Getting Started In Magic

I remember exactly where I was when I made the decision.

It was at the top floor of Duane Library, near the stacks that overlook campus out a large window across Edwards Parade.

I’m going to do it.

But how?

Each student was assigned a Jesuit academic advisor whom they would meet with each week to go over any course work, review papers, and talk about current studies. My advisor was part of the Philosophy Department so I figured I would ask them.

It just kind of slipped out during one of meetings and he shifted gears without missing a beat.

If that was something I wanted to study I would have to start with alchemy since that is the last and furthest expression of it in Europe and by extension the West. Start with alchemy and Europe and work my way back to Rome, Greece, and eventually Egypt.

In true Jesuit fashion my first assignment was to write a twenty page paper on alchemy with my first draft due at our next meeting.

My advisor arranged access to the University archives under Keating Hall and it was there that I discovered such books do exist- stacks of books on alchemy, astronomy and mythology.

Over the next three years the library archives became my second home.

It took three re-writes to bring my paper to an acceptable first draft, with expectations that I would complete it by the end of the semester, but in the mean time I was advised to start planning out my course load.

It would not be enough to read the books, and certainly not enough to interpret them or put modern feelings on them. What would be required, if I had any hope of one day using such a thing, was to understand how those who wrote those books thought at the time and perception from when they lived.

A change in studies would assist with alignment, as would further papers each semester.

But for now, classes in mythology, ancient history, philosophy, Latin, and Classical Greek to get started.