The Kabbalah, Magick, and Thelema: Selected Writings, Volume II.

by Phyllis Seckler, Gregory H. Peters (Editor), David Shoemaker (Editor)

Phyllis Seckler ("Soror Meral:" 1917-2004) was introduced to the teachings of Aleister Crowley in the late 1930s and became a regular participant in the activities of Agape Lodge of the Ordo Templi Orientis in California, and rose to become a Ninth Degree member of the "Sovereign Sanctuary of the Gnosis," and an Adeptus Minor of the A∴A∴. The Kabbalah, Magick, and Thelema is the second volume of writings by Phyllis Seckler to be published by the College of Thelema of Northern California in association with The Teitan Press. Like the first volume, this collection is edited and introduced by three of Seckler's former students: Rorac Johnson, Gregory Peters, and David Shoemaker, but this second volume additionally includes a short Foreword by one of her best-known early A∴A∴ students, Lon Milo DuQuette. In common with Crowley, Seckler found short, pithy essays, written in the form of "letters," to be an excellent and powerful teaching method, and the main body of this work comprises a series of these letters, covering diverse topics from kabbalah and the practice of ritual magic, through philosophy and spiritual enquiry to commentary on the Thelemic culture of the time. Originally published in Seckler's journal "In the Continuum," they are here presented for the first time in book form, accompanied by redrawn and corrected diagrams. The book also reproduces a number of important letters that passed between Seckler and other significant figures in the history of post-Crowleyan Thelema, including Karl Germer, Israel Regardie, Grady McMurtry, Gerald Yorke, and Marcelo Motta. These letters, which cover matters as varied as the leadership succession of the O.T.O. and the thefts at Karl Germer's library, are published here for the first time, as are a number of related photographs.
New Book. Fine in Fine dust jacket. (Item ID: 41745)

Genres: Thelema, Magick

288 pages, Hardcover

First published June 20, 2012

Reviews

[Tiegel · Rating 4 out of 5]

More About Phyllis Seckler Than Soror Meral

Physical Quality of Book: The pages are falling out. The binding and general quality seems to be much different than volume 1. I have attached a picture of the final result after reading. Extra care was taken during the last half of the book to prevent further problems, but I have to warn about being very careful. It could just be my edition, but you can absolutely tell the binding quality is different here.

Overview: I have had Volume 1 of this edition for a long time now. Along with other books on the subject I use it as an excellent reference when dealing with Tarot. The insights provided there have given much benefit and I recommend that highly. However, do note that this is much different. Read the description carefully before purchase. My personal opinion about the best content provided here is found "In the Continuum" which is provided for free from official sources online. I would suggest that for interested parties. Indeed, the description here says some items are fixed from that initial publication, but interested parties should do research on things of interest rather than a copy/paste job.

The letters of the first section are interesting, but it should be noted that you are an observer here of a one-sided conversation. It would benefit the reader to understand this and to see themselves as a fly on the wall and not reading as a book strictly meant for the reader. What is said here is for the benefit of the person being responded to and you get the benefit of observer. This leads to some issues if care is not taken. First, again, understand this was for the benefit of the person being responded to and some things are said for their benefit. Second, it can get confusing during parts of the conversation because you do not get to see why and what the response is to. I wouldn't say that it happens a lot, but it should be noted for the would-be reader.

4 Stars: The reason I gave this 4 stars is there is a lot of, I can think of no better word, personal drama being described here. There is a good bit about the opinions of Phyllis Seckler on many things including people, groups, etc. Being an outsider this does not bring anything to this reader's table and the drama between people and groups does not exactly interest me. This is why I labeled this review as "More About Phyllis Seckler Than Soror Meral". I'm not sure if irony is meant on these final pages of the book:

"WHY must some people still be enamored of the personal side of A.C.? The side A.C. himself liked to term 'the demon Crowley?'"

Having said that I will give the opposite point. This kind of a "look into the life of" provides the ability to remove the all too powerful (and AC mentioned this several times) illusion that follows fame, rank, etc.. Groups and people are put on a pedestal and glamour is put over the all too real human side. Instead of getting that famed image you get the underlying person. I think this can truly help those to bring down the person and groups to see they are just like you whilst also providing the inspiration derived from in many sections from Soror Meral.

I would suggest would-be readers to get those free copies of In The Continuum, definitely pick up Volume 1, and I hope this review helps you understand if this is what you are looking for.