Here's a basic reading list. You could also look at the curriculum of the AA as published in Crowley's Magick for many other useful texts. It might take a while to get through these books, assuming you are able to get hold of them. You don't need to have read them all before continuing. Professor Ronald Hutton once expressed the view that if a candidate read and assimilated all of the material suggested by Crowley, they would be better educated than most university students.
'Aleister
Crowley' in Dictionary of National Bibliography
'Aleister Crowley - Great Ideas of the Twentieth Century' by Snoo Wilson (transcript
as published in Thelema 94 edited by Mogg Morgan)
Modern
Textbook of Astrology by
Margaret Hone [Old but much ripped off introduction to main tenets
of astrology and a must for any serious occultist.]
History of Astrology by Jack Lindsay
'On
The Other Hand Path' by Ray Sherwin published in Nuit Isis Reader
1
Liber Null and Psychonaut by Pete Carroll
The Book of Results by Ray Sherwin
Liber Kaos by Pete Caroll
SSOTBME by Ramsey Dukes
Thundersqueak by Angerford and Lea
Chaos Ritual by Steve Wilson
Chaos International Journal, various authors
Condenced Chaos by Phil Hine
Chaotopia by Dave Lee
Now This Is What I Call Chaos Magick by Greg Humphries and Julian
Vayne
Kaos Hieroglyphica by Anton Channing
Varieties
of Religious Experience by
William James
The Golden Bough by JG Frazer [Useful as a compendium of sources but
theoretically dubious.]
Yoga Immortality and Freedom by Mircea Eliade
Shamanism by Mircea Eliade
Gods and Myths of India by Alain Danielou
Shiva & Dionysus by Alain Danielou
Masks of God by Joseph Campbell [see also the PBS video series
by Joseph Campbell (with Bill Moyers), The Power of Myth
in six programmes. ] I borrowed
a copy at my local library although copies are available for sale
from Mandrake of Oxford.
History of Religious Ideas (3 vols) by Mircea Eliade
Three Pillars of Zen by Roshi
The
Wizard of Earthsea by
Ursula Le Guin
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin
Lammas Night by Katherine Kurtz
Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse
Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann
The Glass Bead Game by Herman Hesse
Siddharta by Herman Hesse
The Chemical Wedding by Lindsay Clarke
Angel of The West Window by G Meyrinck
The Golem by G Meyrinck
The Green Face by G Meyrinck
La Bas by JK Huysmans
Moon Child by Aleister Crowley
The God Game by Gerald Suster [Excellent. Like Edgar Allan Poe,
Sheridan Le Fanu, and Arthur Machen, Gerald Suster's
writing is dark, flamboyant and
inventive. His other novels are also worth reading.]
The Perfume of Egypt and Other Weird Stories by
CW Leadbeater
The Demon Lover by Dion Fortune
The Secrets of Dr Taverner by Dion Fortune
The Winged Bull by Dion Fortune
The Goat Foot God by Dion Fortune
The Sea Priestess by Dion Fortune
Moon Magic by Dion Fortune [Dion Fortune's
novels are hardly works of art but they contain
some key magical
ideas.]
The Magick Bookshop - Stories of the Occult by
Kala Trobe [A very well written and fascinating
collection of
short stories
in the
style
of Dion Fortune's Secrets of Dr Taverner, by
one of today's best writers of occult fiction.]
Magick in the West End - Stories of the Occult by
Kala Trobe [An excellent sequel to The Magick Bookshop.]
High Magic's Aid by Scire [alias Gerald
B Gardner]
Winged Pharaoh by Joan Grant
The Dreamer on the Vine by Liz Greene
[The celebrated astrologer is an equally competent
and
talented writer,
and this fiction
(?) novel will keep you thinking long after you
finish reading it. Could
Liz Greene
be a reincarnation of the great astrologer and
seer Nostradamus?]
'Gematria'
by McGregor Matters [Reprinted in collection entitled The Kabbalah of Aleister
Crowley- which also contains 777 a book of correspondences which is essential
part of any magicians library and also Sepher Sephira, a dictionary of
kabbalistic terms also worth having.]
The Mystical Kabbalah by Dion Fortune [Flawed but important study
of Kabbalah which shows how the image can be integrated into astral work.]
The Shinning Paths by Dolores Ashcroft Nowicki [Also highly recommended
are all the other books by Dolores.]
