My Review of Anita Kraft’s Qabalah Workbook for Magicians

I don’t know Anita Kraft personally, even though she spent a fair amount of time in my backyard, so to speak. I am, as most of you know, a proud Hoosier, and Ms. Kraft attended Indiana University and, according to the Introduction in her magnificent work, The Qabalah Workbook for Magicians, attended her first Gnostic Mass in Indianapolis. About this same time I was spending a fair amount of mine in Indy as well, consuming hallucinogens while kicking back metaphysically in a sensory-deprivation tank. Small world.

Now, if you were paying attention, you’d have noticed that I described Ms. Kraft’s recent Weiser Books release as magnificent. That is not hyperbole. As a near lifelong student of esoterica, I know a thing or two about Hermetic Qabalah. It was never a passionate focus of mine, but I cut my teeth there and did the work. While I appreciated the song and I learned all the notes, it just wasn’t one that I wanted to add to my set list. But a working understanding of Hermetic Qabalah is vital to the development of any practical magician and that’s why I loved Anita Kraft’s approach in The Qabalah Workbook.

This work is a must-have for any beginning student, in my opinion, but even more so, the ideas found within its pages are fresh and compelling for those of us a little longer in the tooth.

Thelemites will find the material quite comfortable, as the works of Aleister Crowley are quite dominant throughout. Not a Crowley fan? Don’t let that scare you off, there is plenty here to sink your teeth into. But be aware, this book is most likely the first in a series. Kraft covers the Sephiroth more than adequately, but the paths, where most modern magicians hang their proverbial wizard’s cap, are not. Don’t fret it. Plenty of work to be done here.

And that’s what I like best about The Qabalah Workbook. It is what it says it is — a workbook. I have little doubt that if you do the work as presented, you’ll be a better magician once you get to the other side, and that’s why I am more than happy to recommend this book to you, whether you ‘re a seasoned esotericist or someone eager to take their first steps into this magical world.

As to the physical book itself, I simply love the cover featuring Kircher’s Tree of Life. The interior fonts and illustrations are easy on the eyes and the off-white pages mean no unsightly glare. That goes a long way with me.

The Qabalah Workbook for Magicians: A Guide to the Sephiroth is available wherever books are sold, but here’s a link to Weiser Books’ online store. Feed the bear and maybe it won’t eat you.

Now, why don’t you join me over at Freeman Presson’s blog so we can read his review of  this very same book. I’m curious to see if he found it as enlightening as I did.

My 3 Word Review of The Best of the Equinox Vol. 2: Dramatic Ritual by Aleister Crowley

My three word review: BUY THIS BOOK.

There — that was short, sweet, and to the point, no?

Look, chances are you already own Crowley’s Equinox, right? If not, this four volume series is tailor made just for you. Weiser’s doing the heavy lifting for you, having the honorable Baba Lon assemble the very best that the Equinox has to offer. The first volume covered Enochian Magick. Volume two tackles Dramatic Ritual and nobody, and I do mean nobody does dramatic ritual like Uncle Al.

Now how about those of you who already have the Equinox steadfastly weighing your overwrought bookshelves down? Why, oh why, if you’re a devoted Crowley aficionado, would you dare to drop your hard earned coin on a second helping of these delectable treats? Because of the aforementioned Lon Milo DuQuette, whose introductions are worth their weight in gold — that’s why.

I could go on and on about the intricacies of the rituals within, about the poetic and sublime poetics, and the mind-shatteringly beautiful and rapturous words, lovingly crafted and fulfilling the title’s promise… but I won’t. Because you know it already. Why would you even hesitate?

Here there be magick.

Buy the ticket. Take the ride. Thank me later.

The Best of the Equinox Volume 2: Dramatic Ritual by Aleister Crowley is available wherever books are sold. Let you fingers do their little dance on the keyboard and order your copy today.

Review: The Candle and the Crossroads & The Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians

Orion Foxwood’s The Candle and the Crossroads: A Book of Appalachian Conjure and Southern Root Work surprised me. What I had assumed was a treatise outside of my wheelhouse instead struck very much close to home for me, at least in part. Those parts that spoke to me, did so in a very profound way. I should draw attention to the fact that quite a bit of The Candle and the Crossroads is influenced by the Christian faith. Yeah, I know, not exactly the Kool-Aid I drink from, but there are some real insights to be found within these pages that followers of any esoteric path can draw from as long as you keep your mind wide open.

