Customer Reviews

Initiation into Hermetics

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is loaded from cover to cover with practical mind-training exercises - from developing the power of one's imagination, to training different senses and perfecting the ability to use them individually or in conjunction with each other; to working with the elements; transfering one's consciousness; generating and projecting energy; and much more. By the time you're done going thoroughly through all the exercises in this book and practicing them until you master them - your ability to use the power of your mind will increase beyond your wildest dreams - and you will have many interesting experiences along the way.

Had I done so, I would not have had to wade through all the new-age waffle that pretends to be magickal training today. And I'd have more money. But with that said, this book isn't for the casual dabbler or the wannabe wizard. This is a serious, PhD- level book for the Seeker on the Path who, like me, has passed through the many stages and levels of insight on their way to Mastery. It is beautiful in its dense Germanic imperative simplicity, and just getting through a chapter and getting it into your psychic marrow may take weeks or months. But the results will be well worth it, as the 'Ah-Ha!' light within your soul gradually brightens, and your world will never be the same again.

This isn't for the timid, or the doubtful, or the casual dabbler. It won't blow up in your face like Crowley's stuff does, but it definitely will blow your mind if you are not ready to accept the responsibility that the exercises and techniques in this book will impart to you. I'd say that if you're under the age of 35, maybe you should wait to get this, because you should have some living under your belt to truly comprehend its impact on your life.

This book should be the keystone of any Gnostic, Hermetic, Kabalastic, or Rosicrucian practitioner of the Western Mysteries library. Mr. Bardon has given the student magus a great gift. Use it with wisdom and care.

With all the praises this book has been getting, let me make this clear: THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY. And don't think that this is the only magic-book you'll ever need. Wrong. This book containts a complete initiation system which is a true description of the first Tarot Card. But this course can take a lifetime to amster if not many lifetimes for many people. You won't become a magus overnight.

I disagree with the person who said that you shouldn't read ahead until you complete a step; nor that by doing so, you will finish the book in 2 years. It is safe to read ahead; it will also take many, many years to master the whole course. This is THE book for serious magic. But be warned: it's only for the most disciplined, most determined students. Also, don't neglect to study the writings of other adepts.

There are a number of ways of reading this book. Philosophically, magically and on a practical level. Having bought it in 1979 I had to wait for the internet to be able to discuss the various aspects of this book with other people who have read it particularly since some aspects of it are not easy for the neophyte and one could not find Bardon readers round the corner. I started my own discussion group and a few months later a real professional group was set up so I dropped mine.Discussion groups also offered the opportunity to clarify some of its more obscure points while as it encouraged those who were more advanced along the path to write books on the matters discussed in the IIH in order to explain teh more obscure areas and adress readers questions. Thus the involvement in IIH can be total for the seeker. One progresses along the path of magic at one's own pace finding light along the way.

On a personnal basis, this book opened the gates of all religions. I realised but more importantly understood the basis of all religions as a result. There is an emphasis on the Jewish Kaballah but only as a base. By understanding the true meaning of religion and the world beyond this book has a direct philosophical influence. By teaching the art of magic, this book opens up possibilities for the seeker. And, by providing practical steps for the development of one magic's powers on a physical, mental and psychic level, one develops into a new human beeing.

With this understanding and the accompanying mastery and development one becomes a much better Jew Christian or whatever religion one is brought up in because one then perceives the religion from above as the real ray of light and not from below as some sort of dogma to be accepted.

Through this book, your heart enters in the world of religion and magic. Highly reccomended even if you are just a passive reader and not an active achiever on the path of magic.

Whenever someone asks me what book(s) they should read to get started in magick I reccomend this one. No glut of rituals, no overabundance of theory, and alot of practical work.

A step by step trainning program for actually aquireing the basic skills of a mage. How to control your own mind, how to revamp your emotions, and how to work with energy. Every step is necessary, and helps you develop the practical skill and knowlage to handle the next portion.

My only problem is that the book is translated in such a way that it is hard to tell what Bardon means sometimes. There are also some random mundane errors here and there, but nothing huge and glareing. Initiation Into Hermetics is best read with Rawn Clark's "A Bardon Companion" for clarification.

Firstly, out of a possible 5 star rating, I give this book 25 stars. Words utterly fail to effectively convey the importance of a book like this, but I will make an attempt anyway. Above all, this book is a sort of workbook which we were all so familiar with in elementary school. This book is a Spiritual Science Book. It is divided into 10 steps, each step containing meditational exercises which, when mastered, lead directly to the next step of more challenging exercises, and so on and so on all the way up the step 10. As the student builds up his Spiritual abilities with each step, he/she will become more and more like the great Spiritual-Scientific Masters of all time, such as Christ, Buddha, Krishna, complete with the same miraculous powers and abilities of these past Masters. Don't believe such a thing is possible? TOO BAD!! It is the Truth. And this is the (work)book which, if USED by the reader, will PROVE to the reader that Truly anyone can be a great Spiritual Master. Remember, it was Christ who told his disciples that they could do EVEN GREATER things than he, if only they got off their behinds and made the effort to connect with God. This book will do just that for you--help you establish a True Union with God. If you have ever wondered how miracles were performed, get this book. If you have ever wondered how "phychic" powers work, get this book. If you have ever wanted to have abilities like this (and more)..... GET THIS BOOK.

I have read over 500 books on Magick. This is the best one ever.You really don't need anything else but this book. Honestly, this is Crowley on steroids. This is the most complete workable system on Magick there is. There are 10 steps. I became more initiated more by step 3 then 24 years in the OTO or the Golden Dawn. It teaches mastery of the elements. The elements are in everything in the universe. Master of the elements and mastery of the astral plane will lead to real magical power. If you follow the exercises in this book you will become a mystic and magician of the highest degree. You will not need a magical lodge as a teaching tool. You will learn to detach from the physical world and master the astral world and learn to control your mind.This book teaches how to use a magic mirror that is esential to evocational magic. You will learn to creat elements, elementries, charge poweful taiismans, come face to face with god. You will learn to raise the dead and cure disease. You will learn to astral travel and make yourself invisable. This book is all of that and more. And it is not a bunch of new age grabble. It is practial step by step techinque. Buy it. Study it and study it then master it. you will need no other system or book on magic, except maybe Bardons other books.

This book is excellent. Franz bardon writes with love and insight. It's as if he created the universe and knows all it's secrets. I will forever treasure this Hallmark work.

BE FOREWARNED THOUGH - YOU MAY NEVER FINISH THE FIRST STEP. And the book has ten steps. Even the publishers concede that THERE MIGHT ONLY BE ABOUT 5-10 PEOPLE ALIVE WHO HAVE ACTUALLY FINISHED THE BOOK.

So take the reviews with a mouthful of salt. YOU WON'T BE WALKING ON WATER, ASTRAL PROJECTING OR COMMANDING THE WEATHER ANYTIME SOON. Did Bardon really intend for his students to aspire to these ideals though?

BUT, for what it's worth. Even if you never pass step one you would have attempted one of the best systems out there. And if you decide to follow another path take step one with you always. It purges the soul.

Thank Franz Bardon for this work. It's the ideal for any true Hermetic. But ideals are always different from reality.

I am still working on one of the very first exercises (which seems to be one of the hardest ones), and am not a heavy practioner of the occult, but from my intuitions and experiences with the book so far, it definitely seems to hold an endless store of wisdom. I really wish I had had the opportunity to meet the author so I could see what he was really like. If he was like all those who talk like they know so much, but have nothing to show for all their "knowledge", or if he was truly accomplished. I half expect I might have been quite surprised if I'd actually had a chance to meet the guy and get to know him. This isn't your typical occult book full of endless exposition, rambling, and psychological points of view. It is very direct and to the point. I haven't yet even breached the surface with this book (which seems a very difficult thing to do indeed), and already the very first simple exercises have accomplished wonders for me. The one where you impregnate your food with your wishes accomplished something I was unable to accomplish for years and the shower thing where you use a brush to open your pores every day in the shower and take cold ones also seemed to somehow open up my senses. The time that I stuck to that every day was a very weird time with all kinds of syncronycities and supernatural seeming things happening to me... Unfortunately, the things this book asks of one are not the easiest things to stick to (or even do at all) in the world, but I would recommend it as one of the rare books on the occult that actually seems to have some real substance, and if it draws you, you should buy it. I almost don't want to tell you this; almost want to hoard this secret wisdom for myself...

I come from a background that is mostly asian, in terms of my exposure to inner cultivation.When I first picked up the book, which had been in my library for more than two years, I thought it was a book from an asian tradition. I was wrong....sort of. Many inner traditions are the products of gender and culture. What this book does is remove all of that and get to the heart of inner cultivation......self realization. Realization that you are more than your flesh but yet your flesh is a part of your existence.
Being that life is a balancing act for most people,Mr. Bardon stresses this which to me proves him to be a responsible person. To have information from a source that is accurate and responsible is rare and to be commended.
The exercices are not all unique to this work but the presentation, balance, and formulation of what to do and how to do are uncanny. Many books are nothing but empty theory not based on the writers experience. You can spot this becuase most books lack explanation of concrete results related to completing the stated phase of training.Some are so empty that no real concrete training is even mentioned. Mr. Bardon does not lack in this area one bit.
To sum it up. This book is for extremely serious mature people who wish to develop the awareness and ability to interact with duality beyond normal sight and sound. It is for those that are ready to get some answers by the sweat of their efforts. All results that have the potential to lead to greatness will take time. Be patient and diligent if you decide to embark on this journey.