There are quite a few, if not many occultists out there who disregard and even dismiss energy work when it comes to magical practice. While I see nothing wrong with their views and I care not how they perform their rituals and whatnot, it kinda pisses me when they start telling beginners they don't need energy work in magick, especially when the latter ask about it specifically. It is true that several magical systems in the Western Traditions focus solely on getting to call on and commanding spirits, systems which are at risk of becoming perverted due to certain contemporary teachings, and mention nothing of any need to work on any sort of energy whatever...
There are also systems of magick like that of the Golden Dawn and Thelema in which a person is being thought not only how to conjure spirits, which is something they will learn much later, but also self-improvement and self-mastery. They way I understand it from having discussed with people who are initiated in one of these systems and are thus members of established magical orders, the individual is being guided towards working on the self in the first place and is only introduced to working with spirits after he or she has attained a certain level - Adept. Besides the need to perform certain regular exercises and meditations specific to each initiatory stage, the person also has to perform certain rituals and techniques that will strengthen their personal sphere of consciousness.






