---
title: "Magic Unmasked: A Practitioner’s Journey Through Franz Bardon’s System"
url: https://staging13.perseusarcaneacademy.com/post/magic-unmasked-a-practitioners-journey-through-franz-bardons-system/
date: 2024-09-29
modified: 2026-07-03
lang: en
author: "Perseus Arcane Academy"
description: "Introduction I was reading one of the discord groups recently and saw some really insightful responses from one member. These really were well thought out and doing their best to..."
categories:
  - "Franz Bardon"
  - "Interviews"
tags:
  - "Franz Bardon"
  - "Kabbalah"
  - "Magic"
image: https://staging13.perseusarcaneacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/image-2.jpeg
word_count: 3518
---

# Magic Unmasked: A Practitioner’s Journey Through Franz Bardon’s System

## Introduction

I was reading one of the discord groups recently and saw some really insightful responses from one member. These really were well thought out and doing their best to answer some questions, so I thought who better to ask than this individual (name is withheld for privacy) if they would be willing to come onto the Perseus blog for an interview and share some of that knowledge here. I hope you enjoy, there is a lot of good stuff here for Bardon practitioners, please let us know your thoughts in the comments.

---

## Personal Practice Background 

**PAA. Before practicing Bardon's magic, what forms of meditation or spiritual practices did you engage in? **

This kind of question always pushes you into a short reflection of your path during which sometimes you even forget how many teachings, techniques or traditions you went through. 

Indeed, like many comrades on this path - it took few circles around my own axis to mature enough through my own experience, realizations and sometime disappointments, to see Bardon˙s system of magic with a completely different eyes than I saw it 14 years ago when the first time I bumped into his first book.

Long-story short …

Even though I was quite introvert as a child who always felt like mini [Truman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Truman_Show) in that weird open theater where everything felt like at any second some director will come out of nowhere and say *cut *- not until the age of 17 I dived deeper into the concrete internal arts when a very shocking event healthwise tied to my heart turned my life upside down - which eventually pushed me into direction of finding ways to heal myself alone and mature much earlier than probably most of my generation at the time. At the time modern medicine, except loads of prescribed drugs that were doing me more harm than good, didn't have any other concrete solution for me.

As usual how it goes in most of cases of pulling yourself from the swamp, its started with reading random spiritual books, books on health, using crystals, meeting people of similar interests… to some first concrete stuff such were practice of performing trataka on the Sun (Sungazing) and a little bit later experimenting with Reiki.

Soon after I stabilized my health, my hunger for knowing more about those things started to grow even more and shift to much more serious practices. Starting with the short trip into the practice of Shiva-yoga (Yoga of the Third Eye of the Veerashaiva saints), then followed by joining one of the lineages closely tied to the Daśanāmi Sampradaya tradition where I stayed roughly for around 15 years exploring various methods of yogic development and philosophy. From controlling the life force through 10 Indriyas (5 senses and 5 organs of action) to working with the advanced pranayamas, bīja mantras and self-enquiry. 

Besides mentioned, and because of being tired of observing people dear to me also suffering, my interest continued to grow in many other directions so in the meantime I was also getting more familiar with and trained in many other branches of self-development. 

Two worth mentioning are spiritual technologies of great Zivorad Mihajlovic Slavinski and a method of healing with prana per system of Zdenko Domancic, who was also a well known healer in the countries of ex-Yugoslavia, and wider.

First ones helped me to understand on a deeper level how the Mind works, how vasanas are operating, how to integrate polarities, process entities, dissolving traumas, larvaes and other party poopers in other people through techniques such are PEAT  (The Primordial Energy Activation and Transcendence), Aspetics and others.

Second one - introduced me to applying psychokinesis upon the human body and in general expanded my understanding of both local and distant healing through laying hands or pure intention.
 
Both of those systems deepened my understanding of the mechanics of the body-mind, karmic laws in practice (observed through the lens of vedic astrology) and finally broader understanding of Compassion ie. when to interfere, and when to let go.

There were also many other practices I was engaged in for all these years, from trying to figure out mechanics of Kriya Yoga of Lahiri Mahasaya (which eventually I did) to Qigong and exploring Christian Mysticism.

