Magick Matters

“Dictionary of Gypsy Mythology: Charms, Rites, and Magical Traditions of the Roma” by Claude Lecouteux (Kindle ebook version)

"Although their own myths and their common name point to Egyptian origins for the gypsies, the Rom, as they call themselves, originated in India, as evidenced by studies of their language. They arrived in Europe in the ninth century and spread across the continent from East to West, reaching England in the 15th century and Scandinavia by the end of the 16th century. A nomadic people, these wanderers were reviled by local populaces wherever they went and regarded as misfits, intruders, foreigners, and thieves. Drawing on a number of sources never before available outside of Eastern Europe, Claude Lecouteux reconstructs the gypsy oral tradition to provide a comprehensive A-to-Z look at gypsy mythology, including their...>>

“The Private Letters of Countess Erzsébet Báthory” by Kimberly L. Craft

"In this book, readers are given a rare glimpse into the life of Hungary's most controversial noblewoman, Countess Erzsébet (Elizabeth) Báthory. Over 40 letters and documents, many of which have been recently discovered and translated, are presented here for the first time in English. Read the private letters Lady Báthory sent in secret to fellow nobility, learn how she administered her estates, and experience life as she knew it. Historical background is provided as well as biographical material. This book is an excellent resource for the Báthory scholar and enthusiast who is looking for new and factual information on the so-called Infamous lady."...>>

“Magic. Whitechapel: Documents of Contemporary Art” edited by Jamie Sutcliffe

"From the hexing of presidents to a renewed interest in herbalism and atavistic forms of self-care, magic has furnished the contemporary imagination with mysterious and complex bodies of arcane thought and practice. This volume brings together writings by artists, magicians, historians, and theorists that illuminate the vibrant correspondences animating contemporary arts varied encounters with magical culture, inspiring a reconsideration of the relationship between the symbolic and the pragmatic. Dispensing with simple narratives of re-enchantment, Magic illustrates the intricate ways in which we have to some extent always been captivated by the allure of the numinous. It demonstrates how magical cultures tendencies toward secrecy, occlusion, and encryption might provide contemporary artists with strategies of remedial communality,...>>

“The Spirit Engineer” by A.J. West

"Belfast, 1914. Two years after the sinking of the Titanic, high society has become obsessed with spiritualism, attending séances in the hope they might reach their departed loved ones. William Jackson Crawford is a man of science and a sceptic, but one night with everyone sitting around the circle, voices come to him — seemingly from beyond the veil — placing doubt in his heart and a seed of obsession in his mind. Could the spirits truly be communicating with him or is this one of Kathleen’s parlour tricks gone too far? Based on the true story of Professor William Jackson Crawford and famed medium Kathleen Goligher, and with a cast of characters including Sir Arthur...>>