Studying the Occult – How to Start

Somewhere around paranormal and psychic abilities, there’s a wide field of occult practices. Technically, psychic abilities are occult practices. There are many people out there who would like to start their journey to understanding of the occult, but they don’t know how to start. Perhaps you’re such person. Specially for you, I’ve prepared this article.

I begun with playing computer games related to psychic abilities. With time, I’ve started reading books, and practicing different things. And I’ve also understood how every occult-student-wannabe should start his or her adventure with this field of our human knowledge.

And I think such article will be helpful. I know people who started with online websites and blogs, or some first better book from Barnes & Nobles, and they failed to learn anything. This isn’t the occult path. So how to actually start?

Library & Bookstores

Well I would start with Barnes & Nobles. Or any other bookstore you have near you, and especially – local library. Go there, and start reading. Read everything you can, no matter how silly it might be. You need to research the background. Find out what types of different philosophies, approaches and points of view there are. What are the tools of the trade, what is required in each approach (what mage needs, what psychic needs).

Remember to turn your “bullshit detector” on. There are many books out there who are worthless, like all these magic spell books. But every time you read something, you’re learning something you, adding pieces of knowledge. Reading books will provide you with basic knowledge and understanding.

Don’t Buy the Tools

I bought pendulum once – I didn’t known why, but I did. The tool was useless for many years until I begun to use it - I found it quite useful from time to time. But I never bought a sword, or wand or anything else required by all these magic books. I didn’t need these things, and you don’t need them either, yet.

With years of practice and exploration, you might find out that Hermerics rituals that require sword as magus tool do not suit you, and you prefer Taoistic approach to magick, which doesn’t require any tools, really. Use tools only when you think you really need them, and you won’t find them useless within next few months.

One thing you need to get – a notebook. Notebooks are very important for everyone, and I’ve discussed this many times on A State of Mind. Within notebook you will run your journal, writing down every piece of knowledge, experiences and experiments. Beside this, you don’t need any more tools.

Seek your Archetype

Let’s get back to reading books. Support that with watching TV and movies. Search for your archetype – I mean, seek the world that you feel good about. Let me help you understand this with an example: I enjoy Norse mythology, but I don’t like European Tarot or modern western occultism too much. I especially like eastern practices, and Protoss from Starcraft. Those are archetypes that create my practice – that’s why I’m using Norse Runes, and that’s why I compare my psychic practices to characters from computer games.

Because I feel these archetypes – they represent some specific approach to life, specific types of character and personalities. I respond to these – that’s why I can put real emotions into my occult practice. I wouldn’t be able to perform my practice if I wouldn’t “feel” it.

Do this yourself – seek archetypes, seek things you respond well to. This will help you put enough emotions into occult practice of your.

Start Practicing

And when you have found your archetype, you know what occult system works for you. So start reading more about it, and start practicing it. Learn meditation and trancing first, and then start practicing rituals and energy work. Because only by practicing, one can understand the occult.

Learn much more about getting started by listening to free Shadowdance Podcast Mini episode 1st.

How did you start your adventure with the Occult? Share your stories please.

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Read the original story at A State of Mind