Franz Bardon Books

Comprehending the practical wisdom of Franz Bardon’s works

What stands out clearly in any of Franz Bardon’s books is his commitment to practices, including Hermetics. Hermetic refers to knowledge that corresponds with the workings of the universe. The books concentrate on the substance of the work, supplying beneficial and practical information to guide the student. What sets his books apart from most of his contemporaries is that nowhere will you find self-promoting assertions about him, his successes or his achievements. Bardon did not appear to be seeking to build a legend around himself. The only self-references in his works are occasional attestations that he had himself used the procedures he describes.

Bardon’s works are uncommon in that they contain relatively small theoretical sections and are far more focused on the application of concepts, together with exercises. They were written to allow students who wanted to practise the work to do so, even if they could not study with a teacher or master.

The stated intention for each of his books was to offer the serious student a complete and practical guide accessible outside of an occult lodge. This aligns closely with the objectives of The Life Force Institute, which works to make knowledge of the energies of life and their application in everyday life more readily accessible. The Life Force Institute develops methods to ensure that students, who cannot attend courses or receive individual tutelage, still have access to this body of learning.

Throughout his writings, Bardon reveals topics in a very practical way, without the flowery language so widespread in occultism. It should be apparent from the outset that he wrote from deep experience rather than off the top of his head. The depth of that experience can be difficult for the reader to absorb, as he typically wrote from the perspective of someone who has actually done every item of the work personally. In this way, he consistently conveys the principle that all he describes is achievable.

All of Bardon’s books were originally written in German, and the translations often suffer from issues of readability.  Often, the concepts were challenging to convert into another language, as the translator may not have had a suitable sensitivity for the topic. Translational difficulties aside, something which makes an enduring impression is Bardon’s sincerity. He insists that he is doing as much as possible to document the work to aid in the development of a serious student. He also frequently reiterates that he has actually carried out each routine, ritual or procedure. This is a really important element as those who write the work should have commenced on the activities, tasks or procedures themselves.

Consider for a moment that knowledge is not wisdom. Knowledge depends upon the development of the intellectual capabilities of the Life Force. Wisdom, on the other hand, requires the balanced development of all facets of the Life Force. For that reason, knowledge alone is insufficient, incapable of making a person truly awake or informed. A learned person can speak at length on subjects such as the life force, astrology, or the Qabalah, yet will never fully comprehend the complete dimensions of the subject. There is a meaningful distinction between a philosopher or thinker and someone who would be regarded as a true teacher. Through his works, Franz Bardon was a true teacher of the work.

The mental exercises Bardon prescribes, such as one-pointedness and observing the wandering of consciousness, are found in yogic and other occult traditions. The same principle of Ekagrata is an important element of activities conducted through The Life Force Institute.

The approach to Ontology revealed by Franz Bardon begins with “Initiation into Hermetics”, and is expanded upon in the subsequent volumes. In his works, Bardon sets out an energetic representation of the universe drawn from Taoism and Hindu cosmology. He identified a concept of electric and magnetic fluids that complement each other in the same way that Yin and Yang do. Each part of the body, he tells us, is governed by electric, magnetic or neutral forces, and illness is frequently the result of imbalances in these energies.

The highest element described by Bardon is the Akasha, which gives rise to and binds the four elements of earth, fire, air and water. Much of Bardon’s training asks the student to address imbalances in these elemental qualities within themselves. Spiritual advancement cannot occur until balance is achieved. Before the student can become a master of the elements, they must first balance, harmonise and bring the manifestations of all elements within their own being under conscious control.

Bardon emphasised on many occasions that you can only establish an understanding of yourself and the universe within the extent of your own awareness, understanding and spiritual maturation. The energies of life and the universe are central to all of the work from The Life Force Institute. In line with Bardon’s view, the Institute concurs that the more balanced and evolved student has better access to a more comprehensive reality.

Initiation into Hermetics

The first publication by Franz Bardon, released in 1956, was “Initiation into Hermetics”, known in the original German as “Der Weg zum Wahren Adepten”. This work is of interest to those in the fields of philosophy, theosophy and metaphysics alike. Bardon’s writings include no religious doctrine, which makes them accessible to a broader readership than many other authors in this field.

Despite the title, this book is not a course towards personal gain or control over others. If those are your objectives, you will not meet with success there, as they are not aligned with the principles of metaphysics and ontology this publication addresses. If you choose to take up this work, it would be worth taking time to examine your reasons for doing so.

The book itself is a blend of theory and exercises arranged across ten steps. Within each step, you will find three types of exercises relating to the mental (the non-being spirit or mind), the astral (frequently described as the soul) and the physical. These exercises were designed to complement one another and should not be undertaken in isolation. As you advance through the book, you will carry out the corresponding mental, astral and physical exercises during each period of work or meditation. The aim is to cultivate all three aspects of the self concurrently and in a balanced way, so that the overall stability of your entire form is maintained.

Mental exercises for the abstract mental being begin with direct observation of the mind and progress from there; each successive exercise builds on the one before. The astral exercises focus on methodically exploring the positive and negative qualities of the self in connection with the emotions, and later build upon these experiences to allow you to transform unfavourable qualities into positive ones. The physical exercises of the body are directed at developing observation, integration and use of the physical body within the material world. In this book, Bardon leaves the experiential side of the equation to the individual, as it should be.

