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Real Magic: An Introductory Treatise on the Basic Principles of Yellow Magic
Examines every category of occult phenomena from ESP to Eastern ritual and explores the basic laws of magic, relating them to the natural laws of the universe.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1971
42 people are currently reading
852 people want to read
About the author
Isaac Bonewits
14 books54 followersPhillip Emmons Isaac Bonewits was an influential Neopagan leader and author. He was a liturgist, speaker, journalist, Neo-druid priest, and a singer, songwriter, and independent recording artist. He had been heavily involved in occultism since the 1960s.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 16, 2013
One of the most invaluable texts that anyone interested in magic and the occult should read. Isaac Bonewits delivers with force into exactly how the various systems of magic have been performed from past to present and the theories of how they possibly function. This is written in a textbook like format, though do not expect it to be a dry read as Bonewits always manages to inject his own personal style of humorous commentary into the mix. Two words that are commonly repeated throughout the text in my opinion should even keep the hardcore detractor at bay are "Insufficient data", which in short serve to show most of the concepts presented here, like a majority of all real sciences, are supported by enough data to deserve attention but cannot be conclusively determined as "true" or "false". In fact even Bonewits himself urges any readers to collect their own data for themselves and form their own conclusions (one of the clearest signs an author is not full of BS). In short, even though this text was written several decades ago at the time of this review, in my opinion it still holds up quite well and truly should be a point of study for anyone seriously concerned in learning about what "Real Magic" truly is.
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January 6, 2011In honor of the man we lost today, I think it's time to re-read this classic.
June 3, 2019
Not for me
March 7, 2022
Wow. This book is A LOT. It's arrogant, painfully unscientific, and frankly just lazy. The author makes a ton of bold claims, including ones that could be verifiably proven or disproven (e.g., results of specific studies or particular events), but doesn't include any citations, because they'd just "make the book too long." This gives him carte blanche to say whatever he wants and not provide even the weakest of evidence, while also exhibiting a fundamental lack of understanding of what the scientific method is and how it works. Did I mention how arrogant the tone is? Oof.
I'll say, at least he was funny at times (decent puns abound), but that doesn't make up for the fact that this is just a bad book. It craps all over the religions and philosophies of others, yet doesn't do any better than them at supporting his ideas. It has all the classic trappings of pseudoscience, right down to stuff like "The presence of skeptical people makes psychic powers malfunction." How convenient.
My very favorite part of this whole book (and its premise) is that the author obtained a bachelor's degree in magic (as part of Berkeley's interdisciplinary degree). He argues, therefore, that he is the ONLY expert in the whole wide world who is qualified to write or talk about magic or the occult in an academic or "scientific" fashion. This is patently ridiculous, of course, as there are many, many academics with relevant PhDs (a hell of a lot more of a qualification than a BA) and lots of experience in anthropology, religion, psychology, the history of the occult/magic, sociology, history, etc. That doesn't even begin to mention the many life-long practitioners of various occult or magical systems.
If you're looking to get a little mad and maybe have some good laughs at the sheer audacity and arrogance in this book, go ahead and read it. I can't say I didn't enjoy it in some perverse way.
I'll say, at least he was funny at times (decent puns abound), but that doesn't make up for the fact that this is just a bad book. It craps all over the religions and philosophies of others, yet doesn't do any better than them at supporting his ideas. It has all the classic trappings of pseudoscience, right down to stuff like "The presence of skeptical people makes psychic powers malfunction." How convenient.
My very favorite part of this whole book (and its premise) is that the author obtained a bachelor's degree in magic (as part of Berkeley's interdisciplinary degree). He argues, therefore, that he is the ONLY expert in the whole wide world who is qualified to write or talk about magic or the occult in an academic or "scientific" fashion. This is patently ridiculous, of course, as there are many, many academics with relevant PhDs (a hell of a lot more of a qualification than a BA) and lots of experience in anthropology, religion, psychology, the history of the occult/magic, sociology, history, etc. That doesn't even begin to mention the many life-long practitioners of various occult or magical systems.
If you're looking to get a little mad and maybe have some good laughs at the sheer audacity and arrogance in this book, go ahead and read it. I can't say I didn't enjoy it in some perverse way.
May 14, 2016
Isaac Bonewits is thoroughly likable, with his dry and sardonic sense of humor and his compelling intelligence. He takes his subject seriously, however, and shares his wisdom with a direct, no-nonsense attitude in his prose.
He explores the techniques, theories, and reasoning of working magic. By the end of the book, one is itching to put his ideas into practice. For one who has dabbled, or wants to have dabbled, in the practice of magic, this book will be a hard kick in the pants and a powerful urge forward. There is no doubts or maybes expressed in these pages, only the firm conviction that magic is a reality on the psychic level, and it has incredible power to make change in the physical. The connection between symbol, ritual, intention, and psychic power creates real results that cannot be denied, he says.
The skeptic would put the book down quickly as nonsense and fantasy, perhaps laughing out loud at the claims Bonewits makes. One is quickly convinced though, no matter one's response, that Bonewits means what he says, and that the author has truly experienced the efficacy of his practice, whether by intention or by accident. I was, at least. I admit, I do have an open mind to such things. I was convinced, and I still am, although I have been but a dabbler myself. There is an "anything goes, as long as it really works" attitude that is very appealing and convincing.
One important point he makes is that one has to have strong intention and strong faith that what one is doing is truly "real." There is little room for doubt; one must be firm and convinced that what he's doing will work. I guess that's the real hurdle, but this book lowers it and increases one's conviction that he can clear it.
Very highly recommend for magical practitioners of all kinds. A treatise unlike (and far superior to) any other I've come across.
He explores the techniques, theories, and reasoning of working magic. By the end of the book, one is itching to put his ideas into practice. For one who has dabbled, or wants to have dabbled, in the practice of magic, this book will be a hard kick in the pants and a powerful urge forward. There is no doubts or maybes expressed in these pages, only the firm conviction that magic is a reality on the psychic level, and it has incredible power to make change in the physical. The connection between symbol, ritual, intention, and psychic power creates real results that cannot be denied, he says.
The skeptic would put the book down quickly as nonsense and fantasy, perhaps laughing out loud at the claims Bonewits makes. One is quickly convinced though, no matter one's response, that Bonewits means what he says, and that the author has truly experienced the efficacy of his practice, whether by intention or by accident. I was, at least. I admit, I do have an open mind to such things. I was convinced, and I still am, although I have been but a dabbler myself. There is an "anything goes, as long as it really works" attitude that is very appealing and convincing.
One important point he makes is that one has to have strong intention and strong faith that what one is doing is truly "real." There is little room for doubt; one must be firm and convinced that what he's doing will work. I guess that's the real hurdle, but this book lowers it and increases one's conviction that he can clear it.
Very highly recommend for magical practitioners of all kinds. A treatise unlike (and far superior to) any other I've come across.
January 19, 2015
A look at the occult sciences for people in the 21st century.
I found that the author did a great job at conveying the ideas and procedures found within the occult so they would be more accessible to the general population. The author wrote well and the concepts outlined in Real Magic are easily understood and digested.
If you are new to the occult or magic, this book offers great insights into a majority of the different studies and ideas contained within the arts. Likewise, if you have some experience in the Craft or Occult, the book offers the author's insights into the mechanics of the systems we use and, perhaps, an explanation of what those mechanics actually are. There's something for everyone.
I highly recommend Real Magic to anyone looking to expand their horizons.
I found that the author did a great job at conveying the ideas and procedures found within the occult so they would be more accessible to the general population. The author wrote well and the concepts outlined in Real Magic are easily understood and digested.
If you are new to the occult or magic, this book offers great insights into a majority of the different studies and ideas contained within the arts. Likewise, if you have some experience in the Craft or Occult, the book offers the author's insights into the mechanics of the systems we use and, perhaps, an explanation of what those mechanics actually are. There's something for everyone.
I highly recommend Real Magic to anyone looking to expand their horizons.
March 25, 2023
AN ‘ACADEMIC’ MAGICIAN EXPLAINS A VARIETY OF TOPICS
Magician Isaac Bonewits wrote in the Preface to this 1971 book, “so many people have told me … that they consider [this book] to be some sort of classic or other, that I have been persuaded to allow it to be republished, more or less in its original form… There are some matters, however… I would change… I will start by apologizing to the 51% of my readers who are of the female persuasion. At the time [this book] was being composed… in 1970, [I] had absolutely no awareness of just how sexist the standard English writing style could be. Naturally male pronouns were used as general terms throughout, since I didn’t know any better. But … I will state … as a professional occultist that any form of magical or psychical activity that can be performed by a man can be performed equally well by a woman….” (Pg. vii-viii)
He states in the Introduction, “here is Lesson One for the aspiring human… Never be afraid to say ‘I don’t know ‘or ‘insufficient data.’ Saying this is never a sigh of weakness for may in the end prove to be your greatest strength.” (Pg. xi)
He recounts, “I received in June of 1970 the world’s first Bachelor of Arts degree n Magic and Thaumaturgy. Suddenly at the ripe of age of twenty-one, I find myself an Authority. Now it is true that I am technically the world’s only academically qualified expert in magic, but that alone means little… Am I really ‘expert’ in anything then? And if not, why am I writing another book to clog an already glutted market; that is, other than needing the money… There are many natural and ‘supernatural’ talents that I lack, but I am lucky enough to possess a knack for something fairly rare in today’s technology---an ability to organize information and form patterns or ‘generalizations.’ … I specialize in not specializing.” (Pg. xiii-xiv)
In the first chapter, he outlines, “We will examine in this chapter some of the most basic and important Laws of Magic, give a brief description of their meaning, relate them to the workings of the mind, show some of their interrelationships, and throw in a few examples for good measure… The Law of Knowledge is the most basic of all the laws. It states that ‘understanding brings control,’ that the more you learn the stronger you are… It major sublaw is the Law of Self-Knowledge which says that the most important kind of knowledge is knowledge of oneself… The Law of Names … states that knowing the complete and total true name of a phenomenon or entity gives you complete control over it… A sublaw of the Law of Names is the Law of Words of Power. This says that there are certain words that are able to change and influence the inner and outer reality of those saying them… The next major law is the Law of Association. It two things, ‘A’ and “B,’ have something in common (anything!), that thing can be used to control both, and ‘A’ and ‘B’ have a mutual influence on each other… These two sublaws are the Law of Similarity and the Law of Contagion. The first is the basis of ‘sympathetic magic’ and basically says that effects resemble causes… The law of Contagion … states that ‘things once in contact continue to interact after separation.’” (Pg. 3-6)
He explains, “WHY I included a chapter … on parapsychology in a book about magic… many of the magical and mystical phenomena that we will encounter will prove to be easily explainable in terms of psi... Following this logic, why is it that so many of the Establishment occultists… are afraid to have their powers tested by ‘nonbelievers’? And why are so many Establishment scientists afraid to test those volunteers that DO step forward? After all, the least we can do is try and be PSI-entific.” (Pg. 69-70)
He argues, “the Bad Guy wears a black hat, and the Good Guy is riding the white horse. This is the general level of intellect employed when the subjects of ‘Black Magic’ and ‘White Magic’ come up… I don’t care too much for either group. My disgust with the entire concept stems both from study and personal experience. I have examined the ‘principles’ and practices of both sides, without finding any moral superiority on either hand. Also I have belonged to and worked with groups calling themselves Black and those calling themselves White, and I was totally unable to find any real or important differences in their day-to-day activity.” (Pg. 95)
He states, “The physical universe … is a huge WEB of interlocking energy, in which every atom and every energy wave is connected with every other one… it would not be too bad an oversimplification to state that the major aim of mystics is not to ‘join’ or ‘unite’ with the Web, but to achieve full realization of the fact that ALREADY all of us are unified within the WEB. Similarly the major aim of a magician is to gain understanding… of the structure of the WEB and his place within it, so that he can manipulate strands of it to suit his purposes and produce desired results.” (Pg. 194-195)
He concludes, “the only way this book can get obsolete is if more research is done. I cheerfully invite all those who agree and all those who disagree with me to put their laboratories where their mouths are. I would be just as happy if every single idea in this book was disproved, as if they were to be supported, because the only way either one will be done is by massive, public research. I don’t have that kind of money yet, but those who disagree with me do have that kind of money. And if we can light a fire under them they will HAVE to do research, if only to try and disprove increasingly plausible evidence that the human mind is more powerful than any of their technological creations.” (Pg. 205)
This book will be of keen interest to those studying magic, and related topics.
Magician Isaac Bonewits wrote in the Preface to this 1971 book, “so many people have told me … that they consider [this book] to be some sort of classic or other, that I have been persuaded to allow it to be republished, more or less in its original form… There are some matters, however… I would change… I will start by apologizing to the 51% of my readers who are of the female persuasion. At the time [this book] was being composed… in 1970, [I] had absolutely no awareness of just how sexist the standard English writing style could be. Naturally male pronouns were used as general terms throughout, since I didn’t know any better. But … I will state … as a professional occultist that any form of magical or psychical activity that can be performed by a man can be performed equally well by a woman….” (Pg. vii-viii)
He states in the Introduction, “here is Lesson One for the aspiring human… Never be afraid to say ‘I don’t know ‘or ‘insufficient data.’ Saying this is never a sigh of weakness for may in the end prove to be your greatest strength.” (Pg. xi)
He recounts, “I received in June of 1970 the world’s first Bachelor of Arts degree n Magic and Thaumaturgy. Suddenly at the ripe of age of twenty-one, I find myself an Authority. Now it is true that I am technically the world’s only academically qualified expert in magic, but that alone means little… Am I really ‘expert’ in anything then? And if not, why am I writing another book to clog an already glutted market; that is, other than needing the money… There are many natural and ‘supernatural’ talents that I lack, but I am lucky enough to possess a knack for something fairly rare in today’s technology---an ability to organize information and form patterns or ‘generalizations.’ … I specialize in not specializing.” (Pg. xiii-xiv)
In the first chapter, he outlines, “We will examine in this chapter some of the most basic and important Laws of Magic, give a brief description of their meaning, relate them to the workings of the mind, show some of their interrelationships, and throw in a few examples for good measure… The Law of Knowledge is the most basic of all the laws. It states that ‘understanding brings control,’ that the more you learn the stronger you are… It major sublaw is the Law of Self-Knowledge which says that the most important kind of knowledge is knowledge of oneself… The Law of Names … states that knowing the complete and total true name of a phenomenon or entity gives you complete control over it… A sublaw of the Law of Names is the Law of Words of Power. This says that there are certain words that are able to change and influence the inner and outer reality of those saying them… The next major law is the Law of Association. It two things, ‘A’ and “B,’ have something in common (anything!), that thing can be used to control both, and ‘A’ and ‘B’ have a mutual influence on each other… These two sublaws are the Law of Similarity and the Law of Contagion. The first is the basis of ‘sympathetic magic’ and basically says that effects resemble causes… The law of Contagion … states that ‘things once in contact continue to interact after separation.’” (Pg. 3-6)
He explains, “WHY I included a chapter … on parapsychology in a book about magic… many of the magical and mystical phenomena that we will encounter will prove to be easily explainable in terms of psi... Following this logic, why is it that so many of the Establishment occultists… are afraid to have their powers tested by ‘nonbelievers’? And why are so many Establishment scientists afraid to test those volunteers that DO step forward? After all, the least we can do is try and be PSI-entific.” (Pg. 69-70)
He argues, “the Bad Guy wears a black hat, and the Good Guy is riding the white horse. This is the general level of intellect employed when the subjects of ‘Black Magic’ and ‘White Magic’ come up… I don’t care too much for either group. My disgust with the entire concept stems both from study and personal experience. I have examined the ‘principles’ and practices of both sides, without finding any moral superiority on either hand. Also I have belonged to and worked with groups calling themselves Black and those calling themselves White, and I was totally unable to find any real or important differences in their day-to-day activity.” (Pg. 95)
He states, “The physical universe … is a huge WEB of interlocking energy, in which every atom and every energy wave is connected with every other one… it would not be too bad an oversimplification to state that the major aim of mystics is not to ‘join’ or ‘unite’ with the Web, but to achieve full realization of the fact that ALREADY all of us are unified within the WEB. Similarly the major aim of a magician is to gain understanding… of the structure of the WEB and his place within it, so that he can manipulate strands of it to suit his purposes and produce desired results.” (Pg. 194-195)
He concludes, “the only way this book can get obsolete is if more research is done. I cheerfully invite all those who agree and all those who disagree with me to put their laboratories where their mouths are. I would be just as happy if every single idea in this book was disproved, as if they were to be supported, because the only way either one will be done is by massive, public research. I don’t have that kind of money yet, but those who disagree with me do have that kind of money. And if we can light a fire under them they will HAVE to do research, if only to try and disprove increasingly plausible evidence that the human mind is more powerful than any of their technological creations.” (Pg. 205)
This book will be of keen interest to those studying magic, and related topics.
April 24, 2015
April 24, 2015:
I should have made a comment earlier back in 2011. But I do have plans to read this again. Next time, I'll do a better review.
If I were to do a class on Introduction to Magic or on Magic Theory, this would be one of the books I would choose to assign as suggested reading, if not the only one. Although Bonewits was sarcastic, he was a great magical scholar and researcher. He later turned Modern Druid, but it doesn't take away from his work. This is his first book.
So, you want to know about magic. I suggest you start with this.
I should have made a comment earlier back in 2011. But I do have plans to read this again. Next time, I'll do a better review.
If I were to do a class on Introduction to Magic or on Magic Theory, this would be one of the books I would choose to assign as suggested reading, if not the only one. Although Bonewits was sarcastic, he was a great magical scholar and researcher. He later turned Modern Druid, but it doesn't take away from his work. This is his first book.
So, you want to know about magic. I suggest you start with this.
December 7, 2014
This is a book that requires several readings. After one reading, I'm not sure I understand everything that Isaac was laying out, but I found it a challenging and engaging read that requires much note-taking. This is also more of a thesis on the concept of "magic" and requires a lot of thought. Not for those looking for fluff and airy-fairy concepts. This appears to be a scholastic work by a person whose veracity I respect.
July 30, 2008
Read this quite a while back, but I found it very entertaining and informative. His way of thinking about magic and energy appeals to me a great deal, as it strokes the scientific side of my nature and makes it easier for me to get into the magical mindset.
That said, it was dry sometimes, and people who have a dogmatic view of religion or magic probably won't like it.
That said, it was dry sometimes, and people who have a dogmatic view of religion or magic probably won't like it.
March 17, 2012
A seminal book for me, along with Huson's "Mastering Witchcraft." Isaac was a friend and mentor, so perhaps my thoughts are blunted by those prejudices. The notion that magic was not just black and white plus all that entailed forged my alignment with polytheistic thought. And the idea that there were other Neopagans "out there" beyond Wicca was liberating and so satisfying.
June 15, 2013
Practical, organized, simple, and amusing, Bonewits' book is a tome which will tickle even skeptics. The principles and methods of magic are drawn from his comparative study of world traditions and are supplemented by his own theory of how it all works. I found myself laughing almost every page, and the clear, everyday language made reading a breeze.
January 27, 2014
An absolute essential read for anyone that is honestly interested in Wicca, Magic, Neopaganism, or whatever else it goes by.
It is the most scientific book I've ever read about Magic. Spotlight on some of the ridiculous things and some of the magnificent things you may find on the path.
It is the most scientific book I've ever read about Magic. Spotlight on some of the ridiculous things and some of the magnificent things you may find on the path.
December 3, 2020
Bonewits is the man! A great, fun, quirky but still scientifically approached and informative book covering the general principles of magic across different cultures and societies.
Bonewits has his own unique writing style that’s certainly worth a read.
Bonewits has his own unique writing style that’s certainly worth a read.
May 3, 2008
Hey, guess what, magic is logical.
May 23, 2011
A classic and rigthfully so.
November 6, 2011
Exploration and scientific explanation on magic theory. Like life magic is not black and white but a multitude of colors.
January 15, 2014
I loved this book the first time I read it and I still do. I'm also using many of Bonewits's theories for my own fantasy novel. I wish more follow up research had been done, building on his work.
June 13, 2018
Confirmed some ideas I've had , but couldn't name. Still relevant after all these years. Not what I expected at all. In a good way.
March 29, 2020
Very well written. A book about parapsychology and the study of many rituals between religions.
March 18, 2022
It was fine at providing some basic knowledge on magic, but Bonewits himself comes off as both condescending and arrogant. He goes off on unnecessary digressions to malign other organizations and divination as a practice while treating his pet theories as though they are the only logical tool for looking at magic. So much of what this book contains regarding magic is Bonewits own categorization rather than a look at overall magic categorization and he doesn't even appear consistent with what he's doing. He speaks of the Akashic record and the tripartite Aura as if these are indisputable while also claiming that Theosophy (which played a big role in bringing these to Western Occultism) is nonsense. He also cites quite a bit of Blavatsky considering his view that Theosophy is nonsense. I also generally don't trust the academic chops of someone who uncritically cites Margaret Murray and the "burning times." His frequent digressions about other faiths, especially criticism revolving around manipulation also come across as a bit more projection considering some of what has come out in the last few years. Ultimately, this isn't a bad book and it won't harm someone's magic education, but there are so many beginner books out there now that avoid some of the worse sources Bonewits relies on while also avoiding the unnecessary insults against others. There really are just a lot of better books out there on the issue of magic at this point, making this book far less useful than it might have been. This is the third book by Bonewits I've read and I really can't get over the disparity between his reputation as a thinker and the simplistic discussions he generally brings about in his book. His writing seems more sophistry than philosophy and I'm honestly at a loss as to how he is still viewed as an intellectual heavyweight in some spheres.
November 1, 2017
Very informative. Really enjoyed reading it. Not real useful in real life. Read think and grow rich by Napoelon Hill for the real secrets of real magic and to get all your grandest dreams!
July 4, 2018
I enjoyed the concept of the switchboard and the bibliography is worth it in itself, but overall I thought the book felt super dated and didn't have a lot of information I could use in any way.
October 25, 2023
Not bad. My copy was literally falling apart as I read it so I looking forward to a new copy to take notes in.
December 16, 2023
A very good book written in the style of the 1970s and '80s but a very concise look as to what magic is and is not
December 27, 2016
I thought this book was a great starting place for... well, "real magic." The basic definitions are super helpful, Bonewits' switchboard theory is interesting, and the bibliography is a treasure trove.
Coming from a kundalini yoga background and traditional Catholic upbringing, I do wish that he'd explored mantras and mundras a bit more--especially in those two contexts. However, the absence of information in this book just inspires me to seek out additional research and/or run my own experiments to learn more firsthand.
Coming from a kundalini yoga background and traditional Catholic upbringing, I do wish that he'd explored mantras and mundras a bit more--especially in those two contexts. However, the absence of information in this book just inspires me to seek out additional research and/or run my own experiments to learn more firsthand.
January 9, 2015
3.4 stars
At the root of the book, what the author is trying to get across is so great, and so simply well-said. He is funny, which lightened the book up, since it is heavy in references and examples, which may be beneficial for those who need convincing, but as one who does not, it dragged some.
At the root of the book, what the author is trying to get across is so great, and so simply well-said. He is funny, which lightened the book up, since it is heavy in references and examples, which may be beneficial for those who need convincing, but as one who does not, it dragged some.
Read
February 10, 2016There's a lot of interesting information in here from parapsychological research and spiritual comparative study , but the book feels dated and the tone is smarmy. Bonewits draws interesting connections, but I think his self proclaimed status as the only magician with a masters gets in his own way with all the pseudo academic jargon.
January 31, 2016
Wonderful overview of magic and the witches who practice it. No rabbits in hats here, this is about casting spells. The author makes clear the differences between white and black magic, discusses the physics behind poltergeist activity and covers a lot of other ground. He also reproduces his diploma from Berkley on the back jacket, showing that Ronald Reagan signed off on his degree in magic.
January 26, 2017
I need to re-read this. It appeals to my view of the universe, though I make no claims about the efficacy of the practices. Bonewits has plenty of ego, but his approach to life and magic is refreshingly free of woo and frippery. I first read it when I was seriously studying ways of seeing the universe, and it sits on my religion bookshelf.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews