Mat Auryn - Author Of 'Psychic Witch' and 'The Psychic Art of Tarot'

Astounding!

Revisado: 12-15-23

"Modern Occultism" by Mitch Horowitz is a masterful exploration of the intricate and often misunderstood world of occult history, striking a rare balance as a work of scholarly rigor and engaging storytelling. Horowitz, a historian who deeply respects and believes in the significance of occult practices, presents a narrative that is both enlightening and deeply fascinating, making it an invaluable read for anyone interested in the subject. This book expands significantly beyond the scope of Horowitz's earlier work, "Occult America." While "Occult America" provides a detailed account of the occult's influence in the United States, "Modern Occultism" delves into a much wider scope, offering a global perspective that, in my opinion, surpasses its predecessor in both depth and intrigue. The book stands out for its clarity in charting the timeline of occult events. Horowitz meticulously traces the evolution of esoteric practices, from their ancient roots in Hermeticism through their resurgence during the Renaissance, to their influence on modern secret societies like the Rosicrucians and Freemasons and the often misunderstood Illuminati. This detailed chronology not only fills gaps in our understanding of occult history but also frames these events within the broader context of world history.

Horowitz's treatment of occultism is marked by both respect and level-headedness. He acknowledges the skepticism often associated with these topics while presenting a well-researched account of their development and influence. This balanced perspective allows readers to appreciate the depth and complexity of occult traditions without the bias that often accompanies historical treatments of such subjects. The book was personally revelatory for me. For instance, I was fascinated to learn how Theosophy normalized cremation in the West, influenced Mahatma Gandhi, and played a role in preserving Indian culture and contributing to India's liberation from colonial rule. Additionally, the revelation of Carl Jung's role as Agent 488, creating a personality profile of Hitler for Allen Dulles at the OSS (precursor to the CIA), was both surprising and enlightening.

Horowitz's exploration of how occultism has impacted society, from art to politics, is both engaging and informative. The far-reaching influence of esoteric occult ideas in shaping cultural and political landscapes offers insights into their often-underestimated significance. His objective examination of the intersection of occultism and politics, including influential figures and movements, enriches the narrative. Horowitz's ability to weave a philosophy throughout his historical narrative provides a deeper understanding of the underlying ideas and their evolution over time, transforming the book into a thoughtful exploration of occult traditions. His talent as a writer is evident in his ability to present traditionally dryly written academic topics in a manner that is both engaging and entertaining. He transforms what could easily be an arduous read into a lively journey, making the book not only informative but also immensely enjoyable. The book also addresses the state of occultism today, tracing its development into the contemporary era. This contemporary focus makes the book particularly relevant for modern readers, connecting the dots between past and present in the world of occultism. It helps show how we got to where we are today.

TLDR: "Modern Occultism" by Mitch Horowitz is a seminal work that provides a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the history and impact of occult practices. Horowitz's scholarly yet accessible writing, combined with his unique stance as a believing historian, offers a narrative that is both educational and deeply respectful, capturing the essence of occultism’s rich and varied legacy. The book is a key resource for understanding the complex history of occultism and its enduring influence across various aspects of society.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Pretty much any book on this topic will be better

Revisado: 11-25-23

In my explorations of C.W. Leadbeater's writings, I've occasionally unearthed 'gold nuggets' of wisdom or insight amidst what I'd consider the 'rubbish.' However, "How Clairvoyance Is Developed" stands out as an exception where the search for valuable insights proved fruitless. This book, aiming to delve into the development of clairvoyant abilities, is significantly flawed. The approach to explaining clairvoyance is also frustratingly vague. Leadbeater often provides strong opinions without practical guidance, leaving readers with more questions than answers. This is extremely odd due to the book’s title. The structure of the book is also a mess, as it hops sporadically from one topic to another. One of the most glaring issues is the book's outdated and problematic views on race. Leadbeater's remarks on 'advanced races' and his condescending attitude toward non-Western spiritual practices, like his example of mentioning “the primitive neg**’s Voodoo” and its “dangerous magical practices,” are not just troubling and deeply offensive but most of all, are completely unnecessary to even mention to begin with.

