EDGE OF THE CIRCLE BOOKS NEWSLETTER
BLESSED OSTARA!
March equinox 2017 will be at 3:28 AM on Monday, March 20
WELCOME to 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. 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.
Edge of the Circle Books strives to be your ideal Magical Pagan store.
Open 7 days a week, Noon 'till 8pm.A
Call: 206-PAN-1999
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REMINDER: We buy used Occult Books! Our buyer is in on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays!
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Prices subject to change without notice.
HISTORY OF GENII AND FAMILIAR SPIRITS
By Sir John Beaumont and John Madziarczyk (Editor)
Publisher: Topaz House Publications (January 20, 2017)
358 pages.
Trade paperback Edition: $ 26.00
Hardcover Edition $52.00
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Written in 1705, the book presents a history of the personal genius and familiar spirits, from antiquity to the 18th century, including treatments of the second sight, dreams, and magic. The author draws on the Greco-Roman tradition as well as on foreign examples for cross-cultural parallels.
John Beaumont, born c. 1650, died 1731, was a physician and antiquarian who lived in Somerset, in the southwest of England. Through his fossil collecting, as well as papers documenting new mining techniques, Beaumont became a fellow of the Royal Society. However, Beaumont also had a secret, one which he would expose first in his “History of Genii and Familiar Spirits” and later in “Gleanings of Antiquities”.
For years, Beaumont had conversations with entities that he publicly labeled “Genii”, but that in personal communications he labeled “Fairies”. These beings gave him advice and told him about their nature. Beaumont’s communication with these spirits, which he declares happened thousands of times over the course of many years, is what lead to the composition of “History of Genii and Familiar Spirits”, published in 1705. The book was written to vindicate the idea of a personal Genius or Familiar Spirit, who advises and guides an individual in all the vicissitudes of life, as a valid phenomenon, one not caused by mental illness or other physical disorder, and also not the work of evil spirits.
Beaumont was made use of some of the most sophisticated sources of his day for this purpose. He marshaled sources from the Renaissance, classical Greece and Rome, and from the vernacular tradition, using them to great effect, synthesizing them into a coherent whole which is still authoritative today. Many of sources that Beaumont employs are translated into English for the first time by the author, making the work especially valuable.
This edition of “History of Genii and Familiar Spirits” also includes the chapter "Notes concerning Genii or Familiar Spirits” from the later “Gleanings of Antiquities”, published in 1724.
From the Introduction:
As personal spirits, the Genii were thought, variously, either to attend the holy or to attend everyone, with the Renaissance writer Agrippa identifying three Genii as ruling different aspects of a person's life. These were given at birth and determined according to astrology. This tradition built on the notion of everyone being assigned a good and evil spirit at birth, an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other, that competed for a person's attention. In turn, that notion can be traced to the idea in Judaism of the Good and Evil impulses that are given to individuals at birth, who have to choose which to follow. Beaumont examines all these traditions, and many more.
“History of Genii and Familiar Spirits” ranges over a great area. The work is divided up by the method by which the personal Genius and Familiar Spirits are encountered, such as by vision, by sight, by magic, or by dreams. This allows Beaumont to hold forth on subjects that might otherwise be marginal to the subject, such as magic and the nature of dreams. In particular, it allows Beaumont to make a detailed study of the “Second Sight” as it existed in Scotland, the rationale being that the “Second Sight” allowed individuals to perceive Genii and spirits, who would then advise them on matters. It should be noted that Beaumont's treatment of the “Second Sight” preceded the publication of Robert Kirk's “Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns, and Fairies”. This is because though the work was work only circulated in manuscript form, as part of Kirk's papers, until it was published by Walter Scot in the early 19th century. Although religious, Beaumont is notable in this work for objecting to the activities of the witch finders. In fact, Beaumont devotes a substantial portion of chapter four to examining and debunking the story of witchcraft at Salem.
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UNDERWORLD:
Shamanism, Myth & Magick
By Chris Allaun
Paperback: 220 pages
Publisher: Mandrake (January 1, 2017)
List Price: $22.00
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
The Underworld has always been thought of as a place of darkness and despair. Even today there are many misconceptions about what the Underworld is and what awaits inside. We will learn how different cultures around the world viewed the Underworld and the afterlife. Some cultures have their own unique perspective, but surprisingly, cultures that had no communications with each other from across the world had similarities. Can this be a coincidence? Most importantly, we will learn how to journey there in the astral and map this incredible world. But be careful! Along with its many wonders and beauty, there are things that lurk in the dark that myths throughout the ages have warned us about. But for the Shaman or witch, are these warnings to keep us away or teach us how to commune with these ancient spirits and creatures?
