Reddit mentions of The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development (Penczak Temple Series (1))

When working with new folks, I always say that they should set themselves some kind of super loose "curriculum". This can be hard for someone who is self-teaching because they don't know what there is to learn, but it isn't impossible.

What I recommend is that you get one of the books out there that are arranged into chapters and written like a workbook. These books are formatted in such a way that you could just follow along reading it each day and it will provide you with exercises to try. Promise to yourself that you will do each and every exercise in the book you choose. What this will mean is that you will add actual practice into your work since a lot of those exercises will ask you to go and do something. The hope is that this will jump start you into having your own steam to run on.

A few recommendations are:

• Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft -- a.k.a. "Big Blue"
  
• Inner Temple of Witchcraft by Christopher Penczak
  
• HedgeWitch: Spells, Crafts & Rituals For Natural Magick by Silver Ravenwolf

The Following list is taken from the Witches & Warlocks FB page. (This is Christian Day's group)

Witches and Warlocks Recommended Reading List
This is a collection of books recommended by our admins and participants in the group. Books must be approved by the admins so if you'd like to see one added to the last, please post it in the comments at the bottom of this list and, if it's something we think is appropriate, we'll add it! We provide links to Amazon so folks can read more about the book but we encourage you to shop at your local occult shop whenever possible! :)


BEGINNER'S WITCHCRAFT BOOKS

Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft
by Raymond Buckland
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0875420508

Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America
by Margot Adler
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0143038192

Grimoire of the Thorn-Blooded Witch: Mastering the Five Arts of Old World Witchery
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635500

The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738702765

The Kybalion: The Definitive Edition
by William Walker Atkinson (Three Initiates)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1585428744

Lid Off the Cauldron: A Wicca Handbook
by Patricia Crowther
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1861630328

Mastering Witchcraft
by Paul Huson
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0595420060

Natural Magic
by Doreen Valiente
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0919345808

Natural Witchery: Intuitive, Personal & Practical Magick
by Ellen Dugan
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738709220

Old World Witchcraft: Ancient Ways for Modern Days
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635055

The Outer Temple of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells and Rituals
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738705314

Power of the Witch: The Earth, the Moon, and the Magical Path to Enlightenment
by Laurie Cabot
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0385301898

Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation
by Silver RavenWolf
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738703192

Spirit of the Witch: Religion & Spirituality in Contemporary Witchcraft
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738703389

Witch: A Magickal Journey
by Fiona Horne
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0007121326

Witchcraft for Tomorrow
by Doreen Valiente
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0709052448

Witchcraft Today
by Gerald Gardner
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0806525932
The Witches' Craft: The Roots of Witchcraft & Magical Transformation
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/073870265X
The Witching Way of the Hollow Hill
by Robin Artisson
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982031882

WITCHCRAFT HISTORY AND RESOURCE BOOKS

Aradia or The Gospel of the Witches
by Charles Godfrey Leland
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982432356

Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints & Sages: A Guide to Asking for Protection, Wealth, Happiness, and Everything Else!
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0062009575

The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca
by Rosemary Ellen Guiley
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0816071047

Etruscan Roman Remains
by Charles Godfrey Leland
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1494302519

The God of the Witches
by Margaret Murray
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0195012704

The Weiser Field Guide to Witches, The: From Hexes to Hermione Granger, From Salem to the Land of Oz
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578634792

ADVANCED BOOKS ON WITCHCRAFT AND MAGIC

Blood Sorcery Bible Volume 1: Rituals in Necromancy
by Sorceress Cagliastro
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1935150812

The Deep Heart of Witchcraft: Expanding the Core of Magickal Practice
by David Salisbury
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1780999208

Teen Spirit Wicca
by David Salisbury
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1782790594

Enchantment: The Witch's Art of Manipulation by Gesture, Gaze and Glamour
by Peter Paddon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936922517

Initiation into Hermetics
by Franz Bardon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1885928122

Letters from the Devil's Forest: An Anthology of Writings on Traditional Witchcraft, Spiritual Ecology and Provenance Traditionalism
by Robin Artisson
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1500796360

Magical Use of Thought Forms: A Proven System of Mental & Spiritual Empowerment
by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowick and J.H. Brennan
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567180841

