Ranging across both published and anecdotal evidence, Pharmakon traces thestory of drug use as a means of self-exploration. By examining apparentlysimple questions such as 'what is a drug?', Pharmakon deconstructs andreconstructs the idea of drug experience. Experiences that the authorbelieves are fundamental to the process of self-actualisation and learning.Julian Vayne has written on a number of esotericsubjects (witchcraft, the tarot and the sociology of contemporary Paganism).This book is aimed at both the general reader and those who are interestedin the use of drugs in a spiritual context.Delving into areas as diverse as philosophy and neurochemistry, this is abook that in both style and content seeks to invent a new understanding ofdrugs in culture.From Mandrake Speaks #100'A well researched and informative look at a variety of popular andnot-so-well-known drugs. He deals with how they interact with our minds andbodies both chemically and psychologically, and how we perceive substanceson a personal and society-wide scale. The similarities discussed betweensome drug experiences and some mental illnesses may lead to differentviewpoints on both. Liberally sprinkled with folklore and anecdotes,Pharmakon examines the use of drugs in self-exploration, employing aknowledgeable, yet down-to-earth approach that's interesting and readable.'
Exhumation of A Murder is a comprehensive study of the case of Major Armstrong, the celebrated Hay Poisoner, one of the most notorious murderers of the twentieth century and the only solicitor ever to hang. It is one of those classic old-fashioned English murders, which hail from the heyday of the courtroom drama when, with the hangman lurking in the pine-and-panel wings and the black cap an object of horryfyingly alarming currency rather than mere symbolism, the loser in 'the black dock's dreadful pen lost all'. And the Armstrong case was unquestionably one of the best; right up there in the grand tradition of Dr Palmer of Rugeley, Neill Cream, Mrs Maybrick, Dr Crippen, Seddon and George Joseph Smith.Contains a wealth of original photographs and documentation.
Becoming Magick: New & Revised Magicks for the New Aeon Drawing on over twenty years of magickal work in a variety of systems, this book is a forward-looking manual full of new material and techniques created to push the boundaries of contemporary magick. Inspired by the great magickal traditions of past millennia, Becoming Magick presents new techniques of sigilisation and gematria, as well as a new system of energy magick based on the Kalas, and Prime Qabalah, a new system of English Gematria. This volume also explores the practical benefits of less explored magickal techniques such as magickal ingestion and working magick during illness.
A multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed print publication, covering all areas of magic, witchcraft, paganism etc; geographical regions and historical periods. Beyond Attribution: The Importance of Barrett's Magus/Alison Butler * Shadow over Philistia: A review of the Cult of Dagon/John C. Day * A History of Otherness: Tarot and Playing Cards from Early Modern Europe/Joyce Goggin * Opposites Attract: magical identity and social uncertainty/Dave Green * 'Memories of a sorcerer': notes on Gilles Deleuze-Felix Guattari, Austin Osman Spare and Anomalous Sorceries./Matt Lee * Le Streghe Son Tornate: The Reappearance of Streghe in Italian American Queer Writings/Ilaria Serra * Controlling Chance, Creating Chance: Magical Thinking in Religious Pilgrimage/Deana Weibel'After being dunked in a cauldron of magic potion, the JASM now has classier paper, a larger format and bigger type and has grown to almost 400 pages.The 12 articles further the Journal's remit to present and promote new academic writing, thinking and research on all aspects of the subject, and demonstrate again just how broad this ever-expanding field is. One would have to have completed courses in ancient history, anthropology, religious studies, linguistics, philosophy, post-modernism, art, literature, folklore, the sciences and quite probably mathematics to properly assess the material here.
A work of erotic horror fiction filled with "sacrilege, blasphemy, and crime" -written in a style that is part H. P. Lovecraft, part Marquis de Sade, and part Octave Mirbeau-The Cannibal Within is literally "wet with sin, slippery with blood, and slimy with fornication."
