True Magick: 2nd Edition [Paperback]

Amber K (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 8, 2006

For fifteen years, Amber K's "little green book" has guided thousands down the life-changing path of magick. Selling more than 200,000 copies, True Magick has truly struck a chord with Witches, Pagans, and magicians around the world.

Presented here for the first time is the revised and expanded anniversary edition of True Magick. It features the same delightful introduction to the history and lore of magick, in addition to several varieties of magick, ranging from shamanism and Norse Magick to Voudun and Qabala. Amber K explains the basics, such as how to find or create ritual tools, establish a temple, plan a ritual, and cast spells safely and ethically. New material includes six more chapters, recommending reading for each chapter, and more than 100 added exercises.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Amber K is a third degree priestess of the Wiccan faith. She was initiated at the Temple of the Pagan Way in Chicago and served on the Council of Elders there. Her books on magick and the Craft have been widely circulated in the United States and Europe, and for nearly 25 years she has traveled across the U.S. teaching the Craft. She has worked with Circle and the Re-Formed Congregation of the Goddess, and served as National First Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess for three terms. She is a founder of Our Lady of the Woods and the Ladywood Tradition of Wicca, and currently is Executive Director of Ardantane, a Wiccan/Pagan seminary is northern New Mexico.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

chapter 1

About Magick-and You

          Why do you want to do magick?

This book is for you-if you want to:

know in what direction your life is headed, so that you may
consciously guide your own destiny;
make wise decisions and solve difficult problems;
cleanse yourself of ignorance, fear, and hatred;
heal yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically;
find new strength, happiness, and skill within;
have all the necessities of life;
protect yourself from harm;
help others when they request it;
help create a more loving world;

. . . and, ultimately, if you want to find spiritual fulfillment and joy in sharing the essence of divinity.

If you want magickal skill in order to harm another, or to control or manipulate anyone, then this book is not for you. Put it down or give it away before you endanger yourself.

If you seek the ancient skills of the adepts for only ethical, beneficial purposes and primarily for your own growth, then read on.

What Magick Is Not

Magick is not an array of tricks or stage illusions. The "k" at the end of the word serves to distinguish it from the "magic" of nightclub acts. Magick is not for show.
Magick is not supernatural. As Janet and Stewart Farrar, prominent Irish witches and Craft teachers, point out, "Magic(k) does not break the laws of Nature; when it appears to do so, that is because it is obeying laws that the observer has not yet understood."_
Magick is not the medieval art of summoning demons to do one's will, at least not to intelligent and ethical magicians. Though it is possible to establish communication with beings on other planes of reality, trying to coerce them into service is both immoral and dangerous.
Magick is not based on a pact with "the Devil." Most magicians, including Wiccan priests and priestesses, do not believe in Satan and would certainly have no dealings with such an entity if he did exist.
Magick is not a good way to get revenge on enemies or force a former lover to return to you. Indeed, there is no "good" way to accomplish such nasty and immature things; but the penalties for misusing magick can be far greater than the consequences of these actions on the material plane.
Magick is not available only to a few talented individuals born with special gifts. It can be learned and mastered to a great degree by anyone with self-discipline and persistence.
Magick does not reside in ritual tools, amulets, magickal swords, etc., unless and until they are charged by a magician. The skill and power lie always in the magician, not in the tool.
Magick does not generally result in spectacular "special effects" on the material plane: strange entities materializing, showers of gold falling from the sky, locked doors bursting asunder, and so forth. Dramatic physical effects are possible and occasionally occur, but most magick aims at internal growth, where results are harder to see. Even magick for material-plane purposes tends to manifest in more or less quiet, gradual, natural ways.
_ Janet and Stewart Farrar, The Witches' Way (London: Robert Hale, 1984), 110.

And magick is not easy to learn or to practice. It is not an instant fix for life's problems, nor is it a shortcut to fame and wealth. It is a set of specialized tools, uniquely well-designed for inner growth and spiritual development. It can be used for more ordinary purposes, but sometimes that is like trying to pound nails with a screwdriver. Magick can be used to bring you safety, wealth, or loving relationships, but it is not a substitute for wearing a seat belt, getting a job, or being sensitive to your lover's needs. And no matter what it is used for, magick requires hard work and discipline.

What Magick Is
A definition of magick is in order. We have already rejected that of Webster's dictionary: magick as "the use of means (as charms, spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces." Here are some other definitions by magicians:

"Magic is the science of the control of the secret forces of nature." -S. L. MacGregor Mathers
"Magic is a comprehensive knowledge of all nature." -Francis Barrett
"Magick is the art and science of causing changes to occur in conformity with will."-Aleister Crowley
"Magic is the art of effecting changes in consciousness at will."-William Butler
"The work of magic involves transformation, and the first transformation is the shift of perception."-Marion Weinstein
"The movement of natural energies . . . to create needed change. Energy exists within all things-ourselves, plants, stones, colors, sounds, movements. Magic is the process of rousing or building up this energy, giving it purpose, and releasing it. Magic is a natural, not supernatural, practice, though it is little understood." -Scott Cunningham

So we can see that magick involves using natural forces to effect willed change, often changes in our own perceptions or consciousness. But what is the goal?

