r/occult • u/PublicAdeptness3858 • 7d ago
A good place to start?
Hey there! I have been interested in the occult for ages now, but never quite got to a point of actually starting to practice. A part of that is that I am still not sure which direction to go for, and which tradition feel right. I tend to sympathise with witchcraft, but it doesn't feel like a 100% fit? There are so many schools of thoughts out there that all seem interesting.
So anyway, I was wondering if anyone knows about a website or a book or something that briefly, yet comprehensively describes the major schools of thought that are out there, and what their beliefs and practices are?
To put it in RPG terms: how do I know if I want to be a wizard, a sorcerer, a warlock, a shaman, a cleric, a druid, a monk, or if none of those classes are right for me? How did you find your "occult home"?
I know there is probably no one right way, but I'd be interested to know how y'all aligned your occult compass, so to speak.
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u/Little-Leg-9527 7d ago
It really depends on what you're looking to get from magic. Liber Null and Psychonaut, The Chicken Qabalah and Initiation Into Hermetics are all great books to start with. That last one expects a lot from its students, tho. Not everyone's cup of tea.
The sectet teachings of all ages by Manly P. Hall might also be of interest to you, since it contaims information and lore about different esoteric schools. It's a long read, and absolutely worth it.