The Book of Disquiet of Fernando Pessoa

Published by Allen Lane, The Penguin Press, edited and translated by Richard Zenith (2001)

Reviewed by Terry Little

'The whole of literature is an attempt to make life real. As everybody knows, even if we act in ignorance, life is totally unreal in its direct reality; fields, cities, ideas are totally fictive things, born of our complex realisation of ourselves. . . To speak! To know how to speak! To know how to exist using the written voice and the intellectial image! Life is worth nothing more; the rest are men and women, imagined loves and false vanities, digestive subterfuges and those of oblivion, poeple who race around like insects when a stone is lifted, under the vast abstract rock of the unfeeling blue sky.' - quoted in Wormwood 2

Many might think they have a bleak, 'life in the head' existence but Fernando's takes the biscuit. He was definately a one off original but then we all are, even when we don't know it. Everyone is slightly different. The Book of Disquiet shows a active participation in life as a heteronym, and was years ahead of Chaos magic. He left his mark. Wormwood, that highly original, idiosyncratic concentration of distilled thought called him 'the man who never was...'

Fernando Pessoa, Portugal's celebrated national poet, is known in UK because of his association with Crowley, with whom he shared an obsession with the God Pan. Initiated into Crowley's AA on a precarous shelf of rock in the Boco di Inferno, a turbulent sea cave yards from Pessoa's house of Portuguese gothic. The beach below is still a site of pilgrimage for many a thelemite and has perhaps the only plaque in existence commemorating the Great Beast (see www. mandrake.uk.net/crowley.htm for photo).

The Book of Disquiet is the sort you can return to again and again for new perspectives. Adam Daly, in his piece for Wormwood 2, mentioned how his horoscope was inscribed onto the white-washed wall of the corridor at the back of his house. There is apparently a three month discrepancy between the dates of this and his actual nativity as recorded on his birth certificate. Was he trying to cover his tracks with a creative error in order to escape his Natal chart's pattern of destiny? Pessoa travelled little, never married or had children, was not gregarious, possibly a virgin, very proper in his manners and liked to conceal the essential mystery of his real inner life. If the foregoing does not indicate astrologically a strong saturnine influence then i'll consume my head gear (but privately).

I have an obvious empathy with Saturnine dreamers like the monkish, mystic, Pessoa. His many masks, evasions and subterfuges to hide his essential self may have been a cosmetic fucus (yes, fucus) that he used, as a vulnerable aesthete, unable to enter or commit to close emotional or sexual relationships. But this compensatory withdrawal enabled him to give free rein, to experiment with 'active' dreaming and nourish a rich inner life. The Book of Disquiet by very definition is restless, uneasy and forever looking for its centre. But ultimately it's a victorious final memorial to a creative fulfillment few others attain. I for one feel unfashionably humble in his literary presence. I can't wait to read his poems.

His legacy of 'Disquiet' is a confessional autobiography of random impressions and dreamy musings in which he unwinds the labyrinthine skein of his tortured self and comes to the conviction that absurdity is divine as well as self entertaining. This is truly a book of revelations seen through an existential mirror without a frame. It's fundamental! It's the genuine prerogative of a true artist who crucified himself on a paper cross. And this book when finally published, was his resurrection (and possible immolation). - Terry Little

R.I.L.K.O

A Short History of Myth (reviewed by Tom Bland)

See end for details of SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE workshop

Karen Armstrong Canongate Books, 2005

Myth is one of the most important subjects for those of us who are interested in spirituality, as myth is a way of describing spirit. For me, there is no difference between spirit and vision, for to encounter spirit, is to encounter a vision of the spirit. Myth is a way of describing the vision, of bringing it into the world, so it can be seen through the world.

An example of this can be seen in the writings of St. Paul, who encountered the spirit of Christ in a vision on the road to Damascus. The vision is always paradoxical as it embraces the tangible and the intangible. On the one hand, it is a vision that is so present, it appears as a tangible presence, but on the other hand, it is intangible, composed of light. Light is a perfect metaphor for visionary experience, for it has substance and transparency to it.

One of the writers Karen Armstrong often refers to in her work is the scholar of esotericism, Henry Corbin, who writes on gnosis in Islam. He writes:

We are dealing with visions, theophanic visions. There is an actual perception of an object, of a concrete person: the figure and the features are sharply defined; this person presents all the ‘appearances’ of a sensuous object, and yet it is not given to the perception of the sense organs. This perception is essentially an event of the soul, taking place in the soul and for the soul. As such its reality is essentially individuated for and with each person; what the soul really sees, it is in case alone in seeing.(1)

Those of us who have had visionary experiences will find our own experiences reflected in Corbin’s words. He describes something quite special in his writings on gnosis. Paul’s vision would certainly be theophanic in essence, although his vision, recited in churches, is only one exoteric expression of such an experience. In his quote, Corbin is referring to the visionary experiences of a group of women, described in the apocryphal Christian text, Acts of Peter, where each of them sees a different Christ, but their visions are united in a common luminosity.

Armstrong is a very readable writer with a vivid and compelling style. Her sources for her books are truly wide ranging from the exoteric to the esoteric, which can sometimes occur in a single paragraph. Although her work is not gnostic, she refers extensively to gnostic currents in the Abrahamic faiths, revealing their mythic and visionary dimensions. In A Short History of Myth, she refers to the kabbalists’ visions of the sefirot as representing an ‘unfolding revelation’ of the divine names of God. (See p. 110) The wonderful phrase, unfolding revelation, is an apt definition of gnosis.(2)

She reveals that myth is still very much present within commonly held faiths, and shows that the polytheistic roots of these traditions, have not been lost, but simply forgotten. She is asking us to remember where our traditions come from, to see into the histories of our beliefs, ideas, thoughts and feelings. It is about understanding the myths of God and the Gods. Her book is about the myths that we live with. It is particularly about those that deepen our presence in the world. She writes:

A myth, therefore, is true because it is effective, not because it gives us factual information. If, however, it does not give us new insight into the deeper meaning of life, it has failed. If it works, that is, if it forces us to change our minds and hearts, gives us new hope, and compels us to live more fully, it is a valid myth. Mythology will only transform us if we follow its directives. A myth is essentially a guide; it tells us what we must do in order to live more richly. If we do not apply it to our own situation and make the myth a reality in our own lives, it will remain as incomprehensible and remote as the rules of a board game, which often seem confusing and boring until we start to play. (p. 10)

I imagine most people with a sense of the spiritual will be able to resonate with her words. I find in it a series of questions concerning myths I live with, in particular do they enrich me and allow me to grow and become? Are they still valid and do they still resonate with me? I won’t bore the reader with my responses to them, but I say this, to show that Armstrong is concerned with myths in an experiential sense, which is, she says, one of the best ways to understand myths.

I find one of the most fascinating aspects of her work, and one that I think is of the utmost importance to us in the present age, is that myths are not fixed in time, but change through history. Although certain archetypal themes can be said to be transhistorical, like a notion of oneness, myths that reveal such richly rewarding themes, manifest in different ways in congruence to the changing nature of history. She writes:

There is never a single, orthodox version of a myth. As our circumstances change, we need to tell stories differently in order to bring out their timeless truth. In this short history of mythology, we shall see that every time men and women took a major step forward, they reviewed their mythology and made it speak to the new conditions. But we shall also see that nature does not change much, and that many of these myths, devised in societies that could not be more different from our own, still address our most essential fears and desires. (p. 11)

And now, I want once again to turn to the vision of Paul. But before I do I first want to quote a contemporary storyteller, who said to me, ‘Stories are about making connections.’ In this regard, he seems perfectly in congruence with Armstrong. In the language of storytelling, she is asking us to address an important and valid question, ‘Do the myths we live with, connect with us?’

I think the question is not so much about believing, or even an accepting a myth, but instead being inspired by a myth. It is about being inspired to tell a myth, not only to myself, but to others who I connect with. One of the myths that intrigue and fascinate me is the myth of Jesus and the resurrection. I see it as being a myth about the nature of the divine living and dying as we live and die. It is a myth that I had a dream about, read through gospels (including the gnostic ones), and discovered a myth I resonate with, even though I am not a Christian.