This was a great read, for starters. Foxwood’s writing is crisp and heartfelt, presenting the material with a reverent tone while bringing these oral traditions to light. I couldn’t help but think of one of my favorite authors, Manly Wade Wellman, as I dissected Foxwood’s work. I was thrust right back to my childhood when I was captivated by Wellman’s tales of John the Balladeer.

It’s all here — conjuring, faith healing, spirit sight, and more. For those not familiar with Appalachian folk magic, this is an ideal primer.

Of particular interest were chapter 8: Ancestral Spirits and Graveyard Magic, and chapter 9: Gates into the Spirit World and Encountering the Dark Rider. In a word, spectacular. Talk about feeding my muse? As a writer of occult fiction, I was entranced and not only ready to work this into my own stories, but also to put some of this to use in my private arsenal of magical operation.

I have no doubt at all that you will find something that speaks to you in this book for it is filled with magic, mystery, and the promise of esoteric adventure. This is soulful stuff and will stir your imagination and fuel your own pursuits by taking something from the heartland of this Traditional American Folkway and bringing it out of the shadows, reminding us that it is a living, breathing, and evolving belief system that still has purpose and importance.

I also was blessed to spend some quality time with another book, this one from one of my favorite esotericists, William Walker Atkinson. Writing as  Magus Incognito, Atkinson’s The Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians is weighty stuff. Bringing a veritable cornucopia of occult beliefs — such as alchemy, astral projection, auras, mysticism, reincarnation, and more — under one esoteric umbrella, Atkinson was nothing if not ambitious.

In Clint Marsh’s well written and reasonable introduction the novice reader is let in on “the secret” that much of what was to be found within the Secret Doctrine’s pages was pure invention. This comes as no news to students of Atkinson’s writings, nor to anyone who has studied any of the so-called “secret societies” that flourished at the close of the nineteenth century and the birth of the twentieth.

That they all developed fanciful provenances and elaborate histories to give themselves a bit of caché via theatrical flair was a sign of the times, but it does not lessen the impact of the mysteries unveiled. In fact, it enhances and enriches them.

As  a storyteller, I understand the importance of set dressing and Atkinson was a master storyteller and a genius and innovative occultist.

A pioneer of the New Thought movement, Atkinson is largely forgotten now, primarily due to his perchance for writing under various and sundry aliases. That his works have remained in print all of these years is a testament to a masterful style and his flair for the dramatic.

Reading The Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians is a captivating experience, presenting an enlightened world-view and a thirst to become one with something larger than ourselves.

I cannot recommend either work highly enough and both Orion Foxwood’s The Candle and the Crossroads and William Walker Atkinson’s The Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians would make excellent additions to your personal occult library or as gifts for those loved ones with a thirst for esoteric knowledge.

 

My Review of Mrs. B’s Guide to Household Witchery by Kris Bradley

You can file this one under “not my usual cup of tea”, but to say I was pleasantly surprised by this book by everyone’s favorite pagan soccer mom is an understatement.

Penned by Kris Bradley, best known for her confessional blog, Mrs. B’s Guide to Household Witchery: Everyday Magic, Spells, and Recipes is a treasure trove of useful information, not only for the practicing witch, but for anyone with a bent toward the esoteric and a belief in the home as being its own unique and sacred space.

I traditionally frown at entry level books of an occult nature, but this one is so full and forthright that I couldn’t help be be enamored with it. There’s a real sense of joy in Bradley’s words as they embody her beliefs and there’s no doubt that she knows of what she speaks.

I found many of her offerings immediately useful. A rare thing, I assure you.

The book is laid out rather nicely and I liked the format overall. There’s a sense of style brought to it, production wise. I was particularly fond of the font choices throughout, and while the illustrations are fitting, a bit more thought into them wouldn’t have hurt. Still, it’s a well wrapped present to be sure.

Of note is the paper. A cheaper stock, but a glossier page produces glare, and this is a working book, meant to be opened and sitting on the counter while you prepare. Quick and easy at a glance. See, that’s smart thinking.

Count me as a huge fan of the appendices and the Simple Sabbats for the Busy Witch. If there was any doubt that these were put together by someone actively making magic are quickly dispelled. Thoughtful and resonating with a spartan approach to weaving magic in a very day in and day out sort of way.

