Persisting in the spirit of Good Books by Bad People, we offer you more selections from “Introduction to Magic” by Julius Evola and the UR group.

Apathanatismos: Mithraic Ritual of the Great Magical Papyrus of Paris 98 – 129

ABRAXAS • Instructions for the “Awareness of Breath” 133-135

EA • The Problem of Immortality 144-151

LEO • Beyond the Threshold of Sleep 152-155

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

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.

We continue with Austin Osman Spare’s The Book of Pleasure! Please read pp. 112-149, from “Sigils” through “On Myself.”

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.

This week, we return to Austin Osman Spare’s The Book of Pleasure. Please read pp. 32-69—from “Definitions” through “The Death Posture.” Until then, please please yourself.

If the above link doesn’t work, try this one. Scroll down a bit and hit the “PDF” link.

Efi suggested this one a few years ago, and I believe it’s worth reexamining:

Don Webb’s The Seven Faces of Darkness; a text on Setian traditions and practice. We’ll read sections 3 (“Set”), 4 (“Theory”), and 5 (“Practice”) – pages 23-53. In addition, pick a spell or two from the papyri, tablets, or Coptic grimoire and tell us about them. ‘Til then…

Another Big Hit from Yoko YOLO – the Yoni Tantra, as translated by Michael Magee. Apparently we all ought to have read this one! Please read the whole thing, or as far as you can get.

A late post this week, but a short reading. Our girl Efi brings us a targeted selection from Georges Bataille. 

From the Bataille collection Visions of Excess: “Base Materialism and Gnosticism” (pp. 45-52)

This week – a few short stories written by magical practitioners! Many thanks to Ex Nihilo for the recommendation.

Please read:

The Spider by Hanns Heinz Ewers, pp. 38-60

The Olive Tree by Andrew Chumbley, pp. 61-63

The Red Rite by Don Webb pp. 145-159