FAQ I.M.B.O.L.C.2020-01-04T11:34:49+00:00

FAQ I.M.B.O.L.C.

1. What Does I.M.B.O.L.C. Mean?2019-12-25T12:31:16+00:00

Imbolc is a word of Gaelic origin and means translated “in the belly.” It refers to a festival dedicated to the Celtic goddess Brigid which is celebrated from the 1st to the 2nd of February (Mass of Light). In the hermetic sense, it means “new beginning,” “awakening,” “purification,” “rebirth,” and “initiation” – terms which are of fundamental importance for us. But for us, the word Imbolc is also an acronym, composed of the following German first letters of the sentence “Internationale Magische Bildungsstätte Für Okkulte Lebenskunst & Credo,” which means in the English language: “International Magical Educational Institution for Occult Art of Living & Creed”.

2. What Does the I.M.B.O.L.C. Symbol Represent?2019-12-25T12:32:13+00:00

The symbol is a so-called magical symbol or sigil, which consists of all letters of the word I.M.B.O.L.C. and results in a figure, which in turn represents the following:
Top right you see a stylized, oval head (the mind), meaning the “O,” then follows a curved line to the left as the figures spine, followed by lines, which are the thighs and lower legs, as well as the long feet which pull themselves down from the left to the right, again as a curved line and represents the earth or the underground at the same time, on which human being is standing. Simultaneously to the left of the head, a curved line is moving downwards, representing the arms touching the ground. Finally, in the middle, there is a kind of “supporting” perpendicular line that connects the top curved line (the back of the figure) with the curved bottom line (the feet and ground also) – of the figure. This vertical connecting line symbolizes support that man needs to connect the above with the below. And last but not least: The upper and lower curved lines again represent the hermetic keyword “as above so below.”
Maybe it may take some time before you can see the figure, its limbs, and the resulting symbolism.

3. What is I.M.B.O.L.C.?2019-12-25T12:32:49+00:00

A magical initiation school, educational institution, and hermetic interest & working group whose students are taught trained, and accompanied in the occult, hermetic and magical arts and sciences by long-standing experienced Occultists, Hermeticians and Magicians. We attach great importance to the individual development of each student, which is why we are not a magical organization in the classical sense, let alone a magical order or lodge.

4. When was I.M.B.O.L.C. founded?2019-12-25T12:33:30+00:00

To Imbolc (explanation see above), i.e., from 1st to 2nd of February of the year MCMXCII (1992), era vulgaris.

5. Why was I.M.B.O.L.C. Founded?2019-12-25T12:34:36+00:00

To give everyone seriously interested in the so-called “occidental secret teachings” (i.e., Magic, Hermetic, neo-Platonism, Gnosticism and Cabbala) – regardless of gender, religion and nationality – the opportunity to be educated in what we call “occidental, holistic magic” in a well-founded way and without secrecy or the conceit of secret lodges or magical orders. The training takes place under consideration of constant awareness of the personal responsibility of magical work, i.e., ethical and moral cornerstones determine the scope of action, for example, the aspect of the Categorical Imperative of Kant that is so important to us and above all so fundamental for the applied magic.

6. What Does I.M.B.O.L.C. Offer?2019-12-25T12:35:26+00:00

A profound, demystified, and paradigm-based, comprehensive distance study of the so-called Western Magic in theory and practice, consisting of the main areas mentioned above. Our credo is development to independence and personal responsibility of each student and by no means a standardizing.

7. Does I.M.B.O.L.C. Work Independently From Other Magical Orders or Occult Organizations?2019-12-25T12:36:01+00:00

Yes, we work completely independently on all sides, whether it is a magical order, coven, or other magical organizations or associations and circles. We’re self-sufficient.

8. Does I.M.B.O.L.C. Operate on a System of Degree?2019-12-25T12:36:42+00:00

Yes. But not in the sense of a magical order. We test the knowledge and the learned skills and abilities of our students after each so-called teaching letter, according to an independent and since 1992 proven didactical distance teaching system, which is analogous to the ten so-called Sefirot (basic numbers) and the 22 so-called Netibot (paths or lines) of the Hebrew “Etz Chjim” – The Tree Of Life – of the cabbala of Jewish mysticism. An ascent in the degree system is always guaranteed when all theoretical and practical examinations of a course (double-semester) have been passed – generally 4 theoretical and 4 practical exams per double-semester.
However, these degrees must not be understood hierarchically, for an occupation with Western magic cannot be associated with any secularly established school system or, for example, with the usual ranks in the military. The degrees or grades are only representatives of a certain range of knowledge and skills; they are qualitative archetypes, which represent the knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities of each student. Not more, not less.

9. Can I Also Teach Myself Magical Arts Autodidactically Or Alone With The Help Of Pragmatic Books?2019-12-25T12:37:29+00:00

What applies to books in general also applies to all writings about Western magic: there are good and bad ones and something in between. However, many of these books and writings were written by people who were only theoretically interested in magic and wrote more or less “syncretic plagiarisms.” Great magicians such as Doctor Agrippa of Nettesheim are not exempt from this. That alone is not a crime since it often shows the enormous accumulated knowledge of those authors, and of course, the practical magus profits from it as well. But one should always keep in mind that they usually cannot fall back on any wealth of experience. This must be taken into account when studying such writings.
Also rather disadvantageous for a beginner are advanced magical studies, kafkaesque “bestsellers.” These include works such as the superstitious conglomeration, called “6th And 7th Book Of Moses”, the “Necronomicon” of a mediocre novelist of the horror genre or the “Satanic Bible” of an eccentric, US-American former predator tamer. Books, by the way, which all enjoy high sales figures these days and are treated as “secret magical writings.”
Furthermore, it is also a decisive difference whether such books deal with theoretical and/or practical magic and whether the authors are or were members of magical orders since the writings of the latter are of course “dyed” accordingly or transport a corresponding message. But there are rays of hope at the end of the tunnel because, especially in the Anglo-Saxon area recently, very well-founded works are offered from experienced practitioners.
Of course, it is advantageous to go into the care of an experienced magician, but how will a beginner be able to decide whether these persons are also experienced? In the beginning, only your intuition, your common sense, and your ability to criticize can be helpful. And what applies to individuals also applies to magical organizations: If you are interested in a magical organization, be always careful of too much secrecy, taciturn contact persons, eccentric appearance, or an overloaded, dogmatic occult terminology.

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