Proper Fasting in the Solomonic Tradition

Before I go into how one is to fast in the solomonic tradition. I must say this and this is very important. Before you decide to go on a fast or some kind of diet you must and I stress this MUST contact you physician, doctor or family practitioner and ask them for a proper diet that you can go on during fasting. State that you are planning to do fasting or a diet change and ask then there ideas.
So now in the tradition of the grimoires we always get in most books and all expected you to do a fasting before the magical work. This fasting is very important to get the proper state of mind for the work ahead and aids in cleansing your mind body and soul.
The most important part of the fast is the diet. The wizard does not eat meat, period. So it is important to find other means of protein such as in beans, wheat bread, oatmeal, broccoli, brown rice, potato with the skin etc. You may still drink milk, eggs, cheese, and any other such food. Remember this is a vegetarian not a vegan diet. Make out a menu for each day and make sure you eat plenty of salads no dressing or at least a lite dressing. Eat alot of green veggies especially plenty of ruffage this may coarse give you diarrhea for a day or two. Drink alot of water and stay away from all caffeinated drinks and any drink with sugar it is best just to stay with water. If you are used to drinking caffeinated drinks you may have with draws from the caffeine for a few days. When I started my diet I stop drinking sodas and I had a head aches for several days then it went away when all the caffeine left my body and my body noticed I did not need it any more. Decaf drinks and decaf tea or coffee is fine but drink it with out sugar nor creamer, creamer tends to have alot of sugar and stay away from alcoholic drinks.
Next the magi of the past abstained from sex. This was not because that one may think that it is evil. but it allows the mage to get the proper state of mind away from thinking of the pleasers of the flesh. There is nothing wrong with sex I do want to stress this but most see sex as pleaser not a act of love. This also means stay away from anything that is associated with sex such as adult movies, etc. This also allows one to keep the mind in proper order and to keep it on the work at hand. If you are hungry during the fast I suggest bread such as french bread, or any kind of fruit, add some honey if you need some sweet or peanut butter. Peanut butter and honey, sugar wise honey and peanut butter is a shade of gray that is fine if you do not go crazy in it consumption. This may also sedate the need for sugar.
On the last day of the fast you will abstain all food besides bread and water for about 10 to 12 hours. which will be in pray, confession, psalmody and meditation. If you can make your own bread that is the much better. Anything made in your hands makes it more magical and tells your heart and mind that you are doing something special. Cut into small bites and with some bottles of water so you can have it at hand.
During the fast I suggest some kind of blessing and pray over the food and water before consumption. Know I also suggest some lite exercise. Such as yoga, stretching, walks, etc. Nothing heavier then these. Exercising allows the body to distress, detox the body through sweat, and helps clear the mind. Now I know in our modern world life tends to make it hard for us, so you will need to make sure that you accommodate yourself during the fast. You may watch television, sleep in, go to work, go out with friends as long you do not drink alcohol, do your normal stuff as long it does not interfere with you work.

The Magic Circle part 1

The magic circle is one of  those tools that is essential to finishing the job. This job happens to be the working of magic/k. Like many tools of the magician it was a essential tool for the medieval and renaissance wizards of the past, and still is. The Wizards of the past used them because they had many purposes just not for protection.

I will write down the purposes in a 1, 2 ,3 type format for better understanding.

Purpose:

1. Its focus and its basic use was for protection either from malevolent or benevolent magic or spirits. While most knows it as the means for protection from spirits during conjuration it can also be used to for protection from psychic, magical attacks, such as curses etc.

2. When stepping into the circle you are not you any more you are G-d, magically speaking. That means that when the holy spirit enters the body you are G-d, And they see the holy spirit not you as the person but you as G-d. There is a old saying in Christian healing circles " It is not me it is Jesus who does the healing, exorcism etc" This hold true for when you conjure it is not in your name but in G-ds name.

3.The magic/k circle is a sacred geometrical map of the universe. When you step into the circle you are stepping into the center of the known universe.

4. It can be used to open gateways to the otherworld. Some  magic/k circles are actually gates for opening places within the astral plain.

5. When the blessing and exorcism are all done you just created a sacred space. The Temple of G-d at the center of the universe.

6. It is also and this one is very important but not the most important. It allows the wizard to reach a state of bliss or spiritual union with G-d, by having a mandala effect on the wizard.

7. They can also be used to enhance ones own work. For example if you want to do some healing magic you can add power words that are associated to healing within the inner part of the circle.

9 Days of Purification what is it and why, part 2

You need to understand that this time is also not just for pray, confession and meditation. It is also a shamanic journey. During this time you make the candles if you are able to, any tools that need to be made, travel through the outdoors to gather needed items or in our at least to the store or a online expidited business. Prays and blessing for said tools and items are done. I also suggest long walks outside if possible parks or a nice drive. Connect with nature. It does not matter if the spirit is molevalent or bolevolent. They are creatures of nature. So make a connection and set some time for a good walk. Also try to learn about the Spirit or the work. If you are going to Summon lets say Michael the Archangel then you need to learn all you can about Michael. This also goes for any low magic work. Learn about the ritual and the work and what is going to need to be done. Remember this allows the wizard to let his mind know that you are going to be doing something special. You also have to understand that this is not magick like you have ever done it is a religious ceremony not your normal work of magick, you are making a connection with G-d. You are about to journey to center of the universe and make contact with G-d and then you are magically speaking G-d. So always go into the mind set during your 9 days this is a religious rite and that you are doing something special.

9 Days of Purification what is it and why, part 1

The 9 day purification in the Grimoiric/Solomonic tradition is the next step after gathering and prepping for the Operation. The 9 days of purification is a extremely important to the wizard to start with before the actual ceremony can start. This goes for all operation including operations of Low Magic.
Several reason for the purification of the Wizard first he/she will need to become more cleansed spiritually and physically. Which each one compliments each other. One forgoes meat for the time and sticks to a Vegetarian diet, this fasting also includes no cake, ice cream, sweets and no caffeinated drinks, etc. In the grimoires also encourages forgoing Sex. This is because it is not bad it is because one needs to concentrate on the work at hand and not for desires of the flesh even if it is making love to you wife or insignificant other.
You have to understand that this goes back to the time when it was common for the priest of the temple to emuarse and cleanse themselves spiritually and physically before entering the temple of G-d. This set the stage for several thing to happened. First this allows the wizard to get his mind in order that he/she is going to do something important. Second this allows the wizard to start his path to reach bliss and to open his heart to the holy spirit. Third and the most important this allows him to just set his mind on the magick, I always end the time with the lords pray, then meditation.
So what to do during the 9 days of purification. You must first decide what prays, associated psalms if any, biblical reading, reading of proverbs may be good Idea, psalmody. Also prays such as deliverances, and the solomonic confession from the Key of Solomon the king. John Dees 7 psalms that he always read before his experiments, are all good, ( I suggest the Pray and confession from Key of Solomon the King each evening before you go to bed )  You may also fit the prays to fit the work at hand. Prays of love and poems of love for experiments in love etc.. Next come up with time when you are going to do the prays and mediations. In biblical literature it is usually 9am, 12 noon, and 3pm. But because of our cookie modern time you may do it twice per day. Once in the morning and once at night before bed. Do this at the altar with some myrrh or frankincense incense and one white candle or 3 white to signify the trinity which should be the same candle for the whole nine days.( Always snuff candles and snuff them when your out of the room or leaving ).