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Full Description
A powerful invitation to reconsider the intersection between Christianity and ceremonial magic by harnessing the power of the seasonal cycle
Designed to appeal at once to ceremonial magicians who feel called to work in the Christian tradition and ordinary believers who wish to explore the magical side of their faith, The Sacramental Magic of Advent aims to re-enchant the cycle of the year, starting with Advent and Christmas.
The power of the seasonal cycle is recognised by magical and religious traditions throughout the world. Beyond religion and magic, the cycles of the year have been sources of inspiration for many people since time immemorial, inspiring much of our great art, poetry, and music.
Sadly, the cycle of the year has largely been lost in contemporary culture, and above all in modern Christianity. Old feasts are forgotten or minimised, the long fasts become long shopping seasons, and the great holy days have been reduced to brief spasms of consumption.
Guiding the reader through Advent and Christmas, The Sacramental Magic of Advent resituates the Advent and Christmas period as an important season of increased spiritual significance, presenting a series of traditional magical practices, such as banishing rituals and the invocation of spirits, in a Christian context, so that they may be used by ceremonial magicians and more orthodox believers alike.
The book also explores the Christian practices of fasting and almsgiving, with prayer and forgiveness also presented as the powerful magical works that they truly are. Included also are explorations surrounding the cycle of the church, including the saints days and the Ember Days, the season of Advent and the great mystery of Christmas, followed by suggestions on how to re-work them to fit both a contemporary home life and a magical practice.
The Sacramental Magic of Christmas will make a worthy addition to the bookshelf of any student or seasoned magical practitioner looking to enhance or refine their practice.
Contents
I Introductory Material
A. Introduction
1. Magic defined
2. Tradition defined
3. The plan of this book
B. Who Wrote This Book And Who Did He Write It For?
1. Author's Background
2. Potential reader's background
C. Foundations of Christian Magic 1: An Introduction to Magical Philosophy
II Advent
A. Getting Started
1. Preparation, Part 1: Purpose of Advent, Its History, and How to Begin
2. Preparation, Part 2: How To Fast
3. Preparation, Part 3: Prayer and Meditation
A. Week I
1. The Advent Wreath, including a ritual for blessing
2. The First Sunday of Advent, including an introduction to the magic of the psalms
3. Working with the guardian angel
4. Saint Andrew's Day
5. Advent and the Second Coming
6. The Christmas Tree
7. Foundations of Christian Magic 2: The Sign of the Cross as a Banishing Ritual
B. Week II
1. Second Sunday of Advent
2. Saint Nicholas's Day
3. The Immaculate Conception
4. Foundations of Christian Magic 3: Almsgiving and Offerings
C. Week III
1. Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)
2. Saint Lucy's Day
3. Ember Days
4. Foundations of Christian Magic 4: The Magic of Forgiveness
D. Week IV
1. Fourth Sunday of Advent
2. Saint Thomas's Day
3. The Winter Solstice
4. Foundations of Christian Magic 5: Consecrating sacramentals
III Christmas
A. Christmas Eve
B. Christmas Day
C. Saint Stephen's Day
D. Saint John's Day
E. The Holy Innocents
F. Saint Thomas Becket
G. The Holy Family
H. New Years Eve and New Years Day
I. Epiphany
J. The Epiphany Initiation
K. Afterward
IV Appendixes
A. A list of commonly used prayers
B. Psalms and their magical uses
C. Some additional sacramentals
D. Correspondences of the planets and elements, including archangels and divine names
E. Further Reading
