COMMENTS ON MODERN SEX MAGICK
Most of the books on sex magic fall far short of my standards, so I wasn’t expecting much from this one. Boy, did I ever get a surprise! This book covers all the goodies that you miss when the other guides stop short right about when things start to get interesting. It’s about time, too, given the prevalent interest in this fascinating topic. However, I issue fair warning that the material in this book—and hence this review—is both explicit and adventurous. If you prefer a tamer variety of sex and magic, you should probably skip these. For the stout of heart and the devoutly curious, read on…
Level One: The Student, covers the basics. Chapter 1: The Secret History of Sex Magick touches on historical figures who affected the field. Chapter 2: Sixteen Theorems of Magick and Sex Magick constitutes and awesome resource, listing and explaining such concepts as “All actions have magical reactions” and “Sex magick can be energetic, physical, or a combination of the two.” Then in Chapter 3: Preparations for Sex Magick, we encounter a smorgasbord of exercises both physical and metaphysical intended to cultivate relevant skills and perceptions; some of these generalize well to non-sexual applications. Talismanic tools appear in Chapter 4, which illustrates several different types.
Level Two: Magician, concerns itself with the core techniques of sex magick. Some of you will choose to stop here, not being interested in the more exotic content later on, and that’s just fine—there are all sorts of exciting ideas here to keep you occupied. Chapter 5: Monofocal Sex Magick is the first taste of something that a lot of manuals shortchange: masturbation. However, the real key to this section is that it details those modes of sex magic in which the energy is focused through a single magician. This leads neatly into Chapter Six: Duofocal Sex Magick, which covers those modes involving two magicians. Here you will find a delightful array of positions, techniques and applications to explore…The contents of this chapter form the heart of sex magic. Chapter 7: Some Women Magicians’ Perspectives includes a hefty section of advice, ritual motifs, and other commentary from women who practice sex magick themselves. Give the author a round of applause for going to such lengths to ensure equal representation in this book…
Recommendations: Simply put, don’t bother buying a different book on sex magick; the others leave too much out. Modern Sex Magick is the only one I’ve found thus far that covers *all* of the bases. Suitable for any tradition but especially those like Tantra which specialize in the erotic arts and their application to reality alteration. This book also spans the entire gamut from novice-level vanilla to the most advanced double-fudge rocky road. If it has to do with sex and magic, it’s in here. Consider buying a copy as a wedding or handfasting gift. Most highly recommended.
— Hypatia’s Hoard
This is a great book. The first chapter on history of sex magick gives a great esoterical insight into the secrets of Kabbalah. You will find it the Holiest of Holy and know this is your hand book to reach such a thing.
It's suitable for beginners.
—R.V.
Kraig's book is the best introduction to Western Sex Magick I have read. In fact, I think it is one of the best books on magick, period. He cuts through all the jive and gibberish and gets down to cases about magickal practice. His writing is straightforward, clear, and easy to read.
He discusses the history of Western Sex Magick (WSM) early in the book, and I find his grasp of this history to be interesting and enlightening. Considering the great deal of obfuscation, ego trips, and other impediments to a clear transmission of knowledge in these areas, I find his work to be refreshing and practical. He is not elitist, didactic, or sectarian in his approach, and discusses difficult subjects such as the use of S&M in magick openly and honestly.
This is not a tour de force of all magick, nor is it intended to be. It is a good introduction to the use of erotic energy in magickal/spiritual practice from a primarily Western standpoint. Tantra and Taoist practices are mentioned as they relate to these practices, but are not the focus of the book. There is a nice glossary and a seven page Bibliography, in addition to the other resources mentioned throughout the text.
Someone with experience in other areas of magick seeking to add erotic energy to their current practices would find this book helpful. I don't know that I would consider this an entry-level book for magick in general. Having explored various practices for over 30 years, I find it difficult to approach these things as a complete beginner, although I am by no means an expert. My experiences tend to agree with his. I am comfortable with Kraig's ideas, and my "inner compass" leads me to trust him. I liked the book, and while I didn't agree with everything in it, found it to have a high proportion of useful information.
Of course, all the usual caveats apply. As with all powerful technologies, one must understand and respect one's tools in order to use them safely. (no humor intended)
—J.N.
This is the first book to take the very confusing subject of sex magick and spell it out in simple terms. It makes sex magick a practical and useable system. If you have ever wanted to know the so-called secret of the 9th degree, buy this book. It will lead you down that path. The book is easy to understand, and takes a topic that has always been talked about in veiled coded language and explains it in a manner that anyone can understand and use.
This is a book that the secret orders does not want you to read. Even if you have never studied magick you can use this book. This is a great book. A fine piece of literature.
—D.D.
I am very impressed with this book! I found Modern Sex Magick very difficult to put-down. I am a little surprised that certain sections are espoused as more controversial than others (e.g., Polyamorous Sex Magick being more controversial than Homosexual Sex Magick)--however, society is weird like that.... Regardless, the material in this book would be quite useful to nearly anyone--not just Magickians or sex magick practitioners.
