The Occult Book Review

                                         “One mind there is, but under it two principles contend.”                               Philip K. Dick Tractates Cryptica Scriptura     The process of deciding what constitutes Christian doctrine and what are the remnants of previous traditions was summed up well by Elaine Pagels when she writes in Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas, “ What survived as orthodox Christianity did so by suppressing and forcibly eliminating a lot of other material .” This can often be revelatory for those who believe that Christianity today exists in the same form as in its first centuries.   This position is also expounded upon by Earl Doherty in his book The Jesus Puzzle and in...

Reading Spirits from the Edge of the World by J. Van. Ysslestyne is an eye-opening anthropological revealing of authentic shamanism. Unlike many examinations from western writers, this book is mostly compiled by the Ulchi people themselves. As one of the few remaining cultures with living links back to their ancient lineages we should listen carefully to what they have to tell us. Their animism (Itself a western term) is primal, of course, but also holistic and connective in a way we often overlook. Indeed, sometimes we are under pressure to label or not label, categorise and separate, define and ritualise, all of which, while well meaning, only result in order, dogma and an unnatural barrier to what 'shamanism' really is. Shamanism in the Ulchi context, and for those of us in the west to a more crude degree, is an overview and umbrella term for what might be a multitude of paths, methods of contact and connection to what I call the 'whatever '. The arch...

Sigil Witchery is both a thorough and often surprising history of sigils, as well as an entertaining practical guide suitable for the beginner and advanced practitioner alike. Crucially, Zakroff is respectful of the many world traditions and cultures she draws her information from and also brings her own knowledge and application to the subject. The result is a book which allows the reader to understand sigils from the many perspectives of folklore and witchcraft and which guides the reader through exercises and applications which can later be pursued in a personal direction. Before the review proper, a word of appreciation has to go out to the staff at Llewellyn who designed the format of this book. Because the author used so many illustrations and exercise pages, the usual book dimensions would have been inadequate in displaying how the writing and drawings compliment each other. The layout instead allows the reader to easily take in the designs and photographs...

This overview of the grimoire tradition is an essential addition to any collection. Davies is both thorough and entertaining in his opinions and histories. This is probably the perfect approach to take when trying to cover such a broad spectrum of traditions and cultures. To purchase Grimoires: A History of Magic Books go  here. Video review here:

In The Sacred History author Jonathan Black (AKA Mark Booth) sets out the case for idealism over materialism. Following on from his previous book The Secret History of the World the author this time uses an approach to mysticism that is possibly easier for the layperson to understand. The reason for this is the focus upon myth and the explanation of various religious and spiritual traditions and texts as opposed to the possibly more studious scope of his previous work. When we look back upon the history of sacred writings and wisdom supposedly gained through higher states of consciousness we must place a huge amount of faith in the notion of intuition and the idea that there is a common path applicable to us all. Idealism, as Black sees it, is the belief that thought came before matter and all of existence is somehow the expression of this original mind. In the book we are taken on a journey that begins with our earliest intimations of this higher aspect through creation myths ...

On the surface, Nina Allan’s novel is about alternate realities and the quest to overcome individual and collective perceptions. The story concerns various characters connected through generations and imaginings. Some of the characters believe they have corresponding siblings on the periphery of their own worlds. The arc of the novel concerns itself with the attempts of these people and their society to make sense of strange signals and communications said to come from the stars or, possibly, other dimensions. This novel unfurls slowly. The connections touch and drift, almost like a maze-like puzzle running through the story of each character. You wonder at the sub-text of each incident, trying to remember if a reflection or clue has already been glimpsed in a previous chapter. Not that the novel is elusive, rather, the rewards are greater if you stay alert to the connections and what lies behind the words and events. This novel is all about language and how it creates v...

Review: Leopard Warrior: A Journey into the African Teachings of Ancestry, Instinct, and Dreams by John Lockley. Published by Sounds True. John Lockley’s Leopard Warrior: A Journey into the African Teachings of Ancestry, Instinct, and Dreams is a book which seems both timely and timeless in equal measure. Today, a person from a non-indigenous tribe speaking for those who have a direct blood relationship to a cultural and spiritual tradition is often looked upon with suspicion, if not openly challenged. Importantly, the author is sensitive to his role as being one of the first white sangoma priests and acknowledges that there is a heightened awareness around the topic of potential appropriation without due training. The early chapters in this work detail Lockley’s experiences growing up in South Africa at the end of apartheid and his confusion as he is drawn to his sangoma calling.  And yet despite being a white man in South Africa at this volatile time, it...

One of the most affecting aspects of this book is Keel's pessimism throughout. This is a man who has witnessed  far too many strange occurrences to be entirely comfortable even trying to explain possibility, never mind offer any ultimate answer. Keel's conception of a super-spectrum is certainly intriguing and was a relatively new and unique view at the time. At least as far as English publications were concerned. Today, we have translation of anthropological texts by such writers as Ernesto De Martino and we can see that these explanations and experiences were always part of folkloric and mythological traditions. The absence of an index is unfortunate but as the book is quite a slim volume this does not present too many difficulties which can not be overcome with note-taking.   Enjoy the review... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-mDU3_Y02s