For me, Paul reveals something of this way of interpreting the myth of Christ. He considers Christ a visionary experience. Armstrong writes:

St Paul did the same with Jesus. He was not so much interested in Jesus’ sayings, which he rarely quotes, or even in the events of his earthly life. ‘Even if we did once know Christ in the flesh,’ he wrote to his Corinthians converts, ‘that is not how we know him now.’ What was important was the ‘mystery’ (a word which has the etymological root as the Greek mythos) of his death and resurrection. Paul had transformed Jesus into a timeless, mythic hero who dies and is raised to new life. After his crucifixion, Jesus had been exalted by God to a uniquely high status, had achieved ‘ascent’ to a higher mode of being. But everybody who went through the initiation of baptism (the traditional transformation by immersion) entered into Jesus’ death and would share his new life. Jesus was no longer a spiritual figure but a spiritual reality in the lives of Christians by means of ritual and the ethical disciplines of living the same selfless life as Jesus himself. Christians no longer knew him ‘in the flesh’ but they would encounter him in other human beings, in the study of scripture, and in the Eucharist. They knew that this myth was true, not because of historical evidence, but because they had experienced transformation. Thus the death and the ‘raising up’ of Jesus was a myth; it had happened once to Jesus and was now happening all of the time. (pp. 107-8)

So, we can see that myth is not about believing it, but living it, and being transformed by it. My dream of the resurrection led me to an insight, that the divine reality lives and dies, for it is a mirror of the world. It exists throughout the world, and experiences itself through the world. I am able to tell this myth, for I have, in some small sense, lived through it, through the dream I experienced.(3)

I think in some respects this is what Armstrong is advocating in her books, for in them, she retells the myths, revealing their importance for our postmodern times, making a case that we have not left myth behind, but simply that we have forgotten its presence, through overt rationalism and an abandonment of the senses. I cannot agree more with this, and I’m sure anyone who picks up A Short History of Myth, will find a rewarding work that speaks to them.

Notes:

1) Henry Corbin, ‘Divine Epiphany and Spiritual Rebirth in Ismailian Gnosis,’ Papers from the Eranus Yearbook, Volume 5, Bollingen, 1964, p. 70.

2) Gnosis is a Greek word that translates literally as ‘knowledge,’ but figuratively means something more akin to ‘insight.’ It is essentially an unveiling of the divine, which lead to insights concerning the origins of the spirit. See Elaine Pagel, The Gnostic Gospels, Penguin, 1990.

3) Such dreams are common to many people undergoing life changes. Petruska Clarkson writes on this in her essay, ‘Metanoia: A Process of Transformation,’ in her book, On Psychotherapy, Whurr, 1993, pp. 67-9.

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SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE

An Afternoon Workshop

‘There is a light within a person of light
and it shines on the whole world.
If it does not shine it is dark.’
The Gospel of Thomas

An afternoon workshop for anyone who wishes to have a deeper sense of spirit within his or her life. We will be opening a space wherein we can bring spirit into being as a shared experience. We shall do this through specific exercises, such as reading from the heart, storytelling, dialogue and meditation. In this way, we hope to cultivate qualities associated with spirit, like intuition, inspiration and insight.

Facilitator: Tom Bland is a writer, storyteller and group leader. He has a passion for wisdom stories and sayings. He is deeply influenced by the writings of Carl Jung.

Date: 2-6 pm, Saturday 3rd July Cost: £20
Venue: Jung Club Library, 1 More’s Garden, 90 Cheyne Walk, London. The nearest tube is Sloane Square.
To book a place, please contact Tom at inward@... or 020 8686 4373.

