Initiation Into Hermetics by Franz Bardon

There is in my opinion been many great books but there isn't many out there that equal or surpass this gem , most comments that i have read about this book and the Bardon system in general are always met with the way he delivers his technique not so much his general theory or occult knowledge , it has been mostly summed up as  dry.When i  first  got my   hands  on a electronic  copy of the book  the link can be found  here  i was dumbstruck  with the amount of theory  he  had  put into the elements especially  because this is a major topic that is over looked by  lots of  occultists .Then  after  all his theory  which  goes into  religion , god , karma ,the planes of existence and many  more   topics you  finally reach  the  practical  part which is divided into ten steps. of each step there is usually 3 areas to work  on  physical  , mental /spirit  and  astral /soul it is advised that the  3 parts to  be done  pretty equally to stop one sided development. he lays the foundation  nicely  but leaves  you  plenty of things to think on  therefore  making the reader actively participate. This system of personal growth is a  science when carefully practiced  and the steps are stuck to can lead to amazing results but a forewarning with these kind of practices if you suffer from illusions or  on  medication  for the mind i think it might be  best  to bypass this  you really need a sound mind and a balanced  being , here is a brief description of the 10 steps involved the key to  the whole book in my opinion  is treating step one  like its step ten  remember its no race and may your inner world  unfold harmoniously

Step I ~ Magic Mental Training
1. Thought control,
2. Discipline of thoughts
3. Subordination of thoughts
a. Control of thoughts twice a day from 1-10 minutes
b. Suppression of certain thoughts. Holding onto a chosen thought. Provoking vacancy of
mind.
c. Magical diarizing. Self criticism. Planning of thought-trains for the day or the week ahea
Step I ~ Magic Psychic Training
1. Introspection of Self-Knowledge
2. Making of the (Black & White) Mirrors of the Soul with respect to the elements, in three
spheres of activity.
Step I ~ Magic Physical Training
1. Habituation to normal or reasonable mode of life.
2. Conscious Breathing
3. Conscious reception of Food (Eucharistic mystery)
4. Magic of Water

Summary of Exercises of Step II:
I. Magic Mental Training:
1. Autosuggestion or the unveiled enigmas of the Unconscious.
2. Concentration Exercises:
a) Visual (optical)
b) Auditory
c) Sensory
d) Olfactory
e) Taste
Exercises concerning the elimination of thoughts (negative state) are continued and deepened
here.
II. Magic Psychic Training:
Mago-astral balance with respect to the elements, transmutation or refinement of character:
a) by fight or control
b) by autosuggestion
c) by transmutation or transforming into the opposite quality.
III. Magic Physical Training:
a) Conscious pore breathing
b) Conscious position of the body (carriage)
c) Body control in everyday life, at will.

Summary of Exercises of Step III
I. Magic Mental Training ~
1. Concentration on thoughts with two or three senses at once.
2. Concentration on objects, landscapes, places.
3. Concentration on animals and human beings.
II. Magic Psychic Training ~
I. Inhaling of the elements in the whole body:
a) Fire ~ warmth
b) Air ~ lightness
c) Water ~ coolness
d) Earth ~ gravity
III. Magic Physical Training ~
1. Retaining of Step I, which has to become a habit
2. Accumulation of vital power:
a) by breathing through the lungs and pores in the whole body
b) in the different parts of the body
Appendix to Step III:
3. Impregnation of space for reasons of health, success, &c.
4. Biomagnetism

Summary of Exercises of Step IV
I. Magic Mental Training:
1. Transplantation of consciousness:
a. into objects
b. into animals
c. into human beings
II. Magic Psychic Training:
1. Accumulation of elements:
a. in the whole body
b. in single parts of the body with the help of two methods
2. Production of element harmony in the appropriate regions of the body:
a. Fire ~ head
b. Air ~ chest
c. Water ~ abdomen
d. Earth ~ rump bone, genitals, feet
III. Magic Physical Training:
1. Rituals & their practical applicability:
a. gesticulations (gestures)
b. bearings
c. postures of the fingers (mudras)

Summary of Exercises of Step V
I. Magic Mental Training
1. Space Magic
II. Magic Psychic Training
1. Projection of elements outwards:
a. through the body, accumulated through the solar plexus
b. accumulated through the hands, especially dynamically through the fingers.
 III. Magic Physical Training
1. Preparation for the passive communication with the invisible ones:
a. release of the hand
b. preparation of the fingers with the help of the pendulum, pencil, planchette, etc.
2. Passive Communication:
a. with the own guardian genius
b. with deceased people and other beings.

