No preparation is required this week. Bring your decks if you have them! Rider-Waite and its ilk preferred.
June 11th: November
This Wednesday, we discuss an Estonian film recommended by Mme. Harrow: November. Please watch it on your own and come in armed with at least three questions for the group!
June 4th: Dead Voices
This week we finish Dead Voices: Natural Agonies in the New World by Gerald Vizenor. Please read from page 87 (the Crows chapter) through to the end.
May 28th: Dead Voices
Knot’s suggestion was a hit! We continue Dead Voices: Natural Agonies in the New World by Gerald Vizenor. Please read pages 43-86, the Fleas, Squirrels, and Mantis chapters.
If you were with us last week, we request that you charge the Mysterious Sigil which has been placed in your keeping.
May 21st: Dead Voices
This week, we begin Dead Voices: Natural Agonies in the New World by Gerald Vizenor, and we shall see if it sticks! The suggestion was brought forth by our faithful compatriot Knot. Please read from the beginning through page 42, the Shadows, Stones, and Bears chapters.
May 14th: Six Ways
We continue in Six Ways by Aidan Wachter. Please read from chapter 27 through to the end, pages 125-157.
Attempt one experiment from somewhere in the book!
May 7th: Six Ways and Further Experiments
We continue in Six Ways by Aidan Wachter. Please read from chapter 17 through to the end, pages 85-125.
You’re also invited to attempt this practical exercise before Wednesday.
AND: we will perform an experiment together during our next session!
Thanks to Frater Ex Nihilo for the insight you have brought forth!
April 30th: Six Ways
This week we continue Six Ways by Aidan Wachter. Please read chapters 11-16, pages 57-84.
Please take a stab at: The trance induction exercise, pp.52-55
And the Fire Snakes ritual, pp. 59-60.
April 23rd: Six Ways
This coming Wednesday, a suggestion from Frater Ex Nihilo: Six Ways by Aidan Wachter. Please read pages 1-57, up to and including the trance induction exercise. They highly recommend trying it; they say it makes the book “worth its weight in gold.”
April 16th: Affirmations of Monstrosity
This week, we place ourselves in the hands of Sorcerix Helios Epicene, with essays on the subhuman, superhuman, or a Secret Third Thing:
Julian Jarboe’s “The Android That Designed Itself”
Susan Stryker’s “My Words to Victor Frankenstein Above the Village of Chamounix”
And it’s ok to give a somewhat less thorough reading to Donna Haraway’s longer essay, “A Cyborg Manifesto.”
Helios’ word on the selections:
I chose the latter two essays because they have been instrumental in providing me the tools to build/understand my inner Divinity. Certainly, these works, chock-full of highly specialized academic terminology, do not easily give up their treasures for any magician hoping to understand the journey on which I have embarked. For that reason I have omitted the notes sections in both and I suggest my fellow wizards scan the Manifesto lightly and read My Words deeply. To summarize, these works have given me the tools to understand the non-dualism within my gender and identity, the key to interpreting cyberpunk fiction as thaumaturgy, and the first affirmation of my monstrosity that propelled me into greater workings. Susan Striker’s words, especially the poem, have been featured in my own ritual practice both public and private. Enjoy!