Best of
Occult

1951

Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy


Mircea Eliade - 1951
    Writing as the founder of the modern study of the history of religion, Romanian emigre--scholar Mircea Eliade (1907-86) surveys the practice of Shamanism over two & a half millennia of human history, moving from the Shamanic traditions of Siberia & Central Asia--where Shamanism was first observed--to North & South America, Indonesia, Tibet, China & beyond. In this authoritative survey, Eliade illuminates the magico-religious life of societies that give primacy of place to the figure of the Shaman--at once magician & medicine man, healer & miracle-doer, priest, mystic & poet. Synthesizing the approaches of psychology, sociology & ethnology, "Shamanism" will remain for years to come the reference book of choice for those intrigued by this practice.

The Middle Pillar: The Balance Between Mind and Magic


Israel Regardie - 1951
    Regardie expanded upon it and made it public over 60 years ago in the first edition of this book. Since that time, the exercise has been altered and adapted for just about any spiritual use you could think of. It is a mainstay of many Western traditions of magic.Now in its third edition, The Middle Pillar is better than ever. It has been edited by Chic Cicero and Sandra Tabatha Cicero, close friends of the late Regardie and senior Adepts of the Golden Dawn. They have also added new material in a separate section that more than doubles the size of the book with their valuable insights and knowledge.Includes the complete original text, with nothing eliminated Spelling has been standardized to Western traditions Each chapter now has a title to identify its content The Ciceros's notes to each chapter add insight and history to Regardie's work Modern and clearer illustrations have been added New, a further exploration of the relationship between magic and psychology New, more than five techniques to enhance relaxation New, the Middle Pillar and the chakras New, versions of the Middle Pillar exercise in Egyptian, Greek, and Gaelic New, a shamanic version of the Middle Pillar New, how to use the Middle Pillar to charge talismans and do healings The Middle Pillar is now expanded to what it always should have been, a thorough, accessible examination and extension of the single ritual that has become the very embodiment of magic. Get The Middle Pillar and learn the real secrets of magic.

Esoteric Psychology


Alice A. Bailey - 1951
    They also relate the circumstance of a human psychology to world conditions and to future possibilities.

Inside a Magical Lodge: Group Ritual in the Western Tradition


John Michael Greer - 1951
    This revelation is obviously the work of a person who loves the lodge system and wants to see it continue. Some people involved in lodges have forgotten or ignored many of the symbolic and powerful aspects of the lodge. By revealing this information, the book saves and empowers lodges.Inside a Magical Lodge does this without being focused on any one tradition. This adds to the value of the book because the information you learn here can be applied to any magical group, even if they are not following the lodge structure.The book works on two levels. On the practical level it describes the layout of the lodge, including the responsibilities of the officers, the stations they occupy, and even how they should move during rituals. Greer even includes information on setting up your own lodge as a corporation.On a spiritual level, the book includes information on building the group egregore, initiation, and rituals. In fact, the book includes fifteen rites for such things as invisibility, cleansing, sealing the aura, and more.This book is a must for you if you are part of an order or are going to join one. If you want to create your own order you will find that this book has everything you need to know in order to take advantage of the lodge structure. Whatever your purpose is, get your copy today.

20th Century Magic


Alan Richardson - 1951
    Includes edited diaries of Dion Fortune and Christine Hartley and The old religion by Charles Seymour.

The Crone's Book of Wisdom


Valerie Worth - 1951
    Its style is poetic, and deliberately archaic - that is, designed to sound as if it might have been written in an earlier century - as seems appropriate to the works of a "Crone" or old Wise Woman."