Reviews (13)

Initiation
This is the most influencing book of my life I read it frequently again & again-and allways I feel new uplifting knowledge coming to me. I bought this book in many different language-last in Russian--becouse its THE GIFT that I give all whom I love.Where so ever i am this book is with me-no-most of the time I give it to somebody to read-becouse it is a sin if this great book ist standing somewere -It should go from one to the other-and now I will buy it again in english -I have some friends here who can not read it in Russian Danish oder Deutsch-so I'm happy that I can order it in Englisch-think i will first order 'only' 3 of it. And then one more in Deutsch to send it my dear Mother--yes you see there a big storry between me and the book/autor...my e-mail is Purusha@gmx.de and sometimes I get letters frome people who love this book/knowledge same like me. Many people I give this book -once they open it they do not stop ontill the last page war readed. So now by it and enjoy--see you in THE SELF-ALLES LIEBE heinz sorry for my bad english

Enlightening Must-Read
I, like many others, was told I had to read this book. I purchased it within days and literally inhaled the wisdom and truth that unfolded from its pages. I have just begun my spiritual journey in earnest and this book has pushed me further than any other reading has thus far. I felt I had lived it. as often I knew what the author would say before reading the printed words. I have since recommended it to others and found out it is no longer in print...as it turns out I picked up the last copy in a Tri-city area. I knew then I was chosen to receive this knowledge and I know I will refer to its guidance for my lifetime and plan to share it with as many as I can so we can all be a part of healing our souls and bring our lives closer to our creator...This novel has influenced me in a positively spiritual way.

wow.
if you've been given this book, or recommended it by a friend then you've been blessed. this book is bizarre, yes, but if it finds its way to you i'm sure you won't be troubled by that minor detail. thank you Elisabeth Haich, for this book - it's a gift - i can't possibly explain in words the effect this book had on my life, nevermind fathom how the author used words to discuss topics which have traditionally defied discussion. i still can't believe that this book actually exists, but i'm eternally thankful it does.

careful with such books...
Elisabeth Haich's Initiation truly counts to the few gems in esoteric writings. I just wanted to utter a general warning - "You can't unread a book" - once you have read it your subconsciousness will work with the information you have gathered and it can easily push you into a higher stage of consciousness...

reflecting over Initiation
This was a book that I couldn't put down. It is a magical book. If you happen to stumble upon it, don't think that it is by chance. If movies like The Matrix, Vanilla Sky, and The True Man show intrigued and fascinated you, this book is for you. Besides from being entertaining, it gives detailed accounts on the hows of preparing for Initiation with excercises ranging from pin-pointed concentration to telepathy. A Must for anyone who is truly interested in Awakening... ... Read more

Book Description

A true story of one man's spiritual awakening under severely restrictive, sometimes violent, physical and intense emotional conditions. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

If you fear truth don't read this book (or maybe you should)
Please disregard any negative reviews of this book. Anyone discrediting what this man says obviously doesn't get it!
The anger that it appears to generate in some people speaks louder than any review. He cannot upset you. Only you can.
Ironicaly this is the limited type of thinking that Satyam is attempting to expose as a waste of time.
If you read this with your heart, you will see that he does not say that practice is a waste of time. Practice is the required method to soften the layers of human conditioning. The only time wasted is practicing while not realizing that you are the source of your own enlightenment. It is not a "thing" you need to seek because is is already in you.
If repetition bothers you, pretend the book is one long chanting session and let joy overflow every time he says "You are That".

Reading This Could Be Harmful to Your Spirituality
WARNING: This book may be hazardous to your spiritual practice. In fact reading Satyam Nadeen's ONIONS TO PEARLS could end your spiritual practice altogether. This self-proclaimed, "awakened" (he dislikes using the word "enlightened") ex-convict and drug lord postures that awakening like all else in our lives is preordained through what he calls Destiny and Grace. It does not matter how many hours you sit cross-legged in front of a statue of the Buddha or how many years you spend in an ashram or a Zen monastery. If you are not predestined to awaken, then you will never receive a wake-up call from the Source regardless of how deep your spiritual practice may be. And, if you are predestined for enlightenment, it will happen even if you are doing hard time in a maximum security prison like Nadeen was.

Do I think it is true? Of course, it is true. Every guru down through the ages worth his or her zafu has stated that. So, what's the big deal? Well, I suppose that Michael Clegg, alias Satyam Nadeen, is the big deal. Or should I say dealer? First, it was Ecstasy, the drug of the eighties, that Clegg was dealing. That got him a mountaintop retreat in Costa Rica, a private plane and the opportunity to hang out at ashrams and monasteries all over the world. Eventually, it got him busted, and he had to spend two years in a holding cell in Florida, where he received his wake up call. Then he did seven years in a Federal prison at San Pedro, where Clegg went through his "Deliverence," a deepening process that integrates one's awakening with the world of duality and illusion. Although he negates the concept of karma completely, I would say that Clegg got his just desserts, considering he was doing spiritual practice while profiting from recreational pharmaceuticals. Now, Clegg is dealing strictly in enlightenment, which is much more profitable than Ecstasy. He gets $200 for a weekend intensive and up to $2100 for a week-long retreat in Costa Rica, and there are no Federal or State statutes to guard against. To his credit, however, Clegg did hard time, stuck it out and found a way to even profit from it. That's much more than I could ever hope to accomplish. I doubt if I would last a week in such a situation. I can hardly imagine what it must have been like for someone living such a luxurious lifestyle to find themselves suddenly ensconced in the worst of all possible circumstances. Clegg eventually came to accept his fellow prisoners as being one with the Source and a reflection of the perfection of life rather than a flaw. According to his insight, they help balance out the Freedom/Limitation equation of life. If there were no hardened criminals, there would be no Mother Teresas or Dalai Lamas.

He goes even further to state that those who maintain a spiritual practice for reasons of self-gratification are less in tune with the Source than criminals who are "being" exactly what life intended them to be. It all works out in the end the way it is supposed to, in spite of us, not because of us.

The problem with ONIONS TO PEARLS is that it is repetitive to the point of agonizing boredom and somewhat self-indulgent. Clegg could have stated his entire book in just a few pages: "Consciousness is all there is...You are not the doer." What I find so auspicious is that both Clegg and I received our wake up calls from the same source, Ramesh Balsekar who wrote THE FINAL TRUTH. You may want to read Balsekar or Scott Morrison instead. Both write in a selfless, to-the-point style whereas Clegg is rather cold and dogmatic.

Words can not describe the magnificence of this book.
A stunning, truthful book on awakening.

A must read
I read this book back in February this year and it blew me away. As a personal development junkie I didn't like this message at all but it somehow rang true. Soon after I suddenly felt an enormous sense of relief as I realised there's nothing to do! I had been chasing my tail for years. Which was also great in a way!
Read this book for a wake up call but also consider reading works of Gangaji, Papaji and good old Tony Parsons (The Open Secret & As it is).

