Tag Archives: Weiser Books

Weiser Books social media and Patron giveaway for November 2023

Courtesy of the publisher, Red Wheel / Weiser Books, I recently received at the Reading Room new copies of four books which I will be offering for a social media and Patron giveaway through November 2023.

I will be giving these away to Patrons and on both Mastodon and Bluesky. At the end of the month, I’ll randomly select winners from a pool of entries across all three places for each book and send those out in the next postal exchange mailing. Each person entering in the ‘verse or on Bluesky will need to follow the library’s profile there, both favorite and boost the post about the giveaway, and then reply with at least a comment letting me know which one of the four (yes, if you’re responding only on social media, you’ve got to pick only one of them per platform!) they want. (Each person on social needs to do all four things!) So, I’ll give away all these paperback copies to the random winners, but you could increase your chances to win one by entering in more than one place, or, you know, hey, why not all three?!

The Complete Enochian Dictionary: A Dictionary of the Angelic Language as Revealed to Dr. John Dee and Edward Kelley by Donald C Laylock, preface by Stephen Skinner, foreword by Lon Milo DuQuette. [Amazon, Bookshop, Publisher, Local Library]

“The complete reference for understanding the Enochian language (“the language of the angels”), the proper pronunciation of the letters of the Enochian alphabet, and the use of evocations to call forth celestial beings and perform Enochian magic.

In 1581, Dr. John Dee, an advisor in the court of Queen Elizabeth I, began a series of scrying experiments intended to explore the ability to contact the spirit world. With Edward Kelley acting as the medium in these experiments, Dee was able to record these communications as they were transmitted in Enochian, the language of the angels. Dr. Dee’s efforts furthered the development of the system of Enochian magic and his methods of invocation have been taken up and expounded upon by Aleister Crowley and many other magicians.

Donald C. Laycock has thoroughly analyzed the work of Dee and Kelley. In this volume, he recounts the history of their experiments. He provides a pronunciation guide for the twenty-one letters, significant to untangling both the meaning and the derivation of the messages handed down from Dee and Kelley, and an essential Enochian/English and English/Enochian dictionary. The result is a fascinating linguistic and magical mystery story integral to any study of the Enochian tradition.

This new edition of Laycock’s work includes a new preface by Stephen Skinner that sets the tone and historical context for today’s readers. Lon Milo DuQuette’s foreword gives a delightful and edifying description of how he and his students put The Complete Enochian Dictionary to the test with astonishing results. This book is a must-have for any serious magician’s library.”

Living Thelema: A Practical Guide to Attainment in Aleister Crowley’s System of Magick by Hermetic Library Anthology Artist David Shoemaker, foreword by Lon Milo DuQuette [Amazon, Bookshop, Publisher, Local Library]

“The system of spiritual attainment developed by Aleister Crowley is notoriously challenging in its scope. Living Thelema, adapted from the popular podcast of the same name, brings a welcome approachability to Crowley’s material, without diminishing the depth of the system. The author focuses on the practical and experiential aspects of the path of Thelema, allowing the reader to grasp the true transformative power of the system.

Beginners and advanced practitioners alike will find much useful advice here, as Shoemaker brings his characteristic down-to-earth style to bear on topics such as ritual and meditation practices, sex magick, astral projection, psychotherapy for magicians, the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel, and that pinnacle of attainment known as the crossing of the Abyss.

The author’s background as a practicing psychotherapist allows an entirely unique fusion of esoteric wisdom and cognitive science.”

Liber Kaos: Chaos Magic for the Pandaemonaeon (Revised and Expanded Edition) by Peter J. Carroll [Amazon, Bookshop, Publisher, Local Library]

“An advanced course in the practice of chaos magic written by one of its most respected practitioners—in a newly revised and expanded edition.

Peter J. Carroll—renowned writer and practitioner of chaos magic—offers a remarkably clear presentation of the practice of chaos magic. His approach combines methods from shamanism, paganism, and chaos science.

Liber Kaos includes:

· a selection of extremely powerful rituals and exercises for committed occultists

· instructions that lead the reader through new concepts and practices of chaos magic

· a magical training course for the individual or for groups, with details of the author’s magical order

· instructions for carrying out the essential rituals of chaos magic

a fresh look at aeonics, cosmogenesis, auric magic, and shadow time, as well as the technical aspects of spells and equations

Originally published by Weiser Books in 1992, this new edition is substantially revised and updated and includes new, previously unpublished material.”

The Magick of Aleister Crowley: A Handbook of the Rituals of Thelema by Lon Milo DuQuette, foreword Jason Louv, foreword Hymenaeus Beta, part for the Weiser Classics Series [Amazon, Bookshop, Publisher, Local Library]

“The 30th Anniversary of the Classic Guide to Thelema, Aleister Crowley’s Spiritual System of Ritual Magick, with a New Introduction by the Author.

