Hi there anon. I should really make a master post to redirect people to. Since I didn’t do that and I just filled a glass with white wine and LOVE the sound of my own typing, I’ll try to do a thing.
DISCLAIMER This is my opinion based on my experience and accumulated knowledge of my perception of other folks who have honestly shared their views with me.
Organizations are about as useful as philosophies but in very different ways. Philosophy gives you a choice of framework with which you can say, “Some other motherfucker thought of this shit too.” Philosophy has this way of bringing up shit that might have crossed your weird little mind with some other ass shit that might have crossed another mind and then expands your view point. Organizations, in my opinion, should give you a pool of motherfuckers who are experienced at using philosophy to bring about tangible change. If an order or organization cannot produce results among it’s initiates it’s not worth it’s weight in paperwork.
My favorite definition of occult is: A larger thing hidden behind a smaller thing that only takes up your field of vision because it is closer to you. Take that as you will.
So, a short list of books that I’d vouch for as beginning material are as follows. Google for the PDFs if you want but actually having the paper copies of books has a far greater value and I know all the living authors mentioned here could use your money.
-The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic, Israel Regardie.
Start at the First Knowledge Lecture, skip the intros.-The Book of Results, Ray Sherwin.
A no bullshit primer on making it happen. I wouldn’t suggest jumping right into this. Get the first four Golden Dawn Knowledge Lectures and accompanying work down first.-Naturalistic Occultism, Frater IAO131.
A view of occultism and Thelema without the new age-ish hangups and horseshit. Scientific Illuminism > feel good spirituality.-Magick in Theory and Practice, Aleister Crowley.
Pull out your thesaurus and that Golden Dawn book.-Understanding the Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot, Lon Milo Duquette.
You might not even want to try reading Crowley’s Book of Thoth until you’ve read all these things and especially this.Learn the Lesser Invoking/Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram and Hexagram. Learn the four stations of the Sun in Liber Resh vel Helios. Learn the Middle Pillar ritual. Do those things daily and force yourself to do them when you don’t want to but be realistic about your limits.
This glass of wine is out and so are my immediate suggestions. Love is the Law, Love Under Will.
Another really important one that I forgot there was this: Take in all information and experiences adverse to your perceived nature. Read about view points that are completely opposite to your own. Eat foods that you fucking hate. Put yourself in as awful of situations as you can handle. Always, at least occasionally, experiment with this. It keeps your dualistic nature in check and also prevents the magician from becoming too dogmatic, amongst other things.