Yes, the Spirits in question are of the "infernal" variety.

But exactly what doe

s that mean? If we embrace, for a moment, the popular nomenclature of High Magic
k, "infernal" relates to the sub~onscious stratum of the human psyche. Spirits i
nhabiting these regions would then be the personifications of powers or energies
that lie buried in our subconscious minds-qualities of our consciousness that w
e have disowned. They are Fallen because they have slipped from the conscious co
ntrol ofthe deity-ourselves. Yes, they are dangerous because while they remain u
nmastered they can surface unbidden and wreak all the havoc modern psychology bl
ames on "things hidden in the subconscious mind." To the charge that such practi
ces bring out the worst qualities in th~ ~agician's ch~ra~ter, t~e Goetic practi
tioner pleads "guilty," pomtmg out that this IS precisely the purpose ofthis var
iety ofevocation. If these disowned qualities are not brought forth, identified
and controlled, the magician, like the rest of humanity, is doomed to be at the
mercy and the caprice of his own subconscious demons, never being allowed the op
portunity to subdue these denizens of his psychic menagerie. But are the Spirits
of the Goetia simply subjective components of the magician's mind, or is there
really an independent objective quality to their natures? This fundamental quest
ion may never receive a satisfactory answer due to the fact that no one really u
nderstands the nature of"matter." But one thing is certain: one who has never ex
perienced a Goetic Evocation is not qualified to voice even the most educated op
inion on the subject. It is one thing to be ~ell-rea~ on a subject; it is quite
another to be part of the subject Itself. It IS an unfortunate fact that there a
re many individuals who make magick their life without making their life magick.
Even the most talented and brilliant expounders of the Art sometimes lose sight
o~ this and focus instead on historical or technical aspects of the subject to
such a degree that they ignore completely its relevance to their daily life and
happiness.
In light of this, I feel it would be helpful to relate the circumstances surroun
ding my first Goetic evocation. I beg the reader's att~ntionto what follows beca
use I feel that it contains many of the major components necessary for a success
ful Goetic Evocation. (I have omitted the name of my former "magick teacher" as
it would be recognized by a great many readers.)
WITH MY BACKAGAINST A WALL
It.~as 1975 and I had never been so desperate in my life. My decision to end a "
successful" fourteen year career in music had been one oflifeand death-mine. It
was either continue a lifestyle that was destroying my health and my relationshi
p with my wife and young son, or risk not being able to support them. I was trai
ned for nothing practical. Even my college education, such as it was, was as a D
rama major. The pocket change I was still earning from recording royalties and g
uitar lessons wasn't enough to feed us let alone pay the rent and the bills. I h
ad no job, no car, no money, no prospects... no hope. One ofthefew bright spots
that characterized this period was my discovery of the writings of Aleister Crow
ley and my involvement the disciplines of ceremonial magick, Since the mid-60's
I had been a student of Eastern Mysticism and Western Hermeticism, and my intere
sts had finally brought me into contact with a magical society that I had believ
ed long extinct. I passionately involved myself in this group and subsequently b
ecame the student ofone ofits senior officers. A charming woman in her fifties,
she continually impressed me with what I perceived to be her balanced, logical a
pproach to the subject of magick. Her teacher had been a personal student of Ale
ister Crowley and had even been a resident at his (in)famous Abbey of Thelema in
Cefalu Sicily in the 1920's. I was thrilled to ~e a link in such an historic ma
gical chain and my spiritual practices became the entire focus of my life. Perio
dically my teacher reviewed my diaries and we maintained constant correspondence
. I also visited her as often as I could.