This is the perfect introductory text for readers who wonder what the works—rather than the myth—of Aleister Crowley are all about.

DuQuette begins by dispatching some of the myths that have surrounded Crowley’s life and legend. He then explores the practice of rituals themselves, unpacking Crowley’s often opaque writing and offering his own commentary. Step by step, and in plain English, he presents a course of study with examples of rituals and explanations of their significance. DuQuette also includes a survey of many of Crowley’s original works with an extensive bibliography and endnotes.

Formerly titled The Magick of Thelema, then released in a revised edition published in 2003, this Weiser Classics edition includes a new introduction by the author.”

Tarot: Mirror of the Soul social media and Patron giveaway for August 2023

Courtesy of the publisher, Red Wheel / Weiser Books, I recently received at the Reading Room three copies of the brand new edition of Tarot: Mirror of the Soul: A Handbook for the Thoth Tarot [Amazon, Bookshop, Publisher, Local Library] by Gerd Ziegler, foreword Diane Champigny, part of the Weiser Classics series, which is just now available in all the places this month.

I’ll be giving away one copy on Patreon for Patrons who comment on the post there they want it; and, to try to help encourage people to follow the recently created social media profiles for Hermetic Library, one copy for followers and reposters on Threads who comment they want it, and one copy for followers and boosters on Mastodon who comment they want it. At the end of the month, I’ll give away all three paperback copies to the winners chosen randomly from each post. Increase your chances to win one by doing more than one, or, you know, hey, why not all three?!

“An essential companion to one of the most popular and influential tarot decks, the Thoth Tarot, created by Lady Frieda Harris and Aleister Crowley, now featuring new high-quality reproductions of the cards.

The seventy-eight cards of the Thoth Tarot were painted by Lady Frieda Harris according to instructions from famed occult scholar Aleister Crowley. The result is a magnificent art deco work rich in Egyptian symbolism, alchemy, and magic, and which contains kabalistic and astrological attributions.

Tarot: Mirror of the Soul provides an accessible guide to the Crowley/Harris Thoth Tarot. It explores different ways of working with the cards, guiding your inner exploration, sometimes pointing the way when handling daily situations or making difficult decisions. Author Gerd Ziegler has studied and practiced humanistic and spiritual therapy in depth.

First published by Weiser Books in 1988, Tarot: Mirror of the Soul remains a widely respected classic on the interpretation of the Crowley/Harris Thoth Tarot. This Weiser Classics edition features new high-quality reproductions of the original cards as well as an in-depth appreciation of the deck’s meaning and relevance by Diane Champigny.”

Mail call 29jul2023

Let’s open this box that’s arrived at the Reading Room!

Hermetic Library Mail Call 29jul2023 Box

Hermetic Library Mail Call 29jul2023 Open

Hermetic Library Mail Call 29jul2023 Books

It’s a box of books courtesy of Red Wheel / Weiser, including multiple copies, for reasons, of the new edition of Tarot: Mirror of the Soul by Gerd Zeigler, the newest edition of Hermetic Library Anthology Artist David Shoemaker‘s Living Thelema, and more. I’ll post about each separately, but they’ve arrived!

Also, as a reminder, if you want to participate in postal exchange with me, I occasionally send stuff out to certain Patrons as a perk; but, even if you aren’t able to be a Patron, if you send something I’ll send something back! It’s that easy!

And, not for nothing, if you’re a publisher, author, or creative and want to talk about your work, get in touch!

Make Magic of Your Life

Make Magic of Your Life is an online class being offered by T Thorn Coyle, where you will “join a group of dedicated seekers for a seven month exploration through the Four Powers of the Sphinx: To Know, To Will, To Dare, To Keep Silence. Together, we will work to unlock the fifth power: To Manifest.” This builds on the material presented in Thorn’s book, Make Magic of Your Life: Passion, Purpose, and the Power of Desire, from Weiser Books.

“Our first month will be spent uncovering or clarifying what we want to work on:

A project that we would like support with.
Figuring out what the heck our desire even is.
Getting a better sense of the Four Powers and their uses.
Fully claiming our passion, purpose, and desire.
Each month thereafter will be spent in the activating presence of one of the Four Powers. In the sixth month, we will approach the Quintessence, – To Manifest – and set further goals or refine our wish. In the seventh month, we will work the great spell, enacting the Ritual of Manifestation.