The Sefer Yetzirah Edited and translated by Aryeh Kaplan [Work of
great genius.]
The Bahir Edited and translated by Aryeh Kaplan
The Kabbalah by G Scholem
Readings from The Zohar by G Scholem
Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism by G Scholem [Scholem is a famous
scholar of the Kabbalah although he has received some criticism of late for
his failure to acknowledge the centrality of magick to Kabbalistic thought.]
Climbing The Tree of Life - A Practical Manual of Magickal Qabalah - by
David Rankine [For dynamic and practical Qabalistic work, includes meditations,
pathworkings, illustrations and Qabalistic correspondences tables.]
Magick: The Western Tradition by Francis
King
Ritual Magick In England by Francis King
Sexuality, Magick and Perversion by Francis King
Techniques of High Magick by Francis King and Stephen Skinner [The Francis
King books are a little bit out of date but are easy to read and full of useful
information. The titles can belie the serious content. Copies should be available
in most public libraries. ]
The Search for Abraxas by Neville Drury
The Occult by Colin Wilson
Magic: The Complete Primer by David Conway [A timeless classic, originally
published in 1972 by Jonathan Cape, this work is packed with useful and practical
information, and more than a mere primer. Many competent magicians found this
inspirational book has helped them on their way.]
Heka - The Practices of Ancient Egyptian Ritual & Magic - by David Rankine
[All clearly presented for the ritual magician. Contains illustrations and relevant
correspondences tables.]
Visual Magick by Jan Fries [Excellent beginners book.]
Tankhem - Seth
and Egyptian Magick - Volume 1 - by Mogg Morgan
The Bull of Ombos - Seth and Egyptian Magick - Volume 2 - by Mogg Morgan
Supernatural Assault in Ancient Egypt - Seth, Renpet and Moon Magick -
Volume 3 - by Mogg Morgan [All
3 volumes are works by a practitioner scholar.]
The Splendour That Was Egypt by Margaret Murray
Tantra
Magick by AMOOKOS
Tantra Sadhana by
Sahajanath
The Tantrik Tradition by A Barati
Shiva & Dionysus by Alain Danielou
Gods and Myths of India by Alain Danielou
Yoga Immortality and Freedom by Mircea Eliade
Tantra by P Rawson
The
Book of Thoth by
Aleister Crowley
Encyclopaedia of Tarot by Richard Cavendish
The Encyclopedia of Tarot by Stewart R Kaplan
78 Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack 2 vols
The Truth About The Tarot by Gerald Suster [This is a good book
to read, especially for those working with the Crowley-Harris deck.]
Tarot - A Key to The Wisdom of The Ages - by Paul Foster Case
Understanding The Tarot - A Personal Teaching Guide - by Juliet Sharman-Burke
The
Great Beast
by John Symonds [reprinted as King of the Shadow Realm] [The author is
hostile to Crowley, but this is a fascinating account if one bears in mind
the author's prejudices.]
'Virgins, Whores and Scarlet Women - Women and Magick' article by
Shantidevi in the Thelemic journal Nuit Isis Issue 1.
Becoming Magick by David Rankine 'New and Revised Magicks for the
New Aeon, drawing on over twenty years of magickal work in a variety of systems,
this book is a forward-looking manual full of new material
and techniques created to push the boundaries of contemporary magick'. [A
fresh approach to Qabalah, Gematria and Magick. Among many other things, contains
instructions on how to make top quality Abra-Melin Oil and Incense, and the
legendary Kyphi Incense of the ancient Egyptian priesthood, essential items
for the magician.]
The Magick of Thelema - A Handbook of the Rituals of Aleister Crowley
by Lon Milo Duquette
The Eye in the Triangle by Israel Regardie
The Middle Pillar by Israel Regardie
Legacy of The Beast by Gerald Suster
Magical Dilemma of Victor Neuberg by Jean Overton Fuller
Magick, Liber ABA etc. by Aleister Crowley [Not an easy book to read
in one sitting but worth having a copy of and working through over a few years
as your experience grows. The best edition used to be the Penguin/RKP has been
withdrawn. Weiser have produced a definative edition at $49. Otherwise there
are several reprints of the first edition available but they lack an index and
decent contents page but they are very cheap. If your edition has the section
on yoga then have a look but I recommend skipping this and getting a decent
yoga and meditation teacher instead. It is really a rewriting of Vivekanandas
Raja Yoga which is in turn a commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. These are
crucial magical ideas here but take a bit of digesting. Read Introduction then
go to section two on ceremonial magick. Read through the various short chapters
that sets out the basic symbolism of the magical weapons.] Dip into the fascinating
chapters in part three, which begins with the fantastic 'Hymn to Pan'. Much
of the instructional material is actually contained in Appendices VI and VII
'a few principle rituals' (an understatement if ever there was one), which can
be worked through in the following order (perhaps it might take a few years
to do this).
