Magick Matters

24.11.2020

“Curse Tablets and Binding Spells from the Ancient World” by John G. Gager

Magick Matters

"In the ancient Greco-Roman world, it was common practice to curse or bind an enemy or rival by writing an incantation on a tablet and dedicating it to a god or spirit. These curses or binding spells, commonly called defixiones were intended to bring other people under the power and control of those who commissioned them. More than a thousand such texts, written between the 5th Century B.C.E. and the 5th Century C.E., have been discovered from North Africa to England, and from Syria to Spain. Extending into every aspect of ancient life--athletic and theatrical competitions, judicial proceedings, love affairs, business rivalries, and the recovery of stolen property--they shed light on a new dimension...>>

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24.11.2020

“Oracles, Curses, and Risk Among the Ancient Greeks” by Esther Eidinow

Magick Matters

"How did ancient Greek men and women deal with the uncertainty and risk of everyday life? What did they fear most, and how did they manage their anxieties? Esther Eidinow sets side-by-side two collections of material usually studied in isolation: binding curse tablets from across the ancient world, and the collection of published private questions from the oracle at Dodona in north-west Greece. Eidinow uses these texts to explore perceptions of risk and uncertainty in ancient society, challenging previous explanations. In these records we hear voices that are rarely, if ever, heard in literary texts and history books. The questions and curses in these tablets comprise fervent, sometimes ferocious appeals to the gods. The stories...>>

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23.11.2020

“I Ching: The Oracle” by Kerson Huang (revised edition)

Magick Matters divination, i ching

"This book contains a dramatic and revealing translation of this ancient classic into English. The Chinese original is set side-by-side with the translation. Two things set this work apart from other translated versions. First, archeological findings are used to uncover the meaning of passages obscured for thousands of years. Second, it preserves the flavor of the original in a poetic rendition. An introductory part of this book provides the historical and philosophical background to the I Ching. The story is told of the ancient Chinese civilization, pointing out events and figures mentioned in the I Ching. The undisguised face of the I Ching will appeal to the modern reader, who will read it in his...>>

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23.11.2020

“Reading. The Grand Illusion: How and Why People Make Sense of Print” by Kenneth Goodman et al

Magick Matters

"What is reading? In this groundbreaking book, esteemed researchers Ken Goodman, Peter Fries, and Steven Strauss, explain not only what reading really is but also why common sense makes it seem to be something quite different from that reality. How can this grand illusion be explained? That is the purpose of this book. As the authors show, unraveling the secrets of the grand illusion of reading teaches about far more than reading itself, but also about how remarkable human language is, how the brain uses language to navigate the world, what it means to be human. Each author brings a different perspective, but all share a common view of the reading process. Together they provide...>>

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23.11.2020

“The Power Bible” by Brendon Lemon and William Beteet

Magick Matters

"To have power over another one must first have power over one’s self. The Power Bible teaches how power operates on both an interpersonal, individual level and a societal level. Arming the reader with tactics and skills on how to triumph in the contest of life. The Power Bible is an instrument to teach you how to win; to bend, disregard and strategically break the rules that bind you. Cultivating an awareness for which battles to fight, which ones to pass on, and how to win the moments that matter. Drawing lessons from their experiences in law, comedy, sales, and relationships, Bill & Brendon present a unique view of the world that has enabled them to...>>

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