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This is a subject I’ve been frustrated by for some time now, and I’d like to air my thoughts and see what you think about it.

The basic gender assignment which are still frequently in use today date back to the 5th century BCE.  The fragmentary writings that survive from Empedocles, among other things, establish the four roots (later elements) as Earth, Air, Fire and Water, and that further, these are associated with specific gods: Hera, Zeus, Hades, and Nestis (Persephone).

These associations had complex geographical and mythical attributes which are rarely (if ever) taken into consideration. They don’t specify mystic sexual or gender-based properties inherent in the elements themselves, but rather describe mystic attributes relevant to these specific divine couples.

Taken out of context, the elements often get (mis)classed as: Earth/female, Air/male, Fire/male, Water/female. This tradition has become entrenched in modern occultism, and it is patently absurd.

If we take a surface reading of gender stereotypes as presented, they make little sense. Is the person the fiery temper represented by nurturing Earth or deep water simply because she’s female? Must  the practical labourer who’s held the same job for so many decades be viewed as intellectual air or fiery inspiration, simply because he has a penis? It simply doesn’t hold up, and perhaps it never really has.

We can still make use of the elemental associations in light of what they represent, for example:

• Earth – fertile, steadfast, practical
• Air – intellectual, remote, changeable
• Fire – passion, inspiration, transformation
• Water – emotional, nurturing, hidden

and various esoteric attributes, but we need not pretend these associations must be attributed to binary gender conventions.

Objects are no more imbued with mystical power than abstract concepts. The sword or wand ought not represent “male energy” (whatever that is) due to a faint phallic resemblances; there are no physical resemblances between a chalice or pentacle that suggest “femininity”. There are more relevant – and more potent – concerns inherent in the symbolism without forcing genders upon them.

Do we lose anything by dropping these arbitrary gender distinctions? What do we gain?

Arcane Wisdom, an imprint of Bloodletting Press, is reissuing a limited edition of Aleister Crowley’s novel Moonchild.

Included in this edition is a long introduction by Don Webb, author of Aleister Crowley: The Fire and the Force, among other books on occultism.

The plot description on Horror-Mall.com is brief:

Moonchild is a novel written by the British occultist Aleister Crowley in 1917. Its plot involves a magical war between a group of white magicians, led by the protagonist Simon Iff, and a group of black magicians over an unborn child. It was first published by Mandrake Press in 1929.

Moonchild is a novel held in high regard for its magical and occult significance and also for its complex and well written prose.

The print run is limited to 200 copies and retails for 55$US. The only source I’ve been able to find selling copies is Horror-Mall.com.

Thanks to Cole Tucker for the tip!

Teitan Press has released a new book, The Magic Seal of Dr. John Dee: The Sigillum Dei Aemeth, by Colin D. Campbell.

From Teitan Press:

The Magic Seal of John Dee comprises a detailed examination of the history and structure of the Sigillum Dei Aemeth of the Elizabethan scholar and Magus, Dr. John Dee, as well as a study of its use in the practice of ritual magic. The appendixes include a new transcription and translation of Dee’s Liber Mysteriorum Secundus, and an important new translation of the section of the famous grimoire, The Sworn Book of Honorius, that gives details of what is clearly a precursor of the Sigillum Dei.

Teitan Press also cites its value for the practicing magickian with these aims: Continue reading »

September seems to be the big month for releasing new fiction, but occult publishers seem to be putting out nifty stuff each week these days. The latest being The Clavis or Key to the Magic of Solomon: From an Original Talismanic Grimoire in Full Colour by Ebenezer Sibley and Frederick Hockley, edited with extensive commentary by Joseph Peterson.

The Clavis contains a full-colour facsimile of a hand-painted, handwritten magical notebook and eight separate magickal texts.

The book is published by Ibis Press and distributed by Weiser Antiquarian. The descriptions differs on each site, offering different details about the book and its history, so I’ve reproduced them both here below. Continue reading »

Ibis Press has just published Robert Allen Bartlett’s second book on alchemy, The Way of the Crucible, his first being Real Alchemy: A Primer of Practical Alchemy.

Whereas Real Alchemy was more of an introduction to alchemical practices and from the looks of things The Way of the Crucible seems to be more of an an intermediate text and go into greater depth on specific subjects.

From the distributor’s website:

Alchemy is the ancient sacred science concerned with the mysteries of life and consciousness as reflected through all of nature. It is a harmonious blending of physical and subtle forces that lifts the subject, whether it be man or metal, to a more evolved state of being. The Way of the Crucible is a ground-breaking modern manual on the art of alchemy that draws on both modern scientific technology and ancient methods.

A laboratory scientist and chemist, Bartlett provides an overview of how practical alchemy works along with treatises on astrology, Qabalah, herbalism, and minerals as they relate to alchemy. He also explains what the ancients really meant when they used the term “Philosopher’s Stone” and describes practical methods toward its achievement.

Ibis Press is distributed by Red Wheel/Weiser, from whom I just received my review copy. Expect a review in the coming months. It looks interesting.