A true beginners guide
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If you can get your head around the concept of the mind being all powerful and the body being in unison rather than the two being separate entities - then this is the book for you. It takes a couple of reads before you can grasp its concepts. Don't just 'read' it - 'live' it.
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A very good introduction to Western Mysticism
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Regardie describes the Middle Pillar exercise and explains how to use it for healing and elementary magic. This is a practical book which does not go into the theory behind the Middle Pillar, but it is a fast, effective way to get into Western Mysticism which gives solid results very quickly. To the reviewer irridium : the Sephiroth do NOT correspond to the Chakras of the eastern system of Yoga. You must not mix the two systems because they work differently. The Western path does not work directly on the endocrine and nervous system as the eastern path does. You need a teacher (yogi) for the Eastern path or risk doing yourself some serious damage. Regardie has not gone into the Tree of Life in this book and you have totally the wrong idea about this exercise. You may be forgiven for thinking that it is a variation of raising Kundalini, but it is actually not at all similar.
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SIMPLE & EFFECTIVE
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Besides the clear exposition of the Middle Pillar exercise, the book also contains an element borrowed from astrology - the seven principal ideas symbolized by the sun, moon and inner planets (every idea and thing can be classified within one of these root ideas). For example, the sun represents power & success, life, money, growth, etc., its positive color is orange, its negative color is yellow or gold, and its magical name is Elohim Tsa-vo-os. So for example if one has a need of money, you would visualize the negative color (yellow/gold) as a next step following the Middle Pillar and vibrate the name. To help someone else who needs money, one would visualize the positive color (orange) and the person concerned and vibrate the name. I have seen the Middle Pillar described using six chakras (Ted Andrews)or all seven chakras where Regardie uses only five (he combines the Throat & Third Eye centres), but I suppose it doesn't matter, since the effect is the same. And the effect is immediate and very tangible. I found Marc Allen's afterword to be helpful (variations of and reflections on the meaning of the Middle Pillar), especially the description of the 2-minute version and the clear explanation of the tree of life...I merrily mix eastern and western methods and have been chanting Sanskrit mantras after vibrating the Hebrew names in the middle pillar, and it enhances the feeling and the effect for me. An important little book, very useful for spiritual healers, alternative therapists and for everybody who takes responsibility for their own health.
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