http://www.goodreads.com/user/updates_rss/880788 en-US Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:26:25 -0700 60 http://www.goodreads.com/ 200 41 http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_logo.gif 31318335 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:26:25 -0700 Review16080916 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16080916 Complete Book Of Incense, Oils & Brews (Llewellyn's Practical Magick) by Scott Cunningham
You've never stank so good. ]]> 31318023 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:23:21 -0700 Review16081411 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16081411 Modern Magick: Eleven Lessons in the High Magickal Arts (Llewellyn's High Magick) by Don Kraig
I couldn't put this book down. I fell in love with this overly simplified foray into high magick. It gives you a clear course on where to start and how long to spend training on given techniques. Will you come out of it on top of the world, with the power to put your enemies on their knees? Well, no. But will you come away with a deep seated sense of understanding the mysteries of the universe? I'm betting "no" again. However, you can feel free to hang as much personal meaning on completing this course as you want. Will it be worth more than the cover cost? You'll have to let me know. ]]> 31317088 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:14:41 -0700 Review16114166 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16114166 The Candle Magick Workbook: Why and How Candle Magick Works (Paperback) by Kala Pajeon
If you are thinking about getting into candle magick, this may be the only book you need. Seriously, skip Buckland's volumes on the topic. These people have thought it all out. Of course all the "why and how" of candle magick presupposes that it does work in the first place. A magick book that establishes that point first is what I'm still hoping for. Again, you are left to endless experimentation to find out for yourself. I'm left wondering how many thaumaturgical fires destroy homes each year? My bottom line: go find a magickal technique that isn't such an indoor pollutant and fire hazard. ]]> 31315684 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:03:01 -0700 Review16111135 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16111135 to: The Anarchist Cookbook (Paperback) by William Powell
Own it for fun. Otherwise, just don't. Everything in this book is either unsafe or simply doesn't work. You'll also find a lot of the information is now sorely outdated (which is just as well). Mark my words or you'll end up another banana peel smoking, blast torn shadow of your former self. ]]> 31315185 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:58:20 -0700 Review16081768 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16081768 Wicca Craft: The Modern Witches Book of Herbs, Magick and Dreams (Library of the Mystic Arts) by Gerina Dunwich
A fairly shallow take on the "wicca 101" text. There really isn't anything to glean from this book, especially if you've read more than any 2 other books on the subject. It feels like another hurriedly slapped together money making vehicle. Makes me wish I'd thrown something like this together before the market was flooded. ]]> 31314624 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:52:25 -0700 Review16083605 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16083605 Middle Pillar: The Balance Between Mind & Magic: formerly The Middle Pillar (Paperback) by Israel Regardie
If you want to know about the Middle Pillar, then this is the book for you. It is essentially a manual for bringing about balance of mind and spirit through the use of a high magickal ritual called the middle pillar. The concepts and methods here owe more than a little to Eastern philosophies and methods of mental training. I've often thought of this book as viewing Buddhist and Hindu mind training techniques through the lens of Western psychology, layered with Qabbalistic trappings. Like any serious practice of meditation, a life time could be devoted to Regardie's methods. This isn't for seekers of instant gratification. ]]> 31313237 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:40:50 -0700 Review16084107 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16084107 Lord Of Light & Shadow: The Many Faces of the God (Llewellyn's World Religion & Magic Series,) by D.J. Conway
It's an attractive book, but there isn't much substance. It isn't really one stop shopping for all your godhead needs. You will likely want to explore a lot of other sources on mythology. However, this one does put the Wiccan spin on it all for you. ]]> 31312688 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:37:14 -0700 Review16081469 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16081469 Inner Temple Of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development (Paperback) by Christopher Penczak
I thought this was a pretty nice book as "wicca 101" kind of books go. The strong focus on the mental aspects of witchcraft was somewhat different from the mass of other books available. There wasn't anything more "fluffy" about this volume than most others. If you are new to the craft and want a decent intro to meditation and other methods of self development, then you could do worse than read this. However, you could probably get almost as much out of any number of books on meditation generally. ]]> 31310910 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:24:12 -0700 Review16083770 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16083770 The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (Clavicula Salomonis Regis) by Samuel Liddell Mathers
Anybody with enough time to read book reviews on the web is simply not devoted enough to this system of magick. Why are you wasting your life time with work, friends, and family when there is so much other-worldly lion taming to do? Get cracking young magicians.
Seriously, this is only fun for serious occult scholars and those that find the pictures cool. I'm willing to bet it is the latter category that keeps this in print. If you know anyone who is wasting serious time trying to make this stuff work, please take them out for a drink and smack some sense into them. ]]> 31061128 Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:27:25 -0700 Review16114488 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16114488 The Book of Runes: A Handbook for the Use of an Anceint Oracle: The Viking Runes with Stones: 10th Anniversary Edition (Hardcover) by Ralph Blum
Read enough about the runes and you'll be told this guy has basically invented all of this symbolism. My own studies make believe this is likely true. But if you believe in any form of divination, then you'll likely agree an internally consistent system can work without being connected to some historically accurate formula. That being said, I still found his interpretations fairly useless. But that rune set and drawstring bag is pretty swanky. ]]>