The Use of Prayer in the Occult
The Webster definition of prayer is "an address (as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought.1" Let us assume there are two general categories of occultists: those who work with or rely on only themselves, and those who work with or rely on some Other in their work. This Other could be a God, Goddess, spirit, guide, or other entity. What could prayer mean to the former occultist? What could it mean to the latter? Going by the definition above, a prayer may seem irrelevant to the occultist who works alone, but I think of ...
Conjuring Spirits the Old Fashioned Way
Agrippa is a great resource for all things magical. Using the tables of the scales of numbers in his 2nd Book of Occult Philosophy, you will be able to put together whatever type of ritual you could possibly need. However, the details on how to conjure spirits aren't in the Three Books. Instead, you find a basic outline in the spurious Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy. This ritual can be used to conjure any of the spirits listed in the Tables of Book 2. What you need: Something with which to trace or form a large magic circle on the floor ...
The Four Suits of the Tarot Deck – A Brief Exposition
Introduction A plethora of works exist on the subject of the Tarot; some well informed, some less so. At the outset of the formulation of this essay, permit me to state that there are two key maxims derived from the teachings of the Golden Dawn and of Aleister Crowley to which I adhere as well as I am able: As above, so below The goals of religion, the methods of science This philosophical framework compels and requires that observations and analysis concerning the Tarot should be harbored within the contexts of broader occult and scientific philosophy, without which its symbols would have ...
The Great Work of the Holy Guardian Angel
"Angel" is a word that carries even more baggage than "soulmate" – baggage that goes back thousands of years to the beginnings of Judeo-Christian theology. While the most common definition of the word tends to be "messenger of God," that raises the further question of "what is God?" and that's a question I'm not going to touch with your ten-foot pole. It's clear, however, that the Judeo-Christian majority in the Western world assumes that God and angels are known quantities, and that no one else should have any claim to them. A long time acquaintance of mine has a relationship with ...
News & Special Topics
Lughnasadh/Lammas Issue Due July 15
Anyone intending to submit for the Lammas, Mabon, or Samhain issues should be getting their submissions in as soon as possible. The Samhain issue is hopefully going to be very nice, similar to the Beltane issue. However, right now we’re putting together the Lammas issue and we still have openings for content. When sending in your submissions,... [Read more...]
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Recent Down Time
Rending the Veil experienced overnight (U.S. zones) down time due to server issues at our hosting company. The site had to be restored from a Sunday backup; any comments or forum posts created on Monday are very likely lost. We apologize for the inconvenience. You may have noticed various stages of disrepair as we worked to restore plugins and other... [Read more...]
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Midsummer Issue Trickling In
Over the next two to three days, beginning early June 2, you’ll notice the late Midsummer issue arriving in sections as I complete them. I felt that a gradual unveiling was appropriate, because we have some really dense material this issue. You won’t feel the lack of things to read. Good stuff on the way! — Sheta Read More →
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Magick
A Syllabus for Magic: Crossing the Intermediate Chasm
My friends and I complain a lot about the occult section at the bookstore, mostly because hanging out at a bookstore and complaining is cheaper than a movie, even with the latte. Our favorite complaint is that there are no advanced books... [Read more...]
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Cosmic Dualism: The Elements and Game Theory
I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now, From up and down, and still somehow It’s cloud illusions I recall. I really don’t know clouds at all! —”Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell Warm... [Read more...]
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Conjuring Spirits the Old Fashioned Way
Agrippa is a great resource for all things magical. Using the tables of the scales of numbers in his 2nd Book of Occult Philosophy, you will be able to put together whatever type of ritual you could possibly need. However, the details on how... [Read more...]
0
The Rapier’s Edge – Follow-Up Interview with Donald Tyson
Nearly a year ago, I interviewed Donald Tyson regarding his then new book, Grimoire of the Necronomicon. Since then, my review partner, Lon Sarver, and I have been working with Tyson’s system and we’ll present our findings in this... [Read more...]
