After more than forty years, Llewellyn Worldwide is re-releasing The Complete Magick Curriculum of the Secret Order G.B.G.: Being the Entire Study, Curriculum, Magick Rituals, and Initiatory Practices of the G.B.G., by Louis T. Culling.

The new edition has been edited, revised and expanded by Carl Llewellyn Weschcke, and, according to Donald Michael Kraig, is almost three times larger than the first edition, which was fewer than 130 pages. (This edition is 360 pages.)

From the book’s description on the publisher’s website:

Founded upon the revolutionary premise that High Magick can be distilled to a few powerful and efficient steps, Louis T. Culling’s original edition of this classic magick book broke all the rules. [...]

Carl Llewellyn Weschcke, publisher of Culling’s original edition of this book, offers illuminating commentary, definitions, and discussion points to render these profound magickal philosophies and practices even more accessible and relevant for contemporary magickal practice. This new edition is also an interesting philosophical commentary, answering a number of questions about historical occult orders and figures like Aleister Crowley.

The in-depth description offers more information on the last point: Continue reading »

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This unusual teapot depicts the bust of Aleister Crowley, inscribed with “To Mega Therion 666″ on its base. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

The Aleister Crowley Delft Tea Pot was created by Mike Leavitt and Charles Kraft, it retails on IntuitionKitchenProductions.com for 1,200$US, including shipping and taxes.

Of course, you must have something to drink it in, and for that purpose Leavitt and Kraft have crafted the Aleister Crowley Toby Mug. Inscribed with “93″ on the handle, it will only set you back 700$US.

The perfect set for the wickedest tea in the world. (Crumpets sold separately.)

Spotted on AeonLux.

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In July I posted about the one-man, one-act play written and performed by John Burns, Aleister Crowley: A Passion for Evil, which is showing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August.

LAShTAL.com hosts an in-depth review written by Frater FS, which is largely favourable:

Condensing any life, never mind Crowley’s into less than an hour requires some remarkably tight editing and Burns wisely chooses some key vignettes to give the broad strokes of the Crowley biography. Burns does this with remarkable intensity and effect, slipping into various characters on a minimal stage with nothing but a writing desk, a phone, a dagger and a wine glass for company (Burns plays Crowley in his 50s, balding and in bow tie and frock coat).

Check out the full review on LAShTAL.com, it sounds like Burns has done an excellent job – wish I was in Edinburgh!

I haven’t been able to locate many other reviews of the show, and none go as deep into it as Frater FS. (For example, EdinburghSpotlite.com gave it three stars in a review by Keith D, but without much analysis.)

The show is still on, and will be until August 28th, 2010. If you see it, I’d love to know what you think.

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Brother Curwen, Brother Crowley is the latest title from Teitan Press which features correspondence between Aleister Crowley and David Curwen.

The book is edited, annotated and introduced by Henrik Bogdan. Tony Matthews, David Curwen’s grandson, also provides a biographical foreword.

From the Teitan Press description:

In September 1944, a fifty-one year old Londoner named David Curwen wrote to Aleister Crowley, initiating a correspondence that would last several years. While Curwen approached Crowley with deference, the relationship that evolved between them was a complex one that defied the accepted parameters of the student-teacher nexus. For David Curwen was no newcomer to the study of the occult, and Crowley soon discovered that the flow of knowledge would not be simply one way. In particular Crowley was tantalized by the deep understanding of the principals of tantra that Curwen had acquired during the course of many years study under a mysterious guru.

At Crowley’s urging Curwen joined the O.T.O., but he remained skeptical of many of “the Beast’s” claims, and the two ultimately parted company on strained terms. However, Curwen retained his interest in the occult, and in later life he devoted himself to the study of alchemy, publishing the results of his researches pseudonymously in the book In Pursuit of Gold, a work that many believe to be the most significant study ever published of practical alchemy.

For the first week copies purchased through Weiser Antiquarian will come with a book-plate signed by Bogdan & Matthews and will be shipped free of charge in America or at reduced rate for international customers. For more information on this offer see Weiser Antiquarian.

The book is limited to 777 copies (of course), and retails for 45$US.

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Weiser Books is reprinting Aleister Crowley’s The Diary of a Drug Fiend, first published in 1922, and to be released by Weiser on September  1st, 2010.

It’s available for pre-order now, and you will want to put your order in as Weiser will be starting a Twitter-based book club. There’s more information available on the recently launched Weiser Books Blog.

To participate follow @WeiserBooks on Twitter, and use the hashtag #WBC3. The Diary of a Drug Fiend will be the first book, and discussion starts on September 15th, 2010.

As described by Weiser Books:

The Diary of a Drug Fiend tells the story of young Peter Pendragon and his lover Louise Laleham, and their adventures traveling through Europe in a cocaine and heroin haze. The bohemian couples’ binges produce visions and poetic prophecies, but when their supply inevitably runs dry they find themselves faced with the reality of their drug addiction. Through the guidance of King Lamus, a master adept, they use the application of practical Magick to free themselves from addiction.

I’ve already received my review copy, so I’ll be following along as @plutopsyche.

I miss our book club. There’s been some renewed interest in it, but participation was sparse. Perhaps we should give it another go?

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