The tone of the book is also concerning. While this is probably the most accessible writing style of his that I’ve read, the book leans towards extreme fear-mongering and pearl-clutching, portraying many tried and true techniques for developing clairvoyance as either ineffective or extremely dangerous. He literally fear-mongers over practicing simple breathing techniques or soft-gazing at a flame. This narrative culminates in an elitist stance, where he suggests that true clairvoyant development is exclusively achievable under the mentorship of an (ascended) ‘master' from the Theosophical Society, a path depicted as highly exclusive. He says that if someone is pure enough they might get invited into the elite inner circle while studying in Theosophy and potentially learn under an ascended master. The book's primary advice to 'concentrate,' 'meditate,' and 'contemplate' is presented without detailed instructions, which is disappointing for those seeking practical steps. Leadbeater's authoritative tone, paired with a lack of discussing any personal clairvoyant experiences or abilities first hand, further diminishes the book's credibility. While I typically hesitate to leave negative reviews, "How Clairvoyance Is Developed" is hard to recommend. Its unsupported fear, troubling racial views, and gatekeeping of psychism overshadow any potential insights, which I admittedly couldn’t find within it. For readers looking for an inclusive, respectful, and practical guide to spiritual or psychic development, this book likely isn't the right choice. I really left the book feeling that Leadbeater had no idea what he was ever so authoritatively writing about on this subject and that I completely wasted my time. Very disappointing.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Embody Your Magick

Revisado: 10-28-21

I find myself very grateful to be alive at the same time as Laura Tempest Zakroff. It’s hard for me not to gush about her work, but she is indeed one of my favorite witchcraft authors of all time, and this book is another example of why. Anatomy of a Witch: A Map to the Magical Body explores the embodiment of the witch, both literally and figuratively, giving a symbolic anatomy for the reader to work with energetically and physically to connect deeper with themselves, their power, the mysteries of witchcraft, and more importantly, the Universe around them. Using meditations, energy exercises, rituals, sigils, journaling prompts, and tarot references, Tempest weaves a fantastic reality map to explore that doesn’t disappoint.

While many religions and spiritual traditions aim to deny the body or view it as an obstacle of temptation to overcome, witchcraft tends to be a path that embraces the opposite. Tempest explores how the physical body and physical existence is not only a holy vessel for the witch but a map to spiritual aspects of ourselves and tools for connection with the greater metaphysical reality. Tempest writes with the insight and groundedness of a modern-day Doreen Valiente, the creativity and passion of a modern-day Rosaleen Norton, and the poetic language, artistic style, and wisdom that is uniquely her own. Anatomy of a Witch is a fantastic contribution to the field of witchcraft study regardless of which tradition, path, or eclectic style you embrace when using the word “Witch.” Like all of her work, I highly recommend this book for any witch of any experience level.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 5 personas

Troubleshoot Your Craft

Revisado: 10-28-21

I really enjoyed Thorn Mooney’s first book Traditional Wicca, but I absolutely love The Witch’s Path. Mooney has such a friendly, approachable, relatable, and charming writing style, which I greatly admire. While seekers and beginners can enjoy this book and get a lot out of it, I feel it’s ideally more suitable for someone already on the path of witchcraft that has found themselves in a rut or overwhelmed with difficulties within the witchcraft and pagan community. Anyone who has been practicing witchcraft for years with seriousness is bound to find themselves feeling uninspired, burned out, and unconnected from their Craft at some point on the path. With complete transparency, Mooney shares her struggles with this and, more importantly, provides insight into how she overcame it in hopes that you can too, when you are up against these roadblocks.


Regardless of whether you view your Craft as spirituality or religion, The Witch’s Path shows that there is indeed depth to the Craft. To discover these answers, Mooney shows that this depth and “advanced” witchcraft is there if we are earnestly looking for it. She encourages us to approach this path with reverence regardless of if we relate to it as a religion or spirituality, not treat it as something to dabble in with the sole intent of self-service or as an aesthetic to serve our egos while also suggesting we keep it in balance with not overextending ourselves to others to our own detriment. This book is inspiring, honest, and level-headed while remaining supportive, understanding, and urging the reader to discover their own answers without ever being condescending.

The Witch’s Path isn’t a book of just spells and rituals. This is a book about reigniting the spark, passion, enthusiasm, connection, and awe of a witch’s Craft - which is much more crucial if we are going to have our magick and spellcasting be effective and treat this as our spiritual life path. You aren’t necessarily getting training on “how to be a witch” or “how to cast spells.” What you are getting is something much more valuable, the wisdom of years of experience of a sincere practitioner within the Craft regarding some of the most difficult challenges the witch is bound to confront, which is rarely if ever discussed in other books. I don’t see eye to eye with every witchcraft book, though I can appreciate and find stuff that I can resonate with inside almost all of them. That being said, I’m amazed by how similar Mooney’s perspectives on most topics within the book are to my own, which I feel can often be rare for me. This book is definitely a great addition to my library, and I’m sure it’s one I will come back to re-read periodically.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 10 personas

Love this book so much!

