Very New

[wesxbrutal]

I am very new to this but I have always had an interest. I have been researching crowley and a couple of other prominent occultists.

What is the best thing that I can do to start getting involved in this lifestyle?

[S33k3R]

Just keep researching and reading until you find something that strikes resonance.

Try not to make up your mind about to many things at this stage...you'll read one thing that makes sense and then another thing that seems to contradict the first thing that also makes sense...eventually you'll just sort of muppet into something that you are happy with.

The big thing is that you've actually got to practice what you learn...find a ritual that looks interesting and just do it, (no summoning please...keep it light and fluffy for a while).

Thats my take on it, in anycase. feel free to disagree.

[WiggyWarlock]

Welcome wesxbrutal and good luck with your search.

I echo what S33k3R said, keep researching and you will find the path that best fits.

The one 'gem of wisdom' I would offer is don't put off the practical stuff in favour of doing that little bit more book research, it is too easy to become an 'armchair occultist'. I know from experience :D

Good hunting.

[Lady Dunsany]

Welcome. It depends on what you are interested in, there are quite a few good books out there for beginners, you have to just decide what you would like to learn first, you do not want to get overwhelmed.

[wesxbrutal]

there isn't a book store in my area that has any good books on the occult. We have barnes and Noble and based on everything I have heard and believe, everything that is in there or any of the other major book stores is really watered down and insufficient.

What are some of the best books, I guess, that you can recommend that I read (seeing as how basically everyone recommended that I continue reading and researching)?

[Lady Dunsany]

For Wicca anything by Scott Cunningham and Raymond Buckland, Druidism anything by J M Greer, he has a book Encyclopedia of the Occult, and Druid Magick Handbook. Daniel Michael Craig High Magic. Dion Fortune Psychic Self defense that everyone should read and Mystical Qabalah. Garden of Pomegranates by Israel Regardie. Magickal Diaries by Aleister Crowley. Earth Light by R J Stewart. The Black Arts by Richard Cavendish which delves into the life of the Black Arts Magickian and mentions two of my favorites Crowley and Mathers. If you are interested in Golden Dawn then Self Initiation by the Ciceros. I am trying to give you a choice as i do not know what holds your interest but here is a small list.

[Y Ddraig Goch]

as a beginner i would strongly recommend Psychic Self-Defence by Dion Fortune.
its a book with many varieties. And gives pretty much good tips of how things can go wrong when dealing with the occult and how to protect from them. So yes, its the beginner's book i recommend. And welcome. :D