Physical training in relation to magical practice and the warrior path

I’m going to be covering the topic of physical training in relation to magical practice and the warrior path. This topic, of course has been covered by Bear Heart but I would like to share my experiences and musings as someone who has been training in the martial arts for over two decades, trains daily and also does functional strength training 3-4 times a week.

I would like to talk about why this is important in relation to practicing Magic and how to go about starting if you practice Magic but perhaps aren’t a very physical person, something which is very common in the occult world.

So why is it important to be a physical individual as well as a magical practitioner?

Physical exercise Increases blood and energy circulation. This is important because your blood contains your life force. By keeping good circulation this will aid you in all of your energetic exercises, strengthen your astral, planetary bodies and energetic templates. It will also strengthen your aura as well as your muscle and bone density. You will notice a strengthened immune system.

Increased sexual vitality (remember people, magical is sexual) Strength training, especially compound exercises which target multiple muscle groups will increase the amount of natural testosterone you produce which is important for health and sex drive. Do not neglect your legs! Training your legs and other major muscle groups with exercises such as back squats, front squats, deadlifts, clean and press are exercises which most people shy away from because they are tough. These are the exercises which you should be doing because they are tough.

Because these exercises are tough they will also strengthen your mind because you are overcoming adversity by consistently reaching milestones and forging your physical body into a powerful vessel. This will in turn have an effect on your energetic bodies. These exercises will give you the biggest benefits in terms of real functional strength gains where the strength you gain can be applied on either an object or individual. Why would you need to apply your strength on a person I hear you ask? Because as practitioners of the occult, we are a demonised people by the church who influence a staggering amount of people. You may well be put into a situation where you will have to defend yourself or a loved one. Not all situations can be overcome by talk or avoidance.

Of course the above mentioned exercises are not the only things you can train with great benefit and a barbell isn’t just the only tool you can use. Clubells, Macebells, Kettlebells will also forge a fearsome level of strength to make you a force to be reckoned with.

Training your grip, wrists and forearms are also essential. There is no point having fearsome strength in your legs, back, and core if you can’t transfer that strength directly onto something or someone. Also, the stronger will you develop by dedicating hours on forging your physical body the more effectively you can exert your will in your magical practice.

You will experience an increase in your overall energy levels, be more awake and alert. It is also a fantastic way to have an overall sense of wellbeing and battle depression, releasing those natural feel good chemicals. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that mages of old were twig thin nerdy looking old men as depicted by Hollywood. Look at history, mages were usually powerful strongmen and warriors.

If you have little or no experience in physical training I strongly advise you to build a foundational level of fitness by doing body weight exercises 3 times a week for 6 months. When doing any physical exercise correct technique is essential. Do not worry if initially you can’t lift a particular weight or manage a particular amount of repetitions. This will come with time do not sacrifice using correct technique just so you can lift a heavier weight as this will lead to injuries, bad habits and structural problems with your body. There is a beauty in putting yourself under that Saturnine current and using your time to forge yourself into a powerful, independent, courageous individual that will help to influence those around you in a positive way.

Become powerful, be courageous be the hero in your own story.

Lion Heart.