This book is about making magic a part of your life, not as some sort of costume one puts on, but as everyday dress, integrating it into every facet of your life.

It’s a book that Mrs. Bradley should be quite proud of and one that should be on every Kitchen Witch’s shelf, right next to Vincent Price’s A Treasury of Great Recipes.

Mrs. B’s Guide to Household Witchery is published by Weiser Books and available wherever books are sold.

My Review of Impossible Realities by Maureen Caudill

Here’s a book I was very excited to tear into — Impossible Realities: The Science Behind Energy Healing, Telepathy, Reincarnation, Precognition, and Other Black Swan Phenomena by Maureen Caudill.

Talk about barking up the right tree. The blending of Magick and Science has been of particular interest to me. I’ve always had my feet in both worlds, and Impossible Realities promised to be the bridge between them.

The author’s credentials certainly added credibility to her book’s ambitious raison d’être. Who better to delve into these weighty subjects than a former Department of Defense expert on Artificial Intelligence?

Maureen Caudill comes out guns blazing, presenting well-researched and thought-provoking data on a myriad of preternatural subjects. The author has a knack for making the reader comfortable as she explains the science behind the various phenomena she addresses, intermixing it with anecdotal evidence that adds a very personal touch to the work.

It’s very well written and, editorially, is clean and neat, but there are no bells and whistles here. Font and formatting are textbook, while the front and back cover work is dull and lifeless, easily lost in amongst other books of its kin on the shelf of your local bookstore. Too bad, it could use a little “pop” in my opinion, but the content is the selling point and Caudill’s voice is strong and she presents convincing arguments…

I’ve but one real gripe and that lies in her list of resources near the back of the book. If that one chapter had been absent I would have been sold, hook, line, and sinker, but to herald medium John Edward really damages her credibility and the importance of her work. It’s not that I doubt the existence of individuals with such abilities, it’s just that I have seen enough evidence for me to doubt Mr. McGee.

And therein lies the rub. I found Impossible Realities to be an entertaining and enlightening book, but then I am, largely a believer in the phenomena covered. And so too is Ms. Caudill. Does this cloud our judgement sometimes? It happens. I’m reminded of Fox Mulder’s office poster, boldly proclaiming, “I WANT TO BELIEVE”.

Sometimes if you want something bad enough you see what you want to see. It’s not a bad trade-off. The Muggle world is harsh and cruel. Believing is often our best defense against the dark.

Caudill’s Edward recommendation diminished an otherwise joyous reading experience but still left me with the words “I want to believe” on my lips.

Impossible Realities by Maureen Caudill is published by Hampton Roads, distributed by Red Wheel/Weiser, and available wherever books are sold.

My Review of The Witches’ Almanac & Goblinproofing One’s Chicken Coop

The Witches’ Almanac, Issue 32 (Spring 1013 to Spring 2014)

I’ve been aware of The Witches’ Almanac since the 70s but didn’t become a frequent visitor to its pages until the early to mid-90s or so. While I do miss the “old school” format of the staplebound editions, the Almanac has become an increasingly more consistent publication, with the quality of content advancing by leaps and bounds over much of what came before. Not meaning to take anything away from the spectacular groundwork done by the late and great Elizabeth Pepper, but the Witches’ Almanac has become a melting pot of ideas and wondrous substance, allowing for a wider range of knowledge to be shared by students and practitioners of the many and varied paths that make up the magical patchwork of modern society, be they witches, druids, ceremonial magicians, or some other flavor of esotericist. That I found The Witches’ Almanac’s latest offering, titled Wisdom of the Moon, to be their best effort to date lends credence to my belief that this fun and whimsical publication has become an indispensable treasure (And I say this even knowing that Crowley aficionados might be somewhat chaffed by Dikki Jo Mullen’s characterization of the Great Beast found on pages 82-85). Simply put, The Witches’ Almanac has become one of those annual publications that must be had, regardless of your personal creed. There is something for nearly everyone inside and each volume seems better than the last.

