The Middle Pillar

Book excerpt: The classic book on working with the energy of the body for spiritual purposes, The Middle Pillar by Israel Regardie, is now more complete, more modern, more usable, and better than ever. The exercise known as the Middle Pillar was devised by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Regardie expanded upon it and made it public over 60 years ago in the first edition of this book. Since that time, the exercise has been altered and adapted for just about any spiritual use you could think of. It is a mainstay of many Western traditions of magic. THE MIDDLE PILLAR A Co-Relation of the Principles of Analytical Psychology and the Elementary Techniques of Magic The exercise known as the Middle Pillar was devised by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Regardie expanded upon it and made it public over 60 years ago in the first edition of this book. Since that time, the exercise has been altered and adapted for just about any spiritual use you could think of. It is a mainstay of many Western traditions of magic. The exercise is intended as a technique to break the barrier between the conscious and unconscious. This classic work provides an introduction to magic and occultism while providing directions as to how to perform the Qabalistic Cross, the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram and the Middle Pillar exercise. It remains a classic book in the field. Dr. Israel Regardie authored nearly a dozen original books including such substantial works as A Garden of Pomegranates, The Tree of Life, The Philosopher s Stone and The Middle Pillar all of which were first issued in the 1930s. He worked to make the Golden Dawn system available and understandable to a new generation with new revised editions of The Golden Dawn and original works drawing upon the system in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. His transmission of the Golden Dawn system went beyond just communication of information about the system, he also acted as ritual initiator permitting others the reactivation of the Order.