Temple Of High Magic [Paperback]

I have the original Dutch version of this book and I am thrilled that it is now also available on the international market. Finally, there is now a book about the complex world of the mystical Qabalah that teaches you the basics and its function as a 'road map' in the Western Mystery Tradition, and so much more on top! I have been involved in the study of the Qabalah for a long time and most texts on Qabalah are either written in a rather old-fashioned language, are totally obscure and incomprehensible in their complexity to new people on the mystery path, or are so superficial to be almost useless for serious students.

Not so "The Temple of High Magic". Author Ina Cüsters-van Bergen possesses a profound, extensive and intimate knowledge of the vast and complex subject of all aspects of the Hermetic Western Mysteries. She also possesses the considerable talent to present her knowledge in a very attractive and compelling way. She writes in a deceptively simple, down-to-earth and beautiful language style that made her book a real 'page-turner' when I read it for the first time. "The Temple of High Magic" is not all about Qabalah, though. Ancient civilizations and their wisdom, secret teachings hidden in the world's mythological stories, spiritual alchemy, hermetic concepts and ideas and transformations: all these aspects and many more are discussed and presented in this book.

The true value of "The Temple of High Magic" to me is, that it provides a more practical introduction to Hermetism, High Magic and application of concepts of the Qabalistic Tree of Life. The book contains many magical exercises and pathworkings that will help the reader to delve further and deeper into the material and to catch a glimpse of what high magic can really do in one's life. These exercises and pathworkings are as beautifully written as the more theoretical chapters and I'd highly recommend anyone who's interested in these things to try them out for yourself and see what happens!

The style of working as described in this book appealed to me immensely. Previously, I had read many books about Ritual and High Magic that left me with a rather forbidding image about the entire topic: too vast, too much, too 'high' and too complicated and not really for me on a practical level. What Ina's book taught me was that High Magic is also beautiful, practical in everyday life, totally enjoyable and to be tackled within my own limits and at my own pace. And this teaching has been proven time and again since I actually started my formal training in The Temple of High Magic. Thus, this book has been a real life-changer to me.

Finally, I think this is an important book for those of us who are seekers of spirituality, but who are getting frustrated with the shallowness and empty promises of too many contemporary spiritual ideas. "The Temple of High Magic" describes a time-honored tradition with its roots in the ancient world, yet wonderfully contemporary and very much of today. If you're looking for something real, this may be it. Read it, and judge for yourself!

I read this book already nearly a year ago in Dutch language (so I can't judge the English translation). This book made a deep impression on me. First because my wife had found it and transferred it to me, whose intuition I trust very much (from experience). But this was very unusual (I am a historian in the field of spirituality, particularly spiritual texts, its history and function) because most of the time I find a lot of books and texts myself.
I have to say I was stunned by this book. Not so much that I forgot everything while reading it, it was just that everything - line by line, piece by piece, page by page, chapter by chapter - seemed to fit in with each other as well as with my knowledge of history and of the 'function' of spiritual traditions. And not only that, this book also conquered me, in a way, step by step. By letting me feel that steps could be taken, that they worked for the practician, and that meaning not only could but also was being found. And not only meaning, but also direction and perspective, not only theoretically but practically as well.
Indeed the book is well organized. Everything is clearly explained from the beginning, and built up in sequence. As regards the content I can confirm that the author combines the best knowledge of Western magical traditions (as well as of the main subjects of exoteric - outward religious - and esoteric - inward spiritual - traditions within which they were suppressed or practiced) with sound knowledge of modern imagination techniques (which of course have very old examples and sources). Her practice is built up from the Kabbalistic Tree, which serves as a model on which all theoretical and practical phenomena of the most different traditions can find their own place. This happens through the practice of the students themselves who learn to know themselves and at the same time build up a 'place' in which they can live spiritually as well as practically.
Stunning and astounding I found the book particularly because of the quality of its language as expression of the very trustworthy content, letting the reader free in her / his own decisions but at the same time giving thorough information and even warnings - all from many years of experience, which the author here shares with the reader, thankfully. She delivers as well very illuminative images and illustrations with the text.
Those who valuate the worth of this book, will agree that the quality of this book is not just its extreme practicability but also the very sound, deeply trustworthy experience and (also theoretical, also psychological and 'didactical') insights in and behind it.
For me she made for the first time clear how the tradition of Dion Fortune and Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki, from which she - although now having and leading her own school now - stems, is deeply correlated with very deep layers of our Western culture (and the author by the way also knows about Eastern and New Age traditions with which she makes comparisons). This however will not come to the reader by reading alone: she or he really has to discover the magic within life, existence, society, nature, cosmos, anew and by her- or himself as she / he uniquely is. The book gives the instruments to that as well. One of them: learn to be - including to have - a very, very trustworthy character in all respects! (So going this way will not always be easy ...)
This is a very rich book, a chance to be guided into and through many new worlds and practices in an way suited for everyone who values the spiritual worlds and practices of the Western traditions, including of course the Jewish and Christian ones insofar as they do not suppress the ways of magic (= practical 'religious' psychology). This book is not in the first place about influencing the outside world or other people for one's own concrete goals, but about influencing oneself by coming in tune with the divine world which we are all in contact with, and which wants the best with us. By raising consciousness and behaving in accordance with that. Step by step, in doing. Enjoy, if you want. Enjoy much! :-) :-( :-)

This review originally appeared on The Magical Buffet website on 8/11/10.

Take note publishers, name dropping works. Months ago I received a review copy of "The Temple of High Magic: Hermetic Initiations in the Western Mystery Tradition" by Ina Custers-van Bergen from Destiny Books. It had a not entirely exciting cover and was authored by a woman I had never heard of. However, I noticed the forward was by Gareth Knight and that the author was initiated by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki so I knew that this book had to be something special. And boy howdy was I right.

Obviously I'm no expert on the Western Esoteric traditions, because let's face it, I'm not an expert on anything, but I will dare say that this is the best introduction to the subject matter I've ever seen, or possibly that's ever been published. My introduction to the subject matter was the book "Magick for Beginners" by J.H. Brennen, which I still highly recommend to anyone looking for a tiny taste of Western Occult practices. In writing him a letter (yes, I liked the book so much that I wrote the author), he suggested looking at Dion Fortune and Israel Regardie. Fortune and Regardie are both respected pillars of the ceremonial magic community but their works are dense and difficult for a beginner to wrap their brains around, or at least for this beginner they are. If only "The Temple of High Magic" had been available then!

Bergen's book thoroughly answers the question, "What are the Western Esoteric traditions all about?" Seriously, if some random person I met on the street that I had never seen before in my life went, "Hey stranger I've never seen before, what is all this Western Occult/Mystery stuff like?", I would say not a word and put "The Temple of High Magic" in their hands.

This book is only 383 pages including index, bibliography, glossary, and table of correspondences, and yet it answers any question you could possibly think of as a beginner. Better still, this book despite being translated from Dutch speaks clearly and goes light on jargon. Bergin covers the roots that feed into the current practice of Mystery Traditions today, explains the significance of temples, tools, and robes, covers Tree of Life basics, Chakras, features loads of exercises and rituals, and more, more, more!

This is the book I should have read before attempting to tackle Regardie's works, or slowly suss out Fortune, and it is definitely a book for someone looking to learn about these traditions but isn't looking to necessarily actively participate in them. In other words, this is probably the only book a generalist like me would ever need. That said, this book could easily be the springboard for someone with some interest in the topic to become someone looking to actively begin serious study and practice. I guess what I'm trying to say is, buy this book and then buy a second copy to give to anyone you know with even a passing interest in the Western Esoteric Traditions.

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