Book of the Witch Moon reviews
Book of the Witch Moon is available here:
http://www.anathemabooks.com
By the way, they have some great books gathered there. Here is a review of Witch Moon from someone who bought it.
Review: From Amazon.com customer M. P. Sammut "Paolo" (St Albans, HERTS United Kingdom).
This is really a well presented, well written and fantastically researched book looking at the darker aspects of witchcraft and sorcery. In many ways Michael Ford has made public much knowledge which is discussed (albeit less openly) in the fabulous works of Austin Osman Spare (AOS) and Kenneth Grant among others. Ford does not write as an academic but as a serious practitioner who has made strong inroads into the darker mysteries. Having said that reading this in conjunction with academic works such as by Carlo Ginzberg will repay the efforts many fold.
There are some real gems here which provide practical working keys to results sorcery. For example Ford stresses that with sigils it is important to marry the concept with ones own art, not simply use a technique found in other published works.
In terms of how much is revealed; Ford does not really play the secrets game. However he does not dumb down his work. The techniques given are quite clear to work with however one must understand what he is talking about and not expect basic things to be spelled out. If you want simple magic I suggest you look for a "Wicca for dummies" type of book as this is the more advanced material we are so much in need of after looking at mountains of such basic books containing such new age drivel as "empowerment visualizations" or silly wiccan circles presumably written for those of simpler minds. The truth of the matter is that in the past many who practiced witchcraft were quite dark; choosing to explore and work with both sides of reality; light and dark; although many modern writers try to enfoster a myth that its all light, sweetness and "Blessed Be". Fords' books takes steps which reclaim witchcraft from these incompetent would-be usurpers.
Of special interest is Fords writing on the Witches Sabbat. Drawing on the work and inspiration of AOS he takes the reader on several of his astral visits in close detail. Ford also writes extensively on the subject of elementals and atavisms and in my not particularly humble opinion the reader is advised to read this in conjunction with "Aleister Crowley and the Hidden God" by Kenneth Grant and the varied magical writings of AOS as detailed in "From the Inferno to ZOS" - especially volume 1.
Ford also discusses the various festivals in the wheel of the year, from a Luciferian perspective. Rather than simply taking these as celebrations (which they also are) he aligns them with the path of personal evolution. There is much more in the book of interest however and practically every page contains much of value.
Michael Fords' work easily sits next to the work of Crowley, Spare, Grant and Chumbley as original expositions of the art. In many ways the darker perspective Ford (among all these authors) takes is very important. Ford does not advocate "evil" magic; whatever that might be; and his book is clear that he does NOT advocate the use of the techniques to cause harm to others. If for no other reason that that such an act would be against such persons true will. However Ford is to be commended on publishing details quite clearly leaving the choice up to the individual rather than hide behind silly occult blinds etc. I feel that a vital trend of magic perhaps fostered by the Internet is that information previously hidden will (and should) be published - although not necessarily for free. Working to earn money to buy a book which one will treasure and really work with is worth infinitely more that having a myriad of illegial pdf's which will not be studied and are effectively useless.
Here dark (again not evil) magic is discussed and focused upon and like Grant's Nightside current this is important. Both us as individuals, and also the universe as a whole is composed of both light and dark and in working with and understanding both polarities we gain a greater understanding in the nature of reality. This in effect moves beyond the rather silly work of groups such as the derivatives of the Golden Dawn which inherited a heavily polarized and lop-sided philosophy of only approaching the light, In effect missing or ignoring half of creation and half of themselves. A magician should stand between the darkness and the light; his feet in hell and head in heaven; and this book teaches a path to that goal.
This work also divorces itself from the exaggerated Satanist mentality; the sort of people who claim they are so just to be big or to show off. The occult is full of this nonsense and many of the forums are blighted by such individuals. We have all seen people on forums giving themselves avatars with names such as Archemage" or Lord whatever then asking how to contact Lucifer. The truth is they are probably teenagers with no idea of what they are doing or why they want to raise demons. Once day I will post some explicit instructions on these forums and then stand well back and watch them sink or swim. Magical evolution in action.
I cannot recommend this book strongly enough and speaking for myself will be both looking to integrate many of Fords techniques into my work and keep an eye on future works by him.
