“The New Encyclopedia of the Occult” is prolific
author John Michael Greer's take on Western esotericism. If you read books on
matters occult mostly for entertainment purposes, you will find this material
boring. There is relatively little on Wicca, Satanism, Voodoo or the Beast
whose number is Aleister Crowley. Instead, there are entries (lots of them!) on
geomantic figures, Kabbalistic angels, Tarot cards or the occult meaning of
Ogham runes. Some entries deal with people who are well known in occult circles,
but almost unknown to the sensation-hungry public, such as Paschal Beverly
Randolph, Manly P Hall or C C Zain. Still others contain criticism of
Neo-Paganism, the fantasy scene or the imaginary origins of Wicca. Readers
should also bear in mind that the author is the current head of a small
esoteric group, the AODA, which combines a pantheistic spirituality based on
Druid symbolism with Golden Dawn-derived ritual magic. Not very entertaining
either, but probably more serious. But don't worry, Archdruid Greer (who wants
to be “all things to all people”) has written a fun factor book, too, in order
to snare frivolous dabblers like you into the slimy nets of the Occult
Underground. I'm referring (of course) to his bestselling Halloween volume
“Monsters". After encountering one of the lovely critters enumerated in
that work, you'll gonna need those geomantic figures, trust me...
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