What Magick Is For

Stewart Farrar puts it this way: "The stage-by-stage development of the entire human being is the whole aim of magic."
According to Marion Weinstein, magick can help "get your entire life in harmony mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually and psychically . . . And what is the ultimate purpose of the work? To fulfill the self on an even higher level. To transform, uplift, and so fully develop the self that the whole Universe may benefit thereby."_
William G. Gray, another well-known occultist, says: "Magic is for growing up as Children of Light. Sane, sound, healthy, and happy souls, living naturally and normally on levels of inner Life where we can be REAL people as contrasted with the poor shadow-selves we project at one another on Earth."_

Thus magick exists to expedite, guide, and enhance change. Wiccans might say it is the work of the goddess within: "Everything she touches, changes . . ."

It seems a peculiarly human process, as far as we know. Other creatures can change their environments, but only sentient, self-aware beings can change themselves. Perhaps the cetaceans attempt this too-one day we may explore the spiritual paths and magickal traditions of the dolphins and whales.

Change ourselves? But to what? To a fuller range of possibilities, a broader spectrum of spirit. Not change to something else, but to something more. First learn to know ourselves, and then we expand, stretch our hearts and minds and souls, and explore and develop new territories within ourselves.

We are part of All That Is. With magick, we can experience existence from the perspective of other parts and know that we are One. We can experience at-one-ment with the immanent Source.

Perhaps this is the goal of all spiritual paths: to reconnect with the Source, to bridge the chasm of illusion that makes us feel separate and alone, to come Home.
_ Marion Weinstein, Positive Magic (Custer, WA: Phoenix, 1991), 3.
_ William G. Gray, Inner Traditions of Magic (New York: Samuel Weiser, 1970), x.

But the quest requires us to change, and magick is an effective tool for this. The scary part is this: we can't know who we are changing into until we actually experience the change. By then it's too late for second thoughts. We cannot change back; we can only keep changing, or wither.
Because we give up our old selves, any change is a "little death" that is the necessary first step to rebirth. To choose this, to will it, and to seek it out is an act of incredible courage. Magick requires daring. Not to change is to stagnate and die; but to willingly offer up the life we know is to find a greater life.

In "The Charge of the Goddess," she says, "Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the mother of all things and my love is poured out upon the earth." On one level this is true: killing a lamb on an altar stone does not lead to inner growth.

Yet on another level, sacrifice is required: self-sacrifice, the surrender of your old self. This is the meaning of the Hanged Man of tarot's major arcana (below) and of Odin's act in Norse mythology: "Nine days and nights I hung on the Tree, myself sacrificed to Myself . . ."
To the conscious mind unaware of the immortal Spirit within, this kind of sacrifice, the loss of the isolated little persona-self, seems terrifying indeed. Yet through it one regains the lost wholeness of the Greater Self, which is all of us, which is God/dess.

Thus far our focus has been on that branch of magick called theurgy; or as Isaac Bonewits defines it, "The use of magic for religious and/or psycho-therapeutic purposes, in order to attain 'salvation' or 'personal evolution.'" Though this is generally the best and highest use of magick, we will not ignore thaumaturgy, again defined by Bonewits: "The use of magic for nonreligious purposes; the art and science of 'wonder working'; using magic to actually change things on the Earth Plane."_

Thaumaturgy might include magick to heal physically; to travel safely; to obtain satisfying employment or a new home; to purify and bless a house or one's tools; to draw an adequate income; and so on. If such matters are accomplished without harm to others (as in seeking a job rather than Sam's job), and the magick is performed to supplement material-plane efforts raththan replace them, then there's nothing at all wrong with the practice of thaumaturgy.

Acting in Accord

Understand this: magick is not miracle-working. After you do a spell or ritual to achieve your purpose, you must still take practical steps to allow the magick to manifest. This is called "acting in accord" with the magick. You can do he...

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications; Rev Exp edition (October 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738708232
• ISBN-13: 978-0738708232
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #437,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book to learn about Witchcraft, November 28, 2007

By 

Sarah S - See all my reviews

This review is from: True Magick: 2nd Edition (Paperback)

I have been a practicing pagan for 6 years and read for about 3 years before that (I know not long but give me a break I'm only 21 lol). When people are interested in witchcraft and want to know where they can find more information this is ALWAYS the only book I recommend to start people out. I own almost all of the traditional reads; Cunningham, Buckland, Starhawk, etc and most of the more prominent modern authors Ravenwolf, Conway, etc. If had known about this book to start out with to be honest I probably would have skipped most of the others. This book beats out all of them for EVERYTHING. I can't recommend it enough. It has 19 Chapters and can be used as a workbook or you can read it all the way through. The Chapters are as follows

