Bkwyrm reviews Aleister Crowley and the Practice of the Magical Diary, edited by James Wasserman, in the Bkwyrm archive.

This is a great reference text for any magic-user, be they Pagan, Wiccan, or of an entirely different tradition. The work primarily consists of two sections from diaries that were published in The Equinox many years ago, “John St. John” and “A Master of the Temple”. John St. John is a section of Crowley’s own diary; first published in The Equinox (Volume 1, Number 1, 1909). A Master of the Temple is one of the first magical records by Frater Achad, with comments by Crowley, also published in The Equinox (Volume III, Number 1, 1919). These excerpts are introduced by a brief essay by James Wasserman, who explains the purpose of a magical diary, and the importance of keeping accurate records of all magical activities. He provides excellent suggestions on what kind of records to keep, when one should make a record, and what kind of information goes into a magical diary. The usefulness of the information aside, it’s a great read. Both of the diaries are fascinating glimpses into the minds of two men working to achieve magical goals, and the essay by Wasserman is clearly written and entertaining.

This book is highly recommended for anyone of any tradition who is interested in keeping accurate and informative magical records. [via]