Mixing paths to create your personal approach

Hi all,

This is my first post.

I've been interested in the occult all my life, but never pursued it until recently. I am fascinated by all the paths that exist, and it seems to me that often the commonalities are greater than the differences. To me it is a confirmation of the validity of the practice.

I am drawn to hermetics/qabalah and to shamanism in general and Huna specifically.

That said, there is a metric buttload of material to read and information to process.

How do I get to the bones of magick ala chaos magick and mix the traditions to form my own art?

Where does one start?

Welcome and yes it is a tricky one, but the only answear lies in you.
Just through reading and making sense out of things within you, can you find the right combination for yourself and yes I agree, the amount of material is enormous, but take it as a life time journey, that will evolve through what you keep learning and experiencing.
There are no easy answears, as the path is your own alone...

Focus where paths intersect.

Do what thou wilt

I would say start wherever you feel you should start. Read what you want to read. I'm doing the same thing, and you're right, there is a buttload of information. I would read up on the paths your interested in, and take a look at some of their grimoires.

Come on over to the Left Hand Path!
We have COOKIES.

This is a tough question for me to answer. If I would take Hermetics and Qabalah as an example, you could read significant works in translation (the Zohar, the Sepher Yetzirah), you could read academic works about those significant works, or you could read books that are more, 'popularized.' There really isn't anything wrong with popularized, but it's not the significant stuff.

Typical beginner's books are books like Tyson's, 'The Magician's Workbook,' or Donald Michael Kraig's, 'Modern Magick.' Other examples would be the Scott Cunningham books on contemporary witchcraft. Another group of books are Liber Null, Psychonaut, and Liber Kaos by Peter Carroll, as well as Kondensed Kaos by Phil Hine. Those are more popularized types of books, but none of those books is a total loser.

In my own opinion, the meat of the tradition is in significant books. I tend to read mostly translations of archaic texts and academic commentaries. In terms of practice, I do mostly artistic work, or meditation and meditative exercise. So - I guess it depends on what, 'start,' might mean to you.

My first reconstructionist, knee jerk reaction is nuuuu back one and stick with it. But, if your interested in a few different things is do general research on them before you make up your mind. Some systems just don't work well together, blending them can end badly. If you think you can pull if off though I would take some time in figuring out how they can be blended together into something that works rather than just cherry picking.

BaketAnpu: 'So pick a topic, find a book and read read read.'

I would second this, and add that something physical next to the books - Tai Chi - Hatha Yoga - some simple meditation - is also an ideal beginning place.

first you understand what chaos magic is(ether by reading learning it from someone whatever) then if you agree with it live it. chaos magic is a principle the rest is really up to you.

Others have said it best so this may sound repetitive. But think about what you're interested in,no matter what it is, and do your homework. Find books, documents, criticisms, visit blogs and forums ,etc. Make decisions. You don't have to agree with everything you read. But read you must!