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The "What Occult Books are you currently reading" thread

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08:01 / 28.06.07

I had a glance through it in Treadwells earlier this week. Looked interesting and I might pick it up, although I was baffled why he seemed to spend so long on Amado Crowley. It's a bit like having a lengthy chapter on David Icke in the middle of it.

It did make me laugh, however, that one of my early... er... enterprises got name checked in the chaos magic bit. And here I was thinking all that time spent chanting barbarous names in the woods, and poor Bill Poster's grisly self-mutilation, was all for nothing.

09:26 / 28.06.07

a thorough (and way too long) debunking of Amado Crowley

I'd be quite interested in that actually, as there's an Amado group around here. Ickeans I can deal with, they're a bit more sinister and baffling.

16:17 / 28.06.07

Looks like Evans will give a talk on the subject at Treadwell's on 16 August.

10:39 / 04.07.07

Mostly I'm re-reading/working through Seidways by Jan Fries,
Talks To Strangers

What's it like? I'm guessing as you are re-reading it that it must be good.

18:56 / 31.07.07

Picked up three new books:

Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism

A gigantic brick of a book on Jewish mythology and folklore filled with hundreds of stories about God, angels, demons, kabala, Lilith, Sheol, and much more.

Teenage Witches: Magical Youth and the Search for Self

Interviews with and an analysis of teenage wiccans and pagans in the U.S., Britain, and Australia.

Performing Dark Arts: A Cultural History of Conjuring

About stage magicians from Djedi to Houdini to David Blaine. Showmanship, performance, and the relationship between the stage magician and his or her audience.

Cool stuff. Should keep me occupied for a while.

19:18 / 31.07.07

Read Thich Nhat Hanh's The Energy of Prayer which was a a really great small book about improving the effectiveness of prayer. Includes some really great simple prayers. It's a small lovely book to keep with you. Highly recommend for accessible language and right on-ness. Was very insightful about the power of group prayer versus solo as well.

Difficult Conversations
took a seminar around this book and it is really changing how I look at my relationships and deal with conflict. Again a very easy to read accessible book that anyone could apply to their lives. i find it not only helps with conflicts with people but within myself.

Picked up new books to read:
How to Practice - HH the Dalai Lama
The Mirror of Mindfullness - Tsele Natsok Rangdrol

06:21 / 01.08.07

Anyone else here pick up a copy of The Probationer's Handbook by George T. Mortimer recently. It just went out on LuLu and I've been enjoying my copy. Disinformation.com also featured it as a story recently.

It's a good way to find the necessities in Crowley's writings to get through the grade, yet this should not be used as a substitute for serious study of the works. While it goes over the word, movement and feeling of the rituals it lacks in theory. It'll tell you how to do the LBRP but not a why or what which I feel removes some power from the rite. Other than that I suggest it to anyone interested in the A.A. or Crowley.

Also just cracked the Upanishads today. While this produced the same anxiety I get when I read a mind bending RAW book, the scripts at the same time brought about harmony and peace. Great mindfuck to wrap yourself around if you're into Hindu texts.

16:08 / 01.08.07

Nearly half-way through A Garden of Pomegranates by Israel Regardie. A lot of the material I've read before in other books, but it has inspired me to finally get off my ass and learn the Hebrew-astrological-tarot correspondences.*
Gareth Knight's book (the title of which I can't remember) never managed that, and overall seemed a lot more dry to me.

A Garden of Pomegrqanates is very accessible and is probably a good starting point for anyone interested in the Kabbalistic basis of the Golden Dawn.

* Incidentally, this has already paid off in new ideas and perspectives. I definitely recommend this, if there's someone still on their ass. Get off it.

17:06 / 01.08.07

(the title of which I can't remember)

That'd be the "Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symolism", wouldn't it? I've been making time each day for the same two books, picking a Path and reading over the relevant sections as well as the sections on the connecting Sephira. Between the two, something's definitely started "moving" for me regarding this subject. I've realized I've been approaching the Tree in a very compartmentalized way, looking at it as parts rather than as a whole. It clicked for me while reading Knight but, like you, I wouldn't rate Knight over Regardie. The Practical Guide is good, but it doesn't feel as focused as Garden of Pomegranetes does.

I recommend you skip the Cicero's material in the Regardie book (and I'm assuming you have the Llewelyn edition when I say that). I mean, take a look at it. You might get something out of it. I myself did not.

16:33 / 02.08.07

"Picked up new books to read:
How to Practice - HH the Dalai Lama
The Mirror of Mindfullness - Tsele Natsok Rangdrol"

Hey XK! I think you and I are on the same track. I am currently reading:

How to See Yourself - H.H. the Dalai Lama
and
Mindfulness Yoga - Frank Jude Boccio.

