Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard

26 Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard

tions elevated our earliest myths and legends into the

heavens. The fixed position of the Pole Star amid the

celestial rotation gave us a firm bearing in all sea-

sons. The movements of the Sun, Moon, and planets

through the signs of the Zodiac gave us our calendar,

our first way of keeping time, and our earliest form of

effective Divination.

Mathemagicks (Clear Magick) (6.III)

The Pythagorean Mysteries laid the foundation

for all mathematics, particularly arithmetic, geometry,

and music. Their motto was: “All is Number.” Ac-

cording to Pythagoras, everything in the Universe is

based upon the same fundamental “blueprints” cre-

ated by geometric patterns that repeat over and over

in an endless dance of sound, light, and color. These

patterns form a matrix of grid energy derived from a

central source. They create the entire natural world

and allow us to experience duality, emotions, linear

time, and all the reality we experience.

Ceremonial Magick (White Magick) (6.IV)

Ceremonial Magick, originating in the 17th and

18 th centuries within secret magickal orders, is based

upon both the Qabalah and the Hermetica, along with

Neo-Platonism and Oriental doctrines. In its highest

sense, Ceremonial Magick is a transcendental expe-

rience that takes the magician into mystical realms

and into communication with the Higher Self. It awak-

ens the magician to the God within.

Lore Mastery (Grey Magick) (6.V)

Lore means “teachings,” and Lore Mastery is the

primary attribute of the Wizard. Throughout history,

Wizards have studied and collected books and writ-

ings containing the wisdom of the ages, and many

have assembled important libraries and museums.

Lore mastery is all about knowing arcane (hidden)

secrets and esoteric mysteries known to very few oth-

ers. It is said that “knowledge is power,” and much of

a Wizard’s true power comes from his vast knowl-

edge. Lore, however, is more than merely secrets and

mysteries. A very important body of lore concerns

myths and legends; a Lore-Master is also a storyteller,

who can always come up with a tale to make any point.

Sorcery and Demonology (Black Magick) (6.VI)

The simplest form of Low Magick is sorcery, in

which a physical act is performed to achieve a result.

Sorcery forms the bulk of folk magick, and is often

referred to as “Black Magick” or “the Dark Arts.”

Sorcery is also sometimes called sympathetic magick,

based on the principle that all things are linked to-

gether by invisible bonds (the “Law of Sympathy”).

Demonology is a form of sorcery popular in the Middle

Ages and Renaissance, in which the aid of demons

was enlisted by the magician. Although thought to be

easier to control than angels, demons could be dan-

gerous and malicious, and the old grimoires contained

detailed instructions for conjuring and controlling

them. Another form of “Black Magick” is Necro-

mancy, in which the spirits of the dead are conjured

up for consultation.

Black Magick itself is not necessarily evil, any

more than any other color. But while all magickal folk

practice some forms of sorcery, few actually identify

themselves as Sorcerers. Those who do are generally

engaged in attempting to control others and rule the

world. The primary distinction between a Sorcerer and

a Wizard thus lies in the realm of service: A Wizard

desires to be of service to others; a Sorcerer desires to

be served by others. Often, powerful Wizards and Sor-

cerers will find themselves standing in opposition as

each other’s nemesis (ultimate enemy).

Lesson 4: A Brief History of

Magick and Wizardry

in the Western World

Magick is universal. There is not a single culture or

society on Earth that does not practice it and have its

own special classes of practitioners. Every tribe and

village in every land has its Shamans, Sorcerers,

“Witch Doctors,” and Medicine Men/Women. In Asia,

India, China, and throughout the Far East, magick has

been raised to a high art. However, along with the

magick of tribal peoples, Far Eastern magick is beyond

the scope of this book and will have to be deferred to a

later edition.

Among the great classical pre-Christian civiliza-

tions of the Mediterranean and Middle East, the an-

cient Egyptians, Hebrews, Babylonians, Persians,

Greeks, Romans, and Druids had magickal systems

that greatly influenced the later development of

magick in the Western World, and it is this heritage

that I wish to present here.

Egypt (2700–50 BCE)

In Egypt, the Pharaohs were considered divine

kings in possession of innate magickal abilities. As in

many systems, there were two classes of magicians.

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