Pathworking and more

Ok i've been a "arm chair magician" for a few years. i've read a lot of books and haven't practiced much. One thing that confuses me though is I read a lot about pathworking with the Tree of Life. A lot of books mention it, but don't acutally explain the he hell you do. In everything I read it talks about preforming rituals and interacting with HGA or other Spiritual Entities. In what I have practiced I have never met any entity or experienced anything. I have in the past stuck to a regimen of rituals and followed guides but have not experienced anything. How do you meet these spirtual entities? I know the evocation rituals through use of sigils and/or a black mirror. I'm a really getting disenchanted with the whole field of the occult because i'm not having any results but I feel a strong pull to the occult and can't get away from it. I guess this isn't really a question more like a rant. :( My question would be do any of you have any advice?

i'm sorry if that post seems like i'm trolling. what started that train of thought was i keep reading through diffrent sources about pathworking. The book in particular is Qabalah, Qliphoth and Goetic Magic by Thomas Karlsson but even Golden Dawn books and anything about qaballah it mentions pathworking. but i don't seem to grasp what is pathworking. is it meditation on the paths between each seprioth and if so how does it relate to initiation and higher states of being?

Hi BP316....
I am not into Quabbalah myself, but when I first started this path (many moons ago, might I add), besides being taught some stuff when I was growing up, I just read and read and read. It can take years to find your right path...and even after years, you can still be tweaking it and heading off into directions you never knew existed. Also, if I can suggest something, 'armchairing' is for sports fans, not occult adepts. To get proficient, you must practice. And to me, that means, get books from the library (I like free stuff), and if it feels right, do it. Try spells, visualizations, meditations, sigil work, incense or candle working. All these are not rocket science and you will learn quite quicky what works for you and what doesn't and how deep you wanna go. Just my two cents worth. Good luck!

I appreciate the responses. I understand about finding my "path" through the occult. I have to research and choose what i feel is right. I am beginning to practice now. I've done the wicca thing for quite a while what I meant by armchair magician is as it deals with "higher magick". I have Modern Magick by Donald Craig, and I have The Golden Dawn by Regardie. Acutally I have quite a few books. It's just in my practice I am not coming up very successful. The closest i've been to a encounter involving evocation, involved some mushrooms..... hehe. I have trouble with visualizations and I think that might be whats holding me back. No matter how hard I try I can't visualize anything. Maybe i'm doing it wrong ;)

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Originally Posted by BluPhenix316

I have trouble with visualizations and I think that might be whats holding me back. No matter how hard I try I can't visualize anything. Maybe i'm doing it wrong ;)

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I am really good at visualization/meditation. You will find that you will be less than great at some things, better at others. I've read and been told that a good starting point with visualizing was just picturing a movie screen in my mind. Then, once you see it, really see it with the corners, the fabric and all, you mentally change the colour of the screen....say to blue...then hold it....really look at the blue screen, then change it to say ....red. Do this for like 3-5 minutes a day. Once you have this down, you can start adding simple pictures to the colored screen; a flower, an apple, etc. Just start simple and work up in complexity. It can take awhile....now, I can visualize anywhere, anytime, without closing my eyes. I love it...it's great with spellwork and helps with relieving every day stresses as well. However, not very ceremonial, I'm afraid. :)

I've studied the Deck of cards Kabbalah Path ways to the soul by Edward Hoffman and it's been a great help. Real magic comes from with in. There are three pathways which are the reflections of the choices we make. Not all three pathways are always the right path, but when you have a better understanding of you inner self that can be your inner light which can guide you to the source of power you seek.
I also study the Rider-Waite Tarot cards from some of the Golden Dawn members, they're good for meditation, divination, or clarity in my case.
Books are great for knowledge but if you are looking to make things happen you need to find a way to connect with the source, and then you will be able to bring magic to this realm.
Hope this will help you in your journey.