Agony at Club Fed Leads to Filthy Lucre.
This book came highly recommended so I overcame my aversion to the title to read it. The message is not new; it is a message offered in some niche of every path. I suppose the Christian equivalent is "God's will". If you read the author's word "Source" as "God" you will see this is a very old message of Fatalism. Nadeen as he now calls himself admits to having been a shopper for spirituality, but fails to realize that his "message" is yet another brick in the mall.

On the cynical side, not my cynicism but the author's, after he has trashed every system of spiritual work, we find a card in the back of the book advertising Nadeen's workshops, of all things!

By the way, Federal prisons are known as "Club Fed" for a good reason--they are nothing compared with state prisons for bleakness and repression. Lots of high level money manipulators and gentleman drug offenders wind up in Club Fed. Federal institutions are known for their "camp" style and don't have cells with bars, etc. but are more like dormitories--some better, some worse. I found it hard to swallow the author's description of his digs as being something like the black hole of Calcutta.

The author was using a lot of Ecstasy; his writing displays some of the conditioned consciousness of that drug--an explosive sense of well-being which is satisfied and unquestioning; what will happen to his head when he comes down from the trip? ... Read more

Book Description

Lyrically written, filled with irony, mystery, and magic, the author show how this powerful mythic story can be pattern for everyone's life and how understanding ancient myths can ensure our spiritual survival in the modern world. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A suggestion
It might help readers to know that this book and "The Disobedience of the Daughter of the Sun" are written to be read aloud. When you do this the prose has a rhythm that is part of the meaning of the book.

The Great Story
"In much wisdom is much grief" says the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, "and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow." There is much wisdom, grief, knowledge, sorrow, and finally joy in Martin Prechtel's new book. You don't have to read his previous three, *Secrets of the Talking Jaguar,* *Long Life, Honey in the Heart,* and *The Disobedience of the Daughter of the Sun* to understand and appreciate the message of *The Toe Bone and the Tooth* - but it helps.

This is a story about keeping the Great Story alive - "An Ancient Mayan Story Relived in Modern Times: Leaving Home to Come Home."

It starts out with Martin's return to Guatamala in 1992 after many years in exile from his adopted country, where his village of Santiago Atitlan had been destroyed and 1800 of his friends and villagers slaughtered by American-backed death squads in the 1980s. He was picked up at the airport by three teenage boys (who had been small children when the devastation took place) and smuggled back to the village under a truckload of Mayan squashes. Along the way, the boys were eager to hear the story of the Toe Bone and Tooth that had been outlawed (as well as their language) by the various and many invaders of their country. Landmarks of the Story were everywhere (much as Australian Dreamtime stories are dependent on the land for the telling).

Martin was welcomed in Santiago Atitlan as the Shaman and healer that he was for many years. He had had a Mayan wife and three sons there (one son died) and his little family had barely escaped with their lives.

The ancient story of the Toe Bone and Tooth is inserted here - the Story of a mortal, Raggedy Boy, who fell in love with the Water Goddess, the story of her death after bearing him two corn children and being forgotten when her husband returned to the mortal world. When he did remember her through dreams, he had to re-member her, gathering her bones with the help of Coyote (who had the toe bone and tooth) and descending into the underworld to retrieve her heart. He was helped by an old magical couple. Re-membered, she became an ordinary woman and he became an ordinary man, and from them, all humans are descended.

The next few chapters chronicle the story of Martin's first arrival in Santiago Atitlan - how he'd been lost in a blizzard in his American homeland of Northern New Mexico in his youth, and how he was saved by a mare named Morningstar and an old Spanish lady who cured him of an almost fatal fever with bear grease and herbs. During his convalescence, he had 11 dreams of Santiago Atitlan and Nicolas Chiviliu Tacaxoy, who was to become his teacher, friend and mentor and who had called him through dreams for three years before he finally arrived in the village. Says Prechtel, "Though I was blond and born far away, we were the old and young generation of throwbacks from other times and layers of existence in which a humble dynasty of people in service to the remembrance of the Dismembered Goddess was continued from century to century."

Another chapter tells of Martin's defense of a young Mayan seminary student, Gaspar Culan, who was accused of worshipping idols because he had participated in an ancient Mayan sacred ceremony involving Holy Boy, whom the Catholic Church had branded as a devil but is actually a Christ figure. Martin (who speaks English, Spanish, and Mayan fluently) was to be Gaspar's advocate. Holy Boy had been called a Jew by the Church. Martin pointed out that they had dubbed the deity a Jew (and a devil) because Jews were at least considered to be human and therefore were subject to the 16th Century Inquisition. Mayans hadn't been considered people before that, so if their God was a Jew, the Inquisition could persecute and prosecute them. Martin won his case, and Culan was ordained as the first Mayan Catholic priest.

Several chapters are devoted to the Prechtel family's nothing-short-of-miraculous escape from Guatamala. Martin's teacher had ordered Martin to stay alive at all costs so that he might carry the seed of the story to the U.S. and preserve it for the Mayans whose history and culture had been outlawed.

When Martin got back to the U.S. and his old homeland in New Mexico, he and his family lived in poverty and difficulties for several years, but in Santa Fe he met a homeless couple who were like the old couple in the Story. Here, the narrative goes into the third person as the old couple tell Martin's story and do for him what he had done for countless people in his life - re-membered him for the holy amnesiacs (all of us). Martin's story mirrors the Great Story - "the story of ordinary people, extraordinarily in love and the story of the struggle of what it takes to be graced with such love is the story from which all humans are descended."

The author dedicates this book to the "deer-eyed daughter of the mountain, the mother of the great diversity" and to "all those peoples, plants and animals who have been and continue to be forcibly uprooted, rerouted, relocated, corralled, cut, branded, burnt out, burned down, burnt up, crushed, eradicated or driven from their homes in infinite diasporas of all types, to live where they may be unwelcome, while still trying to keep alive their seed capsules of cultural memory in hopes to regrow a home again. May their descendants be carved by the inherited grief of their ancestral loss to become feeders of what is holy in the ground, dedicated to something bigger than their need for justice and the pursuit of revenge."

