198 Siddha Quest for Immortality: (reissued)

Sexual, alchemical and medical secrets of the Tamil Siddhas, the poets of the powers
isbn 1869928431
13.99 UKP/$25
218pp

In South India there is a society where priests and lay people claim supernatural powers. Where a sophisticated medical system underlies a quest for physical longevity and psychic immortality. And where arcane and sexual rituals take place that are far removed from the Brahmanic tradition of the rest of India. That society is the Tamil Siddhas. In the Siddha Quest for Immortality world Tamil expert K Zvelebil offers a vivid picture of these people: their religious beliefs, their magical rites, their alchemical practices, their complex system of medicine, and their inspired tradition of poetry.

In the Poets of the Powers, Zvelebil introduced English speakers, for the first time , to the astonishing power of Siddha writing. The Siddha Quest for Immortality includes many newly translated examples of poetry that is deeply religious but not without humour. But physical longevity was also central to Siddha belief, and fascinating chapters on Siddha medicine describe routines by which one can maintain health, and tell how drugs are created from such varied ingredients as cowdung, human urine, honey, and milk.

K Zvelebil, (Professor Emeritus of the Universities of Chicago and Utrecht) is an ordained Buddhist and world-renowned expert on south Indian Languages and culture. He has written many books including the Lexicon of Tamil Literature. The Siddha Quest for Immortality makes available for the first time, secrets of tantrik magick and alchemy.

‘...the reader-whether an Indologist or not - will enjoy it as it presents a number of facts from medical practice and has in some parts a personal touch due to Zvelebil’s own experience with Siddha therapy and his contacts with various informants. Moreover, it contains a great number of translations from Siddha texts, for example the Cunnilingus according to Tantrik Siddhas...or Teraiyar’s recommendation for the Daily Regime.’.. Jens Knuppel, in Traditional South Asian Medicine, Volume 6, 2001

197. Crown Me with Roses

Crown me with roses,
Crown me really
With roses -
Roses which burn out
On a forehead burning
So soon out!
Crown me with roses
And with fleeting leafage.
That will do.

(12.06.1914)
'Selected Poems' translated from Fernando Pessoa by J.Griffin.

196. Gnosis in Northumberland

Greetings and salutations on all points of the triangle

Gnosis is a collection of like-minded people celebrating each other's perspectives in an atmosphere of light, life, love, and liberty. Events include a host of lectures and workshop with emphasis on the central theme of Ritual Magick as well as Ritual Performances old and new. During the evenings a local storyteller will provide entertainement and on Saturday there will be a Gothic Masked Ball. As well as the exsisting events we hope you will feel free to get creative and do your own thing.

Our weekend retreat is set in a 13th Century Castle and grounds in Northumberland and runs between 14th-17th November. The whole thing costs just £75 for accommodation and meals from Friday evening dinner to Monday morning breakfast. Non-refundable deposits of £25 will hold a place. The castle only holds 93 people so book now to avoid disappointment.

195. CUNNING-FOLK: Popular Magic in English History

Owen Davies. Hambledon London, ISBN 1-85285-297-6

Although rarely used in the modern day, two hundred years ago ‘cunning-folk’ was the common English term for magicians or witches for hire. Such a person would be of service to the community through their abilities to divine, catch thieves, cast love spells, remove malign witchcraft on people and animals, the odd exorcism or two, a good smattering of herb lore, and more besides. Strangely, this is the first ever academic study of the truth and history of the so called ‘cunning craft’. Its author is a Lecturer in History at the University of Hertfordshire, and has no axe to grind when it comes to claims of their own magical lineage. As such I am sure many would agree that this book is long overdue.

Owen Davies takes us on a fascinating journey back in time. He discusses the legal issues of the day, their spiritual implications and relations to the Church, who would visit them and why. Davies takes a good look at the libraries left behind by two cunning-men. He finds in the some of these grimoire, such as the famed Dragon Rouge, the more diabolical sorceries of the day, and Davies gives details of a few surviving written charms. Most of these are of Christian and Hebrew origin, drawing upon various passages from the Bible. Others will be recognised by modern practitioners, such as the Abracadabra, or the Sator square. The author makes some very interesting observations and conclusions. An example is the fact that Skott’s ‘Discoverie of Witchcrafte’ set the rituals of High Magic into the vernacular for the first time, and thus ironically became one of the principal sources of those rituals employed by the average cunning-folk.

