It is absolutely fantastic that so many great books on magick are being published. You can study historical books like the part of the Lesser Key of Solomon known as the Goetia and Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy. You can study the systems of magick that began in the late 19th century such as that of The Golden Dawn, the Aurum Solis, and Aleister Crowley. You can study modern systems of magick and magick for the future. You can literally become an expert in the history, theory, and practice of magick, all from the famous "privacy of your own home." It's fantastic. It's great. It can also be filled with traps and be incomplete. And it can be lonely, too. That's why I'm a

For all of my friends in the Southern California area: This Sunday, December 5, from 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., I'll be giving a workshop at the new occult shop in town: The Green Man 5712 Lankershim Blvd North Hollywood, CA 91601 Call 818-985-2010  http://thegreenmanstore.com/ The subject: AMULETS AND TALISMANS Talismans and amulets are powerful magickal tools that can be used as part of any style of magick. In this class you'll discover the key elements that can make your talismans and amulets magickal successes and help you achieve any goal. Many of these topics are omitted from other classes and you're going to find that even if you never make a talisman or amulet, the techniques

In Modern Magick I introduced the idea that modern ceremonial magicians should become more in tune with the elements, seasons, and energies of the planets. (Here's a pre-announcement: Denning & Phillips' classic book, Planetary Magick—originally published over 20 years ago, it went out of print and used copies are now selling for up to $75—will be reprinted early next year. It includes my introduction from the first edition.) Pagans have long known this, honoring in their rites both the equinoxes and solstices. On December 21, 2010, we’ll experience the shortest day (and longest night) of the year, the winter solstice. Also known as Yule, it is a time when Pagans perform rituals

It seems like wars today change little except names. They still cause massive death and destruction, most often to people who wanted nothing to do with such wars. One set of leaders is ousted and another put in power. They often turn out not much better or even worse than those who came before them. This was not always the case. The Western world was dramatically changed by WWI and much of the entire world was changed by WWII. After the attack on Pearl Harbor at the end of 1941, there were only a few minor attacks on 48 U.S. states during WWII. As a result, the knowledge of what war is like for Americans tends to be quite different than for people of Europe. For the past century, to the