John Power's Nu Tantras of the Uttarakaulas

Well now the long silence is broken with the appearance of a new website. It has even prompted one of the first generation of Naths, Lalita Mataji to 'break cover' offer support. (You can view her own ideas at nathsociety.org) She writes:

The unpublished book by John Powers is one of the first attempts I have seen to write a critical analysis of some of Mahendranath's writings. John Powers was entrusted with the Uttarkaula tantric aspect of our world and he has obviously nurtured and worked with his specialty for as he says 21 years. At the end of his analytical work he includes an original and very creative and fascinating ritual that possibly is a summation of his experience. It is quirky and personal and that adds greatly to its value. I have often gotten swamped by Mahendranaths large output of written words. To see a few of his major tantras reworded, discussed, analyzed and emotionally digested is so helpful. I recommend that those who are interested in the works of Mahendranath give this work more that a quick cursory glance. Discussion of his work will certainly help him to make some small changes in wording and emphasis so that when he does publish this book it will have the advantage of the input of those who are most deeply interested in the subject. Thank you John Powers....very good work! - Lal

To view the first version visit: http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/johnpowers

Mogg Morgan

How To Make Your Own McOTO CD

Actually the entire contents is rather interesting - as indeed is the much improved (optional) soundtrack by Pink floyd - 'Shine on Crazy Diamond' which seems appropriate somehow.

The eponymous 'How To Make Your Own McOTO' also known as The OTO Phenomenon Part I by well known researcher of European quasi-masonic cults, P.R.Konig. Back in the 1980s I published several fascicules of Konig's work in Nuit Isis Magazine - some being translated from the German by Shantidevi. I believe that these, along with a lot more did eventually find there way into a published volume which has since disappeared from the bookshop - either because of complaints or more likely just sold out. So it's probably quite handy to have this PDF version available. I remember at the time not being as keen as some on the material - which was well researched but to my eye seemed to be 310 pages of footnote fodder.

This new CD has facsimiles of Theodor Reuss' transcripts of the rituals plus Aleister Crowley's handwritten O.T.O. rituals. Also: Crowley's handwritten Golden Dawn and A.'. A.'. rituals, plus his handwritten ritual for the "Order of Thelema".

But don't worry - if you're not particularly interested in the minutia of OTO history from the pen of one of its most devoted critics, there is a lot of other really handy stuff on this CD including The Blue Equinox.

First published in Detroit in 1919, the legendary Blue Equinox was Crowley's first attempt to publicize the principles and aims of the magical secret society Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.) and its allied order the A.A. In it, Crowley laid out the esoteric, social, ethical, and philosophical ideas that he believed provided the framework for a new ethics and the liberated morality of the future. Upon publication, the book was threatened with suppression by the authorities of the day. Many of the papers in the Blue Equinox anticipated social liberties we tend to take for granted today.

PDF Presentation of: Miscellaneous. A collection of documents relating to Aleister Crowley, O.T.O., and Sex Magick. Includes: OTO Rituals Sex Magick: Parts I, II and III. Francis King's 'Secret Rituals of the OTO'. LIBER AL., 777., SEPHER SEPHIROTH. and The Scented Garden.

There is also a fine collection of tasteful pictures - many that are quite rare and seldom seen in books. As before, because the producers are not without humour, several, if not all, have been modified rather in the manner of those 'What the Butler Saw' machines of the past. What's that perched on Kylie Minogue's shoulder - surely it can be - yes it is - AC's helmet! I know these photos have given pleasure to millions - but at the risk of sounding a moaning mini, I'd repeat what I said before in that once you start airbrushing, you do tend to undermine the credibility of the whole series. I was also disappointed that the print function seems to have been disabled - which is a tad inconvenient. But these are mere quibles - for the price its an incredible bargain and will considerable lighten the workload of the academic audience for which this product is destined. If you really want a copy go to http://www.tobew.com/SR.

BTW the first and massive first printrun of the special edition postcard set has already sold out - hardly a surprize as they only did two! The editors promise to do more next time. - Mogg Morgan

THE TREGERTHEN HORROR

Obtainable from Lulu.com http://www.lulu.com/lord-crashingbore

Summary
An offbeat investigation into the unexpected death of Katherine Arnold-Forster that took place in May 1938, in the remote hamlet of Tregerthen, near Zennor. The material is unusual and dramatic, covering magic, spying, the Walton murder and centreing on the exploits Aleister Crowley, D.H. Lawrence, Cecil Gray and Peter Warlock, but also including Dylan Thomas, Mary Butts and many well-known writers, mystics and painters. The result of a long and difficult investigation by the author, it is culturally fascinating and will appeal to a very wide readership, showing what lay behind the feverish speculation and introducing a host of outrageous, talented personalities who dropped in on the Cornish scene. It will tell you many things you didn't know and quite a few others that defy the imagination

