In this episode I am once again joined by Alex W, long term practitioner of Zen, Pragmatic Dharma, and Western Occultism.

Alex takes a deep dive into the world of magick to compare esoteric systems from around the world including Western Occultism, Tibetan Buddhism, Indian Tantric and Goddess systems, Santeria and more.

Alex gives a history of the development of Western Occultism, exploring the Egyptian mysteries, Neoplatonism, Catholic mysticism, Kabbalah, Shi’ism, Wicca, the Golden Dawn, Thelema, Chaos Magic and beyond.

Alex discusses esoteric techniques such spellcraft, opening the psychic senses, working with entities, mantra, yantra, alchemy, astrology, and divination. He considers the tension between natural talent and practiced skill, reviews strategies for protection against curses and entity oppression, and recounts his own path as a practitioner of the occult.

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Full episode: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep349-deep-dive-into-magick-alex-w

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

01:09 - History of magick

06:08 - Christianity as a reinterpretation of Egyptian mysteries of Osiris

06:40 - Syncretism of the Golden Dawn

08:48 - Thelema

09:50 - English vs French magick

11:10 - Wicca

12:55 - Chaos Magic

16:04 - Belief and manifestation

19:26 - Theory vs practice

20:52 - Neoplatonism

22:54 - Kabbalah

29:09 - Shi’ism, Sufism, and the Church fathers

30:42 - Renaissance

32:36 - Not superstition?

33:53 - Alex’s magick path

35:32 - Training under Alan Chapman

38:21 - Scrying and the Holy Guardian Angel

40:10 - What is the HGA?

46:04 - The real initiation of Western Occultism

47:37 - Santeria and spirits

51:16- Exploring the Renaissance grimoires

54:56 - Catholic mysticism, angels, and saints

56:25 - Spellcraft

57:25 - Hinduism and Buddhist magick

01:03:33 - Mantra

01:07:29 - Yantras and Indo-European astrology

01:10:15 - Tantra as a ritual process to effect change and invoke spirits

01:11:34 - Ramnath Aghori Baba 

01:12:51 - How Goddess traditions work

01:19:13 - Initiated by Kālī and the Dark Feminine

01:25:21 - Opening the psychic senses

01:27:19 - Kālī, Chinnamastā, and the Dark Feminine

01:30:41 - Hecate

01:33:10 - Dark spirits, ḍākinīs, and the 64 yogis

01:37:19 - Network of friends

01:41:06 - Past lives

01:42:38 - Astrology

01:46:12 - Which practice is right for you?

01:47:42 - Alchemy

01:48:46 - Why practice magick?

01:53:14 - Divination and protection against curses

01:54:28 - 3 magickal self defence methods

02:02:10 - How common are curses?

02:05:26 - Why seek the Western Tradition?

02:12:08 - Indian vs Tibetan tantra

02:15:29 - Is magick well understood?

02:20:34 - Talent, lineage, and technique

02:22:44 - Crowley’s birthchart

02:27:32 - Alan & Duncan’s relationship

02:29:08 - Dangers

02:35:089 - Spiritual psychosis

02:37:50 - Devotion

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Previous episodes with Alex W:

- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=alex

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James