Revisado: 10-02-21

Silver Ravenwolf is back and better than ever! Her newest book, The Witching Hour: Spells, Powders, Formulas and Techniques That Work is hands down the best book she's written in my opinion. When her first books were originally published, they were revolutionary for the world of witchcraft. She alone, set the bar and standard for witchcraft books for at least a decade. I'm pretty sure I've read all of Silver Ravenwolf's published works, as she was my introduction into the world of witchcraft as a child and has always held a special place in my heart.

As such, as a reader it's hard to feel that you aren't witnessing the evolution and changes that Silver Ravenwolf has gone through in the years, particularly by looking at her works outside of her wildly popular "To" and "Solitary Witch" and "Silver's Spells" series. When Silver emerged as a writer, she was able to present witchcraft in a way that was easy to understand, entertaining and personal. In the mid-90's we first see a hint of what her works will evolve into with her book HexCraft, which was later republished under the title American Folk Magick. In that book she explore Pennyslvanian Dutch Folk Magick and experiments with trying to reverse-engineer its Germanic Pagan roots, offering pagan alternatives alongside the original Christian-esque folk magick practices as they're still preserved.

She then started exploring and sharing more in-depth thoughts and discoveries regarding energy-work and meditation with Mindlight: Secrets of Energy, Magick & Manifestation. After that we got A Witch's Notebook from her, which explores her notes, secrets, tips and musings from experimenting with magick and exploring things outside of the box. Shortly after that was HedgeWitch: Spells, Crafts & Rituals For Natural Magick, showing once again her love for folk-flavored magick, uniting the craft with crafting and embracing the powerful simplicity of the magick of the hearth, home and garden. Following this thread of books, it's understandable that The Witching Hour would be her next book and seems like the natural progression of where her magick was heading.

The Witching Hour is the first book she's written in quite a while, being nine years in the making. During this time she's been assimilating, experimenting, practicing and mastering magick that breaks the mode. It also feels like this is her most earnest work to date, feeling like it's been the least censored by her publishers of all her works. For example, she includes serval bindings and banishings. She even firmly states that "My job in this book is not to discuss the morality of the magick, I believe that by working with the plants and their spirits that you will find your own way to nirvana." Among these is a working which she's titled "Gotta Go Exorcism".

The Witching Hour is an exploration of modern conjure-flavored folk magick, experimenting with finding something that pagan witches can use without constantly utilizing saints, the Bible, Jesus or his dad. From her experimentation, she's selected what she has found to be the most effective and simple in this experimentation. So while there's a bunch of books on this subject on the market, what makes this book unique and special other than orienting it for the witch? Because she truly brings something new to the table.

For me to explain that, I must explain the title of the book itself. The concept of "the witching hour" refers to a very old belief in Western cultures that there's a time of night (usually midnight or three in the morning) where the veil between the worlds is the thinnest. During this liminal time betwixt day and night it was believed that spirits were the most active and witches were awake casting their spells. Among modern witches (and in my own witchcraft training), the term is used as an allusion to refer to this concept as a state of mind. It's when you're in the headspace where everything and anything is possible and you feel completely plugged into your magick and tuned into different worlds.

This is why the book title is so perfect for this book. While there's many books out there on doing conjure work, Silver starts off with giving you a great jumping point into empowering the magick itself. Focusing on various breathing techniques, visualization techniques and energy work - she helps align you into the state of the witching hour to transform throwing ingredients together and reciting chants with merely intention into powerful acts of simple magick that work effectively. She helps you tap into what she refers to as the "Sea of Potential" which is likened to the nervous system of the universe - to gain all the answers you need and to make all things possible. She also brings some elements of witchcraft into the conjuration work to help improve its effectiveness such as moon phases, the four elements, the doctrine of signatures and astrology.

