SSOTBME Revised - an essay on magic

by Ramsey Dukes

Overview

SSOTBME was originally commissioned by Christopher McIntosh (author of Eliphas levi and the French Occult Revival and other works on Hermetic and Masonic history) as an essay for a semi-academic collection of essays on comparative religion. That project never happened, but the material was expanded into a small book published by the author in 1974. The book was an immediate success with a new wave of practicing magicians in the UK, including Pete Carroll, Ray Sherwin and other members of what was to become the Chaos Magic movement. Further editions were printed including a German, two Polish and a US edition. This new edition, published in 2002, is considerably revised, expanded and brought right up to date

There's much food for thought here, whether you're just starting in on magic or consider yourself an old hand. If you've got friends, lovers, bosses, etc. wondering what all this weird stuff is about and you want to steer them towards an intelligent intro to magic - look no further than S.S.O.T.B.M.E..

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780904311082
Publisher:	Mouse That Spins
Publication date:	04/01/2002
Series:	Essay on Magic
Edition description:	3rd Revised ed.
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.43(d)

About the Author

Ramsey Dukes is the best known pen name of Lionel Snell, known since 1976 for his radical and influential books about occult philosophy and rationalism, chaos magic, the virtual universe, and magical thinking. Described by Alan Moore, author of Jerusalem, V for Vendetta etc, as "...the most lucid, coherent and insightful intellect to emerge from British occultism for some several decades". Educated at Clifton College, Bristol, where his interest in alchemy and science history was fired by access to the EJ Holmyard collection, and at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he studied the extensive works of Aleister Crowley an he took a Diploma in Education and taught at Eton College and later at The New Waldorf School, Kings Langley. Subsequent work includes aircraft stressman, technical author and freelance ghost writer for the ICT sector. Other associations include membership of the London Magic Circle, the Caliphate OTO, the IoT and other occult groups and in 1977 he performed the Abramelin retirement. Ramsey Dukes has a popular YouTube channel featuring short discussions on magic and related topics.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Preface to the revised1998 edition

INTRODUCTION ........................vi

ONE-The basic definition of Magic ...........1

1A - Making sense of ‘feeling’ and ‘direction’ . . . . . .8

TWO - Examples of different forms of Magic . . . .10

2A-Further examples ......................17

THREE - How Magic diverges from Science . . . . .20

3A- Cyclesofthought ......................31

FOUR - “Sex secrets of the black magicians exposed”

4A- Demons and sacrifices ..................57

FIVE- Fantasyworlds ......................62

5A- Whose fantasy? .......................76

SIX-Miracles ............................79

6A-So, can Magic defy physics? ..............86

SEVEN- The nature of Magical theory .........89

7A - Cyber-animism, the virtual universe and pseudo- scientific jargon ..........................101

EIGHT- Secrecy ........................109

8A- Yar boo sucks ........................113

NINE- Progress in Magic ..................114

9A- The Wisdom of the Great Initiate ........123

10A- Morality, Magic and Religion ...........124

ELEVEN- Conclusion ....................134

11A- A licence to depart ...................137

Appendix A- Bibliography .................143

Appendix B- The New Age and Magic ........145

Editorial Reviews

"The book that put the magic back in magic" Gerald Suster, author of Hitler and the Age of Horus, John Dee, Crowley's Apprentice etc

"A classic" Li Grainer in Gnosis magazine

"This book made me realize I was a magician, not insane. Or at least both a magician, and insane. Great, funny, a Grimoire disguised as an essay, ... as well as the best book to give to people if you want them to think you are smart and goofy, as opposed to stupid and psychotic. Find it. Buy it. Read it blind drunk the first time, maybe the second time too..." 'Fireclown's basic booklist' from the Internet.

Anyone considering beginning, continuing, or terminating an interest in magic(k) should ... read this book several times over. -- Pete Carroll, author of Liber Null Psychonaut etc



As well as a deep look into magical theory the book also teaches you how to be a Magician. -- Barry Walker, White Dragon magazine, Beltane 2002



Quite simply the best introduction to magic I've ever read... Rightly hailed as one of the ur-texts of Chaos Magic. -- Phil Hine, author Prime Chaos, Condensed Chaos etc.

From the Publisher