An Interview with Durgadas Allon Duriel

1. Your new book is The Little Work. What inspired you to write it?

The Little Work is inspired by my experience of healing, self-development, and spiritual growth in a Hermetic order during my early twenties and while working as a holistic health practitioner and psychotherapist. Essentially, I gained valuable life skills that enabled me to become the magical practitioner I'd dreamed of while growing up but that, if I was honest with myself, I was far from actually being. These skills were then refined and added to by my holistic health and psychotherapeutic training. Because I know there are others in the position I was in, I felt like sharing what worked for me could benefit them.

2. How exactly do you define "the Little Work?"

The Little Work is the development of life skills that enable us to function with increasing ease, such that we can devote ourselves to spiritual practice. The name is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the Great Work, which is the pinnacle of Hermetic magic, wherein a magician abidingly realizes their divine nature. The idea is that in order to accomplish the Great Work, we must first perform the Little Work, and even then, the Little Work itself is an integral part of that greater process.

3. Why is it important for us to be magickal in all that we do, including our mundane, everyday tasks?

In my experience, there is no off switch to magic and walking the spiritual path. We can perform spells and other specific practices that amplify our magical signal and directly harness the tides of creation, but every moment of our lives is magical and mystical. The question we face is are we living with an awareness of that, and if so, are we channeling the resources available to us to support our well-being, intentions, and helping others in a respectful manner.

4. Do readers need to follow any particular belief system to use The Little Work?

The only beliefs that are needed to use this book are being open to the concept that magic is real and healthy for us to perform, that spiritual practices can benefit us, and that every moment of our lives is magical in some respect. I specifically tried to keep the information stripped down so that it could be applied in numerous spiritual settings. At times, the systems I work with are involved, like Hermetic Kabbalah and Yoga, but practitioners of The Little Work needn't embrace these. I think most of the information in this book can be applied to a diverse assortment of systems and practitioners.

5. What do you hope readers will take away from The Little Work?

My hope is that readers will find the tools and concepts they need to help them create the magical life of their dreams: experiencing greater well-being, healthier relationships, increased career satisfaction, and the spiritual experiences they long for.