Category:
Fine & Antiquarian
£125.00
£245.00
Out of print hardback edition, limited to 350 copies only.
Unread in very good condition, wrapped in protective cellophane.
Edited, annotated and introduced by Richard Kaczynski, this edition far surpasses that found in the Collected Works: red and black ink has been employed to capture the feel of the 1904 edition; a 50 page introduction by Crowley’s foremost biographer introduces the reader to the many themes to be found throughout the book; finally, copious end-notes further elucidate concepts and ideas in need of clarification.
From the introduction:
‘The Sword of Song is arguably the greatest story never told. It is a book of firsts: his first manifesto, his first talismanic book, his first mystical essays, his first nod to sexual mysteries, and an enticing preview of what was to come in The Book of the Law, the spirit-writing that would form the cornerstone of his philosophy’.
£140.00
Standard Hardback edition, limited to 60 copies
Richard Ward’s book ‘Betwixt God and the Devil’ was born of a lifelong interest in the folk magic traditions of his native Essex, an area long known as 'The Witch County.’ as such, it is key to the history and development of modern traditional Witchcraft.
Drawing on a wide variety of source materials, some of which are obscure and difficult to obtain, Ward demonstrates that the history of Essex magic is far more complex than it first appears. In doing so, he shows that attitudes which portrayed witches as purely evil and Cunning folk as entirely good were far from the truth, despite the opinion of the Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins and his ilk during the 17th century. Even the popular belief that witches were exclusively pagan is shown to have been incorrect, an ambiguity popularly known as the dual observance.
In terms of history, Ward’s study covers the period from the 16th century onwards, although it begins with an outline of the origins of this suitably nameless arte during the Anglo-Saxon era. This was a time of great change when anything deemed magic and the worship of pagan deities was outlawed and denounced by the newly adopted Christian Church, which they labelled as the Devil’s work.
In documenting the survivals of Essex magic during the 19th century, Ward includes detailed accounts of James Murrell, the last of the great Essex Cunning folk, and Canewdon’s George Pickingill. In particular, Ward’s book examines the myths that have built up around Pickingill, offering a significant reassessment of the Pickingill legend.
Ward also acknowledges the importance of incoming Romany clans that breathed new life into the county’s magical traditions and kept them alive well into the early to the mid-20th century.
Ward goes on to note the rise of Essex witchcraft in popular culture during the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was at this time, according to some accounts, that Essex witchcraft became linked with the likes of Gerald Gardner and Aleister Crowley. On examination of the evidence, Ward has not shied away from challenging these and other dubious claims, some of which have been widely perpetuated by academics and popular authors alike. Ward’s history concludes with brief accounts of modern Essex-born practitioners, from the likes of witches Alex Sanders, Stewart Farrar and Paul Huson through to Typhonian magician Kenneth Grant and modern Cunning man Andrew Chumbley.
The second part of Ward’s book examines the county’s magical folklore, delving into such important areas as the true and multi-faceted nature of the Devil in Essex, its genius loci and familiar spirits, and the widespread belief in dreams, omens, and superstitions, whose observation was considered essential to the successful practice of magic in all its forms.
In the last part of his book, Ward reveals the magical practices traditionally used by witches and Cunning folk in Essex, such as charms and herbal remedies, methods of divination, curses and anti-curses. As he demonstrates that the core practices of Essex magic were longest preserved in remote farming communities, Ward includes a chapter specifically related to agricultural magic. This final section of the book also features accounts of the Horseman’s Word ritual, the related rite of the toad witch and the magical use of other bones and natural talismans within the county.
out of stock - £495.00
Auric Edition, limited to 55 hand-numbered copies. Black half leather binding with unique custom handmade “lapislazuli” marbled paper sides.
Lettering on spine, raised bands, headbands, silk ribbon. Custom slipcase. Comes with an *Auric ritual bundle* of natron, kapet (kyphi, secret recipe by the author), and anointing oil, all made by the author to be used in the rituals contained in the book.
Condition: Fine, unread copy.
"The Book of Flesh and Feather is a grand theurgical opus which includes a large number of ritual instructions, exorcisms, spells, amulets, and hymns which invoke the Great God and exalt His BA. The entire ritual cycle aims first at inducing a necessary state of Chaos after which the theurgist is slowly pulled into the Light of Djehuty’s Gnosis. Concluding the work is an elaborate initiatory ceremony which allows the operator to become the Word of God and go forth as an emanation of the Deity.
Rooted in expert knowledge of Coptic, Egyptian and Greek source material, this unique work is a manifestation of years of dedicated practice emanating a real spiritual power and authority.
In keeping with the unique stylistic demands of the text and the Gnosis it embodies, the book has a larger format and is printed in two colors, black and red. Illustrated throughout by the author himself, The Book of Flesh and Feather is very much a magical book rather than a book on magic and manifests a powerful spiritual, esoteric current.
On the author: Zemaemidjehuty (Zemmi) is a poet-priest and theurgist in service to the Great God Djehuty. The founder of the Church of Flesh and Feather, his work and research focuses amongst others on the mysterious Coptic Christ and Sophia, Kemetic Djehuty, and the conflation of the three as divine aspects of the same Supreme Deity. Living in central Illinois with his wife, Zemaemidjehuty publishes and lectures frequently on topics ranging from liturgical languages, folklore, and spirituality to prose and poetry. Zemmi is also the preeminent Vachel Lindsay scholar and helps maintain the poet’s home which is a state historic site.