I cannot thank Marco Visconti and Peter Levenda enough for their Stairway to Heaven course; it absolutely enthralled me.

Levenda's staggering research, presented in a comprehensive yet straightforward and easily digestible style combined with Visconti's expertly crafted and entrancing pathworkings, have inspired me to "wake up and look up", to put in the work and forge my own unique trajectory to the stars.

I could listen to Marco and Peter all day long and never fail to come away feeling fired up. I'm genuinely sad that the course has to come to an end (!), but I know that having taken part will continue to have an effect for a long time. Cannot fault the construction and presentation of this expertly and passionately created course. Thank you!

• Elin

So why this course?

I have previously studied "High Magic" with another teacher, but things became very culty. I was anxious not to repeat that experience, although I wanted to study more and was interested in Thelema.

I kept 'bumping' into Marco online and, after researching him a little, decided to take the Magick Without Tears course.

I am so glad I did! This course is awesome! You do not need any prior experience. The lessons are concise yet in-depth. They are practical—definitely not for strictly 'armchair' magicians—yet there is also plenty to study. The course itself is a multimedia event, with lessons you go through at your own pace. Alongside individual online learning, there are also physical or online group meetings, and even a physical book if that is your thing. It is very easy to fit around family, friends, and work life.

Marco is a remarkable teacher with decades of experience. His depth of knowledge, combined with his outlook and sense of humour, makes the subject seem easy and very enjoyable. But make no mistake, he and his work are serious and authentic. This, combined with the community that has grown around him, makes for a truly supportive and nurturing environment. You can be as engaged as you choose—perfect for both extroverts and those who choose to go their own way.

As a result, I have signed up for further courses with him. I am very happy to recommend both Marco as a teacher and the courses he has developed.

Thank you, Marco and the MWT Community!

• Circe

I wanted to say a HUGE thank you for having me on the course and for the scholarship.

The whole course was an amazing experience for me, particularly the pathworkings - they were a really powerful way of connecting with each of the Major Arcana.

It was a steep learning curve for me particularly around the Thelema and alchemy themes, but I managed to follow it.

My relationship with the Tarot has deepened, and I'm so glad my tarot project got postponed for next year, as I feel I'm in a whole different level now.

You're a great teacher!

• Sofia

Although the course was slightly different than I expected, it was well worth the money, and I greatly enjoyed listening to Peter's and Marco's in-depth knowledge about ancient cultures and their systems of mysticism, as well as getting in contact with like-minded people interested in the subject. I felt very seen and appreciated for sharing the deeper experiences I had.

I was genuinely surprised how deep some of the attendees knowledge was already and felt in many ways like a newb because some of that knowledge had been to "far out" for me at this point, but we all gotta start somewhere.

The knowledge presented about the ancient cultures was in some ways already known to me but I had no idea to be thrown that deep into the rabbit holes of history. And I greatly enjoyed it. It solidified my knowledge about these ancient cultures/practices more than ever and therefore also my knowledge in magick and mysticism. I personally think it will benefit my future practice.

One of my highlights has definitely been the pathworking exercise(s).

When I attended the course, I expected a little more knowledge or working material about the modern UFO phenomenon and more practical work instead of a mostly academic in-depth  historic/theological course but that doesn't take away from the enjoyment I still had! And Peter did in fact talk a lot about the UFO/UAP Phenomenon in the Q&As. It was a joy listening to Peter ramble and I'd been in awe most of the time. The way Peter and Marco delivered the information had a nice mixture of complexity, humour and although they embraced the weird and mysterious, it all stayed very much true to a no-nonsense, no-conspiracy-nonsense attitude. I highly appreciated that.

This course inspires me to dig deeper, read some more of Peter's books, and be curious about the night sky.

• Benjamin

I stumbled upon Marco's course in a Facebook group. I'm so glad to have taken the plunge. I have been curious about Thelema and especially about Aleister Crowey and I wanted to get to know him a bit better and what this all is about.

Learning from Marco is incredible because there are not many who have the depth of knowledge and experience as he has. He gives his students his 100% and is willing to answer any questions and support their understanding of the material.

Marco really knows how to hold space for the students and communicates in a very honest and authentic way. I greatly appreciate and respect his dedication to helping people on this path. 🙏

• Ruth

The course turned me on to ascent/descent themes and practices from several cultures with an extremely strong foundation in Merkavah Mysticism and the importance of the number seven. Being presented with salient material from the book was also very helpful, and I am looking forward to reading the entire book to learn about the rest of the content. The schedule of the presentation of course material, the submission of questions, and the live Q&A were obviously very well thought out.