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Read More Articles in MagickMysticism & Thelema
Guttershaman, Part 4: Authenticity
“Of course the Chinese mix everything up – look at what they have to work with! Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoist alchemy and sorcery. We take what we want and leave the rest, just like your salad bar.” — Egg Shen in... [Read more...]
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The Four Suits of the Tarot Deck – A Brief Exposition
Introduction A plethora of works exist on the subject of the Tarot; some well informed, some less so. At the outset of the formulation of this essay, permit me to state that there are two key maxims derived from the teachings of the Golden Dawn and... [Read more...]
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The Great Work of the Holy Guardian Angel
“Angel” is a word that carries even more baggage than “soulmate” – baggage that goes back thousands of years to the beginnings of Judeo-Christian theology. While the most common definition of the word tends to be “messenger... [Read more...]
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New Aeon Initiation, Part One
0) Introduction “In the name of the Lord of Initiation. Amen.” — Liber Tzaddi, lines 0 & 44 A New Aeon was proclaimed and begun in April of 1904 with the reception of The Book of the Law, Liber AL vel Legis. A New... [Read more...]
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Read More Articles in Thelema
A Little Bit Different
The Use of Prayer in the Occult
The Webster definition of prayer is “an address (as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought.1” Let us assume there are two general categories of occultists: those who work with or rely on only themselves, and those who work with... [Read more...]
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Wolverine: The War God’s Poster Boy
War is hell – neither pretty nor kind, and it is bringing lamentation and suffering to so many in the world right now. People have hated war ever since there was war to be hated. It shouldn’t be terribly surprising then, that Mars –... [Read more...]
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Columns
The Dictionary of Traditional Magick and Etherical Science
Air (Alchemy) One of the Four Elements of alchemy believed to carry the archetypal properties of spirit into the visible world. It is linked to the process of Separation and corresponds to the metal Iron. Cassock (Ecclesiastic) A full-length gown... [Read more...]
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Occult Author Spotlight: Jan Fries
I picked up all of Fries works a few years ago at Edge of the Circle, an occult bookstore in Seattle, which happens to stock these otherwise hard to find books. The main reason these books are hard to find is they are published by a U.K. publisher... [Read more...]
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Lupa’s Den – Animal Totems in Context
In my decade-plus of being a pagan and magician, animal magic and animal totemism have always been my main focus regardless of what paradigm I was working in. Since I began practicing shamanism in earnest back in 2007, I’ve become much more... [Read more...]
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Read More Articles in ColumnsReviews
Book Review: Animal Reiki to Go
Animal Reiki to Go by Mary Caelsto The Lotus Circle (February 16, 2009) $20.00 ISBN 978-1419980756 128 pages plus keychain charm and drawstring pouch Reviewer: Lupa There are several books and other resource that cover reiki for animals, either... [Read more...]
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Book Review: Longing For Wisdom
Longing For Wisdom: The Message of the Maxims by Allyson Szabo CreateSpace (June 27, 2008) $15.99 ISBN 978-1438239767 154 pages Reviewer: Lupa “Know Thyself.” This is one of over a hundred maxims carved into a stele outside the Temple of... [Read more...]
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Book Review: The Serpent and the Eagle
The Serpent and the Eagle: An Introduction to the Elder Runic Tradition by Chris Travers BookSurge Publishing (February 2, 2009) $15.99 ISBN 978-0316068024 186 pages Reviewer: Lupa There are a number of introductory guides to the runes on the... [Read more...]
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Book Review: Encyclopedia of Spirits
Encyclopedia of Spirits by Judika Illes HarperOne (January 27, 2009) $29.99 ISBN 978-0061350245 1072 pages Reviewer: Sheta Kaey I encountered this tome in my local library, which is nothing short of miraculous given the religious climate hereabouts.... [Read more...]
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Book Review: Hand of Isis
Hand of Isis by Jo Graham Orbit (March 23, 2009) $14.99 ISBN 978-0316068024 528 pages Reviewer: Bronwen Forbes When Graham’s first book, Black Ships, was released last year, the publicity materials claimed that the book did for the Aeneid (Virgil’s... [Read more...]
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