26.04.2022

“A Bewitched Land: Witches and Warlocks of Ireland” by Bob Curran

Magick Matters

"Witch trials in the European or American sense were not common in Ireland although they did occur. In this book the stories of four remarkable court cases that took place from the fourteenth to the nineteenth century are told; other chapters chronicle the extraordinary lives of individuals deemed to be practitioners of the black arts — hedge witches, sorcerers and sinister characters. The book gives a unique insight into the fascinating overlap between witch belief and the vast range of fairy lore that held sway for many centuries throughout the land."...>>

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26.04.2022

“The Arte of Darkness: Magic & Mystery from the Shadows” by Melusine Draco

Magick Matters

"Evil is simply misplaced force. It can be misplaced in time: like the violence that is acceptable in war, is unacceptable in peace. It can be misplaced in space: like a burning coal on a rug rather than the fireplace. Or it can be misplaced in proportion: like an excess of love can make us overly sentimental, or a lack of love can make us cruel and destructive. It is in things such as these that evil lies, not in a personal Devil who acts as an Adversary", so says the Qabalah. Nevertheless, there is an increasing tendency these days for groups and individuals to portray themselves as being more exciting, adventurous, or more magically...>>

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26.04.2022

“Sacred Shadows: Ice Age Spirituality” by Tylluan Penry

Magick Matters

"There are plenty of books about pagan religions. But what about the really ancient pagan past? That time so long ago that all records of it seem lost forever? Or are they? For this book shows how the ancient past is always with us, just lurking beneath the surface. It influences what we are, what we do, what we will become. It even invades our dreams. Yet we know next to nothing about it. Sacred Shadows: Ice Age Spirituality shows how the memories that seem to haunt us are not lost but are waiting to be recovered, so they can form part of our spiritual life, no matter what path we decide to follow. Rediscovering out past,...>>

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26.04.2022

“Hidden and Visible Realms: Early Medieval Chinese Tales of the Supernatural and the Fantastic” by Liu Yiqing and Zhenjun Zhang

Magick Matters

"Chinese culture of the Six Dynasties period (220–589) saw a blossoming of stories of the fantastic. Zhiguai, “records of the strange” or “accounts of anomalies,” tell of encounters with otherness, in which inexplicable and uncanny phenomena interrupt mundane human affairs. They depict deities, ghosts, and monsters; heaven, the underworld, and the immortal lands; omens, metamorphoses, and trafficking between humans and supernatural beings; and legendary figures, strange creatures, and natural wonders in the human world. Hidden and Visible Realms, traditionally attributed to Liu Yiqing, is one of the most significant zhiguai collections, distinguished by its varied contents, elegant writing style, and fascinating stories. It is also among the earliest collections heavily influenced by Buddhist beliefs, values,...>>

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26.04.2022

“Divination by Rod, Birds and Fingers” by Melusine Draco (kindle ebook version, Pagan Portals)

Magick Matters

"Divination is only a small part of a witch’s stock in trade, and although a basic introduction to the subject can be learned from books, proficiency will only come through vigorous practice. This proficiency comes through the discovery of certain secret matters by a great variety of means, correspondences, signs and occult techniques. Before a witch can perform any of these operations with any degree of success, we need to develop the ‘art of seeing’ and the ability to divine with rod, fingers and birds. Divination is what could be referred to as the practical element of Craft magic, and we don’t even have to be witches to be able to read the portents....>>

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