'Liber O'
'Liber Astarte '
'Liber HHH'
Appendices IV 'Liber Samech' is an advanced ritual and you need a bit of experience
before making much of it.
The smaller rituals such as 'Star Sapphire', 'Star Ruby' and 'Mass of Phoenix'
are very much Crowley/Thelemic rituals and can, if you wish, be used to substitute
the older Golden Dawn formulae given in 'Liber O'. 'Liber Resh' is worth memorising
as a neat way of worshipping the sun on solstices etc.
'Liber 15 - The Gnostic Mass' is a church like ritual for larger groups who
are into that sort of thing. Various tapes of this are available. [Do not slavishly
follow the formulae in Magick, use your brain.] The
Confessions or Autohagiography by Aleister Crowley [Long winded, but if
you're hooked by now, you'll love it.]
Aleister Crowley and The Hidden God by Kenneth Grant
The Magical Revival by Kenneth Grant
Cults of The Shadows by Kenneth Grant [Not the easiest or the most scholarly
of writers, but very original and even though you may only understand 25% of
what he says, you'll either be fascinated or repelled. Read in conjunction with
Shantidevi's article mentioned above.]
Blavatsky and Her Teachers by Jean Overton
Fuller [A well researched and profoundly insightful biography of the extraordinary
Madame Blavatsky, the pioneer of the modern occult and new age movement, elegantly
written by a respected Theosophical scholar. Also includes very useful in depth
commentaries on Isis Unveiled and The Secret Doctrine.]
Madame Blavatsky Medium and Magician by John Symonds [A humourous, well
written biography.]
The Extraordinary Life and Influence of HP Blavatsky by Sylvia Cranston
The Secret Doctrine by HP Blavatsky, abridged by Christmas Humphreys
Isis Unveiled by HP Blavatsky
The Secret Doctrine by HP Blavatsky
The Key to Theosophy by HP Blavatsky
The Voice of The Silence by HP Blavatsky
Collected Writings by HP Blavatsky
Esoteric Budhism by AP Sinnett
The Masters and The Path by CW Leadbeater
Light On The Path by Mabel Collins
The Idyll of The White Lotus by Mabel Collins
The Divine Plan - A Commentary on HP Blavatsky's Secret Doctrine - by
Geoffrey Barborka
Exploring the Great Beyond by Geoffrey Farthing
Deity, Cosmos & Man by Geoffrey Farthing
[This is only a small selection of the great Theosophical Classics.]
Fire Child - The Life and Magic of Maxine
Sanders 'Witch Queen' by Maxine Sanders - [The long awaited autobiography
of one of the world's most influential and respected witches.]
Mastering
Witchcraft - A Practical Guide for Witches, Warlocks & Covens - by Paul Huson
Witches - True Encounters with Wicca,
Wizards, Covens, Cults and Magick - by Hans Holzer [A study of modern
occult and magical practices in America and Britain.]
The Spiral Dance by Starhawk
Witch Cult in Western Europe by Margaret Murray
Witchcraft Today by Gerald B Gardner
The Meaning of Witchcraft by Gerald B Gardner
Witchcraft for Tomorrow by Doreen Valiente
The Rebirth of Witchcraft by Doreen Valiente
Natural Magic by Doreen Valiente [Doreen Valiente has been called
the Mother of the modern witchcraft revival. In any case she wrote most of the
Gardnerian
material
in
the
1950s].
Lid of the Cauldron by Patricia Crowther [Very good.
Patricia Crowther writes well in
an entertaining
and
highly personal style].
High Priestess by Patricia Crowther [ autobiography]
From Stagecraft to Witchcraft - The early years of a High Priestess - by Patricia Crowther [autobiography]
Ecstasies: Decoding The Witch's Sabbath by Carlo Ginsberg
Wiccan Roots by Philip Heselton [A study of the history of Gardnerian
Wicca].