I approached this book wanting to be critical. Surely there was something that I could critique about this book. While I love Silver's catalogue of works I find that I don't always agree with the information in them or there's something that I just don't resonate with. This happens with most books that I read. So I set aside my love for Mama Silver and my goal was to fairly scrutinize the book, to find some flaws. However, I couldn't find anything that I could critique. This is the book that I've always wanted Silver to write and I believe that this is definitely her best book yet.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Brilliant Guide For Any Type of Witch

Revisado: 10-02-21

Traditional Wicca: A Seeker’s Guide by Thorn Mooney is one of those books that I’m surprised hadn’t been written before, but seems so greatly needed. The book isn’t about embracing Wicca as a personal eclectic practice, but rather a guide for someone who is seeking out a Traditional Wiccan path (a term that refers to the Gardnerian and Alexandrian lineage of traditions). Most books written on these subjects seem to be a bit outdated and none seem to be aimed at the seeker of Traditional Wicca in modern times.

Mooney shares what to expect and explains the basics regarding seeking out a Traditional Wiccan lineage. While exploring this, she also remains respectful of non-Traditional Wicca and Witchcraft traditions and never comes across as trying to convert the reader to Traditional Wicca itself. In fact, she writes that “This book is not necessarily intended to sell you on Traditional Wicca. I believe that sincere, dedicated seekers will still find their way, without the need for prodding and proselytizing. There’s also a whole world of incredible Witchcraft and Pagan traditions that are worth exploring. Rather, this book is designed as a resource for those who are already in the process of seeking.”

Her writing style is reminiscent of writers such as Silver Ravenwolf and Scott Cunningham, which is a high compliment, and I have a feeling that this book will make as strong of a mark on the witchcraft community as the works of those authors have. Her writing is approachable and easy to follow. My favorite sections of the book were on initiation, lineage, and hierarchy. What makes this book even better is Mooney’s guidance on pitfalls and things to beware of when seeking out traditional training.

Mooney makes it clear that most public knowledge on Traditional Wicca is just scratching the surface of the deep lore and practices still guarded to this day. I often come across strong opinions about Wicca and Traditional Wicca by other outsiders like myself who are not initiated into the Gardnerian or Alexandrian lines but think they fully understand all there is to know about these traditions. I have always found this odd. As a non-initiate of these lines, I have known for a long time that there’s more to these traditions than presented in books, but I can’t think of any other book that has actually stated this point blank.

As someone who is not Wiccan myself, I still enjoy reading about other traditions. I finished this book understanding Traditional Wicca so much better and had many misconceptions about these traditions cleared up. This is a book that would serve any seeker looking to see which tradition is right for them, whether that’s Traditional Wicca or not, because it lays out such grounded wisdom about traditional ideas as well as how they can be twisted with abuses of power. Guidance which can be helpful to any tradition of witchcraft.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Valuable Resource

Revisado: 10-02-21

Utterly Wicked: Curses, Hexes & Other Unsavory Notions by Dorothy Morrison is one of the most important books that I own in my library. It's a book that I think every serious witch and magickal practitioner should own, even if you have no interest or desire in casting curses or hexes. In fact, I first learned about this book years ago in a workshop I took about protective and defensive magick. It was recommended reading so that you can identify and understand various forms of curses and hexes. A doctor needs a diagnosis of one's ailments before she can assist a patient and the same is true for malevolent magick. The book is very comprehensive on these subjects.

Utterly Wicked serves as a how-to when it comes to cursing and hexing, as you would expect. However, it also provides tons of information on reversing and curing those conditions when they're done to you or someone else. There's a good balance between teaching offensive and defensive magick throughout its pages. Morrison is well known for her charming and entertaining writing style, and this book, despite its darker subject matter, is no exception.

It's obvious that a lot of the spells and curses provided come from her own experience and need to craft them. For example, there's an automobile curse in the book and she writes that "It's perfect for the guy who seems to love his vehicle more than you!" It's hard to think that with a description like this that the curse wasn't crafted from personal experience and need. Some of her spells are absolutely brilliant. Morrison's Swifting Ritual in the book is one of the most ingenious magickal ideas I've come across and it's highly effective.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Fantastic book for the pagan and pagan seeker

Revisado: 10-02-21

John Beckett’s writing is always level-headed, humble, grounded, wise and insightful. So it was no surprise to me that his first book The Path of Paganism: An Experience-Based Guide to Modern Pagan Practice kept this same spirit. The book is divided into main areas of focus consisting of contemplating the foundation of what Paganism is, putting those beliefs into practice, having an intermediate practice that goes beyond the 101, stepping into leadership, priesthood and “what comes next” which has a focus on continuing and mastering your spiritual education. Beckett writes, “Much of the “advanced” religious practice (in any tradition) isn’t all that advanced. It’s simply the basics, done over and over so many times it becomes intuitive. It’s not glamorous and it’s not exciting. It just works.”

