Magick Matters

05.01.2023

“Healing with Poisons: Potent Medicines in Medieval China” by Yan Liu

Magick Matters

"At first glance, medicine and poison might seem to be opposites. But in China’s formative era of pharmacy (200–800 CE), poisons were strategically employed as healing agents to cure everything from abdominal pain to epidemic disease. Healing with Poisons explores the ways physicians, religious figures, court officials, and laypersons used toxic substances to both relieve acute illnesses and enhance life. It illustrates how the Chinese concept of du—a word carrying a core meaning of "potency"—led practitioners to devise a variety of methods to transform dangerous poisons into effective medicines. Recounting scandals and controversies involving poisons from the Era of Division to the Tang, historian Yan Liu considers how the concept of du was central to...>>

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05.01.2023

“The Taoist Hedgewitch: Witchcraft for a new age” by Bishop Whitewind

Magick Matters

"Having freed myself from the dogma of the Deep South I trusted nothing but the quiet as my original teacher. Deciding that if sitting was good enough for Buddha it would suffice for me as well. Only after years of sitting did I start to research Sutras from as far back in time as I could find. Assuming the same tendencies for stale repetition, replication, and preference for ritual that had led so many so far astray had likely diluted other material as well. I went back to the original translations of Buddhist text and then went back even more. I set out to shape my life into the patterns found in Sutras from thousands...>>

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05.01.2023

“Understanding Indo-European Cosmology, Theology, and Metaphysics” by Zachary Gill (Hammer & Vajra III)

Magick Matters

"In this companion book to Syncretic Indo-European Faith (Hammer & Vajra), Mr. Gill focuses, firstly, on Indo-European apologetics to provide Pagans, Heathens, and those of Dharmic faith (Vedic Heathenism for those who follow the Hammer and Vajra project), ammunition for defense, as well as clear-cut answers for their own questions. Second, he hopes it will provide believers with a skillset to reach others of their folk, tribe, community, or Indo-European leaning peoples and guide them towards a more structured, and stable belief, though one that is still freer with its expression and connection to the greater picture than that of other faiths. For those who aren’t of Indo-European faith, or heritage, the hope is that...>>

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05.01.2023

“Onmyodo: Spiritual Traditions Across Asia” by Zachary Gill (Hammer & Vajra II)

Magick Matters

"A comprehensive guide to the history and study of Daoism via Onmyōdō on how it influenced Japanese faiths such as Shinto and Shugendō. The book is broken into two parts with the first part being a historical and academic level approach to Onmyōdō. The author reviews it’s historical practice and influences from conceived origins up until today, including influences from the Eurasian Steppes with Tengriism, to Chinese Imperial faith, and the Vedic influences from India. Also, an analysis of how Japanese pop culture has kept certain symbolism, and understandings alive as well as subtle exposed the West to both Japanese, and greater Eurasian culture. Part two is a spiritual guide that has firsthand practical knowledge...>>

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05.01.2023

“Syncretic Indo-European Faith” by Zachary Gill (Hammer & Vajra I)

Magick Matters

"A compendium of Indo-European religion and a guide for the spiritual concepts of Vedic Heathenism. A Syncretic Indo-European Faith by Zachary Gill is an introduction to a syncretic modern faith, to include the practices, history, culture, and values that makes up this IE based Heathen path. Using both academic research and personal gnosis, Mr. Gill illustrates how the roots of Indo-European peoples and their many-branched faiths can guide the modern heathen. This book is especially for those who wish to reinvigorate their practice. He examines the IE deities in-depth, contrasting, and comparing them across branches and offering a study of how deities have changed in both appearance and function over time and culture. It...>>

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