The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles by Ronald
Hutton
The Triumph of The Moon - A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft - by
Ronald Hutton [An in depth scholarly study of Modern Witchcraft
by Professor Hutton,
and a very good read.]
Wicca - The Old Religion in The New Age - by
Vivianne Crowley [A very influential modern classic.]
Witches - An Encyclopedia of Paganism and Magic - by Michael Jordan
Witchcraft - A Complete Guide - by Teresa Moorey [Very good all-rounder
guide, by a prolific and knowledgeable author.]
Witcha - A Book of Cunning - by Nathaniel J Harris [A book of
operational Sabbatic English Witchcraft, with original artwork and photographs
from
the Musem of Witchcraft in Boscastle.]
Helrunar by Jan Fries [A manual of rune magick, highly illustrated,
third revised and enlarged edition.]
Magick Without Peers - A Course in Progressive Witchcraft for
The Solitary Practitioner - by David Rankine and Ariadne Rainbird
['' This is a book about Progressive Witchcraft which the authors
see as being more ecclectic
and
universal than Alexandrian and Gardnerian Wicca.'' Full of material
and techniques for self-unfoldment, ritual and magickal work,
including the creation and
use
of incenses and oils. For those who respect the beauty and wisdom
of the Alexandrian and Gardnerian Craft, but also appreciate that
of Magick, Voodoo
and Tantra.]
Circle of Fire - The Symbolism and Practices of Wiccan Ritual
- by
Sorita d'Este and David Rankine [Well designed, with very clearly
presented and explained
material, gives you all the information you will need to work
good and effective rituals, from temple preparation to the actual
practices. Contains
illustrations,
photographs, and relevant correspondences tables.]
Wicca,
Magickal Beginnings - A Study of the Possible Origins of the Rituals and
Practices found in this Modern Tradition of Pagan Witchcraft and Magick
- by
Sorita d'Este and David Rankine
The Western Way by
John & Caitlin Mathews [The first and for many,
best book by this prolific pair. May be a useful intro to some
aspects of CelticMagick.]
What Witches Do by Janet and Stewart Farrar
Eight Sabbats for Witches by Janet and Stewart Farrar
The Witches Way by Janet and Stewart Farrar
Progressive Witchcraft by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Legend of the Witches (Review)
Written and Directed by Malcolm Leigh
Produced by Negus-Fancey
Edited by Judith Smith
Lighting Cameraman: Robert Webb
Border Film Production (London) Ltd
Year: 1969
Featuring: Alex and Maxine Sanders and their beautiful coven.
Format: DVD
‘In the beginning was the Moon, Diana. Her lover was the Dawn, Lucifer - God of Light. They created man, and built the monuments, which tracked their paths across the skies. Now man could predict the movements of the Gods, he sought to control them, through priests and ritual…’
Originally X-rated, this newly released DVD, is a real period piece this, documenting the beliefs and practices of Alex Sanders and the circle of witches, which under his leadership, electrified the popular imagination and attracted many into the Wiccan path.
The film's leisurely pace requires the modern viewer to make some adjustment to their viewing habits. Nevertheless this is a minor masterpiece and really manages to tell one of witchcraft's many 'stories'. We've perhaps become a little too knowing to accept all of the certainties of 1960s Wicca - but nevertheless we can all agree, that this 'warts and all' view, really does capture the spirit of the time. It's a beautiful film, shot I think in 16mm black and white, which lends it a very artistic feel, reminding me most of the experimental films of Maya Deren or indeed UK classics of 'socialist realism' such as 'Night Mail', the 1936 movie by John Grierson, with music by Benjamin Britten.
The documentary begins with lovely sweeping shots of seascapes and ancient, elemental landscapes over which the film's narrator begins his tale of the ancient witch mythology, of the Goddess Diana and her consort Lucifer, the sun. Now whether or not one buys into this spirited mythology, we have strayed into controversy almost immediately. Who amongst the current glut of media witches even dares to mention that name - Lucifer?
Almost half the film explores these ideas, covering issues such the mysteries of earth energy, altered states, the pagan traces that survive in pre-reformation churches, the persecutions and the rebirth of the old religion. It's foundation myth, easy to sneer at, but strangely wonderful just the same.