On a personal note, learning about Merkavah Mysticism was a genuine means of putting me in touch with ancestry that I was not particularly aware of. Even as a newbie, I feel a big part of Magick is knowledge and connection to one's personal ancestors and even the ancestors of the geography that one inhabits. This course provided both. Maybe I had ancestors who descended the chariot and are guiding me on this path to do the same. 

I highly recommend this course, as well as Mr. Peter Levenda and Mr. Marco Visconti.

• Matthew

After having done this course a second time, I gotta say... shit happened. Not in a bad way, although it may have felt bad at the time.

I think I've learned something: Magick is not about fun and games and results but a way to manifest the experiences you need in your life to grow and find out who you really are. I don't want to neglect the practical advantages magick can give you; they certainly can be there. But still, after having done the programme, I'm confident in saying it is not about that but about finding yourself and your will.

Thanks to you, Marco for pointing that out over and over again and showing us the techniques to maneuver this process. You are a good teacher when it comes to occult knowledge. Fuck those grifters and haters, your programme will stand the test of time!

• Dominik

Best money I ve ever invested in anything magical.

For the price you get a community, an app, live chats, videos, and the invaluable help of a bloody good teacher.

The weekly meetups keep you on your toes and inspire you to get up that extra hour early so you can do the work. Those early mornings by the fire in my house, doing ritual on my own every day, have grown to become cherished moments when the magickian in me can fully express herself.

As a teacher myself, I could fully appreciate the work that went on behind the scenes and you have my maximum respect!

Thank you so much for this.

• Lou

Description goes hereThis course really exceeded my expectations.

I was actually expecting more mystery, but it really is all laid out in a very comprehensive way! After a year of independent exploration into Thelema with the guidance of your Patreon and reading thelemic texts, this course was perfect timing for me. It felt like I was finally able to add more pieces to the puzzle.

I really love that it lays everything out very clearly, I feel like I now have a clear idea of what rituals to do and when, which was something I always struggled with.

The Q&As were excellent, always love the discussions around these subjects and they help me put it all in perspective too.

I love this course and would recommend it to anyone who needs some inspiration or some extra help with breaking down the dense info found in thelemic texts.

• Jenna

This course is an absolute gem for anyone interested in the Major Arcana and the magical concepts of Thelema.

The pathworking approach used in this course made the teachings come alive, providing profound insights into each card's symbolism.

The integration of Thelemic ideas was done in such an accessible and engaging manner that I felt a deep connection with the deck.

This course is a must for both beginners and seasoned practitioners looking to deepen their understanding of the Thoth Tarot.

• Sarah

It has been eye-opening and life-changing. Not in the least exaggerating. The life’s goal or path or route becoming more clear, is enriching life with all kinds of moments, beautiful and not, easy and more difficult, with light or more darkness, and best of all, not thinking dualistically.

Most of all, I appreciated your “rambling,” which explained complicated concepts and meanings in a nice way. It was pushing and motivating.

I have to say that, looking back, it has been an amazing process. It was surprising in many ways and mind-opening. I can't go back to the way I saw reality, the world, and myself before.

Thank you for this course!

• Manos

Marco is one of my go-to tutors: his workshops are always super rich in content, peppered with good-natured humour and insights.

Kyera

Marco, I really wanted to thank you for these past six weeks. They have been profoundly enlightening and eye-opening in so many ways.

I’ve been with the Square for five years and in Martinism for two, so I already had a fair degree of practice and structure behind me. Yet the path you’ve opened up has challenged something very deep: the idea of God being within us, rather than beyond us.

Naturally, over these weeks I’ve experienced intense inner conflicts, coming as I do from a perhaps more dogmatic spiritual framework—after all, Martinism is fundamentally a Christian order, with a certain structural and conceptual rigidity.

The practice regimen you’ve proposed, together with an initial understanding of Thelema, has been a real turning point for me. I don’t yet know whether this will be my path, but it has certainly opened new inner gateways. There is much to work on, and over the coming months I intend to continue the rituals you suggested, building routines that become part of my daily life, so that – in time – I can feel whether I truly wish to take further steps forward.

