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That said, the living context that can be grasped from a movie filmed in the 40s, or a documentary on Alexandrian witches from the seventies can give a sense of the period – the people, their movements, the props, etc. – that can’t be adequately expressed through books.

Books aren’t the be-all end-all – but they’re a hell of a start.

Re: Book club…this will have to be something I revisit in the new calendar year. I envision a pretentious group lounging in my living room with arcane texts, cocktails and stunning intellectual debates, but the reality is more likely to be shouting in a pub whilst attempting to avoid spilling lager on some Llewellyn title. I haven’t found somewhere that would serve as a suitable median between the two extremes.

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And of course, with the whole thing about reading more to expand your views, it’s not often, but there are a few rare tv shows, that help push you too, and help you explore your worldview, or expand it.

“This has me thinking about the book club I wanted to start, but haven’t quite gotten around to sorting out yet.”

I was actually thinking about that on the bus home tonight, I remember you polling about it, and then, it dropped off the radar.

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The potential is certainly there, but if all one ever reads are “bad books”, the lack of exposure to “good books” will reveal itself in conversation. (“Tarot comes from the Gypsies”, “Satanists eat babies”, etc.)

This is where variety comes in. Wide exposure to many different fields will enrich every avenue of passionate interest. You never know how that genetic book will influence your philosophy and magickal practice, or when that novel will spark new modes of thinking.

What’s funny about this is that one of the most celebrated magickians of the nineteenth century was essentially what we would today call an armchair magickian: Eliphas Levi – but that’s a blog for another day. (Though I agree with you this is not a desirable state – it rather negates the point of bothering with it at all.)

Regarding reading critically, there are many books, I’m sure. Northrup Frye offers a lot of insight, and books about authors writing can reveal a lot about the process (one of my favourites is Berton’s The Joy of Writing). For me though, most of it comes from talking about what I’m reading, sharing it with whoever’s around me, and writing about. Writing allows me to clarify my thoughts, set them in order, and (hopefully!) get feedback on how others interpreted the material.

This has me thinking about the book club I wanted to start, but haven’t quite gotten around to sorting out yet.

Regarding practical magickal work, of course, nothing beats trying out what’s written, either as is or stylized (ideally both at some point, or a combination).

I miss Northrup. Perhaps its time for another visit.

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This is the heart of one of my sayings “You learn as much from a bad book, as you do from a good book” If you don’t agree with something in a book, try to understand why you don’t agree, why the author would say it, and is there a way what they said does suit your view if perceived another way?

I think the only time reading is “over-rated” is when you let it become that passive absorption like television (in this case the armchair magician).

Now I’m just wondering if there is a book on how to read critically, heh.

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