This is a fantastic, exciting but true story, and in my opinion, this is a life-changing book. Read it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Is it really possible to talk with the dead? As much as modern America is familiar with mediums--think bestselling authors John Edwards and Sylvia Browne--this question still generates passionate opinions from believers and skeptics alike. So one can only imagine the stir that the Fox sisters created in 1848 when they claimed to hear a ghost rapping on the wall of their Hydesville, New York rental house bedroom. The sisters soon discovered that the ghost would tap answers to specific questions. Within days neighbors and travelers were showing up at the house, wanting to converse with the dead rapper. The Fox sisters--Maggie and Kate--went onto become a national phenomenon, holding séances and making their livings as celebrity mediums. They were also the leaders of a new movement called the spiritualists. New York-based filmmaker Barbara Weisberg assembled this fascinating and expertly recounted biography. Beyond trying to prove whether the Fox girls were legitimate, Weisberg wrote a study of how two young girls could shape a new spiritual movement in mid-1800s America. "The more I thought about the Fox sisters, the more it seemed to me not only that Kate and Maggie sparked a movement, but that their lives epitomized the conflicts and urges that helped fuel its blaze. The question of the other world aside, the girls' appeal surely stemmed in part from the ways they embodied—and intuited—their culture's anxieties and ambitions." Ironically, in not trying to prove whether these two were frauds, Weisberg has created a more satisfying human story within a rich historical context, not unlike the tactics used for the bestseller Seabiscuit. And likewise, this could and should easily translate into a dynamite major motion picture. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Comprehensive Research
This comprehensively researched biography of the Fox sisters, founders of modern spiritualism in America, not only provides details of their private lives but also explains the mores of the era in which they lived and how that affected them.
Conclusions about whether they were talented mediums, talented con artists or a little of both is left up to the reader. However, after reading the book, you will have the necessary facts to form your own opinion.
A fascinating and engrossing read.

A disappointment
The late 1840's brought a rebirth of spiritual and religious fervor to the United States. The young Fox sisters, recently moved to Hydesville, New York seem too young to have been touched. Kate, age 11 and Maggie, age 14 soon report strange knocks and raps throughout the house, alarming their mother. Soon neighbors are brought in to witness the strange goings on, the noises, furniture moving, and the sisters' abilities and motives are under question. The goings on are attributed to spirits of those gone before and the sisters enter the public eye.
"Talking to the Dead follows the two Fox sisters, along with their oldest sister Leah, as they become the darlings of the Spiritualist movement, courted by the rich and famous of their day to hold seances and to contact dear departed ones. It also examines the personal toll this all took on the sisters, the lack of a private life, the fluctuations of income, the many who depended on them for finances and support. The characters who take the women under their wings are almost bigger than life, and the sisters seem to become whatever those around them wish them to become. Throughout the 1800's the Foxes's were adored, feared and reviled. Ultimately, they would decry spiritualism,and claim they were pawns of an older, cunning sister and mother. Later they would retract their denial. This book is a bit dry, and it is hard to read about the movement without having a jaundiced, modern eye.
It is a fascinating study of family life during that time, and some of the strange forces brought to bear on it.

Fascinating Book
I really liked this book. It is the first book I am aware of that discusses the Fox sisters, Maggie, Kate and Leah, as distinct, individual human beings instead of as some historical curiosity or side-show act. The personalities and the trajectories of the lives of each woman were distinct. Business, romance, family and religion entwined in their lives like they do in ours.
One thing I appreciated is that the author leaves it up to the reader to make a conclusion about the Fox Sister's mediumship. The truth, I think, is that all we can know of them is filtered through the perceptions of other, now distant, people. And while it is true that people who want to believe in the supernatural can "see what they want to see", what is often overlooked is that the same is true for people who do not want to believe.
The Fox Sisters had a major effect of American Culture in the 1800s. They should be remembered, and this book is a great contribution.

O.K., but nothing special.
Man is apparently the only creature that realizes he will some day die and we have pondered since time immemorial the question of what happens after death. Many contend that nothing happens and we simply cease to exist but most people believe in some kind of life after death. This curiosity and yearning for knowledge is what made modern Spiritualism possible and Kate and Maggie Fox were its most successful early proponents. Barbara Weisberg has taken on the task of trying to make sense of this often-disorganized movement and has written an interesting but somewhat flat biography of these enigmatic sisters.

The whole story started in Hydesville, New York in 1848 when the Fox's neighbors became aware of the "spirit" rapping occurring in the Fox home. By various means, word of this phenomena spread across New York and soon the rest of the country. The Fox sisters, guided by their older sister Leah, soon became famous and were in great demand. Attempt after attempt was made to catch the girls in some fraud but they were never proven to be fakes. Over the years they held seances with the Russian Royal Family, James Fenimore Cooper, George Ripley, William Cullen Bryant, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Horace Greeley. One will note the presence of several abolitionist leaders in this group and the reform movements of the 1850s became closely associated with Spiritualism. Of course the civil war was a great boon for the movement as hundreds of thousands of untimely deaths led to like numbers of grieving families. One of the shortcomings of this book is that the effect of the war on Spiritualism is dealt with in such a backhanded manner that one hardly notices it.

As time went on, the Fox sisters went through some extraordinarily hard times and the author deals with this in great detail. Finally Maggie, with Kate's support renounces the spirits and claims it was all a fraud. Weisberg deals with this subject by giving it very little attention and then giving less attention to Maggie's later change of heart. She in fact spends far more time dealing with Maggie's great love than her renunciation of Spiritualism.

Weisberg has completed a great deal of research for this book and has certainly added to the study of this movement. She never captures the souls of her subjects however and the book seems to drag in several places. Being very interested in the subject and in ghostly phenomena in general I did enjoy this book but I was never completely absorbed by it. I don't know if it was the writing style or what I perceived as a lack of depth but I really feel that this book could have been much better. In short, if this subject fascinates you then you will enjoy this book and will learn from it. If, on the other hand, this subject is just of passing interest you may want to look elsewhere.

Excellent book about the rise of Spiritualism.
Talking To The Dead is an excellent history of spiritualism and the Fox family. Kate and Maggie Fox (and older sister Leah) are mediums who converse with the dead. This started when they were young girls and progressed to the point where they were famous through the Americas and in Europe. They were wined and dined by nobility and common folk alike for many years. Everywhere they went they seemingly spread their powers among many others who met them and therefore they are credited with the creation of the Spiritualism movement (although it had started more quietly during an earlier period). This book is perfect for those interested in mediums, psychics, psychic phenomena and the rise of Spiritualism. ... Read more

Book Description

Inspired by the concept of the prodigal son and based on the author's experiences, this is a unique and intimate story of spiritual awakening. Although largely biographical, it contains elements of an adventure story that follows the exploration of a universal divine essence and a greater reality of spirit. Both simple and profound, it conveys with disarming candidness the immediacy of the soul. This book will prove invaluable to those who are looking for life's deeper meaning in the face of modern challenges, and individuals who are searching for a greater spiritual understanding of the human experience. Included are a chart of the inner realms ofthe spirit and a CD audio tour of the reflective process. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Search With-In & Bring Forward Inner Love
John-Roger has a wonderful ability to bring forward the techniques to go within ourselves to find our own spirit and to follow the truth of our own soul.

I recommend this book to any one who is interested in finding their own inner love, peace and joy and who wishes to express these qualities in their daily lives. ... Read more

Book Description

"Death is nothing to fear - and life without fear can be lived to the fullest."

This is Kimberly Clark Sharp's message from her extraordinary experience during the time after her heart suddenly stopped beating and she lay on the sidewalk, not breathing, and without a pulse. Swept into a peaceful loving place of brilliant golden light and warm comfort, she saw, for the first time, the meaning of life - and death.

