Llewellyn Worldwide will be releasing Sepher Raziel: A Sixteenth Century English Grimoire, by Don Karr today, September 1st, 2010.

From the description on the publisher’s website:

Sepher Raziel—also called Liber Salomonis—is a full grimoire in the Solomonic tradition from a sixteenth century manuscript. It contains seven books: the Clavis, concerned with astronomy and star configurations; the Ala, outlining the virtues of stones, herbs, and animals; the Tractatus Thymiamatus, which determines perfumes and suffumigations used in the Art; a treatise on times and hours of the day; a treatise on preparations, ritual purity, and abstinence; Samaim, a treatise on the different heavens and their angels; and finally, a treatise on the figures and properties used in invocation and their ordinances.

Also includes material on consecration and working with orisions, a book of magical directions, a version of Liber Lunae, and more.

I’m unfamiliar with this grimoire, though it seems to be well known in certain circles. Check out “The secret tradition of the Book of Archangel Raziel” by Bob Zuker, and this version, edited by Joseph H. Peterson for EsotericArchives.com.

It’s a hardcover with dustjacket; the suggested retail price is 65$US, but Amazon.com currently lists it at 40.95$US.

Another grimoire. Could be neat?

Popularity: 6%

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 »

Popularity: 8%

This October Andrieh Vitimus is back for Toronto Does Magic 2010, a series of courses from Friday 15th, to Sunday 17th.

The courses will be held at the Naka Ima Dojo on 171 East Liberty St. Unit, #116 in Toronto’s Liberty Village.

Friday’s classes will focus on chaos magick, NLP and Andrieh’s experience as an exorcist, magickian and Vodou priest, Saturday will consist of an all day boot-camp, culminating in a brunch and book signing on Sunday and a Real World Boot Camp Practicum.

Classes range from donations to 165$Cdn for the boot-camp if purchased separately, but if you pre-pay by August 31st you can attend all six events for 175$Cdn. On-site the complete package will cost 205$Cdn.

Last year I had the pleasure of being Andrieh’s guest at L’Heure Noir in Hamilton, and can attest to his skills as an speaker – he knows his stuff, and as the last event was such a blast, I’m sure this one will be as well.

For more information see Toronto Does Magic 2010.

Popularity: 9%

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.

Popularity: 10%

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?

Popularity: 11%