The final chapter discusses the existence of cunning-folk in the twentieth century. In recent times a few books have appeared on the market aimed primarily at a pagan audience, and there have been more than a few arguments over who can claim such a ‘title’ and why. Interestingly, Davies concludes that there is no evidence for the passing of ‘cunning’ knowledge into Wicca through any lines of initiation or instruction, and is quite specifically dismissive of those claims concerning George Pickingill. He points out that the cunning-folk were often highly unscrupulous, and asks why anyone would want to lay claim to such an inheritance in the first place. They were often cynical hard nosed business-men more concerned with the magical art of turning superstition into coin than they were with the protection and transmission of ancient knowledge. He also reasons that there are perhaps grounds for some to claim indirect descent, since most cunning folk simply learnt a few stock charms straight out of books, many of which are still available and popular in the modern day, and backed themselves up with a whole load of spurious claims. However, since these people claiming 'cunning' are more concerned with selling their ideas to other practitioners of the neo-pagan religion rather than selling their ‘abilities’ to the general community, they are not really the same thing at all. Harsh, but perhaps he does have a point. On the other hand, it may just be possible that Davies has not been talking to the right people. One might also argue that the use of the term ‘cunning’ in relation to the magic of this land is as valid from a cultural viewpoint as, say, the use of the word ‘vodu’ is to those of Caribbean descent. It all depends upon your criteria regarding such definitions.

Overall, this book is an important and valuable edition to the body of work tracing the history and development of magical belief and practice in the U.K. Highly recommended, regardless of your 'path' or 'lineage'. Nathaniel J. Harris

The paperback of Natham's Witcha: a book of cunning will be published next spring

194. Rotten Vegetable

Toyne Newton, self-styled 'occult expert' is, during November giving a free talk in Brighton. Newton is author in 1987 of 'The Demonic Connection', a book that helped fan the flames of the whole moral panic over supposed satanic abuse. His latest offering, published last year returns to many of the same hackneyed themes. For details of the talk visit the www.occulture.tv website. If you happen to be in Brighton, you could perhaps use the money saved to buy a bag of (metaphorical) rotten tomatoes.

193. Tankhem: meditations on Seth magick (draft edition)

Mogg Morgan isbn 1869928555, 184pp £10.99

Ancient Egypt and the ‘Typhonian’ deity Seth, how to find out more? Followers of later cults obliterating Seth’s monuments, demonising and neglecting his cult. A possible starting point in the quest for the ‘hidden god’ is an examination of the life of Egyptian King Sety I (‘He of Seth’) also known as Sethos.

When looking for an astral temple that included all of the ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses, the Temple of Sety I proved itself worthy of examination. Many secrets began to reveal themselves. The essence of the real philosophy of the Sethian and indeed what Satanism is, stems from the author’s astral wanderings in this temple.

The temple is a real place and like any temple no part of its design is accidental. It is a record in stone and paint of the Egyptian mythos. It is also fits quite well with the Thelemic mythos and tells lots of interesting things about the ancient Seth cult - if you have the eye to see it.

Contents: Prolegomena to Egyptian magick; Setanism; Tankhem, Egyptian Magick and Tantra; Sexual Magick; Twenty Eight; North; The Crooked Wand

The author has published numerous articles, short stories and books, principally Ayurveda: Medicine of the Gods, The English Mahatma (a Tankhem novel) and as ( ‘Katon Shual’) Sexual Magick

PS: Some may remember my championing of Norman Mailer's long out of print epic novel of Egyptian magick and family intrique, Ancient Evenings. I've just heard its to be reissued next month by Time Warner at UKP10.99

Secret Chiefs

5th November - Mark Ramsden
"The Sacred Blood" Mark Ramsden is a virtuoso saxophonist and the author of an acclaimed trilogy of novels which take a humorous look at S/M. the occult and ritual murder. He is also the inventor of Fetish Morris Dancing. Tonight he will discuss cross-dressing, ketamine and contemporary sexuality.

The Secret Chiefs meet fortnightly on Wednesday evenings in the upstairs room of the Princess Louise on High Holborn (50 yds from Holborn tube). The room opens at 7pm and the talk starts at 8.30pm. Admission is £2 (£1 concs). All are welcome.

Spirit of Peace – 20 Sept (review)

Slow burn but a fantastic atmosphere by the end. Kicked off with John ‘celtic shaman’ Matthew’s foray into channelling, which I guess it where all of us have to go at some point. A well oiled talk which was, to my mind a bit lacking in content. I follow the William James line of thought on this, that you can only judge the value of such things pragmatically and I was left wondering if there was anything in this that was new or not just a projection of John’s obviously nice psyche? Emma Restall Orr also spoke well from the heart. She has a subtly different perhaps more occult vision of 'Druidry' - that involves a personal quest not so different to some thelemic ideas. Next came what for me and many others was the highpoint of the day, the understated and IMO profound Sufi troubadour Latif Bolat. Later in the cool of the evening when the audience had been decamped (or was it driven) outside by some pretty awful singing and storytelling, Latif sat on a bench beneath the waning moon and sang spiritual songs, accompanying himself on the Lute. It was definately one of those privileged situations.

But before that we heard Karen Ralls on the Templars and the Grail, which if you’ve read ‘Holy Blood Holy Grail’ had few surprises, (Karen kept saying she was keeping those for the book). Karen is obviously very authoritative and has some unique information. I just wish she had dared to lift the veil a little more and show the slides from Roslyn chapel as promised, perhaps next time. Steve Wilson always speaks well but to my mind his description of the Mandean philosophy and its relevance to modern magi, could do with sharpening up a bit – but lots of new stuff there. Interesting too was Colin Low’s talk ‘Emanation and Ascent in QBL’. Such a change to hear an interesting talk on Kabalah rather than yet another cosmic filing cabinet trip. He reminded me something I’ve always believed, Hermeticism is essentially a form of Egyptian temple magick and that the whole doctrine of the Path of Return, Evolution and Ascent is very much part of the Egyptian POV. Altogether an excellent and stimulating day both inside and outside the hall, and one that I hope will be a regular part of the magical calendar. – Mogg

PS: Templar Maze in Oxford "Recreation of Templar Labyrinth at Oxfordshire Record Office, St Luke's Church, Cowley Part of the initiation into the Knights Templar required the walking of the path of a labyrinth. The Temple Cowley labyrinth was the only four circuit labyrinth known to have existed in the British Isles. It was destroyed in 1852, but the plan survived and has been redrawn to the original scale in the grounds of Oxfordshire Record Office.

The Record Office holds historic records relating to the county of Oxfordshire and is open 9 - 5, Tuesday to Saturday. For further information contact: ruth.imeson@...."

Karen Ralls book 'The Templars and the Grail' is published by Quest Books at $22.95, which translates as 19 pounds in UK. (Importers of books to UK do better than the bankers!! - which reminds me - has anyone noticed how the price of crowley books is spiraling out of control? I'd remind you that due to capricious court rulings - Crowley can not be published in the land of his birth - and therefore for the next 15 years pretty much all crowley books have to be imported from the USA at inflated prices and editions. )

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000. Groups, events et al

'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot' meets every Thursday at The Port Mahon Pub (St . Clements st)Oxford. Each week we discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person is free to speak or not as is their wish. Most folks get to the pub about 9:00 to start 9:30 ish. The Oxford Talking Stick moot is an independent group open to all pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians etc wishing to take part in the discussion. Prior knowledge of the weeks subject is not essential as these moots should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other. Contact JackDaw pendark@...

Cardiff contacts sought for occult moot perhaps
leading to ritual seed group on OGDOS lines
email mandrake-owner@yahoogroups.com

The West Herts moot is held on the 2nd Sunday in every month. The next one will be on 11th May at 1pm onwards at the Fishery Inn, Hemel Hempstead.

Full details including a map can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/westherts-moot/ or email Sophie at hintlemin@...

Norwich Magician's Moot, which occurs the second Thursday of every month in Norwich in
floating venues. For information
e-mail denise@...
or phone Anton or Denise at 01603 622142.