It is the inspirational stories of these near-death experiences, as well as Kimberly's own life challenges in love, family life and the diagnosis of breast cancer, that form the core of this surprisingly funny page-turner of a book.

Reviews (6)

Funny, Wise Spiritual Autobiography
Sharpe tells the story of her NDE and subsequent psychic opening in a funny and warm narrative. It's a life-story, though, not a how-to book. What makes it a stand-out from the crowd is her comic personality, self-deprecating descriptions and committment to her theme of spiritual wisdom in ordinary experience. It works by lifting you out of your life, sharing in her story, and then returning you to your life with a more thoughtful perspective. You have to be in the mood for winding tale full of magic; if so, you'll love it, and laugh out loud more than once.

I was expecting more
After the Light is a wonderful book, but so many people just focus on their own lessons they learned, which makes for an interesting story, but I am always looking for more - how does this apply to me? Do I have to have an NDE myself? I liked Tiffany Snow's book better, just one chapter about her great NDE, but the rest of it shows how anyone can open up, if they just learn how. I'm not saying After the Light is a bad book, really, but I guess I was just expecting more.

My Fav. NDE Books ¿ I¿ve Been There Too
One day in 1995 I died, and had a NDE. Ever since then, I've been reading everything I can on the subject. According to most stories I've read, I had an unusual one, not going down a tunnel, but experiencing many interesting phenomena all the same. It seems to me that there are some NDE books and magazine articles that are just hype, and published just to give recognition. I have found, through my many years and multitudes of books on the subject, that there is an underlining truth and spirit that pervades the true experiences. So, I have compiled a list of my best reads for NDE books - ones that I consider genuine and adding validating light to the personal NDE experience. I have left out compilations, these are personal narratives. I hope you enjoy them too.
Embraced by the Light ------by Betty J. Eadie
Psychic Gifts ---------by Tiffany Snow
Saved by the Light --------by Dannion Brinkley
4 Days in Eternity ---------by Wayne F.A. Marentette
After the Light -------------by Kimberly Clark Sharp

I LOVED This Book !!
This is a great book I really enjoyed it. Not only is her story of her Near-Death Experience amazing, and true, but her writing style is both humorous and serious, depending on what she's talking about. Some of it might stretch your imagination, but who knows? She is very believable, and when I wasn't in total amazement, I was laughing. Near the end, she had me laughing so hard, my husband came in the room and said, "What's so funny?". Well, I couldn't tell him, because you just have to read the book. Well written, and full of amazing surprises. What can I say, I loved it, and I hope you do to.

EXCELLENT NDE!
Kimberly Clark Sharp writes like you are her friend and she is sharing her story over a cuppa' tea. Although, extraordinary in terms of your usual reading, Ms. Sharp is believable. She has experienced incredible spiritual moments which have enhanced her life and change your thinking about what's possible. Her words teach us to be open and understanding of what we can't often put into out own words, its a feeling. Reading "After the Light" helps one focus on the spiritual and makes one know without a doubt, how "connected" we all are to one another. It shares many experiences from a spiritual standpoint and you crave knowing more! A very enjoyable book I didn't want to end! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The first time I met Monsieur DuQuette, at a booksellers' convention in Los Angeles, he read my fortune with tarot cards. I was about to move, he predicted. Irritated, I huffed "that was ridiculous," I'd just moved into my boyfriend's house. When I arrived home from the convention, my aforementioned boyfriend told me he'd had a change of heart and would I please move out as soon as possible! The next time I sat down with DuQuette, at the same conference (several years later in Chicago), he regaled me with witticisms and stories. I was struck by his sincerity, self-revelation, and personable nature. This is the first time a true magician has written an autobiography since The Confessions of Aleister Crowley, and it's the next best thing to being able to sit with the charming and adept DuQuette. It's intimate, straightforward, and neither self-deprecating or egotistical. It contains excruciatingly honest revelations by a contemporary individual attempting to understand the universe and how it works. Here's a man who comfortably accepts himself and urges the reader to do the same. If you are not interested in magick, think of this as a fascinating autobiography. If you are, it's required reading. --P. Randall Cohan ... Read more

Reviews (30)

EVERY PAGAN -- READ THIS BOOK!
I must leap to my feet and wave a copy of My Life with the Spirits: The Adventures of a Modern Magician about, yelling at the top of my lungs for every pagan to read this book! It may not be particularly well-known yet, but I reckon this book will have a big impact at some stage in the future.

The book's author, Lon Milo DuQuette, is a highly esteemed ceremonial magician and a Thelemite, but that shouldn't deter anyone not of those persuasions from enjoying this wonderfully candid and occasionally very funny autobiographical account of his lifelong spiritual odyssey.

Starting with the story of Lon as a choir boy in a small-town fundamentalist Christian church, the tale moves through an obsession with yoga and meditation, experiments with LSD, and encounters with a miraculous pranic healer who lives in a barn with hundreds of cats, until eventually Lon is introduced to the magickal system of the OTO.

The accounts of subsequent magickal operations are refreshingly honest, realistic, and sometimes hysterically funny. From the valuable lessons learned after accidentally rubbing cinnamon oil in one's eyes in the middle of a ritual to the evocation of a demon who seems to specialize in returning stolen VW Kombi vans, every anecdote DuQuette recounts will fascinate, entertain or inspire you.

This book practically reads itself - you won't be able to put it down. Go out and find it! My Life with the Spirits by Lon Milo DuQuette

Whether you're Magical or not, it's a true must-read!!
Frankly, whether your interested in the genre or not, I'd highly recommend this book. It's truly an enjoyable read from beginning to end. I ended up reading this book out loud to my wife while she was pregnant, because I just couldn't keep the little gems to myself. I'd laugh to myself, she'd say "what?" I'd read her a paragraph, she'd laugh... three minutes later, we'd repeat the scenario. After a few times around, we just said the heck with it... read it all out-loud! What a purely enjoyable experience for both of us.

DuQuette's humorous and down to earth writing style is a much needed breath of fresh air to this genre where many take themselves far too seriously. DuQuette understands how to write about life changing activities and heavy philosophies without putting on the much used pompous tone. I can't say it enough, I love this book, I love this author, I love his style. Through it all, you come to feel as if you actually know this man. His style imparts so much familiarity that you come to feel you've known him for years and wouldn't think twice about asking him to coffee if you bump into him on the street.

If I could offer one book to a friend to help them understand this world I live in, it would be this one, without a doubt. It's truly a FUN book, and you can't help but come away with something of value, no matter who you are.

Buy it, read it, laugh and learn! I'd give it six stars if I could.

An Enlightening read, full of Humor
After reading this book i have found that it is not only a great book about a great man, but an look into the life of the modern magician. I find great wisdom in the words of a man who can honestly say that he has been there.

A great read for anyone who is currently walking the path or thinking about starting a magical path in the future.

pretty good i must admit
first off, i've read all the hype surrounding this guy (lmd) and this particular book so much that i had to get a copy myself.
i must say that this guy is a humorous person and has a friendly, humble personality. i bet to meet him in person and if he told you that he practices the dark arts, it would throw you off.
anyway, the book was so good that i've read it all the way through once i had opened it's pages. i even had a few laughs. needless to say the reason why i give the rating 4 stars instead of 5 is because (to me) lon threw me off near the end of the book, going into his enochian workshop experiences. but he does explain in the beginning how he will leave bits and peices out of his life so i can only guess that these enochian experiences was a very important theme in his life. but to me, i don't find those chapters suitting (in a way) for an autobiography, it should of been in another book of his, then again it is one of his occult experiences that he would like to share and it's interesting.
but that's just me, don't let my 4 stars discourage you. it is a very good book and even though this is the first magickal autobiography that i actually now have, i'm sure it's one of the best ones out there.

good and funny
Unlike a lot of writngs by magicians who go on and on about things that are frankly ridiculous, DuQuette writes a good, down to earth book about the way magick actually happen. Funny as hell too. ... Read more

Book Description

While this, the second volume of the Cosmic Trigger trilogy, continues along the path set by Cosmic Trigger I: Final Secret of the Illuminati, it also stands solidly on its own. Any reader with an open mind and a sense of humor cannot help but be entertained and enlightened while following Wilson's explorations into such subjects as the future of cyberspace; the peculiarities of Irish jurisprudence; links among the Mafia, the CIA and the Catholic Church; anal-eroticism in The White House; the Dog Castrator of Palm Springs; and many more observations from his infinitely fertile brain. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A genuine genius at his best.
For anyone new to the genius of Robert Anton Wilson, stand by for something very different! This is more factual and less occult than Cosmic Trigger I, and more easily understood than Cosmic Trigger III. For me, Wilson gets the balance just right in this one.

Cosmic Trigger II is semi-autobiographical, presented mainly in short sections of one or two pages which can mostly be read separately from each other. It is a good book for opening up at random now and again, and pondering on one of these short chapters. You might get some sobering observations on the human condition, or a bit of enlightenment and a really good laugh! There are also however, many interconnecting themes running throughout the book. Along the way, just about every belief system in human experience is called into question. A whole range of political, religious, scientific, and philosophical points of view are embraced and/or seriously challenged, not to mention the mechanical thought patterns of the reader as well. By continually shifting his and your perception, Wilson gets you to WAKE UP!

A brief selection from the table of contents might give newcomers at least some idea of the range of this book: A Sociological Horoscope, Attack of the Killer Spider, Cosmic Economics, The Square Root of Minus One and Other Mysteries. The author suggests that the important lesson of Cosmic Trigger II can be summed up as follows: "1. Never believe totally in anybody else's Belief System. 2. Never believe totally in your own Belief System." Excellent. Read this book and free your mind!

Ever wonder where conspiracies come from?
Building on the revelations that Robert Anton Wilson reveals in his first book of this series, Wilson hits a home run with the second book. The writing becomes clearer and Wilson does an excellent job of intertwining at least 5 story lines at once. One of these lines is an autobiographical tale which may help a slighty confused reader of the first book to truly understand the changes that occurred in RAW from his experimentation.

Along the way, the book dives deep into the Mafia, the CIA, the Vatican, the Masons and a host of other topics. Wilson expertly describes his voyage through uncovering a vast web of a conspiracy that unfolds right in front of him. Wilson is a master of his craft and a leading thinker in the psychological space. This book is by far the best of the series and stands alone quite well. For a reader new to Wilson, this is a good starting point. For a fan, this is definitely a must have.

A decent follow-up, but nothing outstanding
R.A. Wilson's "Cosmic Trigger: The Final Secret of the Illuminati" was a fascinating look at the events leading up to the writing of the classic Illuminatus! Trilogy. An intriguing look at relativism in literature and reality, the first Cosmic Trigger delightfully wove acid, Uncle Al, and conspiracy theories into a head-trip of "cosmic" proportions. Wilson's follow-up, unfortunately, fails to break any new ground.

Cosmic Trigger II is an interesting little book, and fun to read in these times of Bush II (Son of Huge Berserk Rebel Warthog? Or Insane Anglo Warlord reborn?). Wilson delves into his childhood, his education, his time in Ireland, his visit to communist East Germany, and yet another fold in his conspiracies- the Knights of Malta and their connections to fascists, the Mob, and the Republican Party.

All in all, CT II is a fun read, but nothing exceptional. If you spy a cheap copy in a used book bin, pick it up for a morning read, but otherwise don't bother.

George Burns was right!
It's funny how Robert Anton Wilson's chosen subject matter has effectively invalidated criticism of his books. One of his central themes is the mistrust of authority and "experts". Also, much of the chapters in any of his book are dedicated to intentionally misleading the reader in order to force said reader into performing the heinous task of thinking for themselves.

Since this is the case, how can we trust any of the reviews of his work? All of these are written by people who have read at least one of his books, and probably more. Are these people railing against his work actually serious in their hatred? Do the people praising it actually believe in what they're saying?

I'm going to go on record and say that this is probably the most lucid and thought out of his non-fiction books.

But to illustrate the point, why did I only rate it two stars? Why not one? Why not five? What does George Burns have to do with anything?

Only recommended if you can stomach the thought of reality laughing behind your back.

Ignite Your Soul
Can a book rearrange the polarity of your conscious mind, stimulate dosing neurons into excitation, and spur you into understanding "reality." What about put a smile on your face every step of the way.

There has never been anyone like Robert Anton Wilson, cosmic jester/philosopher extraordinaire who has generously expanded more minds through the years than most so-called teachers of higher learning. "Higher Learning" through the RAW method produces a frightening, staggering number of people who end up thinking for themselves and - this part's really scary - actually start enjoying their lives.

How wonderful. ... Read more

Book Description

Introductory Material & Commentary by Manly P. Hall

The great illuminist, Rosicrucian, and Freemason who termed himself the Comte de St. Germain is one of the most baffling personalities of modern history. His activities are traceable for more than one hundred years between 1710 and 1822, leading Frederick the Great to refer to him as "the man who does not die." An outstanding scholar and linguist, a great musician and painter, as well as a chemist with skill so profound he could change base metals into gold, he was also enormously wealthy and was on intimate terms with the crowned heads of Europe. Nothing is known about the source of St. Germain's occult knowledge; he merely admitted he was obeying the orders of a power higher than himself, saying that his father was the Secret Doctrine and his mother the Mysteries.

