Courtesies of the Sorcerer

Reprinted with permission from Goetic Demonolatry by Ellen Purswell

The Courtesies, first created by Richard Dukante, are a fancy way of saying that there are a few rules to a magician’s behavior when actively practicing magick, especially in a group setting.

· The magician who hath a supposed greater knowledge of magick and contradicts knowledge of another magician of greater or lesser rank will never excel in his studies. [This basically means keep your ego in check. You are still only mortal and arrogance on your behalf will only hold you back.]

· The powerful magician doth not boast of power or greater knowledge. He shall excel. [A little humility goes a long way.]

· The rank of one magician compared to that of another should not be viewed as competition. [You are not in competition with others of your faith, you are brethren and should help one another.]

· A magician of lesser rank is not inferior and should not view another of greater rank as a threat, but as an equal and one to be learned from. [Those more experienced can help you achieve your goals.]

· A magician of greater rank is not superior and should not view another of lower rank as weak or inferior, but as an equal and one to be learned from. [The experience of the magician should not be used to pull rank.]

· What one magician sees as the best or only way of magick, another may not. We are all individuals. [There are many ways to perform the same magickal operation and no one way is the best way. What works for one person may not work for another.]

· As in everything, each individual has an area within magick where he is most adept and will excel rapidly. [We all have different strengths and weaknesses. It’s up to us to find out where we excel and where we could use practice. Know thyself.]

· Each magician is given at least one gift from the universe. This gift may be one that another magician might possess, but another will lack in to where excelling is almost impossible. This is because a gift is a natural extension of something the magician is born with. [Don’t beat yourself up if divination comes easier to others than it does to you otherwise your self-confidence will duly suffer. You might pack a wallop when it comes to sending and directing energy whereas those who excel at divination might not.]

For a more in depth look at the Courtesies, Ellen Purswell's Goetic Demonolatry has an entire chapter on them! See the bookstore to purchase this book.