Bobbie
asked
Jack Massa:
Hi Jack- I enjoyed your book Ghosts of Bliss Bayou so much! But I'm curious, I know you're from Florida, do you have ancestors that were involved or associated with any of the springs practices mentioned in the book? How Tarot readings? i'm just curious, and find all these cultural customs fascinating.
Jack Massa
Hi, Bobbie,
First, thanks so much for reading Ghosts of Bliss Bayou and your terrific review.
To answer your questions:
1. I live in Florida now but actually grew up in New Jersey (not far from where Abby is living in the opening chapter.) I first saw Florida when I went to college down here, and have been in love with it ever since. As to my ancestors, they are Irish and Italian immigrants who settled in New Jersey. No occultists among them (that I know of).
2. As to the magical practices in the book. First, of course and as stated in the Afterword, they are fictional. That said, they are based on research into real magical societies from the late Victorian era, which were quite active in Britain and the U.S. Lots and lots has been written about these traditions. If you want to learn more, you might start by looking up "The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn."
3. The occult studies of these Victorians certainly included study and use of the Tarot deck. But the Tarot is much older, and its origins are murky. Again, there are oodles of books written about Tarot and many different decks. Serious authors have studied the Tarot in relation to the Qabalah and to the works of Carl Jung. For sure, Abby learns, the uses of the cards go way beyond fortune telling.
Thanks for the question and keep reading!
First, thanks so much for reading Ghosts of Bliss Bayou and your terrific review.
To answer your questions:
1. I live in Florida now but actually grew up in New Jersey (not far from where Abby is living in the opening chapter.) I first saw Florida when I went to college down here, and have been in love with it ever since. As to my ancestors, they are Irish and Italian immigrants who settled in New Jersey. No occultists among them (that I know of).
2. As to the magical practices in the book. First, of course and as stated in the Afterword, they are fictional. That said, they are based on research into real magical societies from the late Victorian era, which were quite active in Britain and the U.S. Lots and lots has been written about these traditions. If you want to learn more, you might start by looking up "The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn."
3. The occult studies of these Victorians certainly included study and use of the Tarot deck. But the Tarot is much older, and its origins are murky. Again, there are oodles of books written about Tarot and many different decks. Serious authors have studied the Tarot in relation to the Qabalah and to the works of Carl Jung. For sure, Abby learns, the uses of the cards go way beyond fortune telling.
Thanks for the question and keep reading!
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Aug 28, 2017 12:43PM · flag