This unusual work was prepared for the instruction of St. Germain's own disciples in the cabalistic, hermetic, and alchemical mysteries. The original manuscript is housed in the Bibliotheque de Troyes in France. Manly P. Hall's commentary will be of interest to anyone seeking to know more about this intriguing figure of our past. Illustrated. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Hermetic Symbolism
This book is totally not what I was expecting. Saint-Germain uses very deep and real symbols and correspondences to communicate that which can only be communicated through this means, and only with great care and understanding. To those who overlook this, as a previous reviewer who seemed to think that "spiritual works" should be more simplistic and literal, the only possibility is that they must be missing out on a lot. Even though this book is very short, it must be very carefully analyzed. A good working knowledge of Astrology, Alchemy, Kabbalah, Neoplatonism and Hermetica is recommended. Manly P. Hall's introductory writings are also really a fascinating read, and while I am open to even the most extreme possibilities, from experience I tend to take some of his information with a grain of salt and would like to see some evidence to back them up. I think this text may also shed some light on the development of the various rites of Egyptian Freemasonry.

Paranoia or A Medieval Men's Club
This treatise is too well disguised to trust anyone's interpretation. It reminds me of someone interpreting Alice in Wonderland. I think there many better spiritual resources. For this reader, the book proved to be a disappointment.

Paranoia or a Medieval Men's Club
This treatise is so full of allegorical allusions that I doubt anyone's expertise to fully interpret it and I found the reading for the most part to be disappointing. I think the Godfrey Ray King books are much more interesting and insightful. In some ways it reminded me of an Alice in Wonderland journey. In my opinion, if you are looking for insight, this book will not be that need fulfilling-the Masters of the Far East series might be a better read. The most informative section is Hall's analysis.In short it was not a good read for me.

True Alchemy: the immortalization of the physical body
This is St. Germain's own words of the mystery of Immortality couched in alchemical terms which he achieved many hundreds of years ago. He was known as the Wonderman of Europe used the philosopher's Stone and alchemically created the elixer of immortality. He is still active in the world today. Read Unveiled Mysteries and The Magic Presence by Godfre Ray King. Comte de St. Germain is one of the greatest men of all time, we will know more about him in the years to come He was instrumental in the founding of America and will establish the golden age within her borders.

A path full of symbols
This book tells us about a symbolic path (a mixture of egyptian and grec symbolism) which is as the same time the travel of an initiate. This book is an enigma at each page but it can give us good esoteric clue if we are ready to receive it. We have to meditate on symbols and their true meaning. On my point of view this book contains highly magic components and it is the reason why it is so hermetic and can't be understood by everybody. Anyway the contents seem to be very deep. But since I am not wise enough to give a correct advice on the interpretation of different symbols given in this book, I suggest that you read this book and decide if it is helpfull or not! ... Read more

Book Description

A fascinating Castaneda-like spiritual journey into the wilderness of Manitoba, where Lynn Andrews meets Agnes Whistling Elk, the Native American "heyoehkah," or shaman, who will change her life. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Fiction versas Non-fiction,
We live in times where we feel we want to have a more personal relationship to the great mystery and all things spiritual. We want to feel the magic. As a result we seek paths that will include these missing elements - explain the unexplainable, know the unknowable. A book such as, Medicine Woman can fill that collective longing. It is about an ordinary woman who"blunders" upon extraordinary events, whose storytelling allows us the opportunity to fulfill our own unlived fantasy lives. Subconsciously, we are hopeful that if it could happen to her, it could happen to me. Unfortuntnately, we will remain fantasy - bound, mainly because the story and its supposed real events cannot be embodied or experienced. They are words printed in a book, their mastery, as factually described, unattainable only to the author. I believe the hunger is real for the spiritual experience, but that at this time these kinds of books do us a disservice. Narratives of this nature tie us to the author's extraordinary experiences and their accompanying interpretations but, they can never be truly authentic for anyone else. In addition, the "guru" type teachers who "always" insist on anonymity, are forever unaccountable, remaining dream - like and etheric. One would think that there would be building resentment in their apprentices, for by never being able to disclose their identities they have to remain under a constant cloud of criticism, always on the defensive. My final question is for those of us who do feel a geniune calling for the imaginal and unknown. Perhaps it is time to insist that these authors make avaliable their sources. After all, no one would study any other disapline expecting anything less. It is interesting that we let these people off the hook so easily, their credibility intact. These types of books may have served a purpose in the past, in that they inspired their readers to take the imagination and its experiences seriously, but now it may be time to tell the truth - I ask these authors to free their readers with an honest show and telling of the truth, and I bet that by doing so, it will free them in the process as well.

No Matter What the Source.........
Long before I knew of L.V. Andrews, a love interest would often read to me excerpts from Carlos Castenada's books as we sat under a tree. Castenada's books are an exemplary example of command of the english language and his descriptions, often put humorously, not without a touch of eloquence. But both Castenada and Andrews portray a certain un-gracefulness of the human nature that can only be refined with growth and that is the point. How that growth is attained though is pertinent to an individual's soul choices and the message it brings to assist others - not based on whether the journey it's self began in Beverly Hills or while a student at U.C.L.A.. These are only extrodinary precicely for the fact that consciousness could indeed "meet it's fate" and flourish from such a mundane starting point. In the case of Ms. Andrews (and Mr. Castenada), both were fortunate to have physical teachers to guide them which to some would be considered a luxary now days. Though as Andrew's mentor, Agnes, interjected in one of her later books, Andrews herself would one day graduate to teachers of higher learning and she (Agnes) would no longer be necessary. This then confronts us with an even more seductive proposal which I venture to say hinges on the universal rather than the particular (race, culture or language) of which so many jealously guard. The glimpse's of Ms. Andrew's various "lives", as illustated by her books, confirms that the soul is diverse in it's many sojourns and that lives are merely identities or roles played by a higher self or over soul. That her teachers were Native American or Buddist doesn't ultimately matter because the message is always the same: "know thy self". A suggestion given but not often considered since to do so requires a certain identification with others firstly and an acknoweledgement of our collective human dilema that is often too painful to admitt. In her succeeding books, again, L. Andrew's depicts a course that is not exclusive to her teacher's heritage since in one she delves into a life lived in England and another, Japan. What is exclusive is the bond that she has with these women whom have obviously guided her throughout many life times and I find this no different from Babaji guiding Paramahansa or the many Masters so many identify with today. I find it unfortunate that others would miss the point altogether and judge what they don't understand and that she would not be allowed to be supported for her efforts that no doubt have assisted others, including myself. That her writings be fiction or non-fiction is also not the point, except that they inspire another to seek the hidden potential within. As we read, within our imagination is a truth which her writing conveys and that is: on some level what we imagine is already real even if only seeming "fiction", because we cannot see it.