It is funny also, that all the while I am reading "How to See Yourself", I am thinking about the discussion on aliens, daimonic reality (and naturally you!), and how His Holiness talks about interdependant arising of phenomenon. I find it is very related to the "post office" metaphor you have used here, although, I do not have the time to get into that ATM.

17:00 / 02.08.07

yeah I'm thinking Buddhism has the toolset I'm missing for my brand of paganism in the same way many of my NT pals use Vodun.

Oddly enough while many religions talk about being compassionate and using love as the main healing agent so far Buddhism is the only one I've run across in the mainstream that seems to break it down into the mechanics of how you alter yourself actively. Well, some of the Hindo yogic stuff does too but it seems way less prevalent and accessible. I suspect the Tantra stuff will be what I graduate to once I get a better understanding of this material.

So far I'm digging the syncretion of Shinto & Buddhism into my neo pagan practice.

11:21 / 28.08.07

Some good stuff in there, but I felt it suffered a bit from being a PHD thesis that he hadn't perhaps spent long enough converting into book form

I'm about half way though the book at the moment and it's an enjoyable read so far, the thing is, I would now like to read his thesis paper in full. I get the impression it has been chopped and changed quite a bit to make it into a book.

For me the book is an interesting history which I hadn't encountered much of, my beginnings were in witchcraft/wicca and whilst I had read Hutton's books and some similar shorter pieces by others on the witchcraft cycle, I hadn't really come across this side before. Although I did have a hectic twenty minutes trying to land my hands on an old magazine as a letter I had wrote about classification of books was mentioned in one of the chapters, the world is small sometimes (unfortunately under my bed is a large unchartered universe)!

I am also reading Red Goddess By Peter Grey and again I am about half way though the first reading of it, I am always amazed by this type of book where the relationship they have with their path/deity is so openly discussed and placed on paper. Personally I feel it is a bit light on the history but then as stated you can go and do your own research on it if you feel it is required.

trouser the trouserian

12:06 / 28.08.07

I'm about halfway through Owen Davies' Murder, Magic, Madness (Pearson, 2005) which is a rather spiffing microhistory, being the account of the life of one William Dove, who poisoned his wife Harriet in 1856 and was found out, tried, and went to the gallows. This is no straightfowards case of murder though, due to the influence of the so-called "Leeds Wizard" and his influence on Dove (who believed that the wizard's influence would help him avoid punishment). Davies does a good job of chronicling and analysing the activities and influence of dubious cunning-men, planet-casters and astrologers and how they were viewed in mid-19th century Victorian England, and also looks at the role that newspapers played in shaping the events. It's meticulously researched, but Davies doesn't let this get in the way of telling the story.

14:16 / 28.08.07

I'm going through dharma books like my life depended on it...

anyhow:

No Fear, No Death by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Places That Scare You (A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times) by Pema Chödrön.

I feel like I'm going to Compassion Boot Camp and it's pretty fantastic.

08:26 / 30.08.07

Well last night on the way back from a talk I finished reading The History of British Magick After Crowley, by Dave Evans. And as I said before has been an interesting read, I can see the point that the chapter on Amado Crowley may be too long but as this was a book on magic after Crowley I can see why the chapter was so long. If Amado could prove with evidence his claims then it could be a major factor.

I agree with Alex's Grandma that the author provided some interesting stuff which due to the size of the book couldn't be explored further, this could be due to thesis restictions or book ones. Again I find myself wondering how different the original thesis is to the book.

trouser the trouserian

09:47 / 30.08.07

Again I find myself wondering how different the original thesis is to the book.

I can't help wondering the same myself, archabyss. Whilst I found Evans' discussion of Amado Crowley and Kenneth Grant as exemplars of the ways in which occultists blur the distinction between the factual and the fictive interesting (and entertaining) it seemed to me that there was little consideration of why (or how) these ahistorical "narratives" are useful for occultists. After all, it's not as if that's a recent trend.

18:40 / 02.09.07

Just picked up The Ladder of Lights by William G. Gray, so far have only read the chapter on Daath and the Atziluth portion of Tifareth. Really enjoyable so far.

08:24 / 13.09.07

I am also reading Red Goddess By Peter Grey and again I am about half way though the first reading of it, I am always amazed by this type of book where the relationship they have with their path/deity is so openly discussed and placed on paper.

I’m reading this as well and really enjoying it: it’s a real treasure of a book. You can really feel the passion and the dedication that’s gone into its whole creation. I don’t know Peter Grey, but my admiration goes out to him wherever he is.