Seamlessly, the film now deliverers us into the hands of a modern coven. We see them perform a variety of rites. First, an outdoor initiation. The candidate, referred to throughout as Michael, not because that's his real name but presumably because of the ancient folk myth of 'crazy man Michael', Britain's very own 'holy fool'. The priestess repeatedly calls 'Michael' to various encounters with elemental forces, the whole rite done at Alderley Edge in Cheshire, itself a place of power, just a stone's thrown from Lindow Moss, where in Iron Age times, other, darker rites were done by our pagan ancestors.
Now the action moves into the temple, after some exploration of the many cursing exhibits, still to be seen at the Boscastle's Witchcraft Museum, we are prepared for the notion that witches sometimes curse. The coven, prepare such a curse, using the traditional and extremely ancient technique, in which a poppet is given life through the agency of Alex and Maxine's act of sexual magick - fascinating stuff.
We even get to see something seldom alluded to these days - the so-called 'Black Mass.' completed with a very lifelike 'sign of Osiris slain' - . These witches, known these days as Alexandrians, do not see such as mass as any form of inversion of Christian principles. They knew something that we have all perhaps forgotten - there is no impervable barrier between primitive Christianity and classical paganism. It was around this time that Professor Morton Smith wrote his groundbreaking book Jesus the Magician. The 'Black Mass' is only 'black to the blind' - it is in fact a celebration of life in all is bounty.
The film concludes with a nod to the future, when the special
powers of the witch will be understood more in terms of the newish science of
ESP and indeed the 1960s first forays into the psychedelic, encounter groups
and other techniques of obsession and transcendence. Of course some in the new
millennial will find this all too embarrassing and bad for business - but what
do they know? Who are then the true successors to Alex Sanders and the witches
of the 1960s? If they were still here I'd say the Temple ov Psychic Youth would
be a likely contender. The film will outrage some but inspire others to take
up where they left off after a generation or more of stoney sleep. Buy this
and be refreshed. - Mogg Morgan
Labels: legend of the witches
Here is the show that caused so much controversy in the 1960s press and with audiences, got this cult group banned by the BBC and from touring in the USA. For many years now, the album 'Sacrifice' and especially the single 'Come to the Sabbath' has been the unofficial anthem of the pagan movement.
Almost forty years ago, I remember buying my first ever album (Black Sabbath/Paranoid) then being told by friends that what I really wanted to hear was Black Widow - far more edgy. Trouble was no one could get a copy, and everyone confused them with Black Sabbath - the rest is history for what is called the most unfortunate of bands.
The release of their well crafted album, whose underlying concept and accompanying stageshow benefited from the input of the infamous Maxine and Alex Sanders (the whole story is told in Maxine's new autobiography Fire Child - see above) . Trouble was it also coincided with the Sharon Tate/La Bianca murders. So all in all the album sunk without a trace and Black Widow eventually split.
But steadily over the years, their albums, especially Sacrifice, continued a twilight existence. But no one really knew what they were like live and what was that infamous stage show?
Clive Jones, the talented saxophonist and flutist remembered that one of their singles was filmed for the German equivalent of Top of the Pops. For many years he worked to track down the original producer, and was eventually promised a remastered copy of the film. When it eventually arrived, he was stunned to discover that the DVD included the entire stage show, which had been done as a warm up in the afternoon before the broadcast. Clive has no memory of all this, perhaps it's another example of the old saying "if you can remember the 1960s, you weren't there".
This DVD and accompanying CD is a fine piece of Rock and indeed occult history. And what a wonderful undiscovered classic is on offer here. Filmed in black and white you get the full ritual opening, then the invocation of the Ashtoreth, whose look is clearly modelled on the original concept created by Maxine Sanders as documented in her autobiography. The story moves to the 'demoness' as she attempts to seduce and possess the magician, then the battle and final 'licence to depart'.
The Black Widow vocalist, musicians and dancer all look great. The whole performance is very dramatic, real and physical with the incense burning and the building of power tangible. Furthermore, it is a very aesthetically pleasing stage show.
It's a really great Rock film, it's a really great Pagan film, with the added bonus of live versions of all the tracks, all of which are longer and musically richer than the studio album.
Black
Widow Live Stage Show DVD plus live bonus CD - circa 15.99 UK Pounds
- got to do it really. [Mogg]
'Love Is The Law, Love Under Will'
(C) OGDOS, PO Box 250, Oxford, OX1 1AP.