Summary of Exercises of Step VI
I. Magic Mental Training:
1. Meditation on the own spirit
2. Becoming conscious of the senses in the spirit
II. Magic Psychic Training:
1. Preparation to master the akasa principle
2. Deliberate induction to trance with the help of the akasa
3. Mastering of the elements with the help of an individual ritual from the akasa
III. Magic Physical Training:
1. Deliberate creation of beings
a. Elementals
b. Larvae
c. Phantasms (shadows)
d. Phantoms

Summary of Exercises of Step VII
I. Magic Mental Training:
1. Analysis of the spirit with respect to the practice.
II. Magic Psychic Training:
1. Development of the astral senses with the help of elements and fluid condensers.
a. clairvoyance
b. clairaudience
c. clairfeeling
III. Magic Physical Training:
1. Creation of elementaries with the help of four different methods
2. Magic animation of pictures.

Summary of Exercises of Step VIII
I. Magic Mental Training:
1. Preparation for mental wandering
2. Practice of mental wandering
a. in the room
b. short distances
c. visits to friends, relatives, etc.
II. Magic Psychic Training:
1. The great NOW
2. No clinging to the past
3. Concentration disturbances as a compass of the magic equilibrium
4. The astral body and the light
5. Mastering of the electric and magnetic fluids
III. Magic Physical Training:
1. Magic influence through the elements
2. Fluid condensers:
a. simple condensers
b. compound condensers
c. fluid condensers for magic mirrors
d. preparation of a magic mirror with the help of fluid condensers

Summary of Exercises of Step IX
1. Magic Mental Training:
1. Practice of clairvoyance with the help of magic mirrors
a. seeing through time and space
b. distant effect through the magic mirror
c. different tasks of projection through the magic mirror
II. Magic Psychic Training:
1. Deliberate separation of the astral body from the material body
2. Impregnation of the astral body with the four divine fundamental qualities.
III. Magic Physical Training:
1. Treatment of the sick with the electromagnetic fluid
2. Magical loading of the astral body with the four divine fundamental qualities
3. Wish-realization through electromagnetic volts.




Summary of Exercises of Step X
I. Magic Mental Training:
1. Elevation of the spirit to higher levels.
II. Magic Psychic Training:
1. Conscious communication with the personal God.
2. Communication with deities &c.
III. Magic Physical Training:
1. Several methods for acquiring magic faculties.

I wont go into the steps because there are already  some really great works and commentaries  on  the steps from  Rawn Clarke which can be found here . While you  start  adapting and adding Bardon's   system to your life you can't help  but  feel  better  for  doing it. The problem  with his system  is  you can't  see your  progress straight away  its a slow tedious process with few if  any  results at  first.  Then subtle things  appear that  give you a faint hope , with persistence  and right diet and exercise (especially the diet part is important ) things change and the measure of progress is with your fellow  man. There is a great  You Tube channel  ( 11fausta11 ) the fellow  who  made it is a remarkable individual  the channel can be found  here please watch his videos in chronological order  its rather important . Another book  that I  recommend is Mouni Sadhu's book on Concentration  you  can get really strong  results  with this book  I highly recommend  doing  some of the exercises in  this  first  if you  find the Bardon system  a bit difficult.  ,  the link for Mouni's book can be found  here . I wont lie  when I say step one  is probably the hardest step to take , I wish you success and the inner strength  to tackle the obstacles that  lie ahead I am still trying to  get over mine also  a  little praying  for  guidance  and inner strength can do no harm good luck  with your pursuits.Feel free to check out my other post on Franz Bardon's magic mirror