Tag Archives: goods and services

A New New Testament

A New New Testament: A Bible for the 21st Century Combining Traditional and Newly Discovered Texts by Hal Taussig is a relatively new book, available from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, that caught my eye. It looks like a work intended more for mass consumption and as another easy introduction to the material than a truly innovative and revolutionary redaction and collection, but may still be of some interest.

Hal Taussig's A New New Testament

“It is time for a new New Testament.

Over the past century, numerous lost scriptures have been discovered, authenticated, translated, debated, celebrated. Many of these documents were as important to shaping early-Christian communities and beliefs as what we have come to call the New Testament; these were not the work of shunned sects or rebel apostles, not alternative histories or doctrines, but part of the vibrant conversations that sparked the rise of Christianity. Yet these scriptures are rarely read in contemporary churches; they are discussed nearly only by scholars or within a context only of gnostic gospels. Why should these books be set aside? Why should they continue to be lost to most of us? And don’t we have a great deal to gain by placing them back into contact with the twenty-seven books of the traditional New Testament—by hearing, finally, the full range of voices that formed the early chorus of Christians?

To create this New New Testament, Hal Taussig called together a council of scholars and spiritual leaders to discuss and reconsider which books belong in the New Testament. They talked about these recently found documents, the lessons therein, and how they inform the previously bound books. They voted on which should be added, choosing ten new books to include in A New New Testament. Reading the traditional scriptures alongside these new texts—the Gospel of Luke with the Gospel of Mary, Paul’s letters with The Letter of Peter to Philip, The Revelation to John with The Secret Revelation to John—offers the exciting possibility of understanding both the new and the old better. This new reading, and the accompanying commentary in this volume, promises to reinvigorate a centuries-old conversation and to bring new relevance to a dynamic tradition.” [via]

Liber Nigri Solis

Liber Nigri Solis edited by Victor Voronov is available for pre-order from Theion Publishing in limited standard edition, although the deluxe “Auric” edition is already sold out.

Victor Voronov's Liber Nigri Solis from Theion Publishing

“Liber Nigri Solis, edited by Victor Voronov, elaborates the occult, magical and initiatory work of two esoteric orders. Presenting the aeonic history, mythic imagery, and arcane aesthetics of the Black Sun along with its alchemical and astrological aspects and significances, this opus includes a concise though multi-faceted esoteric system in theory and practice suitable for work with the Black Sun on microcosmic, mesocosmic, and macrocosmic levels. It will enable solitary practitioners and occult colleagues alike to cultivate the Gnosis of the Sol Niger through self-initiatory workings, rites, and operations of sinister alchemy.

The reader will be provided with eighteen keys which open the nine Infernal Gates and the nine Gates of Radiant Darkness, ultimately leading to the vision of the Black Sun, which radiates twelve Crooked Paths that cross the nine Thresholds. The text also expounds significant concepts such as the Fivefold Unmanifest or the Grand Chymical Conjunction of the arcane Black Suns that unveils the fiery gates of the Inverse Opus. Beyond researches concerning the sunspot cycle and cosmological considerations pertaining to Indo-Iranian mythology, substantial theoretical and operative material concerning plague-magic and epidemics has been included.

Liber Nigri Solis is a truly controversial grimoire and whether one agrees or not with all of its antinomian gnosis and sinister strategies, the uniqueness, sophistication and otherworldly power of its system is undeniable.

Lavishly illustrated with artwork commissioned especially for this book, Liber Nigri Solis also features a fascinating, elaborate introduction by Dr. Eva Kingsepp of Stockholm University.” [via]

The House of Rumor

The House of Rumour: A Novel by Jake Arnott is an alternate history novel which features characterizations of Ian Fleming, Aleister Crowley, Jack Parsons, and more.

Jake Arnott's The House of Rumor

“Mixing the invented and the real, The House of Rumour explores WWII spy intrigue (featuring Ian Fleming), occultism (Aleister Crowley), the West Coast science-fiction set (Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and Philip K. Dick all appear), and the new wave music scene of the ’80s. The decades-spanning, labyrinthine plot even weaves in The Jonestown Massacre and Rudolf Hess, UFO sightings and B-movies. Told through multiple narrators, what at first appears to be a constellation of random events begins to cohere as the work of a shadow organization—or is it just coincidence?

Tying the strands together is Larry Zagorski, an early pulp fiction writer turned U.S. fighter pilot turned “American gnostic,” who looks back on his long and eventful life, searching for connections between the seemingly disparate parts. The teeming network of interlaced secrets he uncovers has personal relevance—as it mirrors a book of 22 interconnected stories he once wrote, inspired by the major arcana cards in the tarot.” [via]

There’s also a review with spoilers by Charlie Jane Anders over at “In House of Rumour, Ian Fleming and Aleister Crowley win World War II” if you want to check that out.

Create Your Own Religion

Create Your Own Religion: A How-To Book without Instructions by Daniele Bolelli, from Disinformation Books, is a new release you may find interesting.

Daniele Bolelli's Create Your Own Religion from Disinformation Books

 

“Create Your Own Religion is a call to arms—an open invitation to question all the values, beliefs, and worldviews that humanity has so far held as sacred in order to find the answers we need to the very practical problems facing us.

Writer, philosopher, and professor of comparative religion, Daniele Bolelli, leads the reader through three thousand years of mythology, misogyny, misinformation, and the flat-out lies about “revealed truth” that continue to muddle our ability to live a peaceful life, free of guilt and shame and the ultimate fear of death.” [via]

 

The email announcement about this book from Red Wheel Weiser was sent with both the provocative subject line “Avoid the Pitfalls of Blind Faith” and tag line of “Ditch the Dogma and Create your Own Spiritual Blueprint.”

I’m reminded of a paraphrase of the K & C of one’s HGA as becoming the priest of one’s own religion. This may appeal to those with a general interest in open source spirituality and open source religion, such as the Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn; and, also, perhaps, those people who would be attracted to Rev Ivan Stang’s Cult Creation and Management focus in his Maybe Logic Academy course SubGenius Initiation.

Silver and garnet pomegranate pendant

This pomegranate pendant is made of silver and garnet by WingedLion is available in small and large sizes

WingedLion's Silver and Garnet Pomegranate Pendant large

“For ages, pomegranates have symbolized love, fertility, and abundance. Inspired by the ancient myth of Persephone, the queen of the underworld and the goddess of spring growth, this beautiful pendant was designed by me (Natalia Moroz) and crafted by the jewelry designer Sergey Zhiboedov (my husband).

The pendant is shaped as a half of a ripe pomegranate, and its left side is set with 16 garnet cabochons (3×5 mm each). On the right side of the pendant, there is a relief of a naked woman. The back of the pendant is textured to imitate the rough pomegranate skin. The pendant is made of sterling silver and has been oxidized to bring out the details. The pendant is stamped with the jeweler’s mark and 925 (silver)

The pendant is 1.25″ (31 mm) wide, 1.5″(37 mm) high, and 0.4″(10 mm) deep. Wide bail (chain opening). The chain is not included.” [via]

WingedLion's Silver and Garnet Pomegranate Pendant small