About the Study Group

Featured

A Magical Bastard is either fatherless – self-created – or has more fathers than they can decently acknowledge.  In this group we will collaborate to interpret magical texts that have been formative for each member, and to integrate theory with experience.  We will respect one another’s experiences, in a world that still claims (with decreasing plausibility) to reject magic itself.  By these means we will attempt to teach one another the unknowable, and maybe score diamond grills and gold hubcaps along the way.

We welcome anyone who loves magic and the art of conversation, regardless of their tradition or experience level.  There will probably be a lot of Thelemites in the group, but these sorts of hardships must be borne.  Please do read the week’s text, if you are coming!  Our plan is to always provide a free online copy.

We convene weekly on Wednesdays (Mercury’s day) from 7:30-9:30 PM at The Long Haul, 3124 Shattuck Ave, in Berkeley. Check below for each week’s texts – and may they bring you joy and power!

If you have questions or would like to be added to the mailing list, please write anika.m.g@gmail.com

The bastard in me honors the bastard in you.

July 15th: Introduction to Magic

Our organization has long borne the informal motto, “Good Books by Bad People.” In that spirit we’re reading “Introduction to Magic” by Julius Evola and the UR group this week.

Let’s start with:

Preface xvi-xviii, xxxii-xxxiii, xxxvii-xxxviii

Sub Specie Interioritatis p. 8-12

Knowledge of the Waters p. 15-20

Opus Magicum: Concentration and Silence  p. 21-25

The Nature of Initiatic Knowledge p. 26-32

First Steps Toward the Experience of the Subtle Body p.60-63

July 8th: Spare Parts

Bastards of the Gloaming: we have decided to read the remaining bits of AOS’ Ethos – Micrologus, 11-25, Witches’ Sabbath, 153-161, and Mind to Mind and How, 165-173.

Please also begin your own Alphabet of Desire, if you are so willing. I’m going to aim for at least 5 letters myself. See pages 128-129,133-134, and 142-143 for a partial explanation.

AND/OR attempt an Automatic Drawing using the method partially described on pages 141-142.

June 24th: The Book of Pleasure

Further selections from Austin Osman Spare’s The Book of Pleasure! Please read pp. 73-112, from “The Cloudy Enemies Born of Stagnant Self-Hypnotism” through “Note on the Difference of Magical Obsession (Genius) and Insanity.” If you didn’t catch the earlier sections, please don’t be deterred. These are worth reading on their own.

May 13th: Liber Null

In honor of Peter Carroll, we read Liber Null this week. Unto him may there be granted the accomplishment of his will!

Citizen Maxwell would like you to read the introductory pages (8-11) and the Wikipedia article on the IOT.

Yoko YOLO recommends:

Liber MMM (13-23)

Random Belief (73-77)

Alphabet of Desire (78-88)

Reincarnation (104-105) [mainly to speculate about Carroll’s possible attempts at immortality]