Arbitrary Transference A method of materializing desire that was set forth by occultist Austin Osman Spare in The Zoëtic Grimoire of Zos. The technique was eclipsed by his more fully developed system of monographic sigilization.
Assumptive Visualization Neveille Goddard’s seminal breakthrough utilizing the hypnagogic state and sense-immersive imagination.
Mergence A unique approach to direct manifestation currently being developed by @ouroboricflow and others, characterized by the suffusion of the senses and desire into and throughout one’s immediate environment.
Upon a fine piece of parchment, ABRACADABRA was written as below:
On the reverse side, a psalm or prayer was written by the Pellar. For those who had no particular religious sentiments, the word “NALGAH” was written largely on the back (about an inch and a half by one inch).
The piece of parchment was folded like a valentine, sealed and suspended from the neck.
This specific charm was to protect against ill magic and supernatural ailments, specifically caused from witchcraft.
Also known as The Necromancer’s Manual,
it is a “recipe book” of a 15th century German magician for the
evocations of demonic spirits. The Manual contains the three major kinds
of magic found in grimoires: Illusionist, Psychological, and
Divinatory. Illusionist spells are meant to fool people into seeing
things like castles or armies. Psychological spells are meant to
leverage emotional or political power over people. Divinatory actions
are intended to extract information from the future or past.
The Munich Manual contains passages that describe sacrificing
mythological creatures. But perhaps the most eerie component of this
book is that it completely ignores angel folklore and focuses
exclusively on black magick and classical exorcisms.
The original text is in the possession of the Bavarian State Library in Munich, Germany.
Sections of the original manuscript have been translated into modern English by Richard Kieckhefer in his book Forbidden Rites.
The Munich Manual of Demonic Magic pdf download link:
Remembering Kenneth Grant (1924-2011) on the anniversary of his death. I’ll never forget my first encounters with Grant’s books The Magical Revival and Nightside of Eden. His writing style made me feel like I was being pulled into a wonderfully strange alternate reality and I’m still haunted by some of his nightmarish imagery and elaborate gematria. Those two books, along with Aleister Crowley and the Hidden God, are his finest, in my opinion.
“Born in Essex in 1924, Kenneth Grant developed an intense interest in the occult from an early age, as well as a life-long devotion to Buddhism and other oriental religions. He remarked somewhere in his writings that Eastern mysticism was his first love — an indication not only of how well read he was, but more importantly perhaps his heightened sense of the immanent. Grant relates in Outside the Circles of Time how he had come across a copy of Magick in Theory and Practice … Though retaining a devotion to Crowley, Spare, and many other mystics and occultists whose work had influenced him throughout his life, Grant was never a follower but, on the contrary, created his own way from a number of influences, transformed through the crucible of his mystical and magical experience. He was acutely aware of the principle of parampara or spiritual lineage, whereby it is the responsibility of an initiate to develop the work of his predecessor, the predecessor in this case being Crowley. In the course of such development, new avenues of approach are opened up, whilst others are found to be perhaps now redundant. In this way, a body of work is a living thing, developed by successive generations of initiates. Kenneth Grant’s work was rich, diverse and eclectic, woven from many strands and distilled from many sources. However, his principal influence was Crowley, and Thelema is at the heart of his work. – excerpted from “Scintillations in Mauve” by Michael Staley
image: portrait of Kenneth Grant by Austin Osman Spare
I found this some-what rare and quirky magick ‘zine from 1987 at a used book story locally.
It’s filled with articles by Nema, letters to the editor by Hymenaeus Beta and Kenneth Grant, art by Harold Arthur Neil, poetry (including one by Don Michael Kraig,) and reviews of occult and fantasy books of the 80’s. It’s an awesome little slice of occult history.
Four unpublished paintings by Lady Frieda Harris (via)
These are so fascinating especially for those of us who have pored over these cards for years. The Four of Wands that made it into the deck doesn’t seem to have changed much from the painting here, but the Aces of Swords and Disks are pretty different.
The Magus (This would be #4, for those keeping score) is fascinating. I particularly enjoy the “cyanocephalic ape” of Thoth behind the Magus, and the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari-like expressionist houses (B, Beth, House, remember?) in the background. I’ve not quite sorted out what the object is in his upper left hand on the top right of the painting though. A sistrum perhaps?
Occult Aspects 