There is a problem with the first edition of this book. In lesson 7 the olympic/planetary seals are totally messed up. Meaning he assinged Hagith (venus to the the seal of Phalec (mars) and so on and so forth. Now to the experienced magician they could spot this right away, but the beginner will have absolutly no clue that there is a mistake here. Now it does not matter if this is the authers fault or the editor's fault there is a mistake. Otherwise the book is very, very good but not excellent. I give the first edition four stars. Plus the talismans are ok I like the way he describes a way on how to make talismas and amulets in a pagan way.It has pretty good info on the subject of amulets and talismans. If you are interested in making talismans get Making Talismans by Nick Farrell. This may be the only book you may need for powerful and postive magick using talismans and amulets.
The second edition is much better where the mistake is corrected. But the auther from what I read did not mention there was a mistake in the first edition. Now on to the more postive review. The book is excellent for those who are interested in Ceremonial Magick. It deals with the magick of the Golden Dawn tradition. The chapters are divided in lessons. There are a total amount of 11 lessons. There is information of the Qabalah and the Tree of Life. He gives many rituals throughout this book, including the ritual of the pentagram, the hexagram ritual, the rose cross ritual and much more. The Watchtower ritual he gives is a more simplified version although very effective. You will find a lesson on sex magick here as well (you may not want to have your youngster read read chapter 10). In lesson 9 you will learn a bit on the Goetia. Also you will learn how to make some of the tools used in CM. Although he does give a brief history on wi! tchcraft and the oppersion of it throughout time this book does not have anything to do with Wicca at all. You will learn about talismans and amulets and how to create your own. You will learn so many thing from this book. This is suitable for the beginner who knows nothing about magick and is suitable for those who know about magick and has a lot of experience and wants to get into Ceremonial Magick. This book also makes a wonderful reference as well. Also I would like to mention that the second edition has a section on the frequently asked question on magick as well. Also at the end of each lesson this is refering to the first and second editions there are questions at the end of each chapeter about each lessons. I find this book to be valuable and intelligently written. This book is a hot seller the first edition has over a 100,000 copies in print! This is a book that I seriously recommed to anyone who is interested in learning CM. Kraig did great work with this! one!
Five stars for the 2nd edition *****


Tired of pagan/occult books that give you junk????   August 21, 2000
 37 out of 40 found this review helpful

A book that should get you started with high magick!!!!!!!!!(GUARANTEED) I've never seen a comprehensive book that clearly and lucidly explains the important rituals of the Golden Dawn. I don't know about you...but I have low self esteem. The main thing that's missing from most of the pagan/occult books out there is the process of urging the reader to actually go out there in the physical world and express every ritual with the heart and soul. Most books gave descriptions of the rituals...but Mr. Kraig explains the importance of performing the ritual consistantly. I have been reading occult books for nearly 4 years but in truth...that was not really practicing magick...it was READING ABOUT magick. If you want to KNOW about magick go to the chat rooms and email lists to talk to people who claim that they practice magick. If you want to READ about magick go and buy those books that will give you junk...cuz they will go on talking about magick. If you want to PRACTICE magick...then get your hands on this book. This book contains A LOT OF INFO!!!! From tarot, qaballah, lower banishing ritual of the pentagram, the banishing ritual of the hexagram, how to make your own tools, consecrating your tools, the watchtower ritual, supreme invoking of the pentagram...the list is endless!!!!!!!!!...this book will teach you how to invoke those angels that you've always wanted (sorry...no demons...you'll have to do that with advance books). I can write so many more things about this book....so I'll just stop now and you'll have to see the book for yourself.


Good for all Paths   July 21, 2000
 32 out of 34 found this review helpful

I have been a practicing Pagan for more than 5 years and the information to be found here can benefit anyone of any path no matter how long you have been studying. Just as Scott Cunningham was an excellent author of all sorts of books, so would I recommend Donald Kraig as a master not only of his work but of presentation.

The information found here can benefit you because the contents of it are so easy to understand. Unlike many masters of today and yester-years, Kraig hides nothing and gives accurate information. He admits he doesn't know it all and that he is still learning himself. The only thing he hides is what the student needs to learn for themselves through meditation.

The magick in here is genuine which anyone can see just by working through the first lesson in the book. Almost anyone is familliar with the Lesser Banishing Ritual, and Kraig explains why it works and how it works instead of just giving you the information and letting you go. This author put genuine care for the practitioner into this book.

This is a definite MUST-READ! Anyone of any path that wishes to attain more info about divinity and pathworking can glean alot of information from this book!


THIS BOOK HAS SOME UNETHICAL ERRORS   December 25, 2004
 32 out of 40 found this review helpful

This is one of the most recommended books for beginners in the art of magick. It isn't really about general magick training as much as it is about Golden Dawn magick for beginners. This is why this book has been recommended by many Golden Dawn magicians. Fair enough, except the author manages to insert unethical errors on purpose that he calls blinds. Since this book is geared for beginners, he knows that most likely only 1 in 10 will spot them. Therefore, when you use this book you risk being at the [...] end of a bad trick played on you during your spiritual quest. Here is one glaring and obvious error that should be enough to warn you against using this book blindly: in the ritual for consecrating the water chalice the book states, "Thy holy and divine name El, where, too, Thou art known in this quarter by the secret name MEARAB, I beseech Thee." Mearab is a Hebrew word that means west, nothing more. It isn't a secret name for anything. It is a common word folks like up, down, chair, road, and so on. Kraig knows it because he says in the beginning of the book that he is of Jewish heritage. Do you really want to use a book in which the author is having a laugh at your spiritual expense? No thanks....