My only hesitation concerns some of the more demanding practices, such as the Abramelin ritual. At this stage of my life they seem quite arduous—perhaps they would have been more accessible in my twenties, when I was still ‘in the making’. But now, at 32, having achieved a certain balance with myself—both professionally and personally—the prospect of embarking on a six-month-plus isolation feels somewhat overwhelming. Although I’m drawn to a Fool’s journey to the Holy Mountain, right now I feel, to borrow a phrase whose origin escapes me, “in the world but not of it.” So I’ll need to decide how deeply I’m willing to delve, or whether I can find a more integrated approach to these practices rather than going all-in.

Time will tell. For now, my goal is to find my own footing and determine whether Thelema can truly work for me. Certainly, the practice we undertook, together with reading the paper “Stepping out the old Aeon and into the new,” offered me such a fresh perspective that I found it empowering and invigorating—truly transformative.

One thing I greatly admire about you is the way you explain very complex concepts with crystalline simplicity, which shows you’ve really internalised them. You’re a Master. In other circles I frequent there’s often a lot of philosophy and intellectual ‘fluff,’ and sometimes I wonder whether those who speak of these things have really lived them. With you, that coherence is unmistakable, and for that I thank you: you’ve brought new stimuli to my journey, and I feel they are genuine and profound.

I will continue to follow you and work steadily on these foundations, as I genuinely want to internalise them fully.

Finally, and no less importantly: if in future you hold practical gatherings in London, even small home groups (such as Gnostic Masses or similar), please let me know. If it’s possible, I would be delighted to attend.

Thank you again, truly.

Alessandro

I’m so happy with the beautiful and inspiring week we all spent together

in Joshua Tree. From the moment I stepped into Nobles Hall I felt I could open myself up to anyone and everyone there. I could feel a connection with each person, and incredibly, I never regretted speaking with anyone there. That’s a rare thing! Usually you try to be friendly with everyone but end up making a list of people to avoid. That never happened at this retreat.

It was Peter Levenda’s presence that pushed me to attend the retreat. I am so glad I did! Peter is one of the few people out there who have a depth of knowledge in subjects that are usually siloed from each other. When most everyone else is pushing a single answer to every question, Peter pushes us to question our assumptions and define our terms. His lectures and Q&A sessions during the retreat covered an astonishing amount of material, yet he did so with a light-hearted charm, a dry wit, and an endless well of personal anecdotes. It’s no wonder I was riveted for hours on end, and each day I felt like the session was just too short. I have several pages of notes, including call-outs on books and terms I need to look up once I got home again. I’m sure this is exactly what Peter would expect! I’m so grateful for his time and his generosity.

Marco Visconti is someone “new” to me. I had no connection with him, except seeing his name as one of the co-lecturers in this retreat. I’m not a serious practitioner of ceremonial magic, and the only things I know about Thelema are from his book, which I read in preparation for this retreat. I absolutely loved his lectures. I have a good background in Greek and Latin, and some knowledge of Hermeticism and Neoplatonism and I was impressed by the depth of his understanding. More importantly, he was able to frame his knowledge with an intuitive understanding of how this might be relevant to one’s daily life. He has the expertise of both a scholar and a practitioner. That left a deep impression on me, and although I don’t especially connect with the “popular” image of a Thelemite, I now see that there is something vital and profound at the core of all the pentagrams and black T-shirts. I recognize this for what it is: an initiation, an important connection with a tradition I need to explore. I’m looking forward to Marco’s next book, and I am slowly considering how I might adapt my practice to included the Crowley exercises Marco discussed in his book and lectures.

Overall, this retreat was an important and utterly unique experience for me. I woke up very early each morning, scrambled around Joshua Tree National Park, then raced back to the retreat center.

The early hours and jet lag should have had me falling asleep in my chair, but the exact opposite happened: I was always full of energy, charged by the words of two profound teachers, and fully energized by my brothers and sisters around me.

Congratulations on running such a profoundly powerful event! It displays a level of mastery I’ve never seen in any similar event. I’m impressed, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you. Thank you!

George

My thanks to Marco for providing an insightful, practical and welcoming Lucky Hoodoo intensive. After a period of reflection and engaging with the course material (and spending abit too much on Bertiaux books) I am noticing better dream recall, interesting flashes of insight and renewed creative vigour.

As this was the first course/workshop I’ve attended I will add that I found Marco to be an excellent communicator conveying quite complex and obtuse subject matter over 2 sessions.

Highly recommended and I hope he continues to provide more material in this area.

Giles