Beckett states that defining Paganism is pretty much impossible with its myriad of traditions and eclecticism and provides a “big tent” inclusive model with room for everyone, consisting of four main poles holding up that big tent to explain to the types of Paganism. These poles are those who are Natured-Centered, Deity-Centered, Community-Centered, and Self-Centered. These poles create a Venn diagram of intersection creating 13 different types of Pagans. With this understanding of Paganism, we can begin to have a framework of discussion and it’s from this foundation that Beckett shares the wisdom of his experience and ruminations for the book.

One of the things that I like about Beckett’s writing is that he has a very balanced approach, acknowledging religious and spiritual experiences as well as rationality. He tackles issues such as lore and myth versus unverified personal gnosis, an emphasis that bad science makes bad religion, our relationship with nature and society as Pagans and our relationship with ourselves, our gods, ancestors, and our spirits - but most of all our relationship with our spiritual practice.

The beauty of Beckett's broad scope is that any Pagan can read the book and get something out of it, whether one is a Druid, Wiccan, Heathen, Hellenic Polytheist, a Pantheist, an Atheistic Pagan or anyone else whose practices a belief system that would fall under Paganism. There are plenty of rituals and tips for building and deepening a personal practice. Each chapter closes with profound questions for contemplation that anyone can reflect on to help strengthen what the reader personally believes and strengthen their own practice.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Fantastic

Revisado: 09-02-21

Jason Mankey leaves no stone unturned in his quest to uncover the Horned God of the Witches, as he follows the hoof-prints around the world from prehistory to ancient pagan religions to modern witchcraft, comparing similarities and contrasting differences. This fascinating book is well-researched, respectful, and inclusive, regardless of your theism. The Horned God of the Witches is the best book you can get your hands on for learning about the history of Pan, Cernunnos, Lucifer, the Witchfather, and many more all in one place. More importantly, Mankey shows how to create a genuine connection to and a personal magickal relationship with them through various meditations, rituals, and exercises throughout so that you can raise the horns in your own life.

Jason Mankey is one of those authors where each book is progressively better than the last in my opinion. Mankey is one of the best researchers in Paganism and Witchcraft, but what makes him stand out in this regard is he’s a participant of those worlds while also discerning about its history, not simply an outsider studying it, or a practitioner who is attempting to reshape history to fit his beliefs. The Horned God of the Witches is a topic close to Jason’s heart, and it’s obvious when you read the book. I would be hard-pressed to think of someone more fitting to write a book on this. Before this book, the closest you could get to these topics as a cohesive whole was The Witches' God by Janet & Stewart Farrar published in the late ‘80s. Since then, our understanding of history has changed, and unlike that book, Jason's focus isn’t solely on a Wiccan view, it’s much broader than that, but can help you gain a better understanding of the Wiccan deity as well. 

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

The Clarissa Pinkola Estes of Witchcraft

Revisado: 08-25-21

When I first began reading The Holy Wild: A Heathen Bible for the Untamed Woman I quickly became enamored with it. Danielle Dulsky's words are beautifully poetic and strikingly powerful. The book has a feel reminiscent of the work of Clarissa Pinkola Estés (who is one of my favorite Jungian authors) but from the perspective and insight of a modern witch. While written for a female audience, I feel every witch regardless of gender can benefit from the wisdom within these pages. Dulsky guides the reader through poetry, storytelling, rituals, prayers, and spells to uncover and reawaken one's connection with the divine feminine and find it within themselves.

The book is divided into sections based on the four primordial elements that compose reality from an esoteric point of view - Earth, Air, Fire, and Water along with the quintessence of Ether that runs through and unites all elements. As such, Dulsky shares her cosmological view of this divine reality that we're living within and seemingly uses each element to help the reader re-compose themselves into a holy heathen where battle scars and shadows are as sacred as the brightest light within us. As a witch author, the book is written as a radical battle roar for self-love and feminist empowerment to make magick of one's own life; a call for authenticity instead of approval; self-sovereignty instead of obedience; deep connection instead of repression and rejection. If that isn't the heart witchcraft, I'm not sure what is. After reading this book, I'm definitely checking out her previous book Woman Most Wild: Three Keys to Liberating the Witch Within.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas