The Practice of Magical Evocation

Throughout the ages, and primarily during the past few centuries, many lengthy dissertations have been published on the art of higher magic. Unfortunately, they are for the most part such bewildering and incomplete remnants that very little of it can be taken as a point of reference for practical studies, and this only in small fragments. The original initiative for magic was known only to a very few lodges and was reserved for a particularly chosen few, while for the seekers of truth who searched diligently for any information, this subject matter remained dark and mysterious. Various religions during the Middle Ages were severely hostile towards any magical knowledge. In our history, the most prominent examples are the well known Inquisitions. Later, in modern times, magic was regarded as mere superstition, and any person who showed some inclination toward this knowledge, let alone one seriously concerned himself with the study of magic, was regarded as a fool and was ridiculed. In the past, mystical and other sects maligned magic to such a degree that the word "magic" has to this very day an extremely dubious reputation. And any person who has had an appreciation or understanding for magical knowledge has been pilloried as a black magician. In reality, true magic was initially taught in the ancient schools of the prophets, and then only in the highest circles. However, only a few select insiders had access to these institutions. In those days, only a few books occasionally disclosed scant bits of information about true magic. These books were deliberately written in such a way that they would disclose little or nothing even to the most astute reader, and hence they would not give the seeker of truth a complete understanding of the subject of magic. In accordance with the ancient Egyptian Mysteries, the magic of the second Tarot card is represented by the High Priestess. Franz Bardon, the author of The Practice of Magical Evocation, gladly continues to guide the serious, diligent reader and student of magic along the proper path, as long as this person is devoid of any fanatical religious beliefs and erroneous ideology. Furthermore, this person has to be prepared to penetrate further into the mysteries of the knowledge of magic or the Hermetic sciences. As in Franz Bardon's first book, Initiation into Hermetics, Bardon endeavors to keep the language of this second volume in a style that is understandable to everyone. The subject matter of the magic of evocation is among the least known and least investigated branches of the art, and therefore Bardon makes certain that every person who reads this book will become completely familiar with this subject matter, not only in theory but above all with the practice, if he so chooses. It is important, however, that the reader know that he will not achieve any results with the practice of magical evocation unless he has successfully completed Step VIII, at the very least, of Franz Bardon's first book, Initiation into Hermetics, which is a description of the first tarot card, the Magician. Should Franz Bardon be successful in assisting the reader who has successfully completed the entire practical part of his first book to achieve the same good results with this one, then Bardon has achieved his objective. Those readers who initially study the secret sciences only theoretically will find in this work a satisfactory broadening of their knowledge.