Medicine Woman
The first book I read from Lynn Andrews was Crystal Woman. Though it is different from Medicine Woman, I enjoyed them both. When reading these books instead of disecting every paragraph & page, one would recieve more enjoyment just to read and not keep asking where is the message or what the heck is it I am supposed to learn. If you are meant to get something out of this book, you truly will. ~peace~blessings & ~moonlight~

Seek enlightenment elsewhere...
I bought this book thinking it was nonfiction, but as I read it I found it harder and harder to keep from being angry and dismayed. The story seemed a poor stew of bits and pieces of "Native American" spirituality" but the gullible public had made it a best seller. The "mysterious" events, the meetings with "the tall Indian man" all seemed contrived.
Maybe I was just jealous because the Great Spirit chose *her*?
I stopped reading and started trying to find out more about the writer and her subject.
First stop was the writer's web page: Here I found what she is selling.
Next, I searched for people mentioned in the book like Hyemeyohsts Storm and Agnes Whistling Elk. I cannot tell you what I decided about them. You will have to do this research yourself because I am afraid of lawyers.
I read the Amazon.com reviews. I found others who shared my skepticism, but many who thought this a truly spiritual work.
I am writing this review for the latter. Seek enlightenment elsewhere. You will have to find your own path.

I respect most books, but this one is going into a tub of water to be dissolved to make handmade paper.

For Ish, who would have called Lynn V. Andrews "a plastic oreo."

A spiritual journey
Anyone experiencing a spiritual emergence will relate to this book. While the author's experiences are extraordinary, they are experienced by many on different levels. This book was recommended to me by an instructor and I found it fascinating and educational. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Known as the Camino, the Santiago de Compostela Camino is a famouspilgrimage that has been undertaken by people for centuries across northern Spain. It is saidthat this 500-mile path lies directly under the Milky Way and that it reflectsthe energy of the star systems above it. Facing her sixth decade of life onearth, writer and actor Shirley MacLaine decided to go on this trek. She wasn'tsure why, she only knew that the Camino had been traveled for thousands of yearsby "saints, sinners, generals, misfits, kings and queens. It is done by theintent to find one's deepest spiritual meaning and resolutions regardingconflicts in Self."

Typical of MacLaine, this is a personal story with enormous adventure, asmattering of flashbacks, and a hefty serving of cosmic revelations. Like a truepilgrim, MacLaine travels solo, willing to strip herself down to the backpackingessentials and find deeper meaning in all the bizarre, frightening, andcoincidental events she encounters along the way. It is no small feat that thissixtysomething woman walked the grueling path in 30 days. Readers can expectvivid stories of stalking paparazzi, icy showers, bouts of hunger, lost paths, aworshipping young man, a deranged woman screaming in a roadside shelter, saintlytruck drivers, a fellow pilgrim in a wheelchair, bouts of constipation anddiarrhea, and a cosmic crescendo that will knock the socks of MacLaine's fans.--Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (86)

A Fascinating Quest!
"There are many ways to experience one's spiritual education." This quote from Shirley MacLaine sums up this incredible book perfectly. This is Shirley's journey of one finding themselves, or re-discovering themselves on the centuries old Camino - a 500 mile spiritual trek across Spain.

I found this book to be wonderfully enlightening, illuminating, and I applaud Shirley for the courage to complete this journey of the Spirit. Shirley says, "The Camino itself helps facilitate the resolution of emotional issues."

The reader is treated to flashbacks of Shirley's past lives as she once lived along the Camino, including an amazing past life in Lemuria and Atlantis. I found Shirley's honesty and candor refreshing, and many of her insights hit directly home with me. I do believe that the reader will also gain as many insights as I did and stop and let it all sink in. We are treated to her lessons and fears that she has to conquer as well.

I really resonated with her thoughts on fear: "Never ask yourself what it is you fear - instead ask yourself what it is that concerns you. A fear thought, put out, will return, because all energy returns to the sender. Any energy always makes a loop until it regains the source. A concern thought will return also. A that moment discern why you're concerned."

I began my spiritual questing with Shirley's first book and have devoured everything she has written. She is not afraid to speak her truth and she is not afraid to seek to deepen her spirituality and then share the rest of that with humanity. I am sure that I am not the only one who she has deeply and positively affected. We are spiritual beings having a human experience and once again we are reminded of our mission - to reconnect to the Divine source - to love - to God.

Another wonderful quote, "I had walked the Camino in order to understand what we were capable of as human beings - such spiritual magnificence and such destructive fragmentation of our own souls. Were we all repeating such dramas even today because we hadn't remembered what we came from?"

I urge everyone to read this fascinating book. You too, will want to trek the Camino after finishing the book.

More Steps on the Road To Enlightenment
"The Camino", Shirley Maclaine's new book, covers a 500 mile walking trip she completed along the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. Blisters and body pain, loneliness followed by relentless press who heard she was making the pilgrimage, vivid dream/recollections and synchronicity are shared in this journal. 40 pages into this book, I announced to my family that I will be making this same trek. Ms. MacLaine is an excellent writer; clean, intelligent, free of the need to prove anything to anyone. She's just saying what she experienced. We come away with a glimpse at the history of the trail from the days of Charlemange. We see her experience of the possible origin of three dimensional human life, Atlantis, Lemuria, ancestral connections to ET's and genetic engineerring that very possibly got us where we are right now. Skeptics will scoff. Students of Spirit will nod. (Remember, in spring 2000, scientists JUST found out that dinosaurs had four chamber hearts that show they were WARM blooded, not cold blooded like the "fact" they have "known" for years.) Whatever your level of listening, believing or remembering, "The Camino" is a wonderful journey that leaves us feeling renewed. Ultreya, Ms. MacLaine!

Shirleys Books
I have to say, I felt very lucky to find that Amazon.com carried Shirley Maclaines books, I had looked all over my area and could not find them. So Far I have read all but 2 of them and I loved every one of them. She has always been one of my favorite female stars. After reading what I have so far, I like her even more. Seems like some of her favorite Movie stars (Dean Martin, and Barbra) are mine too. I had to smile when she said she had a crush on Dean, I always loved his style and voice, the same for Barbra, they are to me the best singers ever. I feel that Shirley Maclaine is not only very talented, but her writing flows so easily that I can get lost for hours and really enjoy it. She is a remarkable and brave lady who has had a very facinating life. Sure can't say shes boring. She is honest and open and caring, someone whos company I would really enjoy, and her books are a good way to do that. God bless her, I wish her all the joy in the world and luck in her search.

For Serious Spiritual Seekers
I have read and enjoyed each of Shirley Maclaine's books; those that have explored the journey's of life, and those that have explored her show business career. I have not always agreed with everything the author presented, but I have always found the materials to be interesting, thought provoking, and presenting the challenge that always comes with new ideas. I first picked up the Camino when it originally came out about two years ago and simply was not able to read it. I now understand that it was because I was not ready to read this book, even though I have been and continue to be a serious seeker of spiritualism and the meaning of life. Having just read this book, I found it to be interesting and mind broadening. This book is not for everyone. Some people will eagerly and openly embrace its message; others will be questioning and skeptical, which is also good. Others will deride the book and its author, which is unfortunate. Those of us who have read and/or experienced spiritual phenomena owe Ms. Maclaine a great debt, because as a celebrity, and as a gifted writer, she has been able to take subject matter that was once hidden and has presented it to a wide audience, who are free to enjoy it. Most of us do not have the financial resources to take a spritiual journey or pilgrimage. I admire the way she has taken a very personal spiritual journey, and has presented it to her readers in a frank and meaningful way, to allow us explore and examine our own souls.

