WELCOME
to the 70th 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
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 your ideal Magical Pagan store.
Open 7 days a week,
Noon 'till 9pm.
Call: 206-PAN-1999
**
Note: To see a graphics
version of this newsletter,please go to :
We are also now on
Facebook:
Become a Fan, post your
event on the discussion page!
**
REMINDER: We buy
used Occult Books! Our buyer is in on Wednesdays, Thursdays,
Saturdays, and Sundays!
Classroom/Ritual
Space is available-- please call for details!
**
SPECIAL THANKS:
To
Nicolaas
Gillingham for a wonderful article!
NEW ARTICLE :
LOST DEITIES OF PAGANS
By: Nicolaas Gillingham;
Ordained High Priest Kemetist (Egyptian Worshiper), Pagan Author and
Poet
The late summer thunder storm
was bearing down on us quickly. In that unearthly silence the thunder
still too far away to hear the livid north-eastern sky juddered with
lightning. But in the cirle around the bonfire, no one was thinking
about the storm. The business at had was the ritual: something to do
with community, popcorn, and the festival organizer's most recent
artistic project.
Through I was bored, I watched
the storm come in. "A God is coming," I thought, "and
we're too busy doing a ritual to even notice."
In his book On Being A Pagan,
philosopher Alain de Benoist notes that the new Paganism cannot
simply be the old Paganism revivified. The truth of this observation
is sadly apparent in the state of the contemporary Pagan revival,
which can be widely and broadly characterized as a "paradigm of
pretense": a Society for Creative Spiritual Anachronism whose
effects, while on occasion aesthetically pleasing, only rarely manage
to achieve any notable authenticity.
To date, the theology of this
Pagan revival has taken three main forms:
1: Wiccan Bitheism.
2: Catch-As-Catch-Can
Eclecticism
3: Ethnic Reconstructionism
Within my thought practices I
would contend that none of these overarching conceptual frameworks
gives an equality to providing us the modern Pagans with a genuine
contemporary articulation of the Pagan experience as it should be.
Classic Wiccan Bitheism has
finally proved itself an dead end, its cast of characters too
constricted to adequately articulate the vast drama of existence. And
I have heard it referred to as "Soft Polytheism. Bitheism is in
true reality no sort of Polytheism at all. And I would paraphrase
Violet Firth when she said "A Bitheistic religion is half way to
Monotheism." At best, a two deity system is useful as a halfway
house between Montheism and something more authentically Pagan. For
post modern and modern Wiccans, the Lord and Lady must be a point of
departure, not a terminus.
We
know how many Gods are too few. How many, then, are too many?
**
THE
BOOK OF BAPHOMET
By
Julian Vayne , Nikki Wyrd
Hardcover: 234 pages
Publisher: Mandrake (August 4, 2012)
FROM
THE BACK COVER:
“You
hold in your hands the material result of many years hard craft.
This
Book contains some of the secrets of Life itself; or rather, the
occult deity of Life on Earth, Baphomet. Horned, vital, beautiful,
awe full, our aeons old Chaos Magick idol finds a name from the
Knights’ Templar, then goes incognito through the Enlightenment
(when flourished those great natural philosophers beloved of science
historians), before emerging via devil worship and witchcraft into
this era of Deep Ecology.
Darwin
could have used a picture of Baphomet as his frontispiece, to
demonstrate the one flesh from which all species originate.
Contacting this Great Spirit, the anima mundi, allows access to a new
way of ordering the world, with fresh visions of how and why we could
Live.
Here
the authors weave strands from their lives into a rich tapestry of
images, which might give you a pointer or two towards your own
self-realisation, whilst amusing, entertaining, and instructing along
the way.
Revolution,
evolution, leap beyond the apocalypse to the Now!”
**
WITCHFATHER:
A
Life of Gerald Gardner,into the Witch Cult
By Philip Heselton
Paperback:
332 pages
Publisher:
Thoth Pubns (June 2012)
List
Price: $26.99
FROM
THE PUBLISHER:
From
the author of the highly acclaimed “Wiccan Roots”, this is the
first full-length biography of Gerald Brosseau Gardner (1884-1964) -
a very personal tale of the man who single-handedly brought about the
revival of witchcraft in England in the mid 20th Century.