I’m not too far into it at the moment: it’s a real sensuous read that demands the engagement of one’s whole heart. I’m keeping it tucked in my bedside table. For some reason, I can’t really seem to take it out of the boudoir…

I’ve always had a few issues with the portrayal of Babylon / Babalon in both the Book of Revelations and the writings of Crowley. In my eyes, John the Revelator always seemed a bit of a fundie nutjob, and while I’ve got a certain admiration for dear Uncle Al, it goes without saying that he had a few issues with the Ladies. To engage with Crowley’s Babalon, it seems one has to take St. John the Divine at his word, which is something I find quite difficult to do. St. John’s depiction of Babylon has always struck me as a fractured vision of Ishtar, complete with her accoutrements and pretty pet Lion. Crowley’s Victorian psyche seems to grab this vision and run with it. In doing so, what did he create?

I guess that’s the question I’m grappling with at the moment. I’m not reading The Red Goddess in a linear fashion. No ma’am, I went straight for the ending, and was amazed by Mr. Grey’s intricate knowledge of certain Venusian mysteries. It seems that our respective Ladies share some very similar tastes. Wonders never cease.

09:21 / 13.09.07

For some reason, I can’t really seem to take it out of the boudoir…

Not just me then...

10:03 / 13.09.07

There's a really interesting thread on unpacking the whole idea of Babalon along these lines, for sure, but I'm far too busy this afternoon to get it started.

23:40 / 13.09.07

Pathnotes of an American Ninja Master by Glenn Morris.
One of the most useful, funny and all around awsome books I have ever read. One of the few genuine ninjas out there making books, and totally worth the read.

08:39 / 14.09.07

Pathnotes of an American Pirate by Cap'n Magpie.
One of the most useful, funny and all around awesome books I have ever read. One of the few genuine pirates out there making books, and totally worth the read.

Closed for Business Time

08:42 / 14.09.07

Pathnotes of a Norwegian whaler by Skipper Greenpeas.
One of the most useful, funny and all around awesome books I have ever read. One of the few genuine whalers out there making books, and totally worth the read.

08:49 / 14.09.07

Pathnotes of an American Barbarian by Um Thrak Ga.
One of the most useful, funny and all around awsome books I have ever read. One of the few genuine barbarians out there making books, and totally worth the read.

Closed for Business Time

08:55 / 14.09.07

We can keep this up all day, sarge!

09:30 / 14.09.07

Please can we not keep this up all day?

Anyways, I have just finished reading The Wisdom of Ancient Egypt by Joesph Kaster which I brought whilst in Brighton. Not a bad book while not a magic/religion book in general does have some interesting ideas regarding the stories of the egyptian deity stories and some insight into their dream divination and healing spells plus some translations which I hadn't seen before although that is more because I haven't read into them before.

The religion aspect was very interesting as he puts forward the reasoning that a few deities seemed to gain and lose roles/titles because the egyptians may have believed that their gods lived in a place where time and boundaries didn't exist so that could have many different roles.

I think it's more a taster for other books as there are a few weird throw away lines also his distaste for greek influence makes it a bit funny (not in a good way) in places.

trouser the trouserian

09:40 / 14.09.07

One of the few genuine ninjas out there making books, and totally worth the read.

Shouldn't that read:

One of the few dead ninjas out there making books, and totally worth the read.

...seeing as the guy died last year?

10:53 / 14.09.07

Well, i hope he died a worthy Ninja death. Like fighting Electra or Wolverine or something. I'd hate to think of one of the last few genuine Ninjas in the world dying by choking on a digestive biscuit whilst on the phone to his publisher.

14:17 / 14.09.07

He died? I had no idea. In any case, as cheese-tastic as anyone calling themselves a ninja sounds, his books are pretty awsome. Theres loads of chi and meditation stuff, dreamwork,kundalini advice and weird anecdotes. I found Pathnotes useful and entertaining, and surprisingly good for a book with the words "Ninja Master" plastered on the cover.
Only just started Shadow Strategies so I guess we'll see how that goes.

Has anyone mentioned the Castaneda books? I know thats opening up a whole barrel of worms, but I for one found the first few he wrote to be pretty good, and even if he was full of it, the ideas and worlds he presented still served to deepen my occult interests and draw me deeper down the rabbit hole. Blew my teenage mind, he did. Now I can't read him with a straight face, or really at all, but he's worth the read once, IMHO.

Mantak Chia's Taoist Secrets of Love: Cultivating Male Sexual Energy has been keeping me busy off and on for a while now. Its ridiculously in depth and frank about everything from basic energy movement to inflating your sack like a balloon.

The Cosmic Serpent by Jeremy Narby blew my doors clear off. As a psychonaut and weirdo in good standing I consider it required reading for anyone remotely interested in shamanism, altered states, or drugs. While he gets a little over enthusiastic from time to time, its still utterly fascinating and brimming with amazing ideas and insights.

and in the interest of brevity, one last reccomendation: The Self Aware Universe by Amit Goswami and The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot.
Quantum Physics is love.