Outline
Prior to the World War 2, West Cornwall generated a number of stories of a sinister occult nature. Foremost among them was that the Great Beast, Aleister Crowley, stayed at Zennor and founded a mainly female cult who danced naked around stone circles, took powerful narcotics and held orgies up on the moor. This was spread by word of mouth and by numerous 'horror' fictions penned by writers like A.L. Rowse, Denys Val Baker, Mary Williams and Frank Baker (who wrote a bizarre roman à clef on the subject). Some maintained this decadent coven was directly or indirectly responsible for the death of Katherine Arnold Forster, the former sweetheart of the poet, Rupert Brooke, who died in mysterious circumstances at an allegedly 'haunted' cottage near Zennor Carn in 1938.

In THE TREGERTHEN HORROR, these so-far unsubstantiated rumours are the subject of meticulous investigation by Paul Newman. Initially alerted by an anecdote (preserved in literature and living memory) of Crowley's influence tragically affecting the lives of a young couple who were living at Zennor, he starts out asking sceptically, "Why has no biographer ever taken this seriously?" But then he meets people who retain a living memory of the incident and is surprised to discover the association with Aleister Crowley and magical activities in Zennor date back to 1917 and the entourage of D.H. Lawrence which included the brilliant yet highly volatile musician, Philip Heseltine, and the babbling psychotherapist and ex-Crowley disciple, Meredith Starr, and his black wife, Lady Mary Stamford, both of whom fasted and undertook occult experiments in mines. Also present was the composer, Cecil Gray, who thought the region a 'spiritual black country'. Yet he managed to lure the poetess HD away from her husband and into the large house he rented there, resulting in the birth of a child, Perdita, who Gray quickly disowned. Both Gray and Heseltine later became involved with Crowley's drug-set and performed rituals to ensure the music they composed should attain the immortality they thought it deserved.

THE TREGERTHEN HORROR traces their personal histories, their occult and spiritualist obsessions, in and out of Cornwall, along with those of another group who gathered around Mousehole prior to World War 2 - literary notables like Dylan Thomas, Oswell Blakeston, Frank Baker and artists like Greta Sequeira and the bohemian hostess, Wyn Henderson. Tracing their pre-war and post-war lives, it lays bare a series of fantastic incidents involving a society scandal, a haunted cottage, a tragic death, a chronic case of insanity, wartime skulduggery and the sensational Walton Murder that was investigated by Fabian of the Yard.

Over all this intrigue looms the shadow of the 20th century Faust, Aleister Crowley whose magnetic malevolence sprawls and dominates the scene. Initially drawn to the Duchy by his young mistress and illegitimate son, Ataturk, his presence provokes gossip and unease amid the locals. Yet, oddly enough, after his death, his magical impedimenta finds its way back to Cornwall by way of the former spymaster, Cecil Williamson, who opened a Museum of Witchcraft at Boscastle.

Author
Editor of the literary magazine ‘Abraxas’ and author of a definitive ‘History of Terror’ and many other titles, Paul Newman’s writings have received much acclaim. His recent novel Galahad (2004) won the Peninsula Prize.

Book
The Tregerthen Horror is printed as a large (8.5 by 11 inches) soft back and is nearly 200 pages long, with many black and white photographs, printed for the first time. Presently it is a small exclusive edition available from the Lulu website and nowhere else. Price $25 or around £12.50

The OTO in Tring

The UK Grand Lodge of Ordo Templi Orientis has chartered Nefertem Camp to operate in Tring, Hertfordshire. We will be running open (and closed OTO only) rituals, as well as free workshops on magic(k) and associated topics. Our meeting space is very near the station, so easy to get to from areas on the line out of Euston.

If you're interested in finding out more about the OTO or our camp and would like to be kept informed about our events do get in touch and feel free to spread the word!

Email nefertem@..., and/or join our livejournal community, at http://community.livejournal.com/nefertem_camp/ - we also have a webpage at http://www.nefertem-oto.org, although that's under development at the moment.

