Nagaram@Nagaram@hachyderm.io
Nags quick start reading list for the #secular #occultist
I'm Nagaram and I'm an #Atheist Occultist. I believe there is power in all sorts of magic, but its more practical than super natural.
Magic, gods, and the occult is a good psychological tool to help us navigate life both in a material and mental way.
The basis for my understanding of Secular Occultism is with
"Atomic Habits" -James Clear
This is the foundational text in my pseudo religion because it explains the psychological aspect of habit building and how this let's us slowly build to a better self. Importantly I'm tying the concept of affirmations to the magical conception of it and even intentions. I'm also looking at Habit Catalysts as Magic Rituals in that ritual magic helps us stay on task with our grander plans by being an easy habit we can build into a proper habit stack that ultimately culminates in our magic working.
From here I see the reading list as a choose your own adventure. So long as you understand that nearly all magic you will ever learn about is simply an affirmation with an aesthetic, there really isn't a wrong choice.
But for me I know what influenced me down this path.
"Pathways to Bliss" -The Joseph Campbell foundation
Another secular read. This book was about myth and legends as tools for self help. Characters to emulate and foils to avoid. It helps me maintain the mindset that truth in myth is less important than moral lessons. We can still use these stories from ancient oral traditions to the new testament, to the flying spaghetti monster as our new gods. As long as they symbolize something important to you then you can and should use them in your practice.
"Grimoire for the apprentice wizard" -Oberon Zell-Ravenheart
Oberon is a character, but important. I said earlier that secular occultism is affirmations with an aesthetic. Oberon is a wealth of aesthetic and easily approachable rituals with which you should try (other than the invisibility spell. I'm pretty sure he says you can use that to be naked in public and I don't recommend that.)