Practical Magic for Beginners: Techniques & Rituals to Focus Magical Energy

Brandy Williams does a fantastic job of allowing a seeker to both experience and understand Magic. She doesn't spend a lot of time on the theories - and as is noted by other reviewers and Brandy herself, the only way to understand magic is to actually practice it. Her techniques are easy to learn, not at all complex, and will provide both the beginner as well as the experienced practitioner a good foundation. The book itself is well balanced, with some elements of theory - particularly around elemental and planetary forces. However, the theories are not beaten to death, but gently explained so that there is some level of understanding of the correspondences. I certainly feel that Brandy's methods are both simple and powerful, and you will be practicing with proper intention and a focused will in no time at all. A great gateway book.

Since you are already seeking books on magic(k), psychic abilities, and the like, then I don't feel the least bit strange about telling you this. I was in a relationship not too long ago. The thing we both had deeply in common was a love of the occult and magic(k)al studies. We were at a book store shopping for her first ceremonial/Wicca text, and this one (no joke) fell off the bookshelf at our feet. She ended up buying it that day, and I ended up sneaking off with it when I could to practice some of the exercises to enhance my Ceremonial Magic techniques. This book bridges the gap between Llwelyn's dime-a-dozen Wicca books and the great work (Magnum Opus) of Franz Bardon. In his "Initiation into Hermetics", he spends the first half of the book getting his readers to undergo (more or less) all of the things that Brandy Williams will have you do in this book. The difference is that in Brandy's work, you don't need to have 5-6 hours a day to devote to magical study and mental mastery. Introspection, meditation, energy, sense mastery and enhancement (individually and collectively), journal keeping, and forming better habits in general are the order of the day for all True Magi. These are the proper stones upon which you build your own temple. If you want to know more about yourself and your role in this world (and others, potentially), you owe it to yourself to buy this book! Good Luck, and Blessed Be! :)

It does not go into wide discussions on origins of wicca, it does not go on and on about wicca/witchcraft as religious system and its incorporability into your own religious belief (if different). It goes on to explain about the way of the witch, giving plenty of exercises and sound advice on posture, meditation, grounding and centering, feeling your centre, energy work, directing energy, seeing the aura, finding your magical voice, magic circle, moon-phases, chakras etc, on to the ritual itself. No mumbo-jumbo, no religious overtones, no silly songs praising this or that goddess (if i want a book on that, I'm sure there are many available) just sound practical advice for beginners on how to enhance your capabilities and how to use your own skill in making things manifest for you. The author draws from many sources, from wicca and ceremonial magic, to buddhism and martial arts - actually from most systems which acknowlledge the Energy the witch uses to manifest. The book is very well organized, goes from basics on to more complicated stuff and does not skip a step. I wish I had known of this book years ago! Not a word in this book is wasted.

exercises to prime you for magickal work. I've been involved with this tpe of work for a very long time and I must say the book doesn't waste time.

Highly Recommended! This is a great book for the beginner and experienced magician, alike. It’s packed full of very useful skills and easy to follow rituals.