Magick in Theory and Practice
by Aleister Crowley
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1500380679

The Plant Spirit Familiar
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982774311

Protection and Reversal Magick
by Jason Miller
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1564148793
Psychic Self-Defense
by Dion Fortune
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635098
The Ritual Magic Workbook: A Practical Course of Self-Initiation
by Dolores Ashcroft-Norwicki
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578630452
The Roebuck in the Thicket: An Anthology of the Robert Cochrane Witchcraft Tradition
by Evan John Jones, Robert Cochrane and Michael Howard
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1861631553

The Satanic Witch
by Anton Szandor LaVey
http://www.amazon.com/Satanic-Witch-Anton-Szandor-LaVey/dp/0922915849
Shadow Magick Compendium: Exploring Darker Aspects of Magickal Spirituality
by Raven Digitalis
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VS0N5K
The Tree of Enchantment: Ancient Wisdom and Magic Practices of the Faery Tradition
by Orion Foxwood
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578634075
The Underworld Initiation: A journey towards psychic transformation
by R.J. Stewart
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1892137038

HERBALISM, CANDLES, INCENSE, OILS, FORMULARIES, AND STONES

A Compendium of Herbal Magic
by Paul Beyerl
http://www.amazon.com/dp/091934545X

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
by Scott Cunningham
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0875421229

The Enchanted Candle: Crafting and Casting Magickal Light
by Lady Rhea
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0806525789

The Enchanted Formulary: Blending Magickal Oils for Love, Prosperity, and Healing
by Lady Maeve Rhea
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0806527048

Incense: Crafting and Use of Magickal Scents
by Carl F. Neal
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738703362

Magickal Formulary Spellbook Book 1
by Herman Slater
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0939708000

Magickal Formulary Spellbook: Book II
by Herman Slater
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0939708108


SPELLCASTING AND SPELLBOOKS
Crone's Book of Charms & Spells
by Valerie Worth
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567188117

Crone's Book of Magical Words
by Valerie Worth
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567188257

Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061711233

Everyday Magic: Spells & Rituals for Modern Living
by Dorothy Morrison
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567184693

Pure Magic: A Complete Course in Spellcasting
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578633915
Utterly Wicked: Curses, Hexes & Other Unsavory Notions
by Dorothy Morrison
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0979453313
The Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook
by Denise Alvarado
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635136

The Voodoo Doll Spellbook: A Compendium of Ancient and Contemporary Spells and Rituals
by Denise Alvarado
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1578635543


THE ANCESTORS AND WORKING WITH THE DEAD
The Cauldron of Memory: Retrieving Ancestral Knowledge & Wisdom
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738715751

The Mighty Dead
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982774370

Speak with the Dead: Seven Methods for Spirit Communication
by Konstantinos
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738705225
The Witches' Book of the Dead
by Christian Day
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635063
_____
TAROT

78 Degrees of Wisdom
by Rachel Pollack
http://www.amazon.com/dp/157863408

There are some element meditations in Secret Power of Tantrik Breathing by Swami Sivapriyananda. If you're interested in witchcraft type things, then The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development has a lot of element meditation.

These are both very "esetoric" books. Others here will probably be able to help you more.

As someone who wandered down a similar path years and years ago, and who has searched through different belief structures and ideas, and has even personally used the Hunter x Hunter to help formulate a basic structure for practice and mindfulness, I feel that this post is something that speaks me and that I should impart some of my experience, knowledge, belief and/or practice. This will probably be a confusing, rambling mess, but you've asked for it.

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The most important thing I can say to you (and maybe it won't be helpful) is Nothing. I can give you Nothing. I can tell you Nothing. There is Nothing. Perhaps it is a veiled statement, but it is the most important one that I could give to you. Scrutinize it. Pick it apart. Understand it. Recognize that your understanding is probably wrong and look at it again. But there is Nothing to understand.

Let me help try to clarify it, just a little.

> All roads lead to Rome.

There is no singular path. No one way to get there. Identification is the enemy. Truth is a tidbit to be found in small pieces in all places, it is not a singular thing. People often choose to identify as things. Occultist, Buddhist, Christian, Spiritualist, Witch, Wiccan, Satanist, Psychic, Psychonaut, etc., etc. You get the idea. But the reality is that the truth bears not one of those things, but all. A witch and a christian and a psychic might be experiencing similar things but attributing them to different causes. The important part is the underlying beliefs and the overarching journey. Explore yourself, know yourself, feel yourself.

