Magick Matters

08.09.2023

“Horror Unmasked: A History of Terror from Nosferatu to Nope” by Brad Weismann

Magick Matters

"From the silent-film era to the blockbusters of today, Horror Unmasked is a fun-filled, highly illustrated dive into the past influences and present popularity of the horror film genre. The horror film’s pop-culture importance is undeniable, from its early influences to today’s most significant and exciting developments in the genre. Since 1990, the production of horror films has risen exponentially worldwide, and in 2021, horror films earned an estimated $580 million in ticket sales, not to mention how the genre has expanded into books, fashion, music, and other media throughout the world. Horror has long been the most popular film genre, and more horror movies have been made than any other kind. We need them. We...>>

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08.09.2023

“Damned Women: Sinners and Witches in Puritan New England” by Elizabeth Reis

Magick Matters

"In her analysis of the cultural construction of gender in early America, Elizabeth Reis explores the intersection of Puritan theology, Puritan evaluations of womanhood, and the Salem witchcraft episodes. She finds in those intersections the basis for understanding why women were accused of witchcraft more often than men, why they confessed more often, and why they frequently accused other women of being witches. In negotiating their beliefs about the devil's powers, both women and men embedded womanhood in the discourse of depravity. Puritan ministers insisted that women and men were equal in the sight of God, with both sexes equally capable of cleaving to Christ or to the devil. Nevertheless, Reis explains, womanhood and evil...>>

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08.09.2023

“Casting A Queer Circle: Non-Binary Witchcraft” by Thista Minai

Magick Matters

"Many people come to traditional Wicca or Witchcraft seeking the benefits of shared ritual, spiritual community, and formalized training, but the inherent sex and gender binaries that permeate modern Wicca can make anyone who exists outside of that polarity feel unimportant or excluded. Even people who identify within a gender binary but want their spiritual or religious practice to reflect a spectrum of life experiences can feel stifled and smothered in the biases of Wicca-based Paganism. Thista Minai has created an alternative. Casting a Queer Circle describes Spectrum Gate Mysteries, a new ritual system conceived as a direct answer to those of us who appreciate the wisdom and power of traditional Wicca, yet need...>>

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07.09.2023

“A Life of Philip K. Dick: The Man Who Remembered the Future” by Anthony Peake

Magick Matters

"Philip K. Dick was a visionary writer. From post-apocalyptic San Francisco to Nazi-occupied America, his strange alternative futures have transfixed the world. But his life was every bit as unusual as his fiction. A Life of Philip K. Dick opens a window into PKD's unique mind. Written with close cooperation with two of his ex-wives and a number of his friends, we are taken through his five marriages, his periods living in squalor and his souring literary success. We are also given unparalleled insight into his transcendental experiences... PKD claimed to have visions of the future. In his published journal The Exegesis, he explores precognition, time theories and even alien abduction. Anthony Peake's own interest in...>>

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07.09.2023

“Veneration Rites of Curanderismo: Invoking the Sacred Energy of Our Ancestors” by Erika Buenaflor

Magick Matters

🕵️🐷🕵️ zero-day🕵️🐷🕵️ "A guide to connecting with your ancestors and healing your lineage • Shares traditional veneration rites and practices to connect with your ancestors, including limpia rites, trance journeys, energy work, and sacred gardening • Explores ancestral altar-making practices, sacred tools for altars, and how to invite your ancestors to take an active role in intervening on your behalf • Describes the deification process of esteemed ancestors and how this opens access to special powers for those sharing that ancestor’s lineage Exploring the diverse and dynamic ancestral veneration rites of the ancient Mesoamericans as well as those practiced in contemporary curanderismo, Erika Buenaflor shows how we can draw from these traditions to reconnect with our ancestors, deepen our...>>

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