The most complete summation to date of the New Testament evidence for magical practice by Jesus and the early Christians. The very notion of Jesus being a sorcerer runs so against the grain of the Western cultural myth that even non-Christians are likely to find it far-fetched or even vaguely disturbing. Nevertheless, scholars steadily accumulated evidence for magical practices in the New Testament throughout much of the 20th century. It is that ever expanding body of knowledge that has made this book possible. This book examines the following:The nature of the earliest Christian documents, the defects of their trans-mission, and the evidence for the suppression of descriptions of magical acts.The closely related problem of the New Testament accounts as historical sources.The radically apocalyptic nature of Jesus' message and the expectations of the early church.The failure of the apocalypse to occur and the theological reaction to that failure.The role of magic and mystery religion in early Christianity.A revisiting of the story of the "beloved disciple" and what it may tell us about Jesus and suppression of evidence about his life.Contents: Documentary Evidence / Infancy Narratives / Confrontation / Resurrection as Ghost Story /Apocalyptic Prophet / Apocalypse Postponed, / Magic and Mystery, / Jesus the Magician / Spirit Versus Spirit, / Ecstatic Inner Circle, / Christian Mysteries, / Secret Gospel of Mark, / Beloved Disciple, / On the Use of Boys in Magic, / Apocalypse, Magic, and Christianity, / "Son of David." / Mary Magdalene
A multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed print publication, covering all areas of magic, witchcraft, paganism etc; all geographical regions and all historical periods.Issue 3:Hannah Sanders - Buffy and Beyond: Language and Resistance in Contemporary Teenage Witchcraft / Amy Lee - A Language of Her Own: Witchery as a New Language of Female Identity/ Dave Green - Creative Revolution: Bergsonisms and Modern Magic / Mary Hayes - Discovering the Witch's Teat: Magical Practices, Medical Superstitions in The Witch of Edmonton / Penny Lowery - The Re-enchantment of the Medical: An examination of magical elements in healing. / Jonathan Marshall - Apparitions, Ghosts, Fairies, Demons and Wild Events: Virtuality in Early Modern Britain / Kate Laity - Living the Mystery: Sacred Drama Today / Research Articles: David Geall - 'A half-choked meep of cosmic fear' Is there esoteric symbolism in H.P.Lovecraft's The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath? / Susan Gorman - Becoming a Sorcerer: Jean-Pierre Bekolo's Quartier Mozart and the Magic of Deleuzian and Guattarian Becoming / Book Reviews
In this collection of surrealist prose-poetry and Dada versicles, Parry''s alter-ego Caliban muses on queer sexuality and existential seclusion from the perspective of Shakespearean Noir. Moreover, by trying to capture the dark and twisted dwarf''s metaphysical lyrics moment by moment, the author slowly deconstructs himself as a willing prisoner on the magical island of violence and desire. After all, Caliban would claim that neither Browning nor Nietzsche had fully grasped the ethics of redemption, pure transcendence, or romantic passion, which can only be found in an unadulterated selfhood.''One of the few, if not only, works of Gnostic Fantasy in modern times. An "edge" literary movement, re-evaluating received perspectives on classical works and discovering "gnosis", in the sense of a Knowledge of our human hearts. Beautiful, invigorating and strikingly lucid. Its images need weeks to fully unpack, while its disturbing implications haunt a reader''s unsettled moods'' - Daniele-Hadi Irandost FRSA, founder and curator of TEDxLambeth''It is a descent into an underworld and a return as a sweat and semen stained, dirty, ugly, angry and very empowered God'' - Charlotte Rogers, award-winning author of P is for Prostitution''Parry is particularly adept at descriptions of the tenebrous side of life. He paints numerous pictures of darkness and evil in a very persuasive manner'' - Dr Bernard Hoose, former lecturer of Moral Theology at Heythrop College, University of London''Parry''s poetry traverses inner worlds reminiscent of those of Lautréamont, Bataille and the demonologist Collin De Plancy'' - Richard Rudgley, author and Channel 4 television presenter
A new edition of the highly acclaimed manual of freestyle shamanism, suitable for all those inspired by such figures as Austin Spare and Aleister Crowley, and who feel the imperative to develop their own unique magical way. Visual Magick aims to build vision, imagination, and creative magick. It shows how magicians, witches, artists and therapists can improve visionary abilities, enhance imagination, activate the inner senses, and discover new modes of trance awareness. The emphasis is on direct experience and the reader is asked to think, act, do, and enjoy as s/he wills. ''One of the best books on magick I have read in a long while.''Phil Hine in Pagan News''A practical modern grimoire.'' The Cauldron
The Typhonian deity Seth was once worshipped in Ancient Egypt. Followers of later schools obliterated Seth's monuments, demonised and neglected his cult. A possible starting point in the quest for the 'hidden god' is an examination of the life of Egyptian King Seti I ('He of Seth') also known as Sethos. When looking for an astral temple that included all of the ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses, the temple of Seti I proved itself worthy of examination. Many secrets began to reveal themselves. The essence of the real philosophy of the Sethian and indeed what Satanism is, stems from the author's astral wanderings in this temple. The temple is a real place, and like any temple no part of its design is accidental. It is a record in stone and paint of the Egyptian wisdom. It also fits quite well with the Thelemic mythos and tells lots of interesting things about the ancient Seth cult - if you have the eye to see it.Contents: Prolegomena to Egyptian magick; Setanism; Tankhem; Egyptian Magick and Tantra; Sexual Magick; Twenty Eight; North; The Crooked Wand.
