The Little Work: Magic to Transform Your Everyday Life

by Durgadas Allon Duriel

Unite Your Everyday & Magical Lives with the Power of Inner Alchemy Make your day-to-day life as fulfilling and rewarding as your magical practice by turning everything you do into an extension of that practice. Nothing is truly mundane in this world―but if you can't pay bills on time or weather difficult relationships, how can you achieve spiritual transformation? Packed with practical tools that help improve your willpower and focused intention, The Little Work teaches you how to build and sustain the magical life you desire. Durgadas Allon Duriel guides you through a journey of inner alchemy to develop your mind, body, emotional resilience, and personal power. Explore meditations, affirmations, and will-development exercises. Discover how to manage your energy, heal from painful experiences, and create a daily practice. This essential book encourages you to dance with rather than run from reality while transforming yourself into a healthier, happier, and more spiritual person.

Genres: Witchcraft, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Paganism, Magic, Occult, Magick

336 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2020

Reviews

[Lori Zuppinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost gave up on this early on, but it was worth sticking with it. There is a lot of old-school, Crowley-style, ceremonial magic in this, which is not my jam and did not resonate with me, but there was a larger thread of psychology to the book that I found quite rewarding.

[Chrystopher’s Archive · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sensitive and timely.

I really enjoyed this book. Not only is the writing style conversational and down to earth, the author manages to hit that tone while also being incredibly in-depth with his subject matter. The discussion of cultural appropriation was also handled really well in my opinion.

All around just a really interesting addition to my spirituality/self-help shelf.

[Annetherese Biesiada · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great primer to introduce you to your metaphysical experience. Coach your inner alchemy and learn to vibrate on a different astral realm.
The foundation and the "little work" explained will seem very basic and understandable if you are open to alternative thought. I followed the book to a point. Then it got to far out there. Unfair to the book, because the book is well done and so interesting. So much of what it spoke of can, in my opinion, transcend over many religions and beliefs. Like "as above, so is below, as within, so is without" and that We can manifest our reality, learn to use inner alchemy to generate positive vibrations and dwell infinitely in peace. Now the book goes much beyond these concepts with Tarot cards and astrological signs and symbols. But really it pulls together our intentions, our emotions, our physical and subtle nature and our willpower. It's a beautiful book of well being, mystery, and spirituality.

[Staci Crouch · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok. It was a whole lot more psychology than magic which isn't what I was looking for. The magic that was included didn't resonate with me so this was a miss for me personally. If you're just starting your own mental health/wellness and magical/spiritual journey this would probably be a great book for you. I think I'm just past a lot of what the book talks about in the psychology aspects or just not that into the other parts it explores.

[Christine Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book! The Little Work is an amazing book full of insight at a deep and profound level. Not just a must read for 2020 but a must read PERIOD for anyone wanting more out of their practice & their life.

[Lizzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is just repackaged Law of Attraction nonsense. However, it did inspire me to restart my yoga practice.

[Plateresca · Rating 4 out of 5]

'One of the greatest ironies of spiritual aspiration is that we seek the Holy Mysteries only to be told to sweep the floor, and in learning to sweep the floor consciously, we begin experiencing these mysteries. This brings up the first of many tenets for performing the Little Work: there is no such thing as the mundane.'

Basically, it's not quite 'magic to transform your everyday life', as the title says; rather, it's 'practical psychology to transform your everyday life', but steeped in the spirituality that draws upon Hermeticism in general, the Golden Dawn, and Yoga.

The first part of the book deals with definitions of magic, the concept of energy, the fundamentals of ritual, spellcraft, correspondences, and suchlike. In the second part we proceed to clean up our act in the areas of thought/Air, will/Fire, emotions/Water, health and work/Earth.

So, basically, this is psychology for eclectic occultists. Be compassionate. Avoid negative thinking. I'm sure you've heard this before. I was surprised and somewhat disappointed at this discovery, but in the end it seems that this was exactly what I needed at this point of life.

This system worked surprisingly well for me, even though I really had known most of the information here. The difference in the presentation is very subtle, though, and I'm not sure I can explain it well. Maybe it's because shrinks and self-help books often emphasize that cognitive behaviour therapy helps us to deal with the world (i.e., stress, suffering) better, while this book is talking about making the world better, making yourself better, - although the mindset, the practices could be the same, or at least very similar.

And another thing is, the author is really compassionate unlike some of the therapists that I've worked with.

So, I'd say this is a useful book for any witch who suffers from bouts of depression and things that look like depression, but it is definitely not what you'll want to read when you're really depressed, so better read this now and try to integrate at least some of the practices.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful rituals and exercises to help improve life in both the magical and mundane. Very focused on ceremonial magic, but that is to be expected based on the author's background. Some of the information felt off or a little too new age, but the exercises ran the gamut from basic self-help, psych practices, to good ritual work. Would recommend for the exercises and for the utility of trying different paradigms.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book that makes you think about everyday life and give you ideas about changes and reflections.
It's well written and it was an interesting read.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

There'a a lot of good information here, but it got a little bit overwhelming towards the end. I'm glad I bought it and will maybe refer back to it at some point, but it wasn't worth completely finishing.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heavy on the Crowley ceremonial magic when discussing ritual, but alternatives offered for people like me who don’t vibe with it. I liked the exercises offered and the understanding that this work takes time!

[Juli Anna]

The author's background is in ceremonial magic, and this perspective colored the work a little too much for me to find it useful.

[Melynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best magical personal development books I’ve ever read.

[Alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s okay and does have some good information. A few topics introduced. There is some meditations and exercises also.

[Elhoim Leafar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly love it !! If you have previously read about the old tradition of the alchemists, you will feel that this book was written by them directly. Durgadas (generates a curious tingling in the fingertips when you write his name) is a dedicated magic worker, astrologer, and psychotherapist, who takes his years of experience to teach you how to create a whole mindset, and then apply it to your daily practice, no only in magic, but also in your personal life.

Compassion, empathy, honesty, and daily inner work, are the four fundamental bases on which our beloved new author relies to formulate "The Little Work", which should be a must-read work, both for new practitioners of magic and sorcery, as for all those who already have some years of practice, and over time, we take for granted the all-important value of inner work.

As a personal recommendation to all readers, I recommend you to keep a small journal of notes, you will need it, you will feel identified with many chapters of the book, and it is important to take notes of those verses and lines that connect with you, the wisdom of Durgadas Allon Duriel is amazing, focused, deep, and when you read this magic summary, you realize that his heart is also in the right place.

If you take the time to buy and read the book, don't forget to take five minutes to review the author, it is the best way to support the new authors that emerge in our community.


~ with love, elo ~

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great overview of how to integrate the magical and mundane in our lives. It takes into account a diverse array of traditions to inform its content as well. I am eager to work my way through its exercises.