As we journey deeper into the Underworld, we will discover places where the long forgotten dead will rekindle our spirit and teach us the ways of magick. They have been waiting for us and have much to say. We only have to sit and listen to the wisdom of ancient times. We will also discover places of healing and rejuvenation. Places where ancient hags guard magick wells and the waters of life and death spring from a source so old, no one remembers where it came from. Along with these wonderful and beautiful places, there are places most dark and dreadful, the Hellworlds. These are the areas of the Underworld that test your spirit and what you thought was reality. You may never be the same, but you will be transformed, renewed, and more powerful.
The Underworld is strange and wondrous and cannot be contained. Sometimes, those spirits of the dead will not be bound in such a place and stay in the world of the living. The poor lost spirits stay with us for a variety of reasons. You will learn why the spirits of the dead are still here and how to help them journey to a place of rest. You never know, a spirit of the dead may be right behind you…
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SEFER HA-BAHIR:
Selections from The Book of Brilliance, The Classic Text of Early Kabbalah
By Geoffrey W. Dennis
Hardcover: 264 pages
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (March 8, 2017)
List Price: $29.99
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Discover the Kabbalah classic that reveals the divine feminine, reincarnation, and the power of being human. This remarkable collection of fifty-one teachings from Sefer ha-Bahir features facing-page commentary by Geoffrey W. Dennis for easy understanding and readability.
Enrich your spirituality with these fascinating entries, specifically chosen to help you learn the principle ideas and themes of Jewish mysticism. By translating the most stimulating and accessible passages from Sefer ha-Bahir with concise literary and spiritual commentary, Geoffrey W. Dennis modernizes each entry and brings the wisdom of the ancient text to the contemporary world. This compelling collection shows you the full scope of the Bahir and will give you a new appreciation for its teachings.
Praise:
“Geoffrey Dennis has provided a doorway into the brilliance of the Sefer ha-Bahir, deeply enriching us. Here is a truly significant model of how teachings can communicate over centuries to inform and expand our current vision. I am honored to recommend Rabbi Dennis’s new book to all those desiring to enrich their own spiritual journey.”―Rabbi Ted Falcon, PhD, spiritual counselor and author of A Journey of Awakening: Kabbalistic Meditations on the Tree of Life
“Geoffrey Dennis’s Sefer ha-Bahir is the best translation available of one of the hardest, yet most rewarding, texts of Kabbalah. Forget the pop stuff; this is the real thing, in all its lucidity, opacity, simplicity, and complexity. Best of all, Dennis’s renderings and commentary give the text room both to breathe and to mystify. Highly recommended.”―Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson, author of Everything Is God: The Radical Path of Nondual Judaism and director of the Elat Chayyim Meditation Program
“What is constant throughout the book is the sense of Dennis’s love for these early Hebrew teachings . . . He manages to lift the reader to the heights of mesmerized listener without sacrificing the academic/historical context of the teachings. This is a don’t-miss book for anyone seriously interested in the Hebrew roots of modern mysticism.”―Anna Jedrziewski, Retailing Insight
“[Dennis] supplies a fluent translation of fifty-one key passages from [Sefer ha-Bahir], complete with annotations, commentary, and introductions that are both accessible to the general reader and insightful. A masterful achievement.”―Richard S. Sarason, The Deutsch Family Professor of Rabbinics and Liturgy at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
About the Author:
Geoffrey Dennis is rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami in Flower Mound, TX. He is also Lecturer in Kabbalah and rabbinic literature at the University of North Texas. He received his M.HL and was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He also has degrees in Education and Nursing.
His articles have appeared in Sh'ma, Parabola, Healing Ministries, The Journal of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and The American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care. He has two recent articles, "The Bride of God: Jewish Erotic Theology" appears in Jews and Sex, published in Feb. 2008, "Water as a Medium of Alerted States of Consciousness in Early Jewish Mysticism," slated to appear in the spring issue of Anthropology of Consciousness.
His book with Llewellyn, The Encyclopedia of Myth, Magic, and Mysticism, has been selected as a runner up in the 2007 National Jewish Book Award, and received Honorable Mention in the Jewish Library Association 2007 Book Awards.
He is married and has two sons.
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PLANT MAGIC:
A Year of Green Wisdom for Pagans & Wiccans
By Sandra Kynes
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (March 8, 2017)
List Price: $19.99
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Connect to the natural world in ways you never expected with the many magical uses of ordinary and classically witchy plants. Plant Magic presents a unique approach to working with plants in concert with the cycles of nature. Learn which ones best align with the sabbats on the Wheel of the Year and which are most useful for the time between them.
