The Weiser Concise Guide to Yoga for Magick

by Nancy Wasserman, James Wasserman

Yoga today connotes many images and ideas from holy men on a high mountaintop to throngs of young women toting designer mats. Yoga, meaning 'union,' is actually a manylayered discipline designed to help an individual attain health, serenity, focus, and ultimately, union with the Divine. Aleister Crowley was one of the first Europeans to practice yoga and believed the practice was essential to spiritual growth, stating that 'Magick is a Pyramid built layer by layer. The work of the Body of Light with the technique of Yoga is the foundation of the whole.'

This succinct and uniquely helpful book explores the frequently overlooked importance of bringing a healthy body and a clearthinking mind to the practice of ceremonial magick or Wicca. While many books on magick discuss the importance of ritual, almost none point to the physical, spiritual, and moral quality necessary to make those rituals effective. Spiritual power demands physical health and the contemporary western practitioner can learn much from the ancient tradition of yoga.

Genres: Occult, Magick, Thelema

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2007

Reviews

[Wallum · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very basic introduction to yoga, explaining how it may assist one who is on a path which involves the practice of magic(k). Most of this information has been covered by numerous other books on meditation and yoga, with little if any new information. Not what I was hoping for.
It may be useful to you if you are a complete beginner to yoga or meditation.

[Daniel Molina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book introduces the reader to the practice of Ashtanga, the eight limbs of yoga. It provides valuable insight regarding yoga in theory and practice, and it includes Israel Regardie's Middle Pillar Exercise and Solar Workings. I highly recommend for aspirants in the study of yoga and its benefits in magickal practices.

[Adonay Quetzal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really well written book that makes a lot of Eastern thought accesible for Western Occultists who may have trouble creating their own practice of meditation and breathwork utilizing asana and pranayama. My only issue with the book is the introduction by James Wasserman who was a known bigot and his ideas regarding health and fitness. Along with the first chapter by Nancy Wasserman, there is a little body and food shaming going on but at least Nancy’s chapter emphasizes moderation and to use what works best for you, James’s introduction felt a lot more mean spirited but for some, that type of “tough love” may be what they need to get them moving. Overall though, I’d still definitely recommend this to Occultists and Witches trying to better work Eastern practices into their magical regimens although this book does tend to be very Thelemic in some ways and thus Thelemites may get the most out of it.

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to the philosophies behind yoga practice, and provides a fantastic connection between yoga and occult/magickal practices.