditions of witchcraft and high magick―the creation of your own Reality Map. The cosmology you create will be based on your own spiritual experiences as well as the philosophies and practices of ceremonial magick.
576 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2007
64 people are currently reading
720 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Penczak
97 books435 followersChristopher Penczak is a Witch, teacher, writer and healing practitioner. His practice draws upon the foundation of both modern and traditional Witchcraft blended with the wisdom of mystical traditions from across the globe as a practitioner and teacher of shamanism, tarot, Reiki healing, herbalism, astrology and Qabalah. He is the founder of the Temple of Witchcraft tradition and system of magickal training based upon the material of his books and classes. He is an ordained minister primarily serving the New Hampshire and Massachusetts pagan and metaphysical communities through public rituals, private counsel and teaching, though he travels extensively teaching throughout the United States.
Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts on May 10, 1973, Christopher was raised in an Italian/Polish family while living in Salem, NH. After twelve years of Catholic school and becoming an avowed agnostic, he initially pursued an interest in chemistry, stemming from a childhood fascination with alchemy and herbalism. As a youth, he had an out of body experience, passing out in a fourth grade science class, but observing the whole scene in spirit, from above the room. While in high school, he was visited by an apparition of his recently deceased great aunt. These two experiences made him question his dedication to science and pursue a study of the mystical and occult, as well as his artistic pursuits. He attended the University of Massachusetts as a vocal major, earning a Bachelor of Music Performance/Music Business in 1995 and set his sights on becoming a full time performer. While studying classical voice, he founded a band called Doctor Soulshine that fused mystical imagery and shamanic concepts to traditional heavy rock music.
While in college, a long time friend and teacher introduced Christopher to the principles of witchcraft, meditation, tarot and spell work. At first he was skeptical, but his experience with a healing spell at a full Moon ritual was enough to convince him that there was truth to these ideas and he sought to understand more. He took classes with Laurie Cabot, in her Cabot Tradition with an emphasis on Witchcraft As A Science. He was fascinated with the science and philosophy of her teaching, grounding witchcraft in sound thinking and personal experience. A psychic healing experience left him with a sense of empowerment and spiritual connection. After this initial training, he studied with an assortment of witches, shamans, yogis, psychic readers and healers in the New England area, developing an eclectic path of personal witchcraft. He later focused on the healing arts, completing training as a Reiki Master (Teacher) in the Usui-Tibetan and Shamballa traditions and certification as a flower essence consultant and herbalist.
After graduation from college, Christopher began work at the A&R department of Fort Apache, a recording studio and record label in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He soon found himself leading meditations and ritual groups for friends seeking to know more about the Craft. During his time in the Boston area, Christopher experimented with the ideas he later wrote about in his book City Magick: Urban Rituals, Spells and Shamanism. The initial ritual group formed the nucleus of the first Temple of Witchcraft series.
Although having no real interest in teaching formally, Christopher received a message during a meditation in 1998 to start teaching more and begin writing. Thinking it was his imagination, Christopher ignored it, saying to himself and the universe, “I’m too busy with my music career. If you want me to teach, give me the time.” The next week he was laid off from his job and had plenty of time. Although with a booming economy and many job opportunities, Christopher had no luck finding a position in the music industry, or a more traditional office job. When he posted a few flyers about meditation and witchcraft classes at a local shop, the response was immediate and he began teaching cla
Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts on May 10, 1973, Christopher was raised in an Italian/Polish family while living in Salem, NH. After twelve years of Catholic school and becoming an avowed agnostic, he initially pursued an interest in chemistry, stemming from a childhood fascination with alchemy and herbalism. As a youth, he had an out of body experience, passing out in a fourth grade science class, but observing the whole scene in spirit, from above the room. While in high school, he was visited by an apparition of his recently deceased great aunt. These two experiences made him question his dedication to science and pursue a study of the mystical and occult, as well as his artistic pursuits. He attended the University of Massachusetts as a vocal major, earning a Bachelor of Music Performance/Music Business in 1995 and set his sights on becoming a full time performer. While studying classical voice, he founded a band called Doctor Soulshine that fused mystical imagery and shamanic concepts to traditional heavy rock music.
While in college, a long time friend and teacher introduced Christopher to the principles of witchcraft, meditation, tarot and spell work. At first he was skeptical, but his experience with a healing spell at a full Moon ritual was enough to convince him that there was truth to these ideas and he sought to understand more. He took classes with Laurie Cabot, in her Cabot Tradition with an emphasis on Witchcraft As A Science. He was fascinated with the science and philosophy of her teaching, grounding witchcraft in sound thinking and personal experience. A psychic healing experience left him with a sense of empowerment and spiritual connection. After this initial training, he studied with an assortment of witches, shamans, yogis, psychic readers and healers in the New England area, developing an eclectic path of personal witchcraft. He later focused on the healing arts, completing training as a Reiki Master (Teacher) in the Usui-Tibetan and Shamballa traditions and certification as a flower essence consultant and herbalist.
After graduation from college, Christopher began work at the A&R department of Fort Apache, a recording studio and record label in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He soon found himself leading meditations and ritual groups for friends seeking to know more about the Craft. During his time in the Boston area, Christopher experimented with the ideas he later wrote about in his book City Magick: Urban Rituals, Spells and Shamanism. The initial ritual group formed the nucleus of the first Temple of Witchcraft series.
Although having no real interest in teaching formally, Christopher received a message during a meditation in 1998 to start teaching more and begin writing. Thinking it was his imagination, Christopher ignored it, saying to himself and the universe, “I’m too busy with my music career. If you want me to teach, give me the time.” The next week he was laid off from his job and had plenty of time. Although with a booming economy and many job opportunities, Christopher had no luck finding a position in the music industry, or a more traditional office job. When he posted a few flyers about meditation and witchcraft classes at a local shop, the response was immediate and he began teaching cla
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 6, 2008
Penczak has really done some amazing and in-depth research on this book. I have to say that his presentation of the ideas of Kabbalah are clear-cut and concise - Wiccan-friendly if ever there was such a thing for Kabbalistic concepts!
As a ceremonialist, I feel that he has definitely spent the time and energy needed to even begin to scratch the surface of High Magick. His approach is well-tailored to the average person and the comprehensive correspondence lists for each Sephirah, alone, are worth the price of this book.
It's a massive book! It's not something that can be picked up and sped through. The course is outlined so that each Sephirah brings a new lesson - and there are, of course, the 'Seeking of the Elemental Gifts' assignments which must be completed before the final 'initiation'.
I did have only one real criticism. While Penczak presents many new concepts of High Magick to the reader (Low Magick practitioners - the target audience of his Temple of Witchcraft series), he fails to explain the significance and meaning of many of the details. He even says in the book that one should not attempt to omit things or re-write rituals unless he or she understands why and how every part of that ritual is the way that it is - well, he also fails to elaborate on many of the concepts that he presents...leaving those unfamiliar with the 'whys' and 'hows' of High Magick to merely guess why things are the way that they are and what they mean. I would encourage anyone reading this book to also research some of the concepts for themselves as they are presented.
All in all, however - this is a splendid read and his best work to date in my opinion.
As a ceremonialist, I feel that he has definitely spent the time and energy needed to even begin to scratch the surface of High Magick. His approach is well-tailored to the average person and the comprehensive correspondence lists for each Sephirah, alone, are worth the price of this book.
It's a massive book! It's not something that can be picked up and sped through. The course is outlined so that each Sephirah brings a new lesson - and there are, of course, the 'Seeking of the Elemental Gifts' assignments which must be completed before the final 'initiation'.
I did have only one real criticism. While Penczak presents many new concepts of High Magick to the reader (Low Magick practitioners - the target audience of his Temple of Witchcraft series), he fails to explain the significance and meaning of many of the details. He even says in the book that one should not attempt to omit things or re-write rituals unless he or she understands why and how every part of that ritual is the way that it is - well, he also fails to elaborate on many of the concepts that he presents...leaving those unfamiliar with the 'whys' and 'hows' of High Magick to merely guess why things are the way that they are and what they mean. I would encourage anyone reading this book to also research some of the concepts for themselves as they are presented.
All in all, however - this is a splendid read and his best work to date in my opinion.
February 29, 2016
I appreciate Chris Penczak's writing of this book. The opening chapters of this book highlight the commonality of magickal and witchcraft perspectives and the remainder offers a united approach to experiencing the Qabalah as a solitary practitioner. I used this book in tandem with a ritual group who did monthly rituals, progressing through the spheres. This was a great supplemental guide and has filled in a lot of holes in my ceremonial education.
March 20, 2017
Another great read in the Temple of Witchcraft series! If you want to know about Ceremonial Magick or the Witch's Qabbalah, this is the book to read.
March 9, 2022
I may have given an unfair rating due to the fact that this book was not what I was anticipating when I picked it up.
The Temple of High Witchcraft: Ceremonies, Sheres and the Witches' Qabalah is a book that will help those who wish to advance their magickal abilities to attain that goal. This is not a book for beginners or for those who dabble in magick.
This book is a detailed reference on how to improve those magickal talents or want to research the history behind the ceremonies they may already be practicing. Personally, though I am not at this level, nor do I expect to be, the history, pronunciation guides, and basic explanations are interesting and informative. The author has an extensive library and knows that of which he writes.
If this intensive, encyclopedia of a book was in my wheelhouse, then I would have rated it higher, but though I found it interesting, it did not help me at my current level.
The Temple of High Witchcraft: Ceremonies, Sheres and the Witches' Qabalah is a book that will help those who wish to advance their magickal abilities to attain that goal. This is not a book for beginners or for those who dabble in magick.
This book is a detailed reference on how to improve those magickal talents or want to research the history behind the ceremonies they may already be practicing. Personally, though I am not at this level, nor do I expect to be, the history, pronunciation guides, and basic explanations are interesting and informative. The author has an extensive library and knows that of which he writes.
If this intensive, encyclopedia of a book was in my wheelhouse, then I would have rated it higher, but though I found it interesting, it did not help me at my current level.
December 24, 2021
I was mainly interested in this book for its insight into various practices. Unfortunately it does tend to trend toward the usual appropriation and redistribution of misinfo under the explanation "it's the intent that matters" while simultaneously also talking about how necessary it is to get other things correct. It's very picky-choosy. There is some information, but nothing you can't find looking at the primary sources themselves. Tbh, it's just another modern craft book that prizes Western takes over the actual people who created the practices. Plus he is real cool about Dion Fortune apparently not wanting "british culture polluted by eastern practices" like WHAT??
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August 9, 2011Trash from a gay witch. Syncretistic garbage.
July 12, 2012
Great insight on the Wiccan religion.
December 13, 2012
I love it...it is very useful workbook recommended for daily or occasional use for all followers of an ancient wisdom
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2015
Most of what's in here is better presented elsewhere, but the appendices have some excellent food for thought
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews