Welcome to the 31st edition of the Edge of the Circle Newsletter.
This newsletter has come about as an effort to reach out to the
Pagan/ Occult community (particularly in Seattle where we are based) to
inform the community of what events are happening at our store. I've
got great plans for this newsletter. Hopefully, as time goes by, it
will only get bigger and better. Without further ado, welcome, and enjoy.
Regards,
Erica (Raven) Branch-Butler,
Editrix
golanv1@yahoo.com
WHO WE ARE:
Edge of the Circle Books is Seattle's resource for Paganism &
the Occult. This newsletter seeks to provide the Seattle community
with a place to list events, post articles, and do a bit of networking.
We are located at: 701 E. Pike St, corner of Boylston Ave., just two
blocks west of Broadway, on Capitol Hill.
Edge of the Circle Books strives to be everything that you could want
in a Magical Pagan store.
Open 7 days a week, Noon 'till 9pm.
Call: 206-PAN-1999
**
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Edge of the Circle Newsletter is looking for writers and artists! Our
Focus has been on the Pagan community, Sabbatic Witchcraft, Hoodoo,
Western Ceremonial Magic, African Traditional Religions, Asatru and
Heathenry, Wicca, Celtic Paganism and more obscure aspects of the
Occult.
If you have an article or art to share, please email golanv1@yahoo.com
with "Newsletter" in the subject line. Please send only original material.
All Copyrighted material will be honored and credited to/as the
property of the original writer.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
PICATRIX II IS HERE!!
Volume two contains the 3rd and 4th books of Ghayat Al-Hakim and will complete the English translation. It is a larger book than volume one and contains much in the way of the practical working of astral and talismanic magic. Planetary and Zodiacal magic and full instructions for invoking the related spirits are provided along with all the requisite materials needed; stones, plants, inks, colors, incenses, talismans and the invocations.
In addition to this are many anecdotes relating to Arabic and pre-Islamic magical lore, including the writings of Ibn Wahshija, the Nabateans, Sabians, Chaldeans and Assyrians. Of particular note is the magical plant and mineral lore from the Nabatean Agriculture, which portray ancient practices of pagan Iraq.
The influence of the Picatrix can be seen in several texts of well-known authors of the western esoteric tradition, including Ficino, Mirandola, Abano and Agrippa, whose works have played a major role of forming contemporary manifestations of the esoteric tradition today.
The contents of volume two follow:
Picatrix: Ghayat Al-Hakim
The Goal of the Wise
Ouroboros Press (c) 2007
Volume Two Contents
Book III
1. The Fortunes of Planets from Three Generating Origins
2. The Fortunes of Constellations
3. The Life of Planets, Their Shapes, their Incense, and their Garments. The Views of Constellations Which Influence Magic Work, the Characteristics of the Regions Tangential to the Planets, and the Characteristics of the Countries
4. The Secrets Known to Those Who Are Profoundly Versed in Science
5. Certain Excerpts of Animals’ Characteristics and How to Call Spirits with the Aid of Planetary Configurations
6. The Art of Calling Spirits Known as the Perfect Nature, According to Aristotle and Hermes, and the Meaning of Talismans and Its Appearance
7. Calling Planetary Forces by Rising Up and Exchanging Secret Conversations with Them and Sharing with Them the Effects of Actions by Using Words, Offering Sacrifices, Making Supplications, and Producing Incense, as well as by Using Astrological Ratios as Explained in the Sabian School of Thought
8. Glorifying the Astrological Potential of the Sun and Saturn and How to Secretly Converse with Them
9. Calling Planetary Forces Individually, the Spiritual Names of the Forces Placed Beside the Six Directions and Using Them in Accordance with Aristotle’s Instructions
10. Weaving Spiritual Magic and a Vehicle to Repel the Harmful Effects of Actions as Presented in Aristotle’s and Hermes’ works in Magical Talisman operations, by Using Foods, Incense, Perfume, and Ointment, and Decoding Their Effects from the One to Which They Were Attached
11. Different Magical Talismans Work for Different Purposes as Taken from Former Scientist Works in Imagination, Reversing Perception and Conjuring Various Images According to the Desired Purpose. Magical Talismans to Put One to Sleep, to Make Him Motionless, to Kill Him, and to Neutralize Poisons
12. Scientific Recommendations and Enigmas
Book IV
1. Extending Illumination from the First Cause to Effects Below It. Talking About the True Essence of the Physical and Metaphysical Realities, the True Essence of the Mind, Its Sections and Reality, as well as the Truth of the Inner Life and Its Reality
2. Calling the Spirits and Forces of the Moon When it is New and as it Enters the Constellation as it Spreads its Forces on Earth, According to Some Kurdish and Abyssinian Schools. The Seven Day Fasts in Accordance with an Indian School of Thought
3. Some of the Copts’ Concealed Secrets and Some of their Symbols in This Regard
4. Exploring Some of the Most Important Works and Enigmas by Prominent Adepts in this Craft to be Used in Preventing its Outcome
5. Specifying the Ten Sciences Which Produced These Two Conclusions
6. Making Planetary Incense and the Vehicles Needed for This Principle is One of the Most Practical Secrets of India
7. Abu Bakr Ibn Wahshija’s Translation of Nabatean Magical Works and Talismans
8. Effects of Things are a Function of Their Characteristics
9. Special Components of Charms Taken from Various Books, Followed by Recommendations
Please call the store for inquiries.
(206) 726-1999
**
Robert's excited about: NEW T-SHIRTS! We've got a new line of Occult
themed t-shirts that must be seen to be believed!
Robert's also excited about: these two books that are finally back in
print:
THE REBIRTH OF WITCHCRAFT
by Doreen Valiente
List Price: $17.95
And:
CROWLEY'S APPRENTICE:
THE LIFE & IDEAS OF ISRAEL REGARDIE
$ 14.95
**
REMINDER:
We still have 2009 Moon Calendar Posters available!
2009 MOON CALENDAR POSTER
Author: Kim Long
The moon is our faithful companion, lighting our skies and always
changing. Is the moon out tonight? One glance at this gorgeous calendar and
you'll always know. Kim Long has charted our satellite's nightly appearance with 365
sketches of its phases. Full moon? Eclipse? Be in tune with the moon—you'll
know all with this famous calendar.
Posters come packaged in a sturdy cardboard tube that's suitable for
mailing, and identified with a handsome sticker reproducing the calendar in
miniature (with EAN code).
List Price: $12.00
Width: 31.5
Height: 20.5
**
NEW BOOKS:
THE ART AND PRACTICE OF GEOMANCY:
DIVINATION, MAGIC, AND EARTH WISDOM OF THE RENAISSANCE
by John Michael Greer, Lon Milo DuQuette (Foreword)
BOOK BLURB:
Have you ever lost an important object? Are you taking on a new job?
Looking for buried treasure? The Art and Practice of Geomancy teaches
readers how to divine the answers to life's everyday questions about
health, luck, new jobs, and love, as well as those less mundane tasks
such as finding buried treasure, predicting the weather, being
released from prison, and identifying secret enemies. Greer delivers
to readers an ancient system of divination in an easy-to-use form
requiring little more than a pen and a piece of paper. Using a system
of counting odd and even numbers—from a deck of cards, a roll of the
dice, or even by hitting sand or dirt with a stick to generate
patterns—readers learn how to cast their own geomantic chart. And for
those who wish to delve further, he offers exercises for geomantic
meditation and ritual magic. The Art and Practice of Geomancy will
appeal to pagans, followers of the Western Mystery tradition, scholars
of folk magic and divination, and anyone who wants to take their past,
present, and future into their own hands.
FROM THE BOOK COVER:
The Art and Practice of Geomancy teaches readers how to divine the
answers to life's everyday questions about health, luck, new jobs, and
love, as well as those less mundane tasks such as finding buried
treasure, predicting the weather, being released from prison, and
identifying secret enemies. It will appeal to pagans, followers of the
Western Mystery tradition, scholars of folk magic and divination, and
anyone who wants to take their past, present, and future into their
own hands.
List Price: $18.95
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Weiser Books (March 1, 2009)
**
KING ARTHUR'S RAID ON THE UNDERWORLD:
THE OLDEST GRAIL QUEST
by John Matthews , Caitlin Matthews Meg Falconer (Illustrator)
BOOK BLURB:
The 9th century Welsh poem "Preiddeu Annfwyn" or "The Raid on the
Underworld" ascribed to the 6th century poet and shaman Taliesin, is
one of the oldest and most enigmatic documents relating to the mythic
hero Arthur that we still possess. Extending to a mere 61 lines, it
contains within it vital clues to the Celtic Mystery traditions of
this and earlier times. Describing the descent of Arthur and his men
on the ship Prydwen into the region of Annwfn (literally, `the
in-world' or underworld of Celto-British tradition, or Annwn in modern
Welsh) in order to steal the wonder-working cauldron from the Lord of
Annwfn, this poem hides many secrets within its shimmering lines. The
cauldron is one of the Thlysau or Treasures, hallowed otherworldly
objects that are the source of illimitable power. Arthur's quest for
the cauldron of the underworld is a precursor of many more famous
quests, while the cauldron itself is the forerunner of the Grail.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
John is the author of many award-winning books, and known primarily
for his work on the Arthurian and Grail traditions, John has also been
active in exploring the empowerment of myth on the popular
imagination. He was the historical advisor on Jerry Bruckheimer's
film, King Arthur (2004,) and his book Pirates was at the top of the
New York Times best seller lists for 22 weeks in 2007.