Sandra Kynes guides you through a year of plant magic, providing significant dates and detailed information on garden, wild, and household plants associated with each month. Discover activities to grow your connection with nature, such as plant-based rituals to celebrate the seasons and incense burning to attract love and prosperity. Explore ways to develop your self-expression in the craft, from placing flowers on your altar to using herbs in your divinatory practices. Featuring lore, recipes, spells, and more, Plant Magic helps you better understand and be inspired by the green world.
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THE HEARTH WITCH'S COMPENDIUM:
Magical and Natural Living for Every Day
By Anna Franklin
Paperback: 528 pages
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (March 8, 2017)
List Price: $27.99
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Experience the power of magical workings using items you created yourself. Utilize natural ingredients for the well-being of your community, home, and body. This comprehensive sourcebook shares old-world wisdom and contemporary approaches to living the hearth witch way, where spirituality nurtures an ecologically balanced life.
- More than 200 food and drink recipes
- Soups, breads, puddings, cakes, salads, wines, meads, ciders, beers, ales, jams, jellies, curds, cheeses, chutneys, ketchup, sauces, dried foods, non-alcoholic cordials
- More than 100 bath and beauty recipes
- Bath salts, bubble baths, soaps, shampoos, hair rinses, lotions, powders, oral hygiene, skin products, facial scrubs, cleansers, skin toners, moisturizers, lip salves
- More than 35 home goods recipes
- Polishes, bathroom and kitchen cleaners, dishwasher detergent, stain remover, laundry soaps, dryer sheets, potpourris, air fresheners, deodorizers, floor wash, carpet cleaners
- Nearly 200 essential oil blends and home remedies
- Anxiety, arthritis, blocked sinuses, burns, cellulitis, coughs, eczema, headaches, indigestion, insect bites, muscle cramps, nausea, rash, sprains, swelling, varicose veins
- Plus magical wisdom and practical tips
incense recipes, magical virtues of plants, magical oil recipes, detailed descriptions of seventy essential oils, herbal magic, charms, talismans, potions, inks, color correspondences, planetary influences, herbal beauty aids, gardening tips, vegetable dyes
Praise:
“In this glorious compendium, Anna Franklin invites you to sit at her hearth and to share in her many years of magical living. In a high-speed world, Anna asks us to pause, to slow down and actually get our hands dirty with nature, and to craft magical items and products that really work.”―Kristoffer Hughes, head of the Anglesey Druid Order and author of The Book of Celtic Magic
“Packed full of information on sabbats, deities, lotions, potions, household, cooking, cleaning, and personal care recipes. This is a ‘must have’ book for every witch.”―Soraya, bestselling author of Book of Spells and The Kitchen Witch
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THE WITCHING HERBS:
13 Essential Plants and Herbs for Your Magical Garden
By Harold Roth
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Weiser Books (March 1, 2017)
List Price: $18.95
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Harold Roth is a leading authority on plant/herbal magic. His new book, The Witching Herbs, is an in-depth exploration of 13 essential plants and herbs most closely associated with witchcraft―13 because it’s the witching number and reflects the 13 months of the lunar calendar. The plants are poppy, clary sage, yarrow, rue, hyssop, vervain, mugwort, wormwood, datura, wild tobacco, henbane, belladonna, and mandrake.
Roth writes simply and clearly on a vast amount of esoteric information that is not easily found elsewhere and will be greeted enthusiastically by those who already have extensive experience and libraries. It is unique in that it combines mysticism with practical instructions for growing each plant, based on Roth’s 30 years of gardening expertise. Each chapter focuses on one plant and includes information on its unique plant spirit familiar, clear how-to instructions for magical projects, and pragmatic information on growing and cultivating.
Roth writes, “This book is a great choice for intermediate-to-advanced witches who would like to work more closely with the traditional witching herbs, especially the baneful plants with their rather difficult spirits. Working directly with spirits is one of the fundamentals of the Craft.”
The Witching Herbs is the essential plant-worker’s guide. Roth is not only a successful gardener but also a magician and scholar of the occult. No other book blends clear, practical gardening techniques with equally lucid and sophisticated plant magic so successfully.
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TESLA FOR BEGINNERS
By Robert I. Sutherland-Cohen (Author), Owen Brozman (Illustrator), Jane Alcorn (Foreword)
Series: For Beginners
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: For Beginners (November 8, 2016)
List Price: $15.95
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
The father of modern-day electricity and considered by some to be the ultimate “mad scientist,” Nikola Tesla filed nearly 300 patents in his lifetime. Many of these patents resulted in functioning inventions; others were little more than wide-eyed dreams―or still await possible development. Tesla For Beginners examines the man behind the alternating current and wireless technologies who traveled from Serbia by steamship to arrive in the United States with only four cents in his pocket. It was in the early 1880s, at the tail end of the Industrial Revolution and the beginning of the Second Industrial Revolution, that America beckoned him.
