Approaching Babalon: Essays for the Abyss

by Georgia van Raalte

Approaching Babalon presents a series of essays exploring the Goddess Babalon, the Divine Feminine, the Dark Mother, and the ever-revolving circuit of Sex and Death which lies at the centre of the Mysteries. An overview and introduction to the Goddess Babalon that takes a different road to that of Crowley and his followers, Approaching Babalon draws on the insights of Thelema, Ceremonial Magic, Critical Theory, Liberation Theology and the Decadents to weave its magico-theological poetics. Centralising the body and bodily experience, the author rejects patriarchal mysticisms which seek to flee from the body and the world and slink off into the pure white light of heavenly rationalist sanitized boredom. Inspiring, erotic and deeply poetic, the text reaches ecstatic heights as it offers a kaleidoscopic vision of magic, sexuality, spirituality, ritual and the body in the time of the apocalypse.

Genres: Occult

151 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Rodrigo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a series of essays on various topics ranging from sexuality, magick, family, politics, feminism, etc. with the single unifying thread of the Goddess Babalon, the great Goddess of sex and death. The ideas therein are really refreshing, taking Babalon from a different perspective than other thelemites I've read, some are really thought provoking, others I disagreed, but I think it's a serious effort to understand the Goddess in all Her full glory

[Trevor Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Majestic and Self-Assured Feminist Chaos Magick Psycho-Babble.

This Part Anthology book / Part Ceremonial Instruction Guide is what all the hip post O.T.O disciples are talking about these days. Georgia van Raalte's work came well recommended from the contemporary British witch community and the high magician GOOGLE algorithm, and I was not disappointed. There are entire segments and chapter long thesis writings on concepts like "The Holy Whore" and playing with vaginal fluids as ritual work. She's obsessed with apocalytpcism and sex like all great magical theorists are. Her writings can come off as forceful, contrived, and posturing at times like a bad roleplay of sex positions that tend to overreach, but at the end of the book you are still glad that you mentally fucked for the rush and experimental neural benefit.

Keep up the Great Work Georgia! 93/93

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Oh, holy dung heap, incubator of new life, destroyer of old flesh, to thee we raise ourselves in worship - verily your filth is the body of God.”

The Great Dark Mother devours us all, mercifully returning us to the void. Meditate on the coyote shit on the side of the road, a mat of clumped fur with a few stray bones. How wonderful to be digested by the universe - how much more desirable than the stasis of plastic and polished glass.

Really great collection of short essays, relentlessly engaging.

[Dustin333 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these writings dedicated to Babalon.

[Hal Lowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

hell yeah

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many anthologies, the quality varies. The book is 151 pages but is the dimension size of a pamphlet and there are 26 essays listed, so naturally much of the material is relatively short. This was probably the biggest issue I had with the book as often times Raalte would touch on many interesting observations and ideas but never really ever unpacks and situates them in a way that would make her ideas stand out from the crowd. I feel that Amodali and Alkistis Dimech touch on similar themes but in more expansive and thought-provoking ways. Regardless, I still feel that Raalte has something to offer and is a voice to pay attention to with regards to a feminist relational approach to Babalon; however, as of the time of this writing, the book is only offered as a physical copy for $21 while being a very short book that only takes a couple of hours to read. I feel like the material is better suited as a more consumer-friendly ebook, being that most of the essays read like short blog posts.