Caitlin is the author of over fifty books. She is internationally
renowned for the depth and clarity of her research into the Celtic and
ancestral traditions. CaitlÃn's CDs include: Deep Well in the Wildwood
and Earth's Own Heart, released 2009. She is a co-founder of The
Foundation for Inspirational and Oracular Studies, dedicated to the
oral and sacred arts. She teaches all over the world and has a
shamanic practice in Oxford.
Meg Falconer is an artist who has studied the meanings of The Raid on
the Underworld for nearly 20 years and her set of 8 astonishing and
beautiful pictures illustrating the Caers (Towers) which Arthur and
his warriors visit are every bit as intricate and full of secrets as
the poem itself.
List Price: $40.00
Hardcover: 145 pages
Publisher: Gothic Image Publications (November 10, 2008)
**
MAKE MERRY IN STEP AND SONG:
A SEASONAL TREASURY OF MUSIC, MUMMER'S PLAYS
& CELEBRATIONS IN THE ENGLISH FOLK TRADITION
by Bronwen Forbes
"See the blazing Yule before us..." This is just one of the many
ancient British folk songs we all know and love. Other tunes and
symbols that tug on our memories have similar historical roots,
hearkening back to a shared Pagan past. These dances, songs, and
theatrical plays in the English folk tradition are now little known to
most of the modern Pagan community. Reviving these vital traditions
can bring new life to Renaissance festivals, neopagan rituals, and
community events.
Introducing the lively music and homegrown entertainments of times
long past, this descriptive how-to is designed for
twenty-first-century joviality. The songs, dances, and plays of old
are explained in their mythical, seasonal, and historical significance
and outlined for easy reenactment. Simple-to-follow instructions
detail six dances including the popular Abbots Bromley Horn dance, six
full scripts for dramatic performances of Mummer's Plays (folk plays
of death and rebirth), and over thirty songs with lyrics and music.
Kick up your heels, hold high your skirts, and make merry the year
through.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bronwen Forbes (New Mexico) shares dances, songs, and plays in
workshops at various Pagan and Wiccan festivals, Pride Days, and
conferences across the country. For four years, Bronwen was dance
captain for the Washington Revels, an organization dedicated to
preserving and sharing historical seasonal folk songs, dances, and
stories from around the world.
List Price: $19.95
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (March 1, 2009)
**
CHRISTOPAGANISM: AN INCLUSIVE PATH
by River Higginbotham , Joyce Higginbotham
BOOK BLURB:
Witches praying the rosary? Catholics reading Tarot cards?
For some, it's blasphemy. For others, it's a launching pad to
enlightenment. But for interfaith experts Joyce and River
Higginbotham, it's a new reality begging for intellectual study. More
and more, Pagans and Christians are incorporating each other's
practices into their own belief systems, forging hybrid spiritual
paths that borrow from both earth- and scripture-based religions.
Standing in two worlds at once, ChristoPagans are sparking a new
conversation about the nature of faith and the evolving spiritual
needs of a chaotic world. With scholarly poise, the Higginbothams wade
into this provocative religious pairing, deftly navigating its
minefield of heresy and personal bias.
Free of political agenda but ripe with open-minded curiosity,
ChristoPaganism launches a whole new dialogue on the subject of
personal belief.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Joyce and River have taught Paganism classes throughout the past
decade. They have planned and organized local and national Pagan
gatherings, written articles for Pagan publications, appeared on radio
and television broadcasts, spoken at Christian and Unitarian churches,
and attended interfaith councils. They also helped found the Council
for Alternative Spiritual Traditions, which hosts public Pagan and
alternative events in the Midwest.
Joyce and River have taught Paganism classes throughout the past
decade. They have planned and organized local and national Pagan
gatherings, written articles for Pagan publications, appeared on radio
and television broadcasts, spoken at Christian and Unitarian churches,
and attended interfaith councils. They also helped found the Council
for Alternative Spiritual Traditions, which hosts public Pagan and
alternative events in the Midwest.
