The Sacramental Magic of Advent: Ceremonial Ritual at Christmas

A powerful invitation to reconsider the intersection between Christianity and ceremonial magic by harnessing the power of the seasonal cycle

Designed to appeal at once to ceremonial magicians who feel called to work in the Christian tradition and ordinary believers who wish to explore the magical side of their faith, The Sacramental Magic of Advent guides the reader through Advent and Christmas, resituating the period as an important season of increased spiritual significance. The book outlines a series of traditional magical practices, such as banishing rituals and the invocation of spirits in a Christian context, so that they may be used by ceremonial magicians and more orthodox believers alike.

Following the season chronologically, from the first week of Advent until the Epiphany, the book also explores the Christian practices of fasting and almsgiving, with prayer and forgiveness also presented as powerful magical works. The Sacramental Magic of Advent includes explorations surrounding the cycle of the church, including the saint days and the Ember Days, the season of Advent, and the great mystery of Christmas, followed by suggestions on how to re-work them to fit both a contemporary home life and a magical practice.

The Sacramental Magic of Advent will make a worthy addition to the bookshelf of any student or seasoned magical practitioner looking to enhance or refine their practice.

Stephen Mandes Thomas is a longtime practitioner of magic, astrology, and energetic healing who also happens to be a cradle Catholic. Initially training in the Golden Dawn tradition, he has also been initiated in Taoist and Druid magical traditions and ordained to the subdiaconate in the Liberal Catholic tradition. Rather than drawing away from the Catholic faith of his birth, he found that studying magic in fact drew him back toward his traditional faith, now informed by magical philosophy. He lives in Maryland with his wife, Jennifer, his stepson, Asher, and his daughter, Melissa.

He blogs weekly on substack and also offers divination work.