**PAA. How do these previous practices compare to Bardon's methods in terms of effectiveness and personal growth? **

Well, even though at first many of these practices and traditions may seem very different from Bardon methods in their technical execution, number of steps to reach certain states and terminologies - they all are operating on the same platform and obey the same laws.  Or principles if you want.

Most of the people who went through many schools or teachings will easily draw parallels between Bardon and other systems that can be found in other schools or traditions, which he states right at the beginning of his great work. No secrets there.

Let's take a *Thought observation* exercise for a perfect example. It is a practice well known across many systems.

In essence it is not that much different from Via Negativa or lets say Neti-neti practice that is widely practiced in yogic circles. It is the same technique Sri Ramana Maharshi used to give to those for whom transcending the Mind by direct abiding in the “I” was too abstract.

In both of those practitioner slowly is becoming aware of the console in the background running the programs, witnessing the Mind mechanics and slowly developing an soft form of Akasha - which eventually enables him to silence the foreground of consciousness which is nothing else but an interplay of the 4 elements composed of mental images (fire), verbal thoughts (air), emotions (water) and earth (physical sensations).

Same thing can be achieved through some other techniques; we don't need to use Thought observation. We can use for example simple dialogue where through circular self-processing we slowly decompose one element after another until Nothing (Void/Dynamic Emptiness) is left. It may take longer, yes - but the result will be very similar, if not the same.
So what is the unique point if all of those exercises that are given can be found across many other systems? It is the curriculum itself.

**PAA. What motivated you to make the Bardon curriculum as your primary one?
**
Clear structure and balance first, then everything else. The entire skeleton is built from the start to avoid one-sided development. Simply said  you are developing on a physical, astral and mental plane gradually one step at a time.

Maybe we could go a little bit deeper and compare it with some other system where various mantras are given like candies. The reason why many give up from their spiritual path or get stuck for years in certain practices that lead nowhere very often are purification crises or incomplete teachings where they are told that performing just one technique or two is all they need. 

For example; Yes, repetition of a given (or well considered) mantra or pranayama can definitely take you to various heights and far beyond. However, will you be able to withstand the various purification crises that are coming with it every once in a while? Are you aware of the taxation system that comes with that mantra or teachings?

With many of them the intensity of lifting impurities is something that can vary on multiple factors; state of your nervous system, astrological resonance with the mantra you are given and many others. In some cases even your geo-location, belief system and your body constitution (distribution of elements) can play a big role. Some other tantric practices are also good examples. People are also on different levels of conductivity and life burdens. Some practices are simply not for everybody.

So unless you are that lucky to have someone without the god complex or some heavy narcissistic disorder (case often seen in many schools out there) to guide you instead playing philosopher with you when you really hit into the wall - there is a good chance you end up running in circles for years in an infinite loop of restarting your first steps over and over again or even worse developing various types of Dragon sickness (which is a term more known in the Qi Gong circles but present across all of them), etc.

With Bardons approach that is something that is quite nullified from the start; you are progressing gradually with healthy and clean foundations. 

Let's take a look again at the first exercises in Step I. Often I get the impression that people are underestimating them too much just because they are positioned at Step I. 

When you truly master the first step eventually in your daily life you will start to notice the states where you intercept automatisms of your own being that in the past you were not that much even aware of. That by itself is already a superpower if we look at how most of the humans operate in their daily lives; you can even look at it as a process of lengthening that chain some dare to call free-will.

Every single step is put in its place for a very good reason. It is an extremely logical system. 

## Choice of Bardon's System 

**PAA. What aspects of Bardon's teachings attracted you the most, leading you to choose his system?**

While some other systems at first may seem attractive due to their outside PR and magnetism produced by the Egregores; the fact that they are based on the subscription / dependency model was something that was never too appealing to me even during my time with one. From the other hand, IIH deals from the start with the essence from which the entire creation is composed - the Tattwas (Elements) themselves. 

To understand this, try to look at the curriculum as a stream rather than each step separate from each another and you will see that the entire time you are playing with elements in one form or another which eventually takes you to stabilizing the Akasha principle.

