Have you ever wondered about magick? Not stage magic; not clever illusions with doves and rabbits and colored scarves; not lissome blondes in sequins disappearing from locked cabinets .... But magick, the ancient skills and powers of the adepts who sought to transform themselves and their world. Magick chanted under the full Moon by circling Witches, or performed by solemn robed wizards in candlelit ceremonies, or conjured by a skinclad shaman deep in a virgin rain forest .... For magick, true magick, can change your life. With magick's aid, you can have vibrant health, prosperity, or a new career. You can enhance your relationships or bring new ones into your life. With magick, you can reach deep insidcyourself to find what you despaired of ever having—confidence, courage, tranquility, faith, compassion, understanding, or humor. It's not a miracle, and it's not easy, but magick works. It can work for you. If you're curious, you will find answers in this book. Amber K, a High Priestess of the Wiccan religion and experienced practitioner of magick, explains not only the history and lore of magick, but also its major varieties in the world today—from the Chicana Bruhas of Mexico and the United States, to the temples of the Order of the Golden Dawn, to the sacred groves of Wiccan covens. And if you want to practice magick to grow, to change, to heal with tools of the mind and heart and spirit—then this book will start you on the path. Amber K explains how to prepare yourself, how to find or create your ritual tools, how to establish a temple in your home, how to plan a ritual and cast a spell—and how to do it ethically and safely. No demons, no black masses, no hexes. Simply divine power flowing through you, intelligently applied for beneficial purposes. Whether you are just curious, or whether you are already an aspiring magick-worker—read on. About the Author Amber K is an ordained High 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 writings on magick and the Craft have been circulated in the United States and Europe and in the past several years she has traveled widely teaching the Craft. Currently, she works with the Re-formed Congregation of the Goddess, and serves as High Priestess of Our Lady of the Woods, a national Wiccan ministry and resource center. To Write to the Author If you wish to contact the author or would like more information about this book, please write to the author in care of Llewellyn Worldwide, and we will forward your request. Both the author and publisher appreciate hearing from you and learning of your enjoyment of this book and how it has helped you. Llewellyn Worldwide cannot guarantee that every letter written to the author can be answered, but all will be forwarded. Please write to: Amber K c/o Llewellyn Worldwide P.O. Box 64383, Dept. L003-6, St. Paul, MN 55164-0383, U.S.A. Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for reply, or $1.00 to cover costs. If outside the U.S.A., enclose international postal reply coupon. TRUE MAGICK: A BEGINNER'S GUIDE By Amber K Bide the Wiccan law ye must, In perfect love, in perfect trust. Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill: An ye harm none, do what ye will. What ye send forth comes back to thee, So ever mind the Rule of Three. Follow this with mind and heart, And merry ye meet, and merry ye part. 2002 Llewellyn Publications St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0383, U.S.A. True Magick. Copyright © 1990 by Amber K. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Publications except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. FIRST EDITION, 1990 Twelfth Printing, 2002 Cover painting by Robin Wood Cover calligraphy and original illustrations by Amber K. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data K, Amber, 1947- True magick : a beginner's guide / by Amber K. p. cm. — (Llewellyn's practical magick series) Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-87542-003-6 1. Magic. 2. Witchcraft. I. Title. II. Title: True magic. III. Series. BF1611.K22 1990 90-38260 133.4'3—dc20 CIP Llewellyn Worldwide does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business transactions between our authors and the public. All mail addressed to the author is forwarded but the publisher cannot, unless specifically instructed by the author, give out an address or phone number. Llewellyn Publications A Division of Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. P.O. Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 55164-0383 www.llewellyn.com Printed in the United States of America OTHER BOOKS BY AMBER K:    Lithomancy: Divination With Stones within an Astrological Structure, Nince Candles Publications, 1983 How to Organize a Coven or Magical Study Group, Circle Publications, 1983 and Nine Candles Publications, 1985 Beginning True Magick, Nine Candles Publications, 1985 Pagan Kids' Activity Book, Nine Candles Publications, 1986 Treasury of Coven Activities, Nine Candles Publications, 1986 Picture Book of Goddesses (with Muriel Mizach Shemesh), Nine Candles Publications, 1988 Covencraft: Witchcraft for Three or More, Llewellyn Publications, 1998 Preambulo a la Magia, Llewellyn Publications, 1999 Candlemas (with Azrael Arynn K), Llewellyn Publications, 2001 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to thank all those who made this book possible. They include: • My mother and father, Maxine and Bill, who believed in my writing abilities and in every person's right to choose her own spiritual path; • Ginny and Dave, High Priestess and High Priest of the Temple of the Pagan Way, who first taught me magick. The memory of their generosity, care and humor still warms my heart; • Catelaine,~who encouraged me during the writing of the original core of this book, then published as Beginning True Magick; • My coven sisters and brothers of Our Lady of the Woods, who help keep me growing; • And all the priestesses and priests of the Craft who have used Beginning True Magick in their teaching, and have taken the time to tell me how valuable it was. Appreciation is due to Starhawk, because material in the back of her book The Spiral Dance contributed greatly to Appendix II, to Daniel Cohen, for information from his book Magicians, Wizards and Sorcerers which is incorporated into Chapter 2, and to Dover Publications, which produced some of the copyright-free art among the illustrations. And I thank the Goddess, for life and love. Blessed be, Amber K Table of Contents Introduction…………………………………………. xiii 1: About Magick—and You……………….………. 1 What Magick Is Not…………………………….. 2 What Magick Is..................................................... 4 What Magick Is For…………………………….. 5 2: Your Magickal Education………………………. 9 Contact Points…………………………………... 10 Evaluating Teachers…………………………….. 13 The Question of Fees…………………………… 16 Learning Magick with Books…………………… 17 3: The Varieties of Magick………………………… 21 Styles of Magick………………………………... 21 Some Magickal Traditions……………………… 23 Shamanism…………………………………. 24 Norse Magick………………………………. 25 Huna………………………………………... 26 Alchemy……………………………………. 29 Bruheria……………………………………. 32 Voudun…………………………………….. 33 Qabala……………………………………… 35 Western Ceremonial Magick………………. 37 Other Magickal Traditions…………………. 40