15:27 / 14.09.07

The Essential Rumi by Coleman Barks and John Moyne is fantastic and beautiful. I first read it on the road to Shambhala Music Festival this summe. I credit it with being the chaos butterfly for my full on Sufi experience of being a burning drop in an ocean of human bliss. Ecstatic psytrance dance is the quickest way to non-being and Nirvana I have ever experienced.
Rumi is easily by far and wide the best and most soulful poet I have ever read.

On that note, what other good Sufi literature is out there?

shockoftheother

17:15 / 14.09.07

The full diversity and difference of the human experience never ceases to amaze me: psytrance is one man's route to nirvana whereas to me its redolent of acid-munching hippies wandering round semiconscious, dressed in every shade so long as it's neon and ghastly and insisting that it's 'aaaall so cosmic maaaan!'. Blessed be the earth that has brought forth such variety.

On a serious note, though, I'd also like to chime in and recommend Peter's book, though I'm somewhat biased as Peter's a personal friend and I've seen this work taking place and coming to fruition for the past few years. Peter's devotion screams off of every page, and I think it's probably best to consider the book as first and foremost a concretion of that devotion. I think there's a lot of discussion to be had about Crowley's Babalon, and they way his writing about Her perpetuates misogyny, and in my own work I'm much more careful about using the word 'whore' than either Crowley or Peter are. My position is complicated by the fact that I come from a queer perspective whereas Peter comes from a heterosexual one. Still, I'm particular heatened that there's some Thelemic writing that's happy to challenge the Crowley-centric orthodoxy.

I've been flicking through the a few of the volumes of the Athlone History of Witchcraft and Magic in Europe. Much of it is of quite a high quality, and I've particularly been enjoying Valerie Flint's article on the transition of daimones to demons in the Christianising period. I think the C18th-19th century sections could be better addressed, though by no means is the work in there poor.William de Blécourt's article in the 20th Century section on contemporary witchcrafts is quite good, but I'm left wondering about the purpose of the series as a whole. I think they're great starting points, but as with any grand project, its broad sweep often leaves a lot of stuff that should perhaps be better developed.

14:33 / 16.09.07

Peter's devotion screams off of every page, and I think it's probably best to consider the book as first and foremost a concretion of that devotion.

That devotion is precisely what makes the work such an enchanting read...its palpable. I'd go even further and surmise that the book itself is a spell: designed to work its holy mojo in 156 selected homes. Break the seal and let the Lady loose! It's certainly made an impact in mine: the resident Powers are enthralled by the presence of Sister B, especially my own Maitresse: the two share a host of similar Mysteries.

It's the beauty of the author's devotion and the book's own magic which helps me overlook the frustrating bits: namely presenting Herodotus (known as both "The Father of History" and "The Father of Lies") as a reliable source on ancient Babylon, and popular assumptions of "sacred" prostitution in antiquity. Even a cursory look at the academic material on the subject blows a lot of these presumptions out of the water, but people continue to myth-make on the bones of long dead women: the truth of their experiences impossible to ever entirely understand.

Unconditional Love

15:58 / 16.09.07

Peters book gave that impression to me also rosie x, so much so that i incorporated the ribbon, flowers and wax into my own working to begin a devotional practice which has been continuing ever since. Currently wearing a piece of the red ribbon around my wrist as a constant tactile impression of the books feeling and context. A majority of the wax seal is still present in my offering bowl, so it infuses with each subsequent sacrifice or offering, she then begins to become a part of all of my work.

Id also suggest immersing oneself in the thoth tarot not just the ones peter suggests in the book, but especially the cups suit.

07:51 / 17.09.07

On that note, what other good Sufi literature is out there?

You might want to look at Peter Lamborn Wilson's (aka Hakim Bey) work. His sufi stuff is very scholarly, unlike the agit prop, and fascinating to boot - Scandal and Sacred Driftare the two I've read. Sacred Drift is interesting as, although it's written a few years ago (around the time of the firt Gulf War), he puts ideas of sufism and Islam in a contemporary politcal context and reflects on East/West relations - the book begins with (something like) the sentence "The West has rediscovered it's old enemy .. the Saracen". It also contains a lot of fascinating material on the Moorish Science Temple, a heretical sect of US black Muslims. A welcome corrective to the Islamic sterotypes doing the rounds.

BTW, I recently read Desperately Seeking Paradise by Ziauddin Sardar, which is pretty indispensable should you be wishing to improve your understanding of contemporary Islam.

09:12 / 17.09.07

On that note, what other good Sufi literature is out there?

If you've enjoyed Rumi i'd recommend The Hand of Poetry which has a few short essays on Sufi poetry as well as translations of Rumi and others sush as Attar, Sanai, Saadi, and Hafiz. It's not something i've read much of at all but i really enjoyed this book. The essays are a good introduction to the subject and the poems are all pretty good.

I particually liked 'Earthworm Guidance' by Sanai.

the rock at night, and the stone
shifting in the stream, and the worm's
song of praise inside the ground.

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