Personally, I learned a lot about Sex Magick from this individual's research of the subject. The author helps dispel many of the rumors and much of the disinformation about the practice of sex magick. I did not read about the subject for many years, due to misinformation from an organization I formerly studied with (and the silly claims against Sex Magick, in the back of the original "Light of Egypt" books associated with that organization), so this subject is new to me--although "Sex" and "Magick" separately are quite familiar subjects.
Considering the fact that I have experienced some indoctrination against the practice of Sex Magick, I truly enjoyed the author's honest, helpful attempt to reveal the truth about Sex Magick and also give other perspectives (e.g., from various women involved in the practice), by including essays from other practitioners, instead of just espousing one theory or perspective on the subject.
I found the rituals to mostly follow the same, basic format, but the book is very interesting and very informative--especially, for a person just beginning to research this system of Magick. The book is well-illustrated, comprehensive and full of common sense applications of different styles of Sex Magick (including safe explanations and illustrations of S&M practices). It is obvious that the author made a great effort to fully explain the material, instead of leaving the safety of the reader in question...
I also recommend this book to Thelemites.
—G.D.L.
Don Kraig’s balanced and informative book is require reading for anyone seriously interested in the fascinating topic of sex magick (note the final Crowleyan “k”). Be warned, though, that this is not sex as we know it, but a sublime experience i which eroticism and spirituality are magnificently fused. Kraig’s [book[ is the best guide yet to the highest and most powerful form of magic there is, which [is] also easily the most fun to do. A book that goes splendidly against the grain of two millennia of Christian-patriarchal indoctrination.
—Dr. R. W.
As the owner of a Sex Magick forum, and a Sex Magick Practitioner for many years, I HIGHLY recommend Modern Sex Magick: Secrets of Erotic Spirituality by Donald Michael Kraig. The book is concise, very easy to read and understand, written with objectivity and vast knowledge and one of the best things is—the rituals REALLY WORK. Three Thumbs Up!
—Raziel
...[T]his book is great for anyone starting out in Magick. Even if you’re not [a]spiring to be a sex magickian, the information is useful and Kraig points out that even the non-sexual practitioner would benefit greatly just from the experience of experimenting with it...’It” is definitely refreshing to see an author writing so extensively about sex magick who is somewhat familiar with systems such as the Golden Dawn and OTO. He also is very clear about the differences between Tantra and Sex Magick, which puts Kraig miles ahead of many current writers on the subject. To boot, there’s a chapter on BDSM Sex Magick! Woohoo!
—J.J.T.
Being a practicer of what some call “High Magick,” it was no surprise to me that the focus of this book was on the Highest energies that can be raised! Before I bought this book, and had read much of anything on sex magick, considering the methods of raising energy through sex as ”Just another Way” of Raising it. I thought that the incorporation of sex into magick was just another way of doing the same old thing. However, the levels of energy raised through these rituals is astounding. I have only practiced but two of the Monofocal sex magick rituals, and the energy raised in them was many times that of the Middle Pillar Ritual, or the Watchtower Ritual ever was for me. I know, through these rituals that I can increase the level of energy a thousand or even more fold. If you are interested in learning about the energy this is a good book, which describes the channels in which it naturally flows through your body, and with experimentation, one might even Empower such rituals as the Middle Pillar and increase the strength of their various soul/mental aspects with the extreme amounts of energy. With the formulation of each sphere, one might use the monofocal sex magick to “Have the orgasmic energy greatly strengthen the visualization in each instance,” which would cause each sphere to be embedded even more strongly in the person than if they just performed it regularly. Kraig gives much room and encourages experimentation in this work. I thank him whole heartedly, for my control over the energies [is] now twice as strong as before, AFTER ONLY 2 RITUALS, performed by myself I might add! I love books about magickal energy and this is a wonderful book on how to raise it. Than you once again Donald Michael Kraig, I’m sure your teachings will help empower all of those who listen, and take the first step toward self-realization and enlightenment!
—D.E.B.
Most books on the subject of occultism are filled with theory, philosophy and downright delusions the authors have. The ones that do not have that [present] mostly...reorganized information that has been “borrowed” [from] another source. And the few that do not have either of those two problems contain misinformation on purpose to blind those who would hurt themselves with such knowledge. An exception to this rule is the author Donald Michael Kraig. The book contains practical technique that in this reader’s opinion shows the author’s true and successful practice of erotic magick. He writes with authority and clarity and charges you to find out for yourself. He even gives information and practices of other occultists the he seems to personally disagree with along with the reason he disagrees. But again he gives you the information so you can find out for yourself. I usually have a problem with authors from the Hermetic Order of the golden Dawn because of intentional blinds placed upon their information—save Donald Michael Kraig and Dion Fortune. His book seemed to actually be geared to give the magickal student tools in an area loathed to be discussed and filled with confusion...
—Anon