In that way, these paths are all the same. In that way, these identities are all the same. They are Nothing except for a way for us to label and name and understand what we experience. It's a system of structure.

Nothing you identify as will be the truth. It is the experience and journey that will be the truth. Do not mistake those things for one another. Do not get caught up in labels and identities. Do not shun other beliefs or ideas simply because you are X and they are Y. It may not fit you or work for you, but that does not mean it is invalid - it may work for someone else.

It is all a trap. Do not get lost down that road.

--------

Years and years ago I personally used the structure of Hunter X Hunter's Nen energywork as a basis for creating my own practices that worked for me. I used Ten as a means to feel and understand my body and my energy, to keep my energy and aura around myself. I used Ren to help strengthen that energy. At first it was difficult, after a time, and still today, I can do it at will and I can feel that difference. What it is that I feel, I could not tell you the truth of it. It could be like a form of meditation, it could be something more. I cannot say. But I feel it. It helps me, it makes me feel better, it helps me collect myself. It is real, even if it is Nothing. Telling you what it is will not help you, I can only tell you that creating that structure and practice did help me find something in the way of energywork.

But the Hunter x Hunter, the Nen? To connect it to what I had been saying: all that is is a different a flavor. To some, that's psychism. To some, energywork. To others, witchcraft. It could be anything. But if it's something you like and it's something that works for you, then explore it. Try it. Practice it. If it helps you, it helps you. Who cares. But don't get lost in labeling it. Don't get lost in arguing it with others. We all have our own individual truths, we all have our own paths.

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Is it possible that there are hidden forces?

Well, why not? The whole science of Physics is explaining forces that influence our physical universe - hundreds of years ago, we did not know about Dark Matter or have appropriate explanations for plenty of things. Is it possible there are other, underlying things going on in the Universe? Of course it is possible that there are things we don't understand.

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"Powers" is not quite the way to put it. But I would do some research into the benefits of mindfulness and meditation. Spiritual beliefs and practices could have similar effects, especially when taken in hand with meditation and mindfulness. Some practices directly include those things. But do look into that.

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A good book?

I'd highly recommend this book to start. It has a lot of information in it. It has a flavor of witch, but it touches a lot of very general energywork and is a great resource and a great place to start. I've owned this book for quite some time and have used it quite a bit and have loaned it out to quite a few people.

The arms of the Goddess encircle thee, greenwand. The arms of the God are open and welcoming. Hail and welcome, seeker of the old ways. Ask your questions, and you will find them answered.

Allow me to explain one or two of the principles of magic, and bear with me, this takes up an entire chapter in The Inner Temple of Witchcraft, which I highly recommend you purchase as the first piece of your library. And let me say before I start, I was there. I came to Wicca because I too wanted to regain my spirituality.

So here's the principle you're kind of hinting at for yourself. The Principle of Vibration. Everything vibrates, because everything is made of atoms. What we understand in Wicca/Witchcraft is that these vibrations are unique and that they can be read. Your brain, being made of atoms, knows its pattern of vibration. When that vibration changes, you can tell. It's the feeling in the pit of your stomach and things like that. The vibration changes because of wave interference from other sources of vibration. (Amazing how this stuff is actually grounded in science, idnit? The only thing that's hard for science to grasp is how we can know our own vibrations and read others). A vibration that interferes with yours too much is the idea behind people who "clash" and can't seem to get along. Objects vibrate too and can be read, but I think this post has gone on long enough. I'll let you ask a question or two for a while.

Al

I'm much more interested in witchcraft than in high/ceremonial magick, but also I want need to understand the theory behind... whatever the heck this is. If magic is real, then it has rules, and so far Quareia is the only source I've found that claims to teach them from the ground up and then actually follows through.

The Inner Temple of Witchcraft claims to be a thorough beginners' course, and gets really good reviews saying the same thing; but I got it from my local library and was unimpressed. There's a lot of "what" and not a lot of "why," and the last quarter-to-third of the book veers off into speculation and describes several mutually exclusive theories of What's Really Out There, some of which conflict with things that are presented as fact elsewhere in the book.