Once you have access to it, everything else becomes an empty canvas and your faculties a set of brushes to paint whatever you want to paint, without later paying for it one way or another. You create your own Truth. - Which ultimately long-term leads to **self-sufficiency** and development from the seed level rather than the one that is already contaminated with a bunch of various dogmas whose only purpose is bigger control of their followers. Bardon way gives you **all the tools you need** in their raw form to understand both macro and microcosmos by yourself, with your own eyes.

When we are already talking about self-sufficiency it's also tied to **taking responsibility for your own actions**. You cannot truly grow on a spiritual level if you don't **Dare **to test things for yourSelf. Can you do that if you have some “guru” around your head telling you what is for your own good and what is not? You are also learning to rely on your intuition which often in various lodges, groups or traditions is gaslighted. You can't develop one if you are afraid to let go the hand of  “security”; that is not the way to develop **Courage**.

Another problem with many organizations or traditions is they are very often stagnant, there is not that much room for progression as you are asked to just trust without too many questions. It is rare these days to find teachers who want their students to be better than them. Eventually everything drops to a push-pull and ego games. Spiritual Narcissism is a serious problem, especially in today's spirituality.

Very often after the death of the self-realized teacher or adept by the second or third generation teachings start to decompose / degrade due to gatekeeping (drip feeding), internal politics, dramas between the higher positioned members, etc. Just look at the religions and their horrors. The Bardon system, in my opinion, is free of it. 

Of course, with all of this I'm not saying there are not many great teachers or even traditions out there who are truly genuine. I˙m sure Franz Bardon˙s system is not the only one. But we are talking about some general state of today's spirituality and options most of the people are exposed.

## Sixty Skills and Bardon's Influence 

**PAA. What insights or skills have you gained from the Sixty Skills course that complement Bardon's teachings? **

The biggest insight I got from it is a fact that what in some other systems is considered as a pinnacle of the path - in [Sixty Skills](https://sixtyskills.com/) is considered as simply one more tool. And yes we are talking here about the Akasha and Non-Dual light.

With balanced development, Life doesn't stop and should not stop after the various forms of non-dual experiences. Quite contrary - they should enrich the way you look at the Creation, how you act in the Creation. They should be integrated. 

One-sided development is more common than people think and I see it around myself over and over again. Everybody is renunciants or enlightened until the first bills arrive. Life very quickly finds a way to humble you down no matter in what kind of Voids you are dwelling. 

Material life cannot be neglected. If possible, sort it out to at least some extent before taking these things seriously.

**PAA. How does the Sixty Skills approach enhance or differ from Bardon's methods? **

In my opinion it doesn't differ that much, but rather expands their application and deepens understanding of them. As we already mentioned, Bardon˙s curriculum is an raw skeleton. It is up to those who Dare to experiment and explore to find out where it can take them. There are also some additional suggestion with the motive to improve your practice.

For example, in Bardon's books there is not that much talk about the importance of developing the fascia tissue and tendons, or deployment of elemental energies through the movement and conductivity in general. It is something to which Sixty Skills points out very often. 

Yes Bardon does says it is up to reader to find on his own discretion a way to take care of his body, but question is also how IIH would be written today; especially considering pollution of the food (with pesticides and hormones), water (with microplastics or heavy metals) and air (poor of vital energy, especially in big cities) is tenfold than it used to be in his time. And we have not even touched the topic of electromagnetic radiation and in general the sitting lifestyle of today's people.

Further on, especially if we look at the work related to the KTQ. Some never before things are revealed and given as concrete working material. In my opinion when KTQ comes into question, Sixty Skills did some heavy lifting for the future generations of magicians interested in the universal system of Letter Magic. 
**
PAA. Can you describe a moment or lesson from the Sixty Skills course that significantly impacted your practice?

**Without thinking - [Three transformations](https://courses.perseusarcaneacademy.com/b/gCeAN) (Freely available on Perseus). It is a method (or a set if you will) that in my personal opinion every system out there should teach right in the start. I don't care if we are talking about yogic, magical or mystical paths. Many different systems work with all these levels in one way or another, but they are not aware of it and that is a line that separates those who know exactly what they are doing from those who just think they know what they are doing based on the projected intellectual knowledge.

