12.11.2021

“A Kingdom of Stargazers: Astrology and Authority in the Late Medieval Crown of Aragon” by Michael A. Ryan

Magick Matters

"Astrology in the Middle Ages was considered a branch of the magical arts, one informed by Jewish and Muslim scientific knowledge in Muslim Spain. As such it was deeply troubling to some Church authorities. Using the stars and planets to divine the future ran counter to the orthodox Christian notion that human beings have free will, and some clerical authorities argued that it almost certainly entailed the summoning of spiritual forces considered diabolical. We know that occult beliefs and practices became widespread in the later Middle Ages, but there is much about the phenomenon that we do not understand. For instance, how deeply did occult beliefs penetrate courtly culture and what exactly did those...>>

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12.11.2021

“Roots of Haiti’s Vodou-Christian Faith: African and Catholic Origins” by R. Murray Thomas

Magick Matters

"This book traces the development of Haiti's combined Vodou-Christian religion from 1500 to the present and explains how this combination of distinct faiths coalesces in a coherent belief system. What are the historical reasons for the popularity of two contradictory worldviews in Haiti, Vodou and Catholicism? What elements of Vodou and Catholicism are alike, and how are they drastically different? What is the connection between indigenous African religions and Vodou? And why has religion in Haiti evidenced an accelerating rate of change in recent decades? Roots of Haiti's Vodou-Christian Faith: African and Catholic Origins answers these questions and more in its examination of the highly unique and often-misunderstood religious practices in Haiti. Reaching back half a...>>

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11.11.2021

“Pandemonium: A Visual History of Demonology” by Ed Simon (ebook version)

Magick Matters

🕵️🐷🕵️ zero-day🕵️🐷🕵️ "A compendium celebrating the art of hell and its minions, Pandemonium: The Illustrated History of Demonology presents—for the first time—Satan’s family tree, providing a history and analysis of his fellow fallen angels from Asmodeus to Ziminiar. Throughout the book, there are short entries on individual demons, but Pandemonium is more than just a visual encyclopedia. It also focuses on the influence of figures like Beelzebub, Azazel, Lilith, and Moloch on Western religion, literature, and art. Ranging from the earliest scriptural references to demons through the contemporary era, when the devils took on a subtler form, Pandemonium functions as a compendium of Lucifer’s subjects, from Dante’s The Divine Comedy to John Milton’s Paradise Lost,...>>

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11.11.2021

“Modern Guide to Mudras: Create Balance and Blessings in the Palm of Your Hands” by Alexandra Chauran

Magick Matters

"Fill your life with grace and joy using one of humanity's oldest forms of magic and communion with spirit—mudras. These yoga poses for your hands are easy and effective ways to enhance worship, meditation, sacred movement, and ritual storytelling. Presenting a wealth of illustrations and practices, this book helps you bring empowerment and balance to each day. Join popular author Alexandra Chauran on a journey into the spiritual power of mudras. Use the arala mudra to assist with healing and building confidence. Improve your love life with the kapitta mudra. Add the pasha mudra to your meditations for better problem solving. These gestures inspire positive change and help shut down negativity at home, work, and...>>

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11.11.2021

“The Art Cosmic: The Magic of Traditional Astrology” by Levi Rowland

Magick Matters

"Astrology has impacted civilizations worldwide and throughout history. It has greatly influenced the philosophy, religion, art, and magic of Western culture and has inspired countless decisions in the lives of people from every level of society. Traditional Western astrology differs from your typical daily Sun-sign horoscopes. While it still follows the course of the Zodiac through the Heavens, it focuses on the powers of the seven classical planets—great celestial spheres that the ancients gazed upon for guidance and wisdom. Traditional astrology is a holistic framework that melds the influence of the stars with your experience here on Earth to help you understand the Cosmos, your place within it, and how to harness its power to...>>

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