From
his birth into an old family of wealthy Liverpool merchants, through
an unconventional upbringing by his flamboyant governess in the
resorts of the Mediterranean and Madeira, it tells how, having taught
himself to read, his life was changed by finding a book on
spiritualism.
During
a working life as a tea and rubber planter in Ceylon, Borneo and
Malaya, he came to know the native people and was invited to their
secret rituals.
But it
was only on his retirement to England, settling on the edge of the
New Forest in Hampshire, that destiny took him firmly by the hand.
Through various twists and turns involving naturist clubs and a
strange esoteric theatre, he became friends with a group of people
who eventually revealed their true identity – they were members of
a surviving witch coven.
One
evening in 1939, as the hounds of war were being unleashed, he was
initiated into the ‘witch cult’ by these people, who called
themselves ‘the Wica’. Gardner was overwhelmed by the experience
and was determined that the ‘witch cult’ should survive.
This
book chronicles his efforts over the remaining quarter century of his
life to ensure not only that it survived but that it would become the
significant player on the world religious stage that it now is –
“the only religion that England has ever given the world”, in the
words of Ronald Hutton, Professor of History at the University of
Bristol, who calls it “… a very fine book: humane, intelligent,
compassionate, shrewd, and based upon a colossal amount of primary
research”.
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:
Born
in 1946, Philip Heselton is a geographer and retired local government
officer who has written extensively on Earth Mysteries and our
spiritual relationship with the landscape. He has also carried out
extensive research into the story of the modern witchcraft revival,
chronicled in his books, “Wiccan Roots” and “Gerald Gardner and
the Cauldron of Inspiration”.
Hutton
has described him as being “… the most interesting, valuable
and enjoyable author who has yet written on what is becoming one of
the greatest riddles in the history of modern religion: the origins
of pagan witchcraft. … Nobody has ever done more than Philip
Heselton to reveal the world of magic, paganism, naturism and faerie
that lay behind the garden gates of inter-war English suburban
villas; and perhaps only he could have done it at all”
**
WITCHFATHER:
A Life of Gerald
Gardner, Vol 2: From Witch Cult to Wicca
By Philip Heselton
Paperback:
436 pages
Publisher:
Thoth Publications (June 1, 2012)
List Price: $29.99
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A Life
of Gerald Gardner Volume 2. From Witch Cult to Wicca by Philip
Heselton:
From
the author of the highly acclaimed "Wiccan Roots", this is
the first full-length biography of Gerald Brosseau Gardner
(1884-1964) - a very personal tale of the man who single-handedly
brought about the revival of witchcraft in England in the mid 20th
Century.
From
Gerald's birth into an old family of wealthy Liverpool merchants,
through an unconventional upbringing by his flamboyant governess in
the resorts of the Mediterranean and Madeira, it tells how, having
taught himself to read, his life was changed by finding a book on
spiritualism.
During
a working life as a tea and rubber planter in Ceylon, Borneo and
Malaya, he came to know the native people and was invited to their
secret rituals. But it was only on his retirement to England,
settling on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire, that destiny
took him firmly by the hand. Through various twists and turns
involving naturist clubs and a strange esoteric theatre, he became
friends with a group of people who eventually revealed their true
identity - they were members of a surviving witch coven.
One
evening in 1939, as the hounds of war were being unleashed, he was
initiated into the 'witch cult' by these people, who called
themselves 'the Wica'. Gardner was overwhelmed by the experience and
was determined that the 'witch cult' should survive.
This
book chronicles his efforts over the remaining quarter century of his
life to ensure not only that it survived but that it would become the
significant player on the world religious stage that it now is - "the
only religion that England has ever given the world", in the
words of Ronald Hutton, Professor of History at the University of
Bristol, who calls it "... a very fine book: humane,
intelligent, compassionate, shrewd, and based upon a colossal amount
of primary research".
