Magick Matters

“Seeking the Mystery: An Introduction to Pagan Theologies” by Christine Hoff Kraemer

"Contemporary Paganism focuses on practice, often neglecting theology. Yet belief and practice are intertwined. As the religious movement continues to grow, so does the need for intellectual frameworks for practice and ways of approaching the controversial question of belief. In this book, Christine Hoff Kraemer asks central questions about the varieties of Pagan belief: Why is multiplicity so important to contemporary Pagan understanding of deities? How do Pagans experience divinity in nature? In what way can the human body be a sacred site? And what are "virtue ethics" for Pagans? With an estimated 1.2 million Pagans in the United States and significant numbers elsewhere, Seeking the Mystery is important for Pagan self-understanding and also for non-Pagans...>>

“Dark Mirror: The Medieval Origins of Anti-Jewish Iconography” by Sara Lipton

"The straggly beard, the hooked nose, the bag of coins, and gaudy apparel―the religious artists of medieval Christendom had no shortage of virulent symbols for identifying Jews. Yet, hateful as these depictions were, the story they tell is not as simple as it first appears. Drawing on a wide range of primary sources, Lipton argues that these visual stereotypes were neither an inevitable outgrowth of Christian theology nor a simple reflection of medieval prejudices. Instead, she maps out the complex relationship between medieval Christians' religious ideas, social experience, and developing artistic practices that drove their depiction of Jews from benign, if exoticized, figures connoting ancient wisdom to increasingly vicious portrayals inspired by (and designed to...>>

“Sidewalk Oracles: Playing with Signs, Symbols, and Synchronicity in Everyday Life” by Robert Moss

"Synchronicity is when the universe gets personal. Through this book of games and enchanting stories, you’ll learn how to monitor the play of coincidence and the symbolic resonance of incidents in daily life in order to tap into the deeper logic of events, receive extraordinary counsel, and have wonderful fun. You will be invited to become a kairomancer: someone who is poised to catch the messages in special moments when synchronicity is in play — and to take action to seize the opportunities those moments present. To be a kairomancer, you need to trust your feelings as you walk the roads of this world, to develop your personal science of shivers, and to recognize in...>>

“Dreams of Light: The Profound Daytime Practice of Lucid Dreaming” by Andrew Holecek (kindle ebook version)

"Most of us are absolutely certain that we’re awake here and now—it’s a given, right? Yet, according to Tibet’s dream yoga tradition, ordinary waking life is no more real than the illusions of our nightly dreams. In his previous book Dream Yoga, Andrew Holecek guided us into Tibetan Buddhism’s nocturnal path of lucid dreaming and other dimensions of sleeping consciousness. Now, with Dreams of Light, he offers us an in-depth, step-by-step guide to its daytime practices. Known as the “illusory form” practices, these teachings include insights, meditations, and actions to help us realize the dreamlike nature of our lives. Through an immersive exploration of the tradition, beginners and seasoned practitioners alike will learn everything...>>

“Spirituality for Badasses: How To Find Inner Peace and Happiness Without Losing Your Cool” by J. Stewart Dixon

"Spirituality for Badasses contains numerous astonishingly simple and spectacularly effective principles, techniques and methods which will change everything about your life, including who you think you are and who you truly are. No preparation required. Anyone can do it. Start immediately. You’ll experience deep inner changes simply by reading the book. Yes, Spirituality for Badasses is some powerful mojo. Oh- and it’s also funny as sh#!. Get it now. You’ll have zero regrets. This isn’t your parent’s self-help book. If you’re looking for a bulleted list of coddling, woo-woo, positive-think, rainbows & unicorns spiritual advice & exercises- This is not the spiritual self-help book you are looking for… Move along. Spirituality for Badasses takes you...>>