The Sacred Alignments and Sigils: Angelic Magick, Renaissance Thought, and Modern Methods of Sigilization

Magick practitioner Podgurski (Wandering on Course) presents a deeply personal system of sigils and rituals discovered through years of practice in this thorough handbook. Podgurski recalls his own early interest in the power of sigils, describing meditation, ecstatic states, astral projection, and supernatural visions. Drawing from the work of intellectuals and practitioners before him, such as Aleister Crowley, John Dee, and Carl Jung, Podgurski includes text and illustrations from both historic esoteric texts and the author’s own journals. His methodologies include activities—hallucinogenic drug use, the summoning of supernatural entities—that may not appeal to all readers. He also explains the Grid Sigil, which he “perceived during a heightened receptive state” before diving into other sigils (painted symbols purportedly imbued with magical powers). Even though Podgurski maintains that his work falls outside Thelemic and Echocian traditions, the descriptions and practices outlined in the book presume some knowledge of these philosophies; those looking for additional research will find the works cited section at the end of the book to be an asset. Podgurski’s remarkably detailed book will encourage occult practitioners interested in sigils. (Nov.)