“Magus” is an old Persian word meaning Priest. The Bible tells us that three Magi visited baby Jesus bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and here we get a small insight into the dynamics – the birth of someone special is always heralded by spirits to those who perceive. This knowledge is received by friends and enemies alike; King Herod launched a pre-emptive strike by slaughtering new-born boys, to no avail.

To his friends the Magus is a priest, to his enemies, he is a sorcerer. Same work, different perspective. Priests have religious functions, and in the context of the time, religion is indistinguishable to the Rulers of the State. The Magi are powerful advisers, performing rituals to protect, promote, and ensure the stability, health and prosperity of the Rulers, the Ruling Family, Government Ministers, and so on. The Magi are able to avert the danger that has not yet come, while ensuring future good fortune is not averted.

The history of the Magus is found across the Indian sub-continent. They are equally comfortable advising Government Ministers, Heads of State, and the general public. The spiritual techniques are closely guarded secrets kept within the family – no outsiders can be taught.

As a white Englishman born in London to middle-class parents, the Magi might as well be from another planet, but fate or destiny intervened. I became the student to Punditt Maharaj on Brighton seafront, a relationship that was to last until his death. He began to teach me the secrets of the Magi, a process that continues today with Pundit Joshi. There is much that I cannot speak of, but where I can I will lift the veil slightly. “Pundit” means priest. There are many kinds of Punditts. “My” Punditts work exactly the same way as the Magi have done for thousands of years. Long may it continue.

Magi and religion

Scholars tell us the Magi originate with the Zoroastrians in Persia, but as the story of their journey to visit baby Jesus, they are not sectarian. The Magi or Punditts can be of any religion – I have met Hindu and Moslem Punditts, and they are all comfortable with clients who have different beliefs – agnostic is not a barrier either.

Magi and Magic

To me, one of the most remarkable aspects to the work of Magi or Punditts, is how much concerns western magical practice. As a child I was attracted to Hinduism, so I was surprised and excited to find a Punditt living in Brighton. The prime concern of a Punditt is not religion or beliefs, but the health and well-being of the person, both physically and spiritually. When Punditt Maharaj announced he thought I could also be a Punditt, I was expecting deep insights in Eastern philosophy (which I had been studying for years), but the direction took me into Western magic, in particular the Golden Dawn and the writings of Aleister Crowley, My particular speciality is the Tarot, my first book presciently named “The Tarot and the Magus“.

Magic and Spirituality

Magic and Spirituality are usually separated. The spiritual workings within magic are largely ignored – spiritual people would not sully their hands with magic, while magicians have their own perceptions of superiority over spiritual work. Within the work of the Punditts, the divisions between magic, spirituality and mysticism are not apparent, except in the minds of those we are helping and dealing with.