This book is intended to be a real initiation into the magical and Theurgic tradition. For this reason, it has been organized in a very precise way. Each part has a specific function and will help you unveil the Western Mysteries, which have been hidden for many centuries.
When you open this book, you must understand an essential point: Each part of this book is important and has a special role to play. Even so, you can read these chapters in any order that appeals to you. You are free to read the last part before the second part, or the fourth after the fifth.
Your reading should be guided by your interest. If you want to begin the exercises first, start there. When you feel the need to understand where these rituals came from, you can read the chapter on history in Part One. There is no problem with this strategy at all.
Below I have summarized the purpose of each part in order for you to clearly see the progression of the book. You will find a short introduction at the beginning of each chapter. At the end of each chapter you will find a review with eight questions. These questions will help you develop your understanding and memory.
The Seven Steps of This Book
Part 1—Knowing Your Roots Is Essential
Theurgy is a Pagan tradition: Nothing can exist without roots. Knowing the origin and the history of a family helps us to understand its specific attributes. To understand Theurgy (sometimes called High Magick), you must know that this is a Pagan tradition that appeared at the beginning of the Western spiritual tradition.
The chain of the initiates: From the time of the Egyptian Empire to our current time you can follow this chain of initiates down through centuries. Dogmatic and political religions tried to kill these masters and destroy their work. Initiates of the magick of the Gods and Goddesses succeeded in keeping this inheritance alive.
History is a keystone: All traditions are not strictly equivalent and history is the key to understanding why this is so.
Part 2—Constructing a Healthy and Safe Life as a High Magician and Theurgist
The two major pillars of the Theurgic tradition: The Theurgic tradition has two major pillars that support and delimit the healthy life of the student: philosophy and ritual.
The first pillar, philosophy, is not a sterile and useless intellectual discourse. Philosophy is a real spiritual exercise that helps you to develop three essential parts of your magical personality: 1) it helps you develop a healthy and rational mind; 2) it helps you discover how to enjoy your life here and now; 3) it helps you understand and prepare for the process of your death.
The latter of these two pillars, ritual, is different than magick. When you understand that Theurgy is a ritual work focused on raising your soul with the help of divinities, you can begin this path without any risks.
Part 3—Discovering the Presence of the Divinities in the World and Understanding Why Monotheistic Religions
Separated the Divine from Our World
A disconnected world: We are living today in a world that has become disconnected from the sacred and the divine. Monotheistic religions have severed the direct relationship that existed in the Pagan world between believers and their Gods. The monotheist chiefs used their dogmas as weapons to gain supremacy over Pagans and their world.
A Pagan world full of divinities: In the pre-monotheistic world, Gods and Goddesses were present everywhere. Worshippers and Theurgists used many ways to reach the Gods. The existence of a divine principle above this spiritual ladder (which is impossible to define) was accepted, but without rejecting the notion of sacredness in the world.
This part is intended to clearly explain how this spontaneous and original relationship to the divine was distorted in order to take it from you.
Part 4—Recognizing a True Sacred Book and
Understanding Its Role
The revelations: From the beginning of humanity, Gods and Goddesses have spoken with people who were trained to receive their messages. This was the birth of what is known today as “sacred books.”
Sacred books are not equivalent: Paganism, including Theurgy, has teachings that offer the student fundamental information about the philosophical and ritual processes. However, you must learn why all sacred books are not equivalent, and why some of them are even dangerous. To do that, you must first learn how to recognize the validity of divine revelations.
This chapter will also provide you with an original translation of the first book of the Corpus Hermeticum.
Part 5—Understanding the Macrocosm
Life is enjoyable: Once we have become aware of the roots of this Theurgic tradition—know that our body and our physical life should be enjoyable, understand how the rituals must be used, and feel the divine presence all around us—we are ready to unveil the cosmic order.
Structure of the cosmos: The first step that is unveiled in this part is the simple structure of the cosmos. This is the first structure you have to use in your Theurgic journey. There are no complicated or unrealistic notions here. The pre-Christian Theurgists always used those elements that are well-known to everyone who practices Theurgy: four elements, seven divine spheres, the Aether, and twelve divine powers.
Part 6—Understanding the Microcosm and Revealing
Your Destiny
The microcosm: In the Western tradition there is a well-known concept: the macrocosm (the cosmos) and the microcosm (us). The previous chapter unveiled the traditional structure of the macrocosm. The present part unveils the microcosm. You must learn how you are constituted in order to understand how your occult structure works, and what its purpose is.
The temple blueprint: The Theurgic tradition uses the representation of a traditional Greek temple to highlight the five principles of human beings: Body, Body of Light, Soul, Spirit, and the Divine.
From this point you will be able to understand the purpose of Theurgy and safely begin your Theurgic Great Work.
Part 7—Clear Fundamental Rituals Enable You to Eventually Rise to the Highest Levels of Consciousness
The three cosmic principles: You can now fully begin to practice and use the three cosmic principles: 1) Elements (Theurgic Ritual of the Pentalpha); 2) Planets (Ritual of the Seven Gates); 3) Signs (Ritual of the Celestial Temenos).
The planetary days unveiled: Be aware that this part will clearly unveil ritual principles that have never previously been explained, such as the true way to calculate the planetary days and hours.
This Celestial Ladder provides the clear steps we need to use Theurgy in order to ascend to the highest levels of consciousness we can reach.