List Price: $19.95
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (February 1, 2009
**
GODS AND WORSHIPPERS: IN THE VIKING AND GERMANIC WORLD
by Thor Ewing
BOOK BLURB:
What was paganism really like? Who were the gods and how were they
worshipped? Thor Ewing uncovers the world and the worldview of our
pagan ancestors. In particular he looks at Viking and Germanic
paganism, drawing on archaeological evidence as well as their myths
and poetry. He analyzes their gods and the realities of pagan worship
such as temples, sacred groves, and magical practices, considers their
beliefs concerning the dead and funerary rites, and examines the
interaction between paganism and Christianity in England, Ireland,
Scandinavia, and Russia. In conclusion the author argues that over
many centuries paganism was a vital tradition open to continual change.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Thor Ewing studied medieval languages at the University of Durham and
has published prize-winning translations of Old Norse poetry. He is
the author of Viking Clothing (Tempus 2006), which has already reprinted.
List Price: $29.95
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: The History Press; illustrated edition edition (November 1,
2008)
**
NORTHERN TRADITION FOR THE SOLITARY PRACTITIONER:
A BOOK OF PRAYER, DEVOTIONAL PRACTICE,
AND THE NINE WORLDS OF SPIRIT
by Galina Krasskova , Raven Kaldera
BOOK BLURB:
Northern Tradition for the Solitary Practitioner is a ground-breaking
look at the development of devotional work within the body of
polytheistic religious traditions ranging from Theodism to Asatru to
Norse Paganism, that comprise the greater umbrella of the Northern
Tradition. While interest in devotional and experiential work within
these traditions has been growing rapidly over the past few years,
this is the first book to offer an inclusive look at the diverse scope
and breadth of such practices as a living, modern-day religion. It
features an in-depth exploration of altar work, prayer, prayer beads,
ritual work, sacred images, lore, and a thorough examination of the
common core cosmology that forms the foundation of belief for the vast
expanse of Northern Tradition communities.
Northern Tradition for the Solitary Practitioner is not
denomination-specific: rather, it seeks to provide an entry into
interior practice for anyone involved in a branch of this broad family
of traditions of the ancient Norse, Germanic, and Saxon peoples, using
material suitable for the solitary, independent practitioner. Those
outside of the Northern Tradition who wish to deepen their own
devotional practice will find this book helpful in their own work, as
well.
This important new title can be seen as a companion book to Galina
Krasskova's Exploring the Northern Tradition or it can stand entirely
on its own.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Galina Krasskova is a free-range tribalist Heathen who has been a
priest of Odin for more than a decade. Her primary interest is Heathen
devotional work, and she has both written and lectured extensively on
the subject. Krasskova is a Northern Tradition shaman currently
residing in New York, where she is pursuing her masters in religious
studies. She is the author of several books, including Exploring the
Northern Tradition.
Raven Kaldera is a Northern-Tradition Pagan shaman, diviner,
homesteader, activist, founding member of the First Kingdom Church of
Asphodel, and managing editor of Asphodel Press. He has written and
published numerous books and articles, including Urban Primitive and
the Northern-Tradition Shamanism series.
List Price: $15.99
Paperback: 254 pages
Publisher: New Page Books; 1 edition (January 15, 2009)
**
CALENDAR: MARCH
ONGOING:
HOLY WELL CIRCLE
http://www.holywellseattle.org/
Open Circle, Wiccan
Meets at the Edge every Sunday from 5PM -8PM
cybra@earthlink.net
Subject Line: Holy Well
**
SERVICES AVAILABLE AT EDGE OF THE CIRCLE BOOKS
TAROT READINGS /SPIRITUAL ADVICE
UnCommonSense Tarot
Tarot readings by
Erica (Raven) Branch-Butler
Please inquire about Tarot Parties, classes and other events.
Available every day except Wednesdays and Thursdays, 12:30-8.30PM.
*
Kelly Marjorie Kelleher
Daughter of the Ancients
Psychic, Healer, Muse...
Thursdays at Edge of the Circle Books
**
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Edge of the Circle Newsletter is looking for writers and artists! Our
Focus has been on the Pagan community, Sabbatic Witchcraft, Hoodoo,
Western Ceremonial Magic, African Traditional Religions, Asatru and
Heathenry, Wicca, Celtic Paganism and more obscure aspects of the
Occult. If you have an article or art to share, please email
golanv1@yahoo.com with "Newsletter" in the subject line.
Please send only original material.
All Copyrighted material will be honored and credited to/as
the property of the original writer.
**
This concludes our Newsletter for this month. Look for us again on the
first of April.
Sincerely,
Raven
Editrix, Edge of the Circle Books Newsletter
golanv1@yahoo.com
Picatrix Volume Two
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