Magick Matters

“Eschatology in Antiquity: Forms and Functions” edited by Hilary Marlow, Karla Pollmann and Helen Van Noorden

"This collection of essays explores the rhetoric and practices surrounding views on life after death and the end of the world, including the fate of the individual, apocalyptic speculation and hope for cosmological renewal, in a wide range of societies from Ancient Mesopotamia to the Byzantine era. The 42 essays by leading scholars in each field explore the rich spectrum of ways in which eschatological understanding can be expressed, and for which purposes it can be used. Readers will gain new insight into the historical contexts, details, functions and impact of eschatological ideas and imagery in ancient texts and material culture from the twenty-fifth century BCE to the ninth century CE. Traditionally, the study of...>>

“The Serendipity Mindset: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck” by Christian Busch

"Good luck isn’t just chance—it can be learned and leveraged—and The Serendipity Mindset explains how you can use serendipity to make life better at work, at home—everywhere. Many of us believe that the great turning points and opportunities in our lives happen by chance, that they’re out of our control. Often we think that successful people—and successful companies and organizations—are simply luckier than the rest of us. Good fortune—serendipity—just seems to happen to them. Is that true? Or are some people better at creating the conditions for coincidences to arise and taking advantage of them when they do? How can we connect the dots of seemingly random events to improve our lives? In The...>>

“Witches of Pennsylvania: Occult History & Lore” by Thomas White

"A folklorist chronicles the history and lore of witchcraft in the Keystone State from William Penn’s 17th century witch trial to 20th century occultism. As English and German settlers migrated to Pennsylvania, they brought their beliefs in magic with them from the Old World—sometimes with dangerous consequences. In 1802, for example, an Allegheny County judge helped an accused witch escape an angry mob. But Susan Mummey was not so fortunate. In 1934, she was killed in her home by a young Schuylkill County man who was convinced that she had cursed him. In other regions of the state, views on folk magic were more complex. While hex doctors were feared in the Pennsylvania German...>>

“The Many Faces of Coincidence” by Laurence Browne

"Although much has been said and written about coincidences, there is a marked absence when it comes to the development of a comprehensive model that incorporates the many different ways in which they can be understood and explained. One reason for this omission is undoubtedly the sharp divide that exists between those who find coincidences meaningful and those who do not, with the result that the conclusions of the many books and articles on the subject have tended to fall into distinct camps. The Many Faces of Coincidence attempts to remedy this impasse by proposing an inclusive categorisation for coincidences of all shapes and sizes. At the same time, some of the implications arising...>>

“The Complete Book of Ghosts: A Fascinating Exploration of the Spirit World, from Apparitions to Haunted Places” by Paul Roland

"Ghosts and spirits inhabit the world around us. We can hear and see them if we are only sensitive — or psychic — enough to be aware of them. Re-examining a fascinating assortment of recorded sightings from as far back as Roman times, the author presents a serious look at ghosts, not as chain-rattling spooks, but as actual entities with which we share a greater reality. Nor does he accept that ghosts are merely the spirits of departed people, or energies left behind. Uniquely, Paul Roland provides self-tested evidence on the idea of spirits as the manifestation of people still living, proving that out-of-body experiences are not as rare — or as impossible — as some...>>