The runes are a pan-European magical language. Its roots lie in the ancient pagan beliefs of our ancestors, who built many thousands of stones circles, long barrows and dolmens throughout ancient Europe. These same symbols and techniques were used by the pagan Celts and Germans. This book is a complete manual of magick based upon arcane symbolism and secret techniques.Contents:Meaning /Urda /Origins /Futhorc /Magical inscriptions / Memorial stones /Fascism / Titles / Cosmology / Nature / Qabala / Vision / Werdandi / Rune stance / Breathing/ Vowel song / Problems / Tune in / Health? / Divination / Alignments / Sigil sorcery / Seiðr and Seething / Energy /lda / Rune companion / Sources Jan Fries lives in Frankfurt near the Taunus Mountains. He is a musician, artist and magician. ''...eminently practical and certainly breaks new ground.'' - Ronald Hutton (author Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles)Recommended by The Cauldron ''a very meaty read...'' PJ in GippeswicPreface to the new editionWhen I went to school, my history teacher told us about the old Germani. In her opinion, the Taunus mountains were populated by a bunch of brawny brawlers who wore horned helmets and small pieces of pelt. They lived in hilltop settlements which were fortified by ringwalls. Barely able to manage agriculture, they had to rely on hunting to fill their stomachs. They lived in shabby huts with mud-plastered walls and when the Romans came, they fought the invaders with crude swords, pointy sticks and by hurling rocks at them...Nowadays, the ringwalls of the Taunus are known as the work of La Tène Celts, who lived on the heights in well organised cities. For this new edition much of the text has been rewritten and updated. A large section on the bronze ages, the Celts, Germani and the later Vikings added. The theme of Wodan and Helja has been elaborated with more detail on pagan Scandinavia. The chapter on magical rune inscriptions has been extended, on Seiðr/seething trances rewritten, the bibliography updated and twelve pages of new illustrations added.
In South India there is a society where priests and lay people claim supernatural powers. Where a sophisticated medical system underlies a quest for physical longevity and psychic immortality. And where arcane and sexual rituals take place that are far removed from the Brahmanic tradition.That society is the Tamil Siddhas. In the Siddha Quest for Immortality world Tamil expert K Zvelebil offers a vivid picture of these people: their religious beliefs, their magical rites, their alchemical practices, their complex system of medicine, and their inspired tradition of poetry.In the Poets of the Powers, Zvelebil introduced English speakers, for the first time, to the astonishing power of Siddha writing. The Siddha Quest for Immortality includes many newly-translated examples of poetry that is deeply religious but not without humour. But physical longevity was also central to Siddha belief, and fascinating chapters on Siddha medicine describe routines by which one can maintain health, and tell how drugs are created from such varied ingredients as cowdung, human urine, honey, oil, and milk.Part of a Tantrik-Siddha Ritual'In the centre of a ritual circle...sits a chosen woman, completely naked, who symbolizes Devi, i.e., Sakti...caste or community is of absolutely no importance in the selection of this woman...This Sakti, thoroughly washed and perfumed all over her body with various perfumes sits on a sort of pedestal with widely spread legs so that her yoni (vulva) is well visible. The leading Siddha will kiss the yoni, and bless various non-vegetarian foodstuffs through the contact with the yoni by touching and rubbing with them the vulva of the Sakti. Then these offerings are distributed among the participants and consumed...'The Siddha Quest for Immortality'While the non-Siddha proclaims that, in order to escape the wheel of birth-and-death the only course open to man is the attainment of spiritual freedom crowned by physical, bodily death, the Siddha maintains that one must overcome physical death in this life itself and 'live forever'...the great work that lies before man is to purify one's body and sanctify one's life, and integrate the two...into one eternal monad, so that body and life become identical.'The Poets of the Powers'Siddha writings are at once most thrilling, even sensational but at the same time the darkest and only very little-known texts in Tamil. They represent a complex and provocative puzzle: flashes of stunning intuition, knowledge, even deep wisdom as well as results of effective practice seem to be mixed with incredible naivete, hardly acceptable superstitions, and dark and amazing claims.'Plagiarists and impostors?'Even Indians themselves, when raised on the niceties of early twentieth century English or Anglo-Indian culture, described the Siddhas as "plagiarists and impostors", "eaters of opium and dwellers in the land of dreams, their conceit knowing no bounds.'Siddha Iconoclasm'You begging bullocks!In ochre robes,with matted hair,with water-vessels,rosary-beads and walking sticks,you have forsaken your womenand roam about the country wide and largebegging for a grain of boiled rice!Idiots!'
Ayurveda is an Asian medical system which has its beginnings in India during approximately the sixth century bce and thrives even to the present-day. Medical ideas underpin a great deal of Eastern thought especially Tantrism, alchemy, yoga and the science of love.
The charactersMabel Collins, theosophist, novelist, fashion columnist, and anti-vivisection campaignerMadame Blavatsky the extraordinary Russian occultist founder of theosophy, and other eminent members of her Theosophical SocietyAnnie Besant, social reformer and theosophistRobert Donston Stephenson, a candidate for Jack the Ripper and Mabel's loverFrances Power Cobbe, social reformer, suffragist and anti-vivisection campaignerCharlotte Despard, social reformer, and anti-vivisection campaignerThe storyMabel Collins was an independent woman in the oppressive Victorian climate. She wrote many novels, but most will remember Mabel Collins for her best selling mystical text "Light on the Path" published by the Theosophical Society. After her fall out with Madame Blavatsky, she carried on with her life as an esotericist, traveller and writer. She was moved by the plight and suffering of helplesscreatures, and became a campaigner for the abolition of vivisection.The authorKim Farnell is a professional astrologer and writer. She is a contributor to the academic journal "Theosophical History" founded by Leslie Price and edited by Professor James Santucci. Her previous works include a biography of the influential esoteric astrologer Sepharial.
A multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed print publication, covering all areas of magic, witchcraft, paganism etc; all geographical regions and all historical periods.
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