Magick Matters

“The Ashgate Research Companion to Nineteenth-Century Spiritualism and the Occult” by Tatiana Kontou and Sarah Willburn

"Critical attention to the Victorian supernatural has flourished over the last twenty-five years. Whether it is spiritualism or Theosophy, mesmerism or the occult, the dozens of book-length studies and hundreds of articles that have appeared recently reflect the avid scholarly discussion of Victorian mystical practices. Designed both for those new to the field and for experts, this volume is organized into sections covering the relationship between Victorian spiritualism and science, the occult and politics, and the culture of mystical practices. The Ashgate Research Companion to Nineteenth-Century Spiritualism and the Occult brings together some of the most prominent scholars working in the field to introduce current approaches to the study of nineteenth-century mysticism and to...>>

“Superstition: A Very Short Introduction” by Stuart Vyse

"Do you touch wood for luck, or avoid hotel rooms on floor thirteen? Would you cross the path of a black cat, or step under a ladder? Is breaking a mirror just an expensive waste of glass, or something rather more sinister? Despite the dominance of science in today's world, superstitious beliefs - both traditional and new - remain surprisingly popular. A recent survey of adults in the United States found that 33 percent believed that finding a penny was good luck, and 23 percent believed that the number seven was lucky. Where did these superstitions come from, and why do they persist today? This Very Short Introduction explores the nature and surprising history of...>>

“Jesus the Magician: A Renowned Historian Reveals How Jesus was Viewed by People of His Time” by Morton Smith

"This book challenges traditional Christian teaching about Jesus. While his followers may have seen him as a man from heaven, preaching the good news and working miracles, Smith asserts that the truth about Jesus is more interesting and rather unsettling. The real Jesus, only barely glimpsed because of a campaign of disinformation, obfuscation, and censorship by religious authorities, was not Jesus the Son of God. In actuality he was Jesus the Magician. Smith marshals all the available evidence including, but not limited to, the Gospels. He succeeds in describing just what was said of Jesus by "outsiders," those who did not believe him. He deals in fascinating detail with the inevitable questions. What was the nature...>>

“The Big Book of Pagan Prayer and Ritual” by Ceisiwr Serith

🕵️🐷🕵️ zero-day🕵️🐷🕵️ "Here is an extraordinarily comprehensive collection of payers and rituals for contemporary Pagans from a variety of traditions to turn to again and again. The Big Book of Pagan Prayer and Ritual includes the following: The role of prayer—yesterday and today The various hidden structures of prayers How to pray both with and without words Rituals for purification, creating sacred space, protection, prosperity, good health, and more Prayers for specific times of day and special days of the month and year Prayers for life—from pregnancy to birth, childhood, first days of school, weddings, aging, and...>>

“The Tale of Terror: A Study of the Gothic Romance” by Edith Birkhead

"If you're a true fan of horror fiction, don't miss scholar Edith Birkhead's classic survey of the origins of the genre, The Tale of Terror. Focusing on the early roots of horror in the Romantic and Victorian eras, this comprehensive study offers compelling insight and analysis of well-known tales and obscure gems alike. This volume explores the genre of gothic fiction and discusses many of its famous novels. The volume is separated into chapters describing the different types of gothic novel, including "the novel of terror," "the novel of suspense," and "the Godwin and Rosicrucian novel."...>>