Goblinproofing One’s Chicken Coop and Other Practical Advice in Our Campaign Against the Fairy Kingdom
Authored by Reginald Barkley with a Foreword by Clint Marsh

Speaking of whimsical, will you read a more delightful book this year? I highly doubt it. Goblinproofing is a fun little treatise, filled with interesting woodcuts and a parade of “practical” offensive and defensive techniques for dealing with the more nefarious of fairyland’s pesky critters. Barkley approaches the subject matter with an earnestness that is quite charming, blending a serious tone with a bit of a wink and a nudge. An esoteric tome filled with insights, wit, and wisdom? Sure, but by its very nature I am sure that fans of The Spiderwick Chronicles and Harry Potter would be equally at home with this book. It’s worth the cost of the book for the production values alone. Why, just the other day, my good friend Clarence Ragan (81 years of age and still wrangling a letterpress across the street from where I work) and I sat and pored over the book, discussing the woodcuts and font choices, as well as the marvelous decision to print the book with chocolate brown ink on faux parchment. I cannot fathom why anyone wouldn’t be honored to have this one on their shelf.

My Review of James Wasserman’s In the Center of the Fire

For those of us who have spent any time involved, even peripherally, in the occult scene, James Wasserman needs no introduction. He has been one of the most prominent movers and shakers in the esoteric subculture since the seventies. His reputation proceeds him, without question. His presence in the midst of some of the most important events, especially pertaining to Aleister Crowley’s legacy, in the later half of the twentieth century is truly mind-boggling. In the Center of the Fire: A Memoir of the Occult (1966-1989) is an important addition into the annals of occult history, not only in regard to Thelema and the O.T.O., but also to the crazy New York scene that he was knee-deep in and his involvement in the very heart of the pagan publishing arena.

It’s all here, warts and all.

In the Center of the Fire is a veritable who’s who of the occult scene of the seventies and eighties. Wasserman moved amongst them all and was an integral cog in the machine that saw the preservation and publication of some of the most important esoteric works in history.

But more than all that, Wasserman’s memoir is a truly heartfelt account of his magickal life, of his loves and passions, of his prolific drug use, and his incredible journey through the fantastical New York landscape where the esoteric fires burned brightest.

I had very high expectations of this book and they were fully met.

For those with any interest in the history of modern magick, this memoir is more than a “must-read”. In the Center of the Fire is an important work that sheds light on the past, but is also an inspiring chronicle of one man’s magickal journey, made even more poignant for me because I see my own journey reflected in his in so many ways. Maybe you will too.

In the Center of the Fire: A Memoir of the Occult (1966-1989) is available wherever books are sold, but, as I understand it, you can snag an autographed copy directly from James Wasserman’s Studio 31. Do yourself a favor — track down this book. I’ve not read a better one this year.

My Review of Draja Mickaharic’s Spirtual Cleansing

In my role as a paranormal adventuring occult detective, few things are as important as psychic self-defense. I have always taken a magician’s approach to such matters and very much come from the Dion Fortune school of thought and practice in that regard. Renowned “witchdoctor” Draja Mickaharic in this groundbreaking addition to the psychic self-defense milieu has delivered a warm and inviting counter-balance to this structured, ceremonial magick-infused methodology.

Mickaharic shares with the reader a rich and practical guide to spiritual cleansing, using folk remedies and techniques that immediately feel comfortable, unassuming, and instilled with a fervent purpose to get to the heart of the matter.

The best thing about Spiritual Cleansing is that it made me think and rethink the practical application of magical protections against all manner of threats that one faces in my line of work.

There are a number of immediately useful techniques presented that, with a wee bit of nudge here and there, will be added to my arsenal. This is folk magic at its finest, simple and effective. Yes, it oftentimes leans a bit too heavily into the Judeo-Christian wheelhouse, but with some minor adjustments, the techniques found here will work from any viewpoint.

Spiritual Cleansing: A Handbook of Psychic Protection is an important work and will readily serve both beginners and advanced students of the magical arts. I recommend it without reservation.

Draja Mickaharic’s Spiritual Cleansing is available wherever books are sold, or if you’re so inclined, you might prefer to conjure one up direct from Weiser Books. I know they’d appreciate your patronage.

ADDENDUM: When shelving this book I discovered that I had a 1989 edition of Spiritual Cleansing tucked in between Villodo and Krippner’s Healing States: A Journey Into the World of Spiritual Healing and Shamanism and Keith Sherwood’s Chakra Therapy for Personal Growth and Healing. It was so thin I missed it. There it has sat, for more than 20 years, unread. One of the reasons I now keep a shelf where all the unread books are kept until they’ve been properly devoured and then subsequently allowed to co-habitate with their “also read” brethren.

