Customer Reviews

Simplified Magic: A Beginner's Guide to the New Age Quabala (Llewellyn's new age series)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Many books on the market today are all about wasting time and going on a tangent that the reader doesn't even understand yet. This book is really straight-forward, honest, and sincere. Putting the ideas in a small bite that the reader can understand, especially if they are a new comer to the realm of magick.

Ted takes the reader and explains things in a light that is easily understandable and fun to read. This would be an excellent primer to reading any other works by Mathers, Crowley, and Fortune.

As long as you realize that this book is geared towards people with little or no understanding of the Qabala, you will understand why I gave it such a good rating. It is easy to comprehend and follow. This is a great book to read, especially before researching some of the harder-to-read works on this topic.

I had always been intrigued by the qabala, but found all the books on the subject too daunting to keep me interested. So when I came upon this little book in the New Age shelf at Scribners I was sold after just a brief look. I finally understood what qabala is! As a previous reviewer stated, the exercises really work. Therefore, I must warn any casual dabblers out there - this is not a game! If you are interested in the subject, by all means read on and enjoy the book, however do not attempt to practice its principles unless you are a serious student. Approach the practice with seriousness and reverence or you may find yourself in a predicament not unlike that of Pandora!

This is an excellent book for the beginning student on the kabbalah, it's easy, and straight to the point. And best of all it's blabber-free.

A wonderful book that gives some much needed basic information to anyone interested in the Qabala from a non-religious background. Ted Andrews shares his wisdom in a practical way that will protect anyone interested in working with the Qabala. He teaches the importance of being balanced and being mindful before starting. It shows a little of his vast knowledge on the subject and is the first of the books he has written on the subject.

Thanks to this little book, I am now a practicing qabalist. The meditative techniques described are easy to follow and bring very powerful results. Ted Andrews provides the reader with sufficient working knowledge of the Tree of Life without intimidating or confusing with unnecessary detail. Unlike other books on qabala, this one encourages understanding through practice. I couldn't recommend this book more. It will always be one of the gems of my personal library.

Ted Andrews presents his introduction to Kabbalistic study and day-to-day practice in his usual bare bones but effective manner. I like his approach to simplifying everyday kabbalistic practice so that anyone can touch upon the Sephiroth without getting bogged down in confusing jargon and concepts.
There were two gripes I have though with this book: First, he becomes very repetitive with explaining why it is important to access other levels of consciousness - it would be more effective to state your case once (maybe with a restatement later on) and devote the rest of the manual to more practical exercises so the student can discover for themself how important it is (Mr. Andrews seems to be adamantly trying to convince the reader); and secondly, I disagree with the use of Jehovah in place of the traditional and more accurate YHVH with each letter pronounced separately. I understand that each individual must find what works for them (as he presents in his book) but giving out just that one option I thought was too limiting.
I had occasion to ask Mr. Andrews about this at an Animal-Speak workshop I attended many years ago as he was signing my books. He replied that it was "personal preference". That's all well and good, but I strongly believe that the original and linguistically accurate version should have been presented as well given that many who use this book will be beginners and may not know of the alternative.
All in all, a nice little introduction to a watered-down Kabala - this is the first of a two volume-series he has written on the topic.

His later books are great, but this? Yikes! I bet he wrote this himself and then started hiring ghost writers for later books. Animal Speak is a classic; his work with the fairy realm is terrific; but the writing here --! Don't torture yourself.

It's a great book for beginners. It's blabber free, easy, and straightforward.

I do not care for this book, and I am the first to admit that the more I study the Kabbalah; the less I seem to understand.

However; I do know real Kabbalists, and will say that they never heard of the "Path of the Sword" in ascending the Tree of life glyph.

According to them; there are 22 paths connecting the 10 sephiroth together; and people may use any of the paths to go from Malkuth and ascend toward Keter (if memory serves the name of the top sephiroth on the tree of life.)

I encourage questions and comments about my reviews; Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)