The outcome of these practical exercises is a developing understanding of metaphysics and of how energies and various forces shape your life. Bear in mind that Bardon deliberately leaves each student to work certain things out independently. This is an essential component of any genuine path to self-realisation, as it asks you to begin thinking and exploring for yourself, as opposed to simply adhering to a prescribed doctrine. This is what allows the reader to move beyond knowledge into a fuller perspective of wisdom.

Some have found that a hasty, indiscriminate study of the theory and techniques covered in his works can bring about considerable damage to the nervous system and the mental and physical bodies, and may lead to psychiatric problems or other conditions. This is why Bardon indicates throughout his publications that students must proceed gradually through the activities at their own pace.

There is no fixed duration for completing all ten steps in Bardon’s first book. How long it takes you does not matter. What matters is that you progress at a pace suited to your own development. This also aligns with guidance from the custodians of The Life Force Institute regarding awakening your inner Life Force, which is a continuous process and one that must not be rushed.

The Practice of Magical Evocation

Franz Bardon’s second book, “Die Praxis der magischen Evokation”, also published in 1956, was translated into English as “The Practice of Magical Evocation”.

This book offers a detailed examination of direct contact with universal teachers. The primary motivation for undertaking the material is the pursuit of universal knowledge and the development of your awareness across the many aspects of Ontology. Bardon’s description details several hierarchies, from the spirits of the four elements to those of the various planets and even the Zodiac.

All too often, students have been drawn in by the glamour of evocation and picked up this book before being properly prepared. As Bardon consistently advises, this results in unclear or potentially harmful experiences. Without proper training, it is practically impossible to comprehend the deeper significance. The unprepared student will typically regard evocation as wondrous or purely symbolic, and will evoke nothing more than images from their own psyche or subconscious, rather than entities with an actual presence independent of the human mind.

Through the application of prescribed techniques (termed evocation), students of this book may learn to access other realms and spheres of existence. Bardon instructs how each aspect of the ritual must be personalised and approached according to the student’s own understanding and requirements.

Where the student has completed the prerequisite training, the teachings in this book allow them to maintain control throughout the entire procedure. If you choose to follow this path, it is always prudent to remain kind, respectful and sincere, and never attempt to compel another being against their will.

While substantial parts of the work deal with Ontology, often at a more detailed level than Franz Bardon, The Life Force Institute has chosen to focus on the work relating to you as an individual.  In this way, the information and activities presented by The Life Force Institute deal with the component parts of you, how you function as an energy being, and the steps you can take as an individual to progress and awaken your Life Force.

There are many reasons for this focus, but the most telling is that, as a student, you progress more successfully when you do the work yourself. The custodians of The Life Force Institute have observed on many occasions that when students work with specific beings from Ontology, they can become dependent, because the student begins to rely upon one individual and loses the motivation to grow beyond that level. The hallmark of a great teacher or guide is that they always want their students to grow beyond their own capabilities, surpassing them. Anything less is the ego of the teacher.

The custodians also noted, as did Bardon, the significant difficulties posed by the unprepared student. Without due preparation, a student may inadvertently believe an evocation has been successful when they have, in fact, attracted an entity from a lower level masquerading as something greater. There is also the matter of misuse. Students sometimes evoke a being for entirely trivial reasons. Consider, for a moment, how you would feel as the head of a large department in a multinational company if the maintenance person contacted you every time a lightbulb needed replacing. It is for all of these reasons that The Life Force Institute focuses on you as an individual, and on how you can progress by understanding how you function as the universal Life Force being you are.

The Key to the True Quabbalah

The third and final volume published in 1957 by Bardon is “The Key to the True Quabbalah”, or “Der Schlüssel zur Wahren Quabbalah” in the original German.

Throughout the ages, adepts of every era and tradition have reached higher levels of Life Force awakening through an understanding of colour and sound as fundamental keys to the energies of life. Hidden within many aspects of the Kabbalah are the keys to accessing such energies through the combination of sound, colour, number and vibration.

The true Kabbalah is not a divinatory practice. It is an intentionally crafted method of empowering the letters of the alphabet to create energetic effects through their combination. Bardon referred to the Kabbalah by the name “Quabbalah”, linking many of the original aspects of Kabbalistic practice to those of Tantra and similar Eastern traditions. In this book, Bardon details an understanding of colour and sound as fundamental keys to the energies of life, free from any religious overlay. This unorthodox approach has meant that many students of Kabbalah have not recognised Bardon’s book as being related to Kabbalistic practice at all.

The Key to the True Quabbalah teaches a series of techniques and keys that allow access to new levels of energy through the creative language of Kabbalah. A Kabbalistic formula is a one, two, three or fourfold key that does not depend upon words in the traditional sense. It is formed through intent and in accordance with the flow of energies within the universe.

In the more advanced activities available from The Life Force Institute, we draw upon the concept of multi-fold keys in a manner similar to that of the Qabalah, building an understanding of colour and sound as fundamental keys to the energies of life. Through greater mastery and control of such energies, you can bring greater balance and control into your daily life. This reflects the underlying principle of the true Kabballah.