19.05.2021

“Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter — Then, Now, and Forever” by John McWhorter

Magick Matters

"One of the preeminent linguists of our time examines the realms of language that are considered shocking and taboo in order to understand what imbues curse words with such power—and why we love them so much. Profanity has always been a deliciously vibrant part of our lexicon, an integral part of being human. In fact, our ability to curse comes from a different part of the brain than other parts of speech—the urgency with which we say "f&*k!" is instead related to the instinct that tells us to flee from danger. Language evolves with time, and so does what we consider profane or unspeakable. Nine Nasty Words is a rollicking examination of profanity, explored from every...>>

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18.05.2021

“The Return of Odin: The Modern Renaissance of Pagan Imagination” by Richard Rudgley (new 3rd edition, retail kindle version)

Magick Matters

"Exploring the influence of the Norse god Odin in the modern world, Richard Rudgley reveals Odin’s central role in the pagan revival and how this has fueled a wide range of cultural movements and phenomena, including Nazi Germany, the 1960s counterculture revolution, the Lord of the Rings, the ecology movement, and the occult underground. Rudgley argues that it is Odin and not Jesus Christ who is the single most important spiritual influence in modern Western civilization. He analyzes the Odin archetype—first revealed by Carl Jung’s famous essay on Wotan—in the context of pagan religious history and explains the ancient idea of the Web—a cosmic field of energies that encompasses time, space, and the hidden potentials...>>

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18.05.2021

“The Tyranny of Algorithms: Freedom, Democracy, and the Challenge of AI” by Miguel Benasayag

Magick Matters

"A clear-eyed, timely investigation of the threat posed by Artificial Intelligence to individual freedom, social cohesion, and the democratic process—and a radical proposal on how to fight back. In this sharp, urgent book, philosopher, psychoanalyst, and former resistance fighter Miguel Benasayag warns of the great danger posed by the growing role of big data and algorithms in deciding the contours of individual lives and the direction of the world. From mass surveillance to predictive law enforcement to data-driven social interactions, AI has already colonized most aspects of our lives and determines the decisions of companies, financial markets, and governments. Structured as a conversation with anthropologist Régis Meyran, The Tyranny of Algorithms rejects the sterile dichotomy that...>>

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18.05.2021

“Encountering Angels: True Stories of How They Touch Our Lives Every Day” by Judith MacNutt

Magick Matters

"Angels have long fascinated humanity. From books to movies, from TV shows to video games, angels are portrayed in inconsistent and sometimes imaginative ways. What is biblical and really true about these heavenly beings. In this follow-up to her bestselling Angels Are for Real, author Judith MacNutt helps you separate fact from fiction. With warmth and insight, she shows you · the scriptural foundation for angels · their purposes here and in heaven · their role as protectors of children · how they comfort, protect, and worship with us · their role in spiritual warfare This book is full of amazing encounters and inspiring stories. You will come away encouraged and awed by God's provision for us through angels!"...>>

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17.05.2021

“Medicine and Magic in Elizabethan London: Simon Forman: Astrologer, Alchemist, and Physician” by Lauren Kassell

Magick Matters

"Simon Forman (1552-1611) is one of London's most infamous astrologers. Whilst he was consulted thousands of times a year for medical and other questions he stood apart from the medical elite as he boldly asserted medical ideas that were at odds with most learned physicians. In this fascinating book, Lauren Kassell vividly recovers the world of medicine and magic in Elizabethan London."...>>

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