My Review of The Book of Enoch the Prophet

Ah, the Book of Enoch. As I read through this newly released edition from Weiser Books I was taken back to 1986. I was a junior at Ball State University at that time, majoring in Anthropology and Ancient Studies, with an emphasis on Witchcraft, Magic, and Religion. My adviser was  Professor Enya Flores-Meiser, who I had (and have) a great deal of respect for. She was very supportive of my Independent Study and guided my instruction into areas I most likely would have never ventured. Her greatest gift, however, was getting me into the Library Archives and access to a wealth of rare books and manuscripts. It was here that I first read Crowley’s White Stains and Konx Om Pax, where I discovered The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage and The Key of Solomon. And it is where I first was able to read from The Book of Enoch.

“And Azâzêl taught men to make swords, and knives, and shields, and breastplates, and made known to them the metals of the earth and the art of working them, and bracelets, and ornaments, and the use of antimony, and the beautifying of the eyelids, and all kinds of costly stones, and all coloring tinctures. And there arose much godlessness, and they committed fornication, and they were led astray, and became corrupt in all their ways. Semjâzâ taught enchantments, and root-cuttings, Armârôs the resolving of enchantments, Barâqîjâ taught astrology, Kôkabêl the constellations, Ezêqêêl the knowledge of the clouds, Araqiêl the signs of the earth, Shamsiêl the signs of the sun, and Sariêl the course of the moon. And as men perished, they cried, and their cry went up to heaven . . .”

This was some heady, eye-opening stuff, believe me. I saw immediately how this book, though discarded from official canon, had influenced so much that came after. This work is the very definition of “Apocrypha” — a sacred text meant for the eyes of holy men alone as the exalted nature of the secrets within were deemed too great for those of the general public. And why not? Here be angels and demons, giants and dragons, and a heaven and hell writ large on a cosmic scale. Its shadow is far-reaching and was certainly on the minds of the writers of the New Testament just as its fingerprints are all over the grimoires that poured out of the Middle Ages.

Weiser Books is to be commended for releasing this new edition of The Book of Enoch the Prophet. Its importance to students of esoterica cannot be overstated and the addition of a superb introduction by the esteemed Lon Milo DuQuette, to compliment the brilliant preface of noted occult scholar R.A. Gilbert, is worth the price of admission in and of itself.

Any library that neglects the inclusion of The Book of Enoch the Prophet is a poor one indeed. If you’ve not a copy on your shelf, correct that oversight with all due haste. You can conjure up a copy directly from the good folk at Weiser Books with a few simple keystrokes.

My Review of Vampyre Magick by Father Sebastiaan

I have been a student of the occult for many a year now. As I grow long of tooth my patience for the sort of tomfoolery found in the writings of self-absorbed, self-important authors such as “Father Sebastiaan” to be far from my liking. I had read his previous work, the Vampyre Sanguinomicon, and I expected much the same from his latest — Vampyre Magick: The Grimoire of the Living Vampire. He didn’t disappoint me.

Is there an audience for this sort of work? Oh, most assuredly. I am, however, not to be counted in their number. Vampyre Magick is an ideal treatise for the cosplay scene, those who have grown beyond Vampyre: The Masquerade and are looking to sink their teeth into something a bit more. So long as they don’t sink them in too deeply, for what they’ll find is fanciful accounts of legend and lore without any frame of reference or the citing of sources.

Oh, how exotic. How terrifying, these creatures of the night.

Cribbing from legitimate magickal works, Sebastiaan presents a fanciful tome that reads like a role-playing manual, nothing more. It’s all dramatic reading by candlelight, decked out in evening wear, and drinking red wine from pewter goblets, false fangs at the ready.

Vampyre Magick takes itself so damn serious, but the fact of the matter is that this is little more than play acting,with the best bits stolen from far superior dissertations.

That being said, it is a lovely book to behold. The cover is attractive and inviting. The editing is solid. Weiser Books has done an excellent job with the material presenting it in a most favorable light. If only the content warranted their unwavering attention to detail.

As you might expect, I simply cannot recommend this book to serious occult practitioners. However, as a novelty, curiosity, or as a source work for your weekend gaming night, there might be something for you within.

This one was not my cup of tea, to be sure. If it’s yours, well, then may the gods be with you.

Thankfully I have John Michael Greer’s Mystery Teachings from the Living Earth on deck to clear my palette.