If you had asked me a year ago about what the Ceremonial Magick community needed, a primer of basic practices would have been a ways down the list. I stand corrected. Damien Echols provides a fresh look at magickal practices from outside the standard Thelemic and Ceremonial Magick circles.

The book itself is fairly compact and concise, which is a nice change from long winded mystics who want to cram as much of their magical egregore into their work, as though wearing a reader down like a grindstone will bring them around to the personal views of the writer. Damien does go into a bit of the personal reasons for using specific techniques or when he’s made changes in practices to attune them to himself. The author leaves a lot of opening to the reader to develop their own adjustments and make a ritual their own, while still providing the basic framework.

The author’s language and voice is very readable, and it makes a good primer for folks who are just getting started or people who are returning to the Great Work after an extended absence. People who are farther along their paths may find the quirks of Damien’s style to be of interest. I found myself reexamining a few things I do as regular practices and have poked a bit a minor adjustments. The aspect of the practices being a lifeline of hope from death row as opposed to carrying over from pseudo-Masonic/Theosophist trappings makes the context as interesting as the rituals.

It’s worth a solid look if you have followed the author for a while, or have an interest in starting or expanding your magickal horizons.