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Born
in 1946, Philip Heselton is a geographer and retired local government
officer who has written extensively on Earth Mysteries and our
spiritual relationship with the landscape. He has also carried out
extensive research into the story of the modern witchcraft revival,
chronicled in his books, "Wiccan Roots" and "Gerald
Gardner and the Cauldron of Inspiration".
Hutton
has described him as being "... the most interesting,
valuable and enjoyable author who has yet written on what is becoming
one of the greatest riddles in the history of modern religion: the
origins of pagan witchcraft. ... Nobody has ever done more than
Philip Heselton to reveal the world of magic, paganism, naturism and
faerie that lay behind the garden gates of inter-war English suburban
villas; and perhaps only he could have done it at all."
**
THE
TREASURE OF THE SILVER WEB
By Marian Green
Paperback:
168 pages
Publisher:
Thoth Publications (January 26, 2012)
List
Price: $18.99
A tale
of questing for secrets in a land of mists and mysteries
The
Treasure of the Silver Web is the Story of friendship, discovery and
magic set in the simpler times of the pre-computer age. It reveals
secrets of the countryside the gifts of nature as well as describing
magical arts and methods still used today.
Magic
is a subject which fascinates many people, both young and old.
Popular books may have drawn it to the attention of a new generation,
yet magical tales of quest and mysteries, of symbols and discoveries
seem to go back through human history. The Treasure of the Silver Web
is the story of friendship, discovery and magic set in the simpler
times of the pre-computer age. It reveals secrets of the countryside
the gifts of nature as well as describing magical arts and methods
still used today. Readers will have to decide for themselves where
the facts stop and fiction begins.
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:
Marian
Green is well known for her many books on folklore, occult
philosophy, modern magic and witchcraft so her approach to these
matters, even in a story book setting, are based on many years of
practical experience and study.
**
TAROT
FOR MAGICAL TIMES BOOK
By Rachel Pollack
and Johannes Fiebig
Paperback:
160 pages
Publisher:
U.S. Games Systems Inc. (July 31, 2012)
List
Price: $17.95
FROM
THE PUBLISHER:
Focusing
on the daily Tarot card, Rachel Pollack and Johannes Fiebig offer
simple yet powerful practices based on their interpretations of the
78 Tarot cards.
In
this international project, they also discuss the association of
tarot cards with specific time periods.
NEW
TAROT DECKS
THE
FAERIE GUIDANCE ORACLE
By
Paulina Cassidy
Boxed
Kit | 9780738719689
English
| 288 pages | 5 x 6 x 2 IN
Publisher:
Llewellyn Publications; Pap/Crds edition (September 8, 2012)
List
Price: $26.99
FROM
THE PUBLISHER:
Your
guardian faeries are only moments away from inspiring you on your
life path. What are you waiting for?
The
beautifully crafted Faerie Guidance Oracle can help you connect with
powerful nature spirits for help along the path of self-discovery.
Each enchanting card represents an essential ingredient for
self-enrichment—clarity, choice, creativity, love, passion,
transformation, opportunity, and more. Delightful watercolor
illustrations make it easy to engage with each faerie’s positive
energy. Use this fun and creative tool to access hidden talents, gain
new perspectives, solve problems, and guide you toward the future
you’ve always wanted.
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:
Paulina
Cassidy shares with us a world filled with magical creatures. She
draws and brushes them into our world with love and an essence of
herself. Having spent much of her time drawing from a very young age,
Paulina finds solace in creating and sharing her own magical brew of
whimsy. Her unique vision, style and fanciful designs are loved and
collected worldwide.
She is
creator of the Paulina Tarot and the Joie de Vivre Tarot. In addition
to her visual art, she is a songwriter, and her albums are available
for download.
Paulina
has been a student of energy medicine for over 10 years & applies
her studies in energy healing to her visual art.
**
WITCHES
TAROT
By: Ellen Dugan, Mark
Evans
Imprint:
Llewellyn
Specs: Boxed
Kit | 9780738728001
English
| 312 pages | 5 x 8 IN
Pub
Date: September 2012
List
Price: $28.99
FROM
THE PUBLISHER:
Witches
the world over will relish this new tarot! Award-winning author Ellen
Dugan, a highly respected Witch and tarot reader, and awardwinning
artist Mark Evans have created the perfect deck for all devotees of
the Craft.
Positively
radiating witchy energy, this easy-to-use tarot showcases beautiful
and evocative digital artwork.
Echoing
the traditional Rider-Waite structure, each card includes instantly
recognizable Pagan symbols that resonate with today’s Witch.
In
addition to card descriptions and meanings, Dugan’s companion guide
features seven unique, spell-enhancing spreads for both tarot
readings and magickal practice.
**
WISDOM
OF THE GOLDEN PATH
Toni
Carmine Salerno (Author), Yuehui Tang (Illustrator)
Features
45 cards and guidebook, packaged in a hard-cover box set.
List
Price: $19.95
FROM
THE PUBLISHER:
These
cards and accompanying guidebook provide clarity and practical
guidance for many of life's challenging issues. The messages along
with the breathtaking artwork will help you rise above your problems
and allow you to see things from a higher perspective. The guidebook
clearly explains and illustrates how to receive guidance about the
present and future and how to give and receive accurate readings.
Wisdom of the Golden Path will set you on a journey of positive
transformation that will empower you and help you rediscover your
authentic self. Each message is followed by a positive affirmation
designed to help you fulfill your highest potential.
**
MLLE
LENORMAND BLUE OWL DECK
By
Mlle Lenormand
Publisher:
U.S. Games Systems Inc. (March 7, 2011)
Language:
English
List
Price: $12.95
FROM
THE PUBLISHER:
Mlle
Lenormand Blue Owl deck is the English language version of the famous
fortune-telling deck used by Mlle Lenormand.
The
36-card deck is packaged in the traditional tuck box with its
original Blue Owl design. The pack includes a small instruction
booklet with a brief explanation of each key card and sample
readings.
In a
reading, meanings are determined by the relationships between cards
in a spread, as well as by individual cards.
Mlle
Lenormand rose from humble beginnings in 19th century France to
become the most prominent fortune teller in Europe. Her clients
included Napoleon, about whom she made bold and astonishingly
accurate predictions.
Her
card-reading methods are still popular today.
**
CALENDAR:
ONGOING
AT EDGE OF THE CIRCLE BOOKS
SUNDAY , SEPTEMBER 2nd
(first Sunday of each
month)
SEATTLE CHAOS MAGIC
We meet at 3:33 pm. on the
first Sunday of each month, at Edge of the Circle
Books, 701 E. Pike St.,
Seattle, WA 98122.
Anyone practicing, curious
about, or otherwise interested in Chaos magic is
welcome to attend.
**
MONDAY, SEPTEMEBER 10th
(Every 2nd Monday of each
month)
CELTIC
RECONSTRUCTIONIST GROUP 7-9PM
For More Information:
**
SERVICES
AVAILABLE
AT
EDGE OF THE CIRCLE BOOKS
REMINDER: We buy used
Occult Books! Our buyer is in on Wednesdays,Thursdays,
Saturdays, and Sundays!
We also have
classroom/ritual space-- please call for details.
Need Spell advice? Just
ask!
**
TAROT
READINGS / SPIRITUAL ADVICE
UNCOMMONSENSE
TAROT
Tarot
readings by Erica (Raven) Branch-Butler
" I've been
reading Tarot for more than thirty years, and reading professionally
at the Edge for a
decade. My belief is that Tarot is best used for
putting you in touch
with your own subconscious, allowing you to make healthy
decisions that can
change your life for the better. My readings tend to be
rather commonsensical
(hence the name) and are geared toward helping the client
circumvent the often
self-imposed obstacles in their lives, so that they can
achieve their goals and
fully enjoy the fruits that life has to bring."
Please inquire about Tarot
Parties, classes and other events.
Available every day except
THURSDAYS-- 12:30-8.30PM.
Sundays 12:30-8:30 PM
**
KELLY MARJORIE KELLEHER
Daughter of the Ancients
Psychic, Healer, Muse...
Thursdays at Edge of the
Circle Books 2-8:30pm
**
This concludes our
Newsletter for this month.
Look for us again
OCTOBER 1st , 2012!
Raven, Editrix, Edge of
the Circle Books Newsletter
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