The text for this class is Make Magic of Your Life: Passion, Purpose, and the Power of Desire. Support includes mentoring by Thorn and some of her long-term students via online discussion fora, videos of Thorn discussing the Four Powers, and optional real-time chats. Participants can access homework and discussions at any time.

Cost is on a sliding scale between $300-600 for the seven months, and can be broken into three payments: a deposit at registration, next payment by Sept 1st, final payment in November. Those who pay near the top of the scale support those who need financial aid and scholarships.

Those who cannot afford low end of the scale, please ask for further financial assistance.

Space is limited.”

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The Voudon Gnostic Workbook

The Voudon Gnostic Workbook: Expanded Edition by Michael Bertiaux, introduction by Courtney Willis, from Weiser Books, is part of the collection at the Reading Room.

“Available for the first time as a facsimile of the original, this edition of Michael Bertiaux’s rare esoteric text comes expanded with a new introduction by renowned Gnostic Voodoo scholar Courtney Willis. The Voudon Gnostic Workbook is a singular sacred work, comprehensive in scope—from how to be a lucky Hoodoo to how Magick and Voodoo intersect energetically to esoteric time travel. Complete with charts and graphs and instructive interdimensional physics, The Voudon Gnostic Workbook is an object of desire among students of the occult.

Voodoo derives from the Dahomean Gods called the Loa. Esoteric Voodoo is actually a highly practical procedure for leading us into making contact with the deepest levels of our being and most ancient modes of consciousness. Michael Bertiaux’s The Gnostic Voudon Workbook is the most comprehensive and illuminating contemporary book on the subject. Begun out of a correspondence course and series of classes for students and followers of Voudon Gnosticism and the OTO, this seminal text is at once one of the most mysterious and magnificent of all esoteric books.” — back cover

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The Commentaries of AL dust cover

A little while back I posted about the copy of The Commentaries of AL, Volume V No 1 of what is sometimes called the Red Equinox, by Aleister Crowley and another (Marcelo Ramos Motta), the 1975 first edition hardcover from Weiser Books, that is part of the collection at the Reading Room.

In that post I mentioned that mine was without the dust cover and asked if anyone with a physical copy of this that still has the dust cover would let me know what the inside flap for this book has to say, if anything, about itself. Clifford B recently sent me scans of the dust cover from his copy of this book so I could take a gander. The inside back cover dust copy is an ad for Weiser’s edition of The Equinox, Vol I Nos 1–10, and for The Equinox, Vol 3 No 1, but the inside front dust copy and back cover speak about this volume.

Marcelo Ramos Motta Commentaries of AL front cover

“The Commentaries of AL
by Aleister Crowley and Marcelo Motta

The Commentaries of AL introduces a new series of The Equinox as Volume 5 Number 1, released under the auspices of Marcel Motta, the current Praemonstrator of the A∴A∴ It is the first book to bear the Imprimatur of the Order since the publication of Liber Aleph in 1962.

Liber AL vel Legis—The Book of the Law—is an Initiated text whose doctrine is propounded in 220 verses that are to be the guiding principles of makind for the next 2000 years. It was communicated in 1904 through Aleister Crowley, who continually sought to elucidate the mystery of this Book in all his subsequent works. His major effort, the New Comment, was written in the 1920’s.

Crowley’s supremely modern point of view in the New Comment has been heightened by Marcelo Motta’s editing, which seeks to eliminate matter of non-magickal value, and other material easily consulted in the published writings of the A∴A∴, now more readily available than in Crowley’s own lifetime. He has himself written an extensive commentary (carefully distinguished by typestyle) that weaves in and through Crowley’s writing with an artistry both provoking and illuminating.

He or she who seeks to penetrate these pages with honesty and courage will be brought to a deeper understanding of the significance of Liber AL, whose law was given for every man and every woman.” — inside front dust copy

Marcelo Ramos Motta Commentaries of AL back cover

“. . . 26. These slay, naming your enemies; & they shall fall before you.

Serious students will understand that ‘they shall fall before you’ does not necessarily mean that you shall slay them. Also, unserious students had better beware of trying to employ this magickal formula: ‘thou hast no right by to do thy will.’

Perhaps the following apologue will be of help:

A profane lew a beetle before Ra-Hoor-Khuit, naming a person he considered his enemy; and soon after, the profane went mad.

An Initiate slew a beetle before Ra-Hoor-Khuit, naming the person he considered his worst enemy, that is, himself; and soon after, he became a Master of the Temple.

AUGMN.” — Commentaries of AL, Chapter 3, Verse 26, as appears on the back cover

The Hermetic Library Reading Room is an imaginary and speculative future reification of the library in the physical world, a place to experience a cabinet of curiosities offering a confabulation of curation, context and community that engages, archives and encourages a living Western Esoteric Tradition. If you would like to contribute to the Hermetic Library Reading Room, consider supporting the library or contact the librarian.

