Customer Reviews

Goetic Evocation: The Magician's Workbook Volume 2

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I found this book incredibly informative, useful and practical. In addition to compiling known material on the Goetia in a practical and efficient format, there is quite a bit of previously unpublished material by one who has obviously studied ritual evocation seriously for many years. Also, the rare text of the Testament of Solomon in the appendix is worth 20 times the price of the book by itself. The author also restored the shattered Sefer Qliphoth of Aleister Crowley, with extremely well researched corrections. The accounts of the evocations performed by the author are fascinating and compelling, and the many charts and tables detailing the hierarchy of angels and demons make for an important reference source not found in any other text on the subject. I have collected grimoire texts for nearly 20 years and possess every accessible book available in this subject area, and I place this book right at the top of the list. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I am of two minds towards this book. There are parts that I absolutely hate, and there are parts that are almost unique in their honesty, in books of this type. Almost anyone who writes in this genre gets a list of "fan boy" reviews. The subject matter just seems to create that vibration. This will not be that sort of review.

First the bad:

1.) This is hardly laid out as a "Work Book" as the cover would suggest. The work doesn't even start until the second half of the manual, and make up only 22 pages.

2.) Even though the Goetia is decidedly "Solomonic" the first Tree of Life in the book has Egyptian deities on it. Followed by Greek, then Hindu, then Christian, Planetary, and then FINALLY Hebrew.

3) The author is firmly convinced that these entities are all evil, and dwell on the "Tree of Death".

The good:

1) Spirits of days and hours clearly laid out with a neat format.

2) Clear charts for Tree of Life attributions, in an "At a glance" format.

3) Wonderful fusion of ritual from the Greater and Lesser Keys. This includes use of Pentacles from the greater key, and the Circle and Triangle from the Lesser Key. Really this is a complete curriculum for Solomonic Magick with very little editing or adding, other than noted above in "The Bad".

4) This is the only author I have seen that actually respects the planetary attributions of the original text. The fact that there are 72 spirits that don't fit neatly into little cosmic piles, seems to be a built-in test against the pride of the Magician. Most authors fail that test.

5) While I am not convinced that this is essential curriculum for Goetic Working, he has included a rather exhaustive tract on the Qliphoth or the Tree of Evil, the reverse of the Tree of Life.

Let me say that the points toward the good are all stronger points than the ones listed under the bad. I think this book is a wonderful companion piece to the actual Goetia. Actually I suggest the Henson/Wellman edition of the Lemegeton for the entire Lesser Key.

Goetic Evocation tackles some advanced subject matter - namely, evoking the spirits of the Goetia to visible appearance. While it is not as badly organized as the author's previous book (The Magician's Workbook) it still seems to throw the reader into the middle of the subject without much prelude. I also thought the requirements for performing an evocation a bit too restrictive (you must use this incense or you will fail, you must do this or you will fail, etc. etc.) Also, it's ridiculous to expect everyone who wants to practice evocation to have a house in the country, far away from other people, but the author seems to make this a requirement as well.

I did like the "Goetic Experiments" appendix to the book - it's worth buying the book just to read that section alone, as it leads the reader through an actual series of evocation experiments and lets you see how it's done.

I also enjoyed the author's information/speculations on the "plane of demons", and how it all functioned.

Savadow really blows his credibility with the chapter where he claims that the demons (re: Spirits) live in another world where they hold jobs, have families, etc. If Savadow didn't make that up, then he's swallowed a lot of hogwash from an informant that rambles a tale much like a mental patient would. I have summoned and evoked Spirits since the late 80s and not one of the ones I've summoned have ever spun such a yarn! Nor have any of my colleagues who're into evocational magicks has ever heard of such a thing either!

Another interesting note is how Savadow claims to be one of "5" practitioners who're even capable of summoning spirits? Right! If that's not ego enhancement, then I don't know what is! There are plenty of others who've shared anecdotes about their Goetia experiments including Poke Runyon, Phil Legard, Don Michael Kraig, Brother Moloch, Donald Tyson, Phil Hine, Lon Milo DuQuette, S. Jason Black, Chris Hyatt, etc., and none of them have the pretentious attitude that Savadow does! Maybe because they are not as full of themselves as Mr. Savadow is?

Savadow's claims that you have to go thru this heavy duty physical regimen is nonsense. Evocational Magic is more about Mental & Spiritual power than it is about Physical power! You do not have to practice Yoga or learn all those silly Crowleyan gestures to practice Evocations! LOL

The only good thing I can say about this book is that the tables are very nice and neatly laid out. Other than that, it's not worth the cost of the book. If you can get it free or barter for it, then okay. There are far better books out there on this subject than this piece of garbage! What's worse is Savadow should "know" better!!!

Even though Steve took a swipe at me on the back cover (which he later apologized for) I really like his book and I think it has to be read by anyone who is serious about doing this work, or even understanding it--because Steve Savedow really did it. Sure, he did it "the hard way" (medieval free-form style)and he did it on a Jewish Klippothic model whereas the traditional Goetia spirits inhabit a Christian Dantesque Tartarus. We in the O.T.A. put them all in Yesod and do them in a dark mirror (see TBOSM). Regardless of such quibbles, Steve Savedow and more recently Joseph Lisiewski (Ceremonial Magic and the Power of Evocation)are serious and dedicated practitioners who prove that spirit evocation is neither a hoax or an irrational delusion. However subjective it may be (and no serious operator will claim it is not subjective), it is one of the most remarkable and challenging adventures an intrepid explorer of the unknown can experience. I give Steve's book five stars for reaching the summit(or the depths)--even though he took the most dangerous and difficult route.

Poke Runyon, Author: The Book of Solomon's Magick

I've studied and practiced ceremonial magick for over 20 years and read just about everything (good and bad) on all aspects, especially books in the Qabalistic, Hermetic, Thelemic, and Golden Dawn traditions. This book is obviously written by someone who has closely studied a few texts, and maybe even attempted some of the workings, but never managed to break outside the barriers of their own subjective imagination of "what it must be like." This book is embarassing. I think most people have it on their shelves because it is the only book aside from the Goetia that has the buzzwords "Goetic" and "evocation" in the title. This book is on par with the WORST of the make-believe Llwellyn tripe. Save it for the "dungeons and dragons" role-playing crowd who want to pretend they study "real" magic. Don't waste your money.

Having experimented with the Goetia some years ago, I had different experiences and don't agree with all that Mr. Savedow reports in his book. I do like the first 5 chapters though. For a more modern approach to the Goetic operation, one might look at the "Book of Solomon's Magick" by Carroll "Poke" Runyon. But one might question why resort to Goetic magic at all when there are better and far healthier systems available. Mr. Savedow writes at the end of his book that he intends to write a book on Enochian magic. That would be interesting.

Having been lucky enough to purchase a signed limited first edition of this book years ago, I must say that Savedow's book presents a wealth of information on Goetic Evocation. I have read several books meticulously detailing Goetic "theory", and much has been written on summoning spirits into crystals and mirrors. This, however, is the only modern work I have come across that gives a first person account of successful Goetic Evocation to PHYSICAL form. Mr. Savedow's meticulous journals detailing his goetic experiments alone are worth the price of this book several times over. If you are thinking about undertaking Goetic Evocation, buy this book. If you are an armchair occultist and want to know about Goetic Evocation without putting yourself at risk... buy this book.

Looking forward to your translation of "The Book of the Angel Rezial" Mr. Savedow.

While it is true that there are many methods of conjuring, the point with Steve Savedow's book that some of the reviewers seem to be missing is that Steve Savedow decided to practice evocation while adhering as strictly as possible to the original methods of the Goetia. The original methods DO require physical stamina-those methods are tough, and to an extent, dangerous. Goetic Evocation is an excellent book from this point of view, interesting to read, and is filled with pertinent Goetic information.

In short, Mr. Savedow's system works, despite the more detailed procedures! I had originally thought that these procedures were incomplete or incorrect. But upon further study I realized that Mr. Savedow has effectively modified the Goetic practices in various aspects which differs from other Goetia work books. The seals are clearly drawn/photocopied which is good. There a listing of the Demons offices, and other correspondences. The only warning that I will give is to make sure your spirit, mind, and body are align in order to perform effective conjuring.