Three transformations enable the practitioner to learn how to differentiate vital from astral energy, astral from mental, and how to shift the focal point of your being from one level to another. Also to understand the path of climbing up the chain of manifestation and vice versa. It is something I wish I had right at the start of my own path.

Instead of reading about those levels and developing wrong perceptions on them, you engage with them and learn directly through your own experience / multi-layered being.

## Kabbalah 

**PAA. How have you integrated Bardon's approach to Kabbalah into your practice, and what challenges have you faced?

**I'm slowly integrating it into my practice. So long-story short, even though it is too early from my side to talk about it so it can be of use to others - I did however have an experience of realizing why checking yourself every so often in the terms of your equilibrium even at later stages of the curriculum is crucial. 

We are all humans and as long we are wrapped in flesh and bones - we are prone to making mistakes in order to attain Wisdom as long as we breathe. Sometimes though those mistakes can be a little bit over the line, to say the least : )

I'll just say don't try to use Bardon˙s Kabbalah to bring justice into this world cause justice by itself can be very relative term. World is what it is, always was and always will be. Focus on yourself and your own development first. 

Every action (singular) has a set of reactions (plural) and that is especially amplified when practicing magic. Bardon˙s system of Letter Magic indeeds is like pressing God levers. And it is not just a metaphor. Running a diary with this is crucial because sometimes effects of applying letters on material level can be so subtle that it can delude you that nothing happened - until you notice (with delay) it actually happened.

## Reflections and Future Goals 

**PAA. Reflecting on your journey, what have been the most transformative aspects of practicing Bardon's magic? **

Not sure do I want go into to many details related to my karmas in this life, but as someone who has a very “special” relationship with Saturnian and Pluto energies - working on myself through the Bardon system of magic made me being more grateful for the gift of Life and for having opportunity to continue my explorations of this tetrapolar amusement park full of Secrets to discover. It also enabled me to see both causes and effects in almost everything I do and it is not something that is forced, but something that with time came naturally.

**PAA. How do you foresee your practice evolving in the future, and what goals do you have in continuing Bardon's teachings?

**Besides continuing with the KTQ practice, one of my recent interests that got re-awaken again are Taiji and Qigong practices, so I'm looking forward to experimenting with Bardon teachings in that direction. But, one step at a time … 

**PAA. What advice would you offer to someone transitioning from meditation to Bardon's system?**

Bardon system is assembled for the people who don't have guidance in the first place; and it is a practice first system. Be open to learn from everybody; at the end of the day learning never stops. But also understand that everybody has their own unique view, the same view you're gonna develop one day.  You really don't need to go through 100 other books before you dive into Bardons work. Everything you need to start is already inside and  filtered out. Remember, Bardon already did hard work so you don't have too. Do you need a reminder?

> *This system is structured with the greatest of care and with the utmost circumspection; it is not a speculative method, but the positive result of thirty years of research, practical exercises and repeated comparisons to many other systems of the various lodges, secret societies, and Oriental knowledge which are only accessible to especially gifted individuals and to the chosen few. It is, nota bene, from my own practical experience destined for the use of many. All my students have proved it to be the best and most usable system.*
>
> *Bardon, Franz. Initiation Into Hermetics (p. 16). Merkur Publishing*.

Also know that the biggest gems in the IIH are not written in the book, but they get revealed to the individual through the practice. Book is just a stepping stone. A very stable one.

If you were lucky enough to discover his work at any point of your life, just jump straight into the practice and grind. Practice-wise, with what you were dissatisfied today know that tomorrow you will do better. Not a single day of practice will be the same. On some days you gonna rock, and on some days you gonna feel like nothing goes as it should. That doesn't mean you are doing something wrong - its simply part of the process; that's how the movement looks.

Know that being grateful is half of the success. Not many are that lucky (read made strong enough causes in their previous incarnations) to step on this path of self-mastery.

With all the turbulences of the modern life, these are still great times to be a magician - even if you are a very busy person. And if you have your own room for practice, it is a better cave than any Himalayan will ever be.

Use it.

**PAA: Thank you very much for your time and sharing so generously.**

---