Shirley's Cosmic Camino
The Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route attracts some 60,000 walkers and cyclists annually, retracing the path taken by medieval Christians across Northern Spain as they travelled to venerate the bones of the apostle St. James in Santiago de Compostella. The journey ranked in importance with going to Rome or Jerusalem and it attracted not only the Great Unwashed, but also many famous people including St. Francis of Assisi and Dante. And Shirley MacLaine. Her book, "the Camino," describes her pilgrimage on the Way of St. James. Sort of.

Walking over the Pyrenees, traversing the altiplano-the high plateau of Northern Spain-, and crossing the green hills of Galicia is not a trip to be undertaken lightly. It is to Ms. MacLaine's credit that she, in her mid-60s, accomplished this in 30 days. But anyone reading this book to learn about the Camino-its beauty, its peoples, its history, its meaning-will learn nothing here. Ms. MacLaine could have saved some effort and just wandered around her home in New Mexico for a month to come up with this silly book.

The book is really concerned with the author's "dream walk" in which she fantasizes about an obscure cleric in the court of Charlemagne who reveals all kinds of secrets about Atlantis and Lemuria and sexuality. Shirley's parents and even poor Olaf Palme pop into the dream. And the "highlight" of the book is when the author finds a gold cross in Leon that seems to have come from another dimension.

When in the real world, Ms. MacLaine describes the wretched hostels, her blisters and her even more painful fellow-pilgrims. She recounts all the autograph requests and never misses an opportunity to remind readers of her sexual attractiveness. And how I wished that total strangers would have volunteered to do my laundry when I cycled the Camino as seems to happen to the famous.

Europe's first example of organized tourism, the Camino de Santiago was a product of the medieval cult of relics, the need for believers to have tangible, physical evidence to buttress their faith. The origins of the pilgrimage seem based on fraud and political expediency but the Road, with its marvellous churches and cathedrals and monasteries, all ignored by Ms. MacLaine, is a monument itself to faith and perserverance. For many of the medieval pilgrims, it was the one great trip of their lives, and many did not return. And here we have a book that purports to be about the Camino but barely mentions St. James or Christianity. Rather, the Camino has been repaved with New Age rubble.

Shirley MacLaine is a charming and much-lauded entertainer. She is bothered by the press in the book but celebrity clearly has its advantages too. If "the Camino," with its obsessive self-interest, had been written by anyone else, it is unlikely to have ever seen print. For those with a genuine interest in the Camino de Santiago, they would be better-served with a basic guidebook before experiencing this wonderful road, on foot or by bicycle, on their own. It is worth it. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (31)

A real life look at the Prophet of the new aeon.
Sutin has written the best biography of Aleister Crowley ever written. That being said, don't expect a glowing, praise filled, "Uncle Al is a God" type biography. You won't get it and it's a good thing you won't because AC was nothing like that. Sutin approaches Crowley's life as a biographer, not a follower. That's what makes the book so good.

Crowley's life was one long mess, mostly of his own making, and Sutin doesn't leave out a thing. After reading "Do What Thou Wilt" you will find yourself questioning everything you ever thought you knew about Aleister Crowley. However, you will also recognize the genius of the man, his wit, his wisdom, and penny-anti carnival shyster antics that made him both the scourge of the Victorian era, and the broken down, drug addicted, lonely old man in Post WWII England.

Crowley had moments of Divine inspiration and moments of madness. Unfortunately, Crowley often couldn't tell the difference between the two.

Phenomenal biography of a very tricky subject
If you've never read ANYTHING about Crowley (I hadn't), this is the place to start. This biography leaves out no detail, no matter how small. This book puts Crowley under a microscope with unstinting clarity that is completely balanced - the biographer gives Crowley credit where credit is due but never tries to whitewash the mess that the man made of his life (and of other's lives). Crowley's innovations are not easy ones to understand, and his impact is complex. Mr. Sutin gets it just right.

If you're the type of person who wants a biography that draws the big picture by supplying all the minute details (journal entries, letters, receipts, financial records, decorating schemes, sexual partners, travel plans, etc), this is the Crowley book for you.

Really, my only complaint is that there weren't more photos. However, for all I know, there are few existing photos, given the time in which Crowley lived. This book inspired me to read more by and about Crowley, which is the best praise a biography can be given.

Is Aleister Crowley boring? Is that possible?
It's a shame that this book is so tedious, because the author knows his subject. I read Lawrence Sutin's biography of PK Dick and I was impressed, so I had high hopes for this one. But there's no structure to the story, no plot. Sutin moves from one moment of Crowley's life to the next, never making it clear if he's describing a high point, a low point, a turning point, etc. Halfway through, I promised myself I'd finish the book, sure that as Crowley's life reached the end, Sutin would bring things to a climax. But he didn't. Sutin knows the facts but didn't present them in a compelling way.

Enthralling Perspective of the life of Aleister Crowley
This is an Enthralling Perspective of the life of Aleister Crowley.... "the rest of the story."

"Do What Thou Wilt" fills-in numerous gaps in Crowley's own writings and maintains an open perspective until the last few chapters. This is good balancing material to add to a Crowley research library.

Throughout most of the book, the author seems to have an (almost) non-judgmental perspective--giving us a "here's the facts" biography. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not put it down. It was very nice to read-about all the things Crowley sort-of Glossed-over in his own works. Also, I found it interesting that the author began the book with a list of Crowley's accomplishments that would have been well-recognized, if not for his "Beastly" reputation and eccentric (self-destructive / self-defeating) behavior. The author had access to a wealth of information, including access to individuals in the O.T.O.

I felt that the author maintained his mostly non-judgmental view until the last few chapters--when it becomes evident that the author had pretty-much written Crowley off as a "Dirty Old Man"--a sad case of Self-deception and a delusory drug addict.
However, unlike most of the biographical material I have read about Crowley, this book tries very hard to show the positive achievements of "The Beast" as well as the more scandalous aspects of the man. Yet, it is very difficult to perceive Crowley in a positive light, when the Misogynistic (wife-beating) scenarios are brought to light--which, if true, obviously makes Crowley a criminal worthy of little respect.

Over-all, the book is quite impressive and it seems to give a more-or-less positive outlook on Crowley's life, although it does tend to dispel illusions of Crowley's grandeur and "Prophet" status. However, this book also leaves one with the impression that Crowley did, in fact, follow the "Do What Thou Wilt" philosophy to the utmost.... The man never had to work an honest day's labor, yet always had enough money or duped enough people into taking care of him, and he *Always* had plenty of sex, women, men, etc. to keep himself "happy" in that department.

I was a bit disappointed that this author doesn't really cover the Occult aspects of Crowley's life very well....he mostly seems to concentrate on Crowley's disreputable behavