The Curio Cabinet College of Hermetic Arts

Curiositas Inducit Cognitionem

Fundamentals of Western Magic
Waning Year Semester 07/14-01/15
Presented By: J.A. Doyle, Wizard of Grand
Grand Rapids, Michigan
(616)-427-7875
thecuriocabinet@gmail.com
thecuriocabinet.wordpress.com

Description:
This course is designed for those who feel the undeniable pull towards things of an occult,
magical, or spiritual nature and have the impetus to turn that curiosity into knowledge. Founded
upon on the ancient wisdom of the Western Mystery Tradition stemming from Mesopotamia and
Egypt, continuing through Greece and Rome to the rest of Europe and the New World, this
course will focus on the Hermetic, Orphic, Neo-Platonic, Solomonic, and Sabbatic schools of
magical philosophy. During this 26-week (6 month) course, students will learn not only practical
occult rituals and methods, but will also be exposed to Empedoclean Physics, Ancient
Cosmology, the Kabala, Magical Time-keeping, Magical Herbalism, Basic Divination,
Classification of Spirits and how to work with them. A succinct way to begin building the
foundation of any personal spiritual or magical practice based upon the teachings of the Western
Mysteries.

Course Objectives:
To present the Student with sufficient information over a 26-week period to establish the
fundamentals of the Western Mystery Traditions, the goal of instruction being to provide
practical experience as well as theoretical knowledge.

Tuition Fees:
$520 full tuition, $20 per class session

Materials Required:
1) A Black-covered Journal & adequate, long-lasting writing utensils
2) A copy of The Kybalion: Definitive Edition (ISBN: 978-1585428748)
3) A blade, preferably double-edged with a black handle, but a pocket-knife will do
4) A wooden rod, measuring approx. from the crook of ones elbow to the tip of the longest
finger
5) A cup, preferably goblet or chalice-shaped and made of glass or non-toxic metal
6) A disk or plate, preferably made of a natural material such as stone, china, or metal
7) A ring of symbolic nature, simple or decorative- a most important magical tool
8) A mortar & pestle made of soap-stone or similar
9) A heat-proof, pot-like container to serve as a cauldron
10) A Tarot Deck, preferably the Rider-Waite Deck
11) A skyring tool such as a black mirror, a crystal ball, a special bowl and ink, ect.
12) A white, natural, linen Tau-robe

Organization of Class-time:
1) Check-in: Students arrive punctually and the Instructor takes roll-call
2) Last Week Review: Brief discussion of the course material studied previously
3) Lecture: Lecture will take place over a 45-90 minute period
4) Break: a 10 minute break will be provided
5) Experiment: If a practical experiment is carried out, it will happen after lecture
6) Assignment: Assignments are explained at the end of the class
7) Closing: Brief review of material studied during class, final questions

Rules of Conduct:
1) Students will arrive punctually, properly prepared, focused, attentive, and eager to learn.
2) Students will participate to their fullest capabilities in class discussion, experimentation,
and demonstrations.
3) Cell-phones, laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices are only permitted for use in
class explicitly for auxiliary note-taking or referencing topics at hand. If the Instructor
feels any devices have deterred the attention of a student or students away from the topic
at hand, the offending students will be politely asked to put away their device or leave.
Further action may be taken from there.
4) Students will not discriminate against any other for any reason pertaining to Race, Color,
Religion, National Origin, Age, Sex, Pregnancy, Citizenship, Familial Status, Disability,
Veteran status, or Genetic Information. Any complaints risen against a student will be
dealt with without hesitation and promptly investigated. If the offending student is found
to be justly accused, they will be expelled.
5) Assignments will be given and explained at the conclusion of the class session. Journal
entries on the current weeks topic of study are mandatory and will be expected to be
finished before the following weeks class session begins. Completed assignments will be
assessed based on effort, comprehension, and execution.

Other Considerations:
When contacting through telephone, it is preferable to send a text message first and wait until I
have an appropriate time to contact you to talk
When contacting through e-mail, please label the subject ATTN: FWM Class

Course Topics:
1) Powers of the Sphinx: Lecture on the Four-fold Powers of the Sphinx
2) Hermetic Principles: Lecture on the Seven-fold Hermetic Principles of the Kybalion
3) Powers of Love & Strife: Lecture on Polarity/Duality, Intro to Empedoclean Physics
4) Powers of Fire: Lecture on the Correspondences & Energies of Fire
5) Powers of Air: Lecture on the Correspondences & Energies of Air
6) Powers of Water: Lecture on the Correspondences & Energies of Water
7) Powers of Earth: Lecture on the Correspondences & Energies of Earth
8) The Magic Circle: Lecture on the history, theory, & practice of the Magic Circle, an
Experiment of the Magic Circle will be attempted by the student
9) The 7 Heavens: Lecture on Planetary Cosmology
10) The 8
th
Sphere: Lecture on the Zodiac, Constellations, and Fixed Stars
11) The Magical Calendar: Lecture on Lunar, Solar, and Planetary time-keeping for ritual
purposes, Introduction to Practical Astrological Theory
12) The Holy Decad: Lecture on the history & meaning of the Tetrakys & Kabala
13) Etheric Anatomy: Lecture on the correspondence between the Body and the Cosmos
14) Barbaroi Logoi: Lecture on Magical Linguistics, Sigillum, and Characters
15) Ars Pharmakiea: Lecture on the historical & practical use of herbs for magic, Experiment
with crafting incense, oils, potions, & dressing candles.
16) Spirit of Place: Lecture on the Spiritual Presence of the Land
17) The Mighty Dead: Lecture on the Ancestral, Wandering, Hungry, and Enlightened Dead,
a Dumb Supper communion will be held after lecture
18) Hierarchies of Heaven & Hell: Lecture on Pre & Post-Biblical Spirits
19) Gods of Many Lands: Lecture on Deity, devotional rites, and cultural context
20) The Magical Assistant: Lecture and Experiment on the Familiar Spirit
21) Divination 101: Lecture on omens, dreams, visions, signs, patterns, & methods
22) Tarot in Brief: Lecture on the history & use of Tarot, its correspondences and value
23) The Shewstone: Lecture & Experiment on Skrying
24) Theurgia & Goetia: Lecture on the history and methods of the Ouranic and Kthonic
schools of spirit-work
25) Evocation of a Spirit: Experiment lead by the Instructor, but performed by the Class,
wherein a Spirit is unanimously chosen and evoked for communion
26) Initiation Ceremony: Instructor performs a private ceremony with each student to mark
their graduation from this course


Date Topic of Discussion Experiment Materials
Required
Main
Assignment
07/04/14 Intro to Western Magic Book Why do I want to
do Magic?
07/11/14 Powers of the Sphinx Book How do I relate to
the Powers?
07/18/14 Hermetic Principles Breathing &
Mindfulness
Book, The
Kybalion
Meditate, Breathe
regularly
07/25/14 Powers of Love & Strife The Calyx Rite Book Practice Calyx
regularly
08/1/14 Powers of Fire Fire Attunement Book, Knife Embody Fire
08/8/14 Powers of Air Air Attunement Book, Rod Embody Air
08/15/14 Powers of Water Water
Attunement
Book, Cup Embody Water
08/22/14 Powers of Earth Earth
Attunement
Book, Disk Embody Earth
08/29/14 The Magic Circle Rite of the
Magic Circle
Book, Ring &
Elemental Tools
Practice Magic
Circle regularly
09/5/14 The 7 Heavens Rising through
the Spheres
Book Practice Rising
regularly
09/12/14 The 8
th
Sphere Book Cast your own
Horoscope
09/19/14 The Magical Calendar Book Make a Calendar
09/26/14 The Holy Decad Book Chart the Kabala
10/3/14 Etheric Anatomy 3 Souls
Attunement
Book Practice
Attunement
regularly
10/10/14 Barbaroi Logoi Book Create a Personal
Name & Sigil
10/17/14 Ars Pharmakiea Herbal
preparations
Book, Mortar &
Pestle, cauldron
Create an original
recipe
10/24/14 Spirit of Place Genius Loci
Contact
Book Practice Contact
regularly
10/31/14 The Mighty Dead Dumb Supper Book Ancestor
Devotional
11/7/14 Hierarchies of Heaven & Hell Book Spirit Devotional
11/14/14 Gods of Many Lands Book Deity Devotional
11/21/14 The Magical Assistant Spell for a
Familiar
Book,
Elemental Tools
Regular Familiar
work
11/28/14 Divination 101 Book Find a favorite!
12/5/14 Tarot in Brief Tarot Spreads Book, Tarot Daily Reading
12/12/14 The Shewstone Skrying Session Book, Mirror Practice Skrying
12/19/14 Theurgia & Goetia Book Study a Spirit,
create a Lamen
12/26/14 Evocation of a Spirit Rite of
Evocation
Book, All Tools,
Lamen, Robe
Fasting until
Initiation
1/2/15 Initiation Ceremony Initiation Book, All Tools,
Robe