Building Your Foundation.

I often say to people who ask me how do one get started in the Art and science of magic\k. I often say to them Is something to the effect " Build a foundation for a better tomorrow" This sums it up and shows that  what is needed for the beginning magician. When Jesus told his disciples to build the church upon this rock He was not talking about a actual rock but a medifor for building a foundation to which to build and grow on.
When a person decides to start the spiritual quest they seeks answers that they themselves cannot find the answers too. It maybe a search for G-d, to being a person who wants to be more spiritually sound. They may want answers to lifes little questions to wanting to understand our universe more to actually want to find the secrets of our universe.
What ever the reason, when one starts there magical career there journey starts by building a foundation.  When a person starts out in the rennisance\medieaval system of magic/k they will have to start with there holy works. For the Christian and the Jew it was reading the Bible and the Torah. They will need to have a deep understanding of the works and find out what the stories really mean. When a magician works with the Grimoires it is very important to understand what the grimoires site such as the Psalms and literature that is used as part of the magical system. It is also important to understand the writing to what it really means because a deep understand of the holy works gives one a more understanding into themselves. But it is very important to be versein the religious texts to understand the spirituality of the Grimoires. You have to understand that the grimiores at it core is religious/spiritual magic/k. I also as a side it willnot hurt to read and understand the Quran since there is also some parts that is Arabic/Islamic in nature.
Then after a deep understanding of the holyworks, then understand the magic/k, science,and history behind the grimoires. After that you will need to learn the basics of Astrology, Alchemy, Ceremonial magic as understood by the mages of that time period, Hermetics, and Kabbalah.
This will build a foundation which in time will allow the wizard to build his magical life to a deep spiritual quest which may last a life time and a happy life with family and friends.