Hi! May I ask which are some good super starter or basic grimoires? I tried Agrippa and just...it didn't go in...i have the Picatrix but I honestly think I'll just get the same result, it's way above my head. Is there anything simple i might "get" or should I honestly just accept it's not for me and move on? Thank you!
Hey, so I have this post right here that goes over why no grimoire that's worth learning from with the intent to practice it through is going to be classified as beginner/starter/etc. So I'm not going to rehash that part.
As for "getting" Agrippa, I think it's important to remember that it's an encyclopedia. As such, when you're beginning to explore grimoires, it's best to use it as a reference book. Can you use Agrippa as the foundation of your own practice? Yes, but unless you're already familiar with occult concepts and topics, it might require far more than one or two surface readings to fully digest what it's talking about.
So since it sounds like you're newer to grimtrad circles, I have a few books that I think might help build that foundation without all the dense walls of text and jargon to read through (though please bear in mind that I struggle to remember what is/not common knowledge even in mundane matters, so if some of these are a bit trickier to navigate, feel free to blame it on my incompetence):
A Deed Without A Name by Lee Morgan (staple)
Conjuring Spirits by Miller (Miller's work is v good)
The Black Arts by Richard Cavendish (read critically, don't accept everything blindly)
The Hermetic & Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus - Waite & Paracelsus (denser)
Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in Greek and Roman Worlds
Elucidation of Necromancy
Celestial Intelligences by Kaminsky (denser)
Some books that I worked with or through that seem easy enough to bring to real life application, with the right dedication and mindset:
The 6th & 7th Books of Moses
The Sworn Book of Honorius
Seven Spheres & Gateways: Through Stone and Circle (1 book) & Through Light and Shadow (different book) - best combo, anyone can practice these really
Keys of Solomon & Grimorium Verum & Secrets of Solomon - solid combo
The Goetia of Dr. Rudd (a particular fave)
The Complete Mystical Records of Dr. John Dee (learn a bit of Latin first or have a solid translator on deck)
Greek Magical Papyri (PGM) & Greek and Egyptian Magical Formularies & Techniques of Greco-Egyptian Magic - best combo, imo
Orphic Hymns Grimoire & The Hekatæon & Tartaros - another good combo
Azoëtia & The Black Dragon series
I think it's worth mentioning that reading more is a great way to broaden your awareness of occult concepts and topics. If you look at how things are considered across different dedicated areas of study, then you're more likely to understand the foundations of said thing. One perspective is very limiting. It's better to seek out multiple. By reading from the first list, which should give a pretty solid introductory to broad concepts, and then sifting through the grimoires mentioned, you should be able - through applying yourself properly to the task - gain an understanding of how these things may function/interact in a living tradition, and then through applying them yourself gain the practical knowledge of how they actually are.
And as a closing note: I would personally recommend leaving behind the idea that you're supposed to "get" occult books. You study from them, you learn what you can from them, and through implementing what they speak of and experimenting with what interests you, you acquire that knowledge plus your own discovered knowledge and heightened awareness. In this way, you'll come to realize why I refer to my engagement with the occult as a study and practice.
Of course, if none of this was helpful, you can feel free to disregard my input here as the ramblings of a twenty-something nobody. Have a good one!