Subscription access to Red Wheel / Weiser’s ebook catalog

Apparently Red Wheel / Weiser has been busy uploading a rather extensive collection of ebooks to the online site Scribd, and now offers subscription access to the whole lot, not just item by item. Also, currently there’s on offer a 3 month free trial, normally a 1 month trial, for the holidays to try out the Scribd subscription service (normally priced at $8.99/month) which you can take advantage of by using a promo code “RWWDEC90” Red Wheel / Weiser sent out via email. Also, in other news, apparently Scribd went legit while I wasn’t looking.

“Book lovers know that one book is just not enough. So why not make available more than 1,100 of our ebooks…

FOR FREE!

Just in time for the holidays, we are excited to announce a 90-day gift subscription to Scribd.com. With a Scribd subscription, you will have access to the world’s largest digital library of ebooks, including all our bestsellers and current titles.

Click here to take advantage of this special offer.”

Sex Magick

The Best of the Equinox, Sex Magick: Volume III by Aleister Crowley, selected and introduced by Lon Milo DuQuette, from Weiser Books, is due for release on November 1, 2013. As they say in the email announcement, “Before there was ‘sex, drugs, and rock & roll’ there was Aleister Crowley.”

Through November 14th, if you order directly from Red Wheel / Weiser, they have a 30% discount code available, so use EQUI at checkout. There’s also an excerpt available in PDF format, if you want to get a gander at what it looks like.

“The Equinox, in print from 1909–1919, was a magical journal published by Aleister Crowley and included Crowley’s own A∴A∴ laws, rituals and rites, reviews, and magical works by other important practitioners. Published as ten volumes, much of the material remains out of print today. Now, for the first time since Israel Regardie’s selections Gems from the Equinox (1974) renowned scholar and U.S. Deputy Grandmaster General of the O.T.O. Lon Milo DuQuette presents readers with his own selections from this classic publication, The Best of the Equinox.

Volume III of the series presents perhaps the most titillating of esoteric subjects, Sex Magick. Once he grasped the fundamentals of sexual magick, Aleister Crowley understood it to be the key that unlocks the secrets of the universe. He dedicated the entire second half of his life to exploring its mysteries. This volume presents the bulk of Crowley’s written works on the subject and includes The Gnostic Mass, Energized Enthusiasm, Liber A’ash, Liber Chath, and Liber Stellae Rubeae.” [via]

The Hieroglyphic Monad

The Hieroglyphic Monad by Dr John Dee, the 2000 paperback from Weiser Books, is part of the collection at the Reading Room.

“This book, written in thirteen days in 1564 by the renowned Elizabethan magus, Dr. John Dee, explains his discovery of the unity underlying the universe, as expressed in a hieroglyph, or symbol. His monad represents the alchemical process and goal of the Magus who, in partaking of the divine, achieves that gnostic regenerative experience of becoming God, and thus furthers the redemption and transmutation of worlds.

Everything, Dee states, is dependent upon the circle and the straight line, which, in turn, are formed from the point. From this point revolve Sun and Moon, intersected to suggest their conjunction and generative faculty. These rest upon a cross, the ternary and quaternary, and all are mounted upon two connected half circles, the original fire of creation. The key to the glyph is in the meditation and study of it, and all it suggests to the ‘creative memory.’ It is not surprising that Dee’s contemporaries in the universities chose to ignore this valuable treatise on a key to the universe, thus causing him to have engraved upon the frontispiece, ‘Who does not understand should either learn or be silent.’—an admonition as true today as it was then.”

Crowley’s Apprentice

Crowley’s Apprentice: The life and Ideas of Israel Regardie by Gerald Suster, the 1990 paperback from Samuel Weiser, is part of the collection at the Reading Room.

“Dr Israel Regardie was one of the most complex and fascinating personalities of the esoteric revival. In this new biography, Gerald Suster, a close friend and disciple of Regardie’s, brings together his life and ideas in a thoughtful and knowing way.

The esoteric revival began with the establishment of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in the 1890’s. Regardie became Aleister Crowley’s secretary in 1928 and by 1932 he had become an esoteric writer and philosopher in his own right. Over the years Regardie moved away from the Order of the Golden Dawn into fields of alchemy and psychology, eventually achieving a brilliant reconciliation of psychology and his earlier esoteric ideas.

This study of Regardie illuminates his original and courageous thinking, as well as explores the evolution of one of this century’s greatest thinkers.”

The Hermetic Library Blog

Faint gibbering heard from somewhere near the restricted stacks