Product Description

A new edition of the highly acclaimed manual of freestyle shamanism, suitable for all those inspired by such figures as Austin Spare and Aleister Crowley, and who feel the imperative to develop their own unique magical way. Visual Magick aims to build vision, imagination, and creative magick. It shows how magicians, witches, artists and therapists can improve visionary abilities, enhance imagination, activate the inner senses, and discover new modes of trance awareness. The emphasis is on direct experience and the reader is asked to think, act, do, and enjoy as s/he wills. 'One of the best books on magick I have read in a long while.' Phil Hine in Pagan News 'A practical modern grimoire.' The Cauldron

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59415 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Customer Reviews

one of the best "chaos magick" books around
Though Jan doesn't consider himself a practicioner of "chaos magick" (he is a neo-thelemite in the Maat current) people who *do* consider themselves practicioners of "chaos magick" love him.

Very down to earth. Check out his stuff on runes too.

Forget Pete Carroll, that pompous mystagogue. Stick with Jan Fries and maybe a bit of Phil Hine, and you're on solid ground.

Jan Fries & Visual Magick
I am fond of this book. I have my doubts about Jan Fries.

Fries neatly describes a practice containing elements of NLP (representational systems & perceptual positions), automatic drawing techniques, and a clear (excellent, even) coverage of sigil technique. Jan's emphasis on a non-forceful kind of Taoist approach is worthy of special attention. I have not found much of the latter half of the book useful, myself, but the parts that I have found useful are very well done and free of obfuscation.

That said, I do have a problem with Jan's egotistical glorification of Thelema (in odd and not necessarily appropriate ways) and his claims that some effective techniques of Chaos Magick are "nonsense" (contrary to the experience of a great many people who use them). His statements that visions appear shadey and vague as if one were just imagining them, though I may have misunderstood his meaning and/or intent, lead me to question just how much of an "Adept" he actually is in certain respects.

That said, I believe the book survives the author, and is a worthwhile contribution to any occultist's library (well, unless of course you're a die-hard ceremonialist. Not much here for you in that case).

Concise, down to earth introduction to practical 'magic'....
This book manages to provide a visceral, tangible introduction to `magic' or the state of dynamic, creative, engagement of the life process to which such terms refer. Jan's style is particularly engaging and down to earth, and this book covers a variety of the basic process and mechanisms of modern `freestyle shamanism' or `magic', clearly and concisely. He has a refreshing neo-Taoist vibe, with an emphasis on a dynamic living engagement with a flowing, evolving, life-force. Open ended and creative in focus, this book provides a host of idea's both theoretical and practical, that can help one to find their own intuitive engagement with the universal song. For a creative, engaging, dynamic, and totally down to earth introduction to `freestyle shamanism' one need look no further. 5 stars!

Oh and remeber to AVOID CRAMP! haha