Our first open meeting will likely be an open Pentagram Ritual workshop on 20th May, but we'll be confirming that at a later date. All pagan/magicky types from the nearby area will be welcome to attend, it's free entry.

Groups

Conferences

SPIRITED AWAY!

Presents: THE 3rd ANNUAL SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION IN PENDLE PENDLE WITCH CAMP
SUMMER SOLSTICE 2006 From Noon on FRIDAY 23rd JUNE ­ Noon on MONDAY 26th JUNE

SPECIAL GUEST from U.S.A. ­ Lady Passion
Author of ŒTHE GOODLY SPELLBOOK : Olde Spells For Modern Problems¹

Summer Solstice Ritual conducted by Runic John (Shaman¹s Apothecary)
TALKS WORKSHOPS
RUNIC JOHN ­ Seidr: Northern European Shamanism
SUZANNE WHITE ­ Trusting the Tarot / Making Magical Candles
SCREECH OWL ­ Pagan Death: Dying With Honour
OLIVER ROBINSON ­ Sacred Brigantia Trust
TREB0R ­ PaGaianism
MARTIN HAZEL ­ Ritual and Visualisation
LEL HOYLE ­ Shamanic Power Animals
PAUL WATSON ­ Cults Freewill
ANGELA SOUTHAM ­ Paganism the Family
DERYN ASHBY ­ The Theatrics of Ritual
MIKKA THE PAGAN ­ The Divine Goddess
MARTIN EVANS ­ Wand/Staff Making Workshop
MIKE CADMAN ­ Drumming Workshop
JACKUS ­ Dream Healing
MEL ­ Chakra Workshop
DEREK PLEWS ­ Sentry Circle Project
ACTIV8 ­ Wandering Poetry
JOANNA KATE ­ Yoghurt Weaving Workshop
MARK HUGHES ­ Our Changing Environment
SAMANTHA LYCETT ­ Fairy Craft

FIRESIDE ACOUSTIC MUSIC
Josh, Dawn, Southend Bill, Mabel Blue,
The Hootenannies, Marcus James, Mrs Cakehead

STALLS
Murgens Keep, Shaman¹s Apothecary, Widdershines
Weirdigans Café Fireshow Sweat Lodge
ADULT TICKETS (18 and over @ £25 each)
YOUTH TICKET (11 to 17 years old @ £17.50 each)
CHILD TICKET (10 and under @ No Charge for 1st two, then £10.00
each) DAY TICKETS AVAILABLE @ £15.00 per day
Tickets available via website
www.penwitchcamp.co.uk
--------------------------------------------------------

BELTANIA

You are cordially invited to A celebration of the ancient celtic fire festival of Beltane in the heartlands of Brigantia.

Dill Zogg and Orange Source of Karma Sound System will be playing a chilled set on Saturday 29th April at Lenthor Farm, Northallerton; to get you relaxed, and in the mood for a full-on party, on the night of Sunday 30th April ; dancing away until Mayday morn.

There will be no music played during the day on Sunday, as we¹re off to join in the Beltane Ceremony, being held at the Central Henge, Thornborough at 2pm. Which we hope you will also come along to.

There is no entrance charge to the party, however should you wish to camp, the farmer will be charging £5 per person per night. The money raised from camping, will be used to buy more standing stones, for the Sentry Circle, being constructed at Lenthor Farm.

For more information and directions email ade@...

A Celebration of the life of Austin Osman Spare

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of his passing

Sunday May 14th 2006.
In Holborn, Central London 6pm - 9.30pm,

The event is a fundraiser for the RSPCA (supported by Spare) Includes

A small exhibition
Items for auction
The auction of a unique book
presentations by Clive Harper, Michael Staley, Caroline Wise and others, (some illustrated with slides) of his art, his philosophy, magic and more.
A 'rolling' PowerPoint 'exhibition' showing many of his pictures

Ticket price includes an illustrated Memorial publication, with several contributors, including Alan Moore, Carl McCoy, Tony Naylor, Phil Hine, and Michael Staley. Only available to those who attend the Celebration, the quantity printed will equal those attending, and each will be numbered and named. It will not be available elsewhere. As a collector's item it will be worth more than the ticket price alone so please feel free to make extra donations for the RSPCA when ordering!