Nox Paolo - March 28, 2006”
http://www.anathemabooks.com
By the way, they have some great books gathered there. Here is a review of Witch Moon from someone who bought it.
Review: From Amazon.com customer M. P. Sammut "Paolo" (St Albans, HERTS United Kingdom).
This is really a well presented, well written and fantastically researched book looking at the darker aspects of witchcraft and sorcery. In many ways Michael Ford has made public much knowledge which is discussed (albeit less openly) in the fabulous works of Austin Osman Spare (AOS) and Kenneth Grant among others. Ford does not write as an academic but as a serious practitioner who has made strong inroads into the darker mysteries. Having said that reading this in conjunction with academic works such as by Carlo Ginzberg will repay the efforts many fold.
There are some real gems here which provide practical working keys to results sorcery. For example Ford stresses that with sigils it is important to marry the concept with ones own art, not simply use a technique found in other published works.
In terms of how much is revealed; Ford does not really play the secrets game. However he does not dumb down his work. The techniques given are quite clear to work with however one must understand what he is talking about and not expect basic things to be spelled out. If you want simple magic I suggest you look for a "Wicca for dummies" type of book as this is the more advanced material we are so much in need of after looking at mountains of such basic books containing such new age drivel as "empowerment visualizations" or silly wiccan circles presumably written for those of simpler minds. The truth of the matter is that in the past many who practiced witchcraft were quite dark; choosing to explore and work with both sides of reality; light and dark; although many modern writers try to enfoster a myth that its all light, sweetness and "Blessed Be". Fords' books takes steps which reclaim witchcraft from these incompetent would-be usurpers.
Of special interest is Fords writing on the Witches Sabbat. Drawing on the work and inspiration of AOS he takes the reader on several of his astral visits in close detail. Ford also writes extensively on the subject of elementals and atavisms and in my not particularly humble opinion the reader is advised to read this in conjunction with "Aleister Crowley and the Hidden God" by Kenneth Grant and the varied magical writings of AOS as detailed in "From the Inferno to ZOS" - especially volume 1.
Ford also discusses the various festivals in the wheel of the year, from a Luciferian perspective. Rather than simply taking these as celebrations (which they also are) he aligns them with the path of personal evolution. There is much more in the book of interest however and practically every page contains much of value.
Michael Fords' work easily sits next to the work of Crowley, Spare, Grant and Chumbley as original expositions of the art. In many ways the darker perspective Ford (among all these authors) takes is very important. Ford does not advocate "evil" magic; whatever that might be; and his book is clear that he does NOT advocate the use of the techniques to cause harm to others. If for no other reason that that such an act would be against such persons true will. However Ford is to be commended on publishing details quite clearly leaving the choice up to the individual rather than hide behind silly occult blinds etc. I feel that a vital trend of magic perhaps fostered by the Internet is that information previously hidden will (and should) be published - although not necessarily for free. Working to earn money to buy a book which one will treasure and really work with is worth infinitely more that having a myriad of illegial pdf's which will not be studied and are effectively useless.
Here dark (again not evil) magic is discussed and focused upon and like Grant's Nightside current this is important. Both us as individuals, and also the universe as a whole is composed of both light and dark and in working with and understanding both polarities we gain a greater understanding in the nature of reality. This in effect moves beyond the rather silly work of groups such as the derivatives of the Golden Dawn which inherited a heavily polarized and lop-sided philosophy of only approaching the light, In effect missing or ignoring half of creation and half of themselves. A magician should stand between the darkness and the light; his feet in hell and head in heaven; and this book teaches a path to that goal.
This work also divorces itself from the exaggerated Satanist mentality; the sort of people who claim they are so just to be big or to show off. The occult is full of this nonsense and many of the forums are blighted by such individuals. We have all seen people on forums giving themselves avatars with names such as Archemage" or Lord whatever then asking how to contact Lucifer. The truth is they are probably teenagers with no idea of what they are doing or why they want to raise demons. Once day I will post some explicit instructions on these forums and then stand well back and watch them sink or swim. Magical evolution in action.
I cannot recommend this book strongly enough and speaking for myself will be both looking to integrate many of Fords techniques into my work and keep an eye on future works by him.
Nox Paolo - March 28, 2006”