Ch. 1 About Magick- and You
- a brief introduction of what magick is and isn't
- notably missing are the council of American Witches Principles of Belief but remember it was never meant to be a guide towards just wicca.
Ch. 2 A Brief History of Magick
- Covers mostly Western and American magick from prehistory through modern times.
Ch. 3 First Steps in Magick
- exactly what it says it is very briefly covers timing, space, book of shadows, purpose, magickal name, ritual clothing, etc.
- has a dedication ritual
Ch. 4 Magick and Science
- perhaps the only confusing chapter in the book but you have to expect that if you try to explain quantum physics in 18 pages
Ch. 5 The Path Lies Within You
- Getting to know yourself; discusses middle, younger, and higher self and how to get in touch with them
Ch. 6 Ethics and Hazards
- Karma, the Law of Return, Wiccan Rede, Permission, Charging money
- Energy imbalance, spending too much time in the astral plane, power crazy, persecution, and spirit interference
Ch. 7 The Pyramid of Magick
- To know, to Will, to dare, to be silent
Ch. 8 The Energies of Magick
- All about energy
- Raising power, charging things, grounding power, the power within you, the power in the earth, balancing
Ch. 9 Magick and Your Health
- More down to earth guideines on eating right, exercise, sleep, etc
Ch. 10 Creating the Magickal You
- taking an honest look at yourself, what to improve and how to improve it, beginning to connect with a god(dess) or pantheon.
Ch. 11 The Varieties of Magick
- styles of magick (nature, ceremonial, intrinisic, hermetic)
- traditions of magick (Wicca, Qabalistic, Shamanism, Voodoo)
- how to connect with a certain tradition and a wonderful quiz to help you determine what style of magick is for you.
Ch. 12 Nature Magick
- Nature Divination, Herb and Garden Magick, Water Magick, Tree Magick, Sun and Moon Magick, Weatherworking and working with animals and stones
Ch. 13 Intrinsic and Inner Magick
- working magick with no tools
- working magick only in the mind
- ways to use your mind in all types of magick
- One goal 5 ways of working towards it
- pros and cons of not using tools
Ch. 14 Getting Ready for Ritual
- more in depth discussion of purpose, tools, altar setup, timing and how to understand correspondences (note not a list of correspondences just what they mean and how to use them)
Ch. 15 Creating and Performing Ritual
- outline of steps of a ritual then a longer explanation of each step
- Sample ritual
- analysis of what happened during the ritual
Ch. 16 Spellcraft: The Techniques of Magick
- Lots of Useful Sample Spells for you to try
- Some examples of techniques to try ie: candle magick, cord magick, herbal magick, totem animals, runecraft, gem and stone magick, dreamwork, dancing, drumming etc
- what to look at before you use somebody else's spell
Ch. 17 Everyday Magick and Daily Spiritual Practices
- grounding and centering
- meditation
- visiting your astral temple
- raising energy quickly
- protection and travel spells that you need to be quick
- portable ritual tools
- lots more stuff that I didn't include
Ch. 18 Your Magickal Education Continues
- contact points (how to meet other witches)
- schools that teach witchcraft
- evaluating teachers, fees
- learning from books
- learning from nature
- how to experiment
Ch. 19 Change, Death, and Magick
- what is death
- past lives
- how to confront your fear of death
She also has a brief conclusion, a very good glossary and then some appendixes (elemental and color correspondences, meditation ideas, magicians through the ages) and a recommended reading list divided by topic.
She has exercises at the end of each chapter for you to work through and a recommended list of books on the topics discussed in that chapter in addition to the list in the back of the book.
If you want a complete course without spending tons of money and searching forever I would recommend Dorothy Morrison's The Craft. She goes alot more in depth on the practical aspects of witchcraft. Ann Moura's Green Magic for a more in depth discussion on spells and spell crafting. After you decide what types of magick you want to concentrate on the buy a couple (not too many books on that subject) I recommend Gem and Stone magick for beginners because it can be inexpensive (stones are generally a one time purchase as opposed to herbs which even if you don't use them need to be replaced every 7 months to a year) and generally is easier to start out studying than herbs or animal magick.
I'll be doing more lists and reviews so please check those for more information.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Start, March 9, 2007

By 

Phyreglow "Phyreglow" - See all my reviews

This review is from: True Magick: 2nd Edition (Paperback)

I first bought this book because it was priced in my minimum wage budget (the original version). And after my 13 years of Wiccan study I find myself still finding somthing new every time I read it. And now that it has been updated it's even more informitive. This book does not lean to any one pagan religion but easily introduces its reader to the basics of many Magickal paths. This book is ideal for new students to the Magickal arts.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for beginners!, December 11, 2006

By 

TMC (New Mexico, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: True Magick: 2nd Edition (Paperback)

Amber K is a wonderful writer. The information in this book is geered towards beginners. It's also an excellent book to give to people who are curious about what Wicca is (and isn't). Everything you need to know to begin your magickal practice is in this book. I've given out several of the first edition of True Magick to people over the years, and, being the expanded/revised edition, this one is all that and more! I'm thrilled to see it continue on in the world in its next incarnation. Amber's writing style is always interesting. An added bonus to her wealth of knowledge is her sense of humor! (Which comes through in all of her books!) This ones a keeper, but you may want to buy an extra so you have one to give away too!