The aim is to have a good time, but also to raise as much money as possible for the RSPCA. All printing costs and venue cost have been donated. Refreshments will be available on the night. Details and directions of venue will be sent with tickets.

Payment by paypal to starfire.books@....
Details and directions to venue will be issued with tickets.
All inquiries to spare50@... only. Places limited, tickets in advance only.

Esoteric Conference occult book fair

The Esoteric Conference occult book fair is at the Assembly Rooms Ludlow Shropshire Uk on sat 10 June 2006 10.30am-6pm. Tickets £10 pay Verdelet PO Box 58 Craven Arms Shropshire SY7 8WG see also www.theapothecaries.com

Speakers are Nigel Pennick on 'East Anglian Witchcraft', David Rankine 'John Dee and the Enochian System',
Geraldine Beskin 'Spare his Occult Art', Guy Ogilvy 'The Alchemical Artes', Prof Rotherham 'Arthur the Matter of Britain'.

There will be several 2nd hand occult book dealers present and as customary there will be a no dolphin/new age policy. Interest is running high and early booking is advisable. Please do not hesitate if you require more infomation.

5th Annual Witchcraft Seminar 2005 (review)

Last year it was 'Faulty Towers' this time 'Little Chef'. The Witchcraft Seminar brought to you in this, its fifth year, (from Jerry Cottle's Wookey Hole.) Even without the glittering cast of speakers, to be able to perform a Hekate fire ritual in the caves, was in itself a bit of a breakthrough. The new owners, well known circus impresarios, with brands such as The Circus of Horrors (soon to be seen at Witchfest), are keen to open the place up and indeed develop it as the spooky/wookey theme park.

First up was Cassandra Eason, her topic, the power of nature, may not have been rocket science (for that you need Jack Parsons), but she was a good sport, warming the audience with a homely style. She finished with an invitation for members of the audience to charge her crystal ball!

Things really begin to loosen up when cunning and mild man of the woods 'Jack Daw' treated us to an urbane journey through the ins and outs of traditional witchcraft - question: 'does a spell return on the sender'; answer: 'only if you regret it'.

More musick to end that days formal session. Evocative lirics drifting our way, glimpsed through the door, as a 'Robert Plant' lookalike, Damn the Bard, strutted his stuff on the mandolin. The musick followed us into the cave. Mesmorised by the cave's resonance, I sang and chanted - only pausing to wind my horn, when as Nemty, the ferryman, I summoned those hardy souls to the invocation of Hekate.

That nite the ritual - 'nuff said - see the pictures, then fish chip supper, and a New Orleans blues band (Hollow Bones) - well Glastonbury actually - but really good - especially the PVC clad gogo dancers. Some were less than impressed by the missmatch between the Legba veve and the Ghede cabaret - others said that it was the spirit that mattered - and there was plenty of that.

I had to drag myself away from the breakfast table gossip just in time to see my old friend, Chaoist and now born ag'in runester Ian Read - looking as dapper as ever - he apologised to me before laying into one of our published theories on Seidr and Seething. His highly engaging talk was on Galdr - (spell casting) - although he admited Seething (Seidr) was a dynamite technique - although some of the 'old guard' have still to bite the bullet, swallow their pride and admit, despite what some supposed 'academics' say, that Jan Fries is right about it afterall. It's a recurring theme these last few years - kind of special pleading some feel they need to make before the altar of academe. Goes like this - 'RH might not agree with this, but I'm going to say it anyway.'

And now the end is near - and to round off, is Cornish wise woman Cassandra Latham. I'd never heard her before and although she might not make it to the cover of the latest Witches and Witchcraft (come to think of it neither would I) - what she said would knock most of those teen witches into the top hat she happened to be wearing. She certainly won me over.

All in all, a fantastic weekend. And that even without that ritual - but there again - you had to be there. Well done to Adrian and Ann (www.witchcraftseminar.com) for another roaring success. Next year it's Waterloo - I mean The Wellington in Boscastle - be there - or else I'll review your event! - mogg