Nikola Tesla―a poet of invention―left behind a vast and intriguing legacy. He was a scientist, physicist, mathematician, electrical engineer, and extensively published author who spent his last decades scraping for funding for celestial projects and living out his final days in penurious solitude with a pigeon.
About the Author:
Robert I. Sutherland-Cohen holds a BS in mathematics from Northeastern University and an MFA in directing from Boston University. He has taught at Emerson College and Stockton State College and has delivered guest lectures at Yale University, SUNY Purchase, and West Chester University.
About the Illustrator:
Owen Brozman is the illustrator of the New York Times bestseller You Have to F*cking Eat and the acclaimed graphic novel Nature of the Beast. He has illustrated for National Geographic, Time Out New York, Scholastic, Ninja Tune, Definitive Jux Records, and numerous other clients. He lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit him online at http://owenbrozman.com.
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THE LOVECRAFT CODE
By Peter Levenda
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Ibis Press (December 1, 2016)
List Price: $27.95
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Drawing on decades of experience, author and historian Peter Levenda turns to the novel as the best and perhaps the only way to tell a story that has to be told - that hidden within the tales of America's most iconic writer of gothic horror, H.P. Lovecraft, runs a vein of actual terror.
Gregory Angell, the present-day descendant of George Angell in Lovecraft's "Call of Cthulhu," is summoned by a nameless covert agency of the US government to retrieve a sacred book from the grasp of an Islamist terror network operating out of northern Iraq, in the land of the Yezidi. Practitioners of a monotheistic religion with mystical traditions, the Yezidi are all that's left of an ancient sect that possessed the key to the origins of the human race and was in conflict with another, more ancient civilization from beyond the stars.
Hailed by author Christopher Farnsworth (Blood Oath) as a "more intelligent DaVinci Code" and by Whitley Strieber (The Key) as "a riveting work of fiction," this book will thrill Lovecraft aficionados, readers of reality-based thrillers, and conspiracy theorists alike.
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TAROT BY DESIGN WORKBOOK:
Color and Learn Your Way into the Cards
By Diana Heyne
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Weiser Books (March 1, 2017)
List Price: 16.95
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Featuring original color-in images of the 22 major arcana and the 56 images of the minor arcana, Tarot by Design Workbook is a coloring book for students of the tarot and all those who find tarot symbolism intriguing.
The book contains original coloring-ready images illustrated by the author, Diana Heyne, and an additional 78 unique learning page designs, one to accompany each card. Geared toward an enjoyable and intuitive understanding of the basic meanings of the tarot through coloring, brief word prompts and short rhythmic phrases, Tarot by Design Workbook aims to make the foundational learning of tarot a pleasurable task for beginners and others who would like to deepen their connection with the symbolic images. Included in the book is room for journal-like interaction with each image as well as fresh interpretations of time-honored imagery approached through coloring.
Unlock the mystery and magic, secrets and symbolism of the tarot through this serious, yet fun, teaching tool that engages both intuition and intellect.
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THE CELTIC SHAMAN'S PACK:
Journeys on the Shaman's Path
By John Mathews, Illustrated by Chesea Potter
Publisher: Connections Book Publishing
Publication date:03/01/2017
Pages:176; Deck and Book Set
List Price: 22.50
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Enter the magical realm of the shaman and develop your hidden shamanic skills.
The Celtic Shaman’s Pack offers direct access to the inner cosmos of the Celts, enabling you to make contact with the powerful archetypes to be found there. This pack constitutes your “shaman’s pouch”—your very own collection of items imbued with magical or mystical significance, offering a bridge between the world of the everyday and the world of unseen reality that is a part of every shaman’s training.
The cards represent key aspects of the Celtic universe, providing you with a set of shamanic journey coordinates. By working with the images on a daily basis for divination and discovery, you will learn to journey on the visionary path and gain a heightened understanding of yourself as well as insight into your true-life direction.
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!
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DON'T FORGET THAT WE HAVE MOVED!!!!
We are NOW located at: 1307 NE 45th St., between Brooklyn Ave NE and University Way NE, next to the Neptune Theatre, in the University District.
This concludes our Newsletter for this month.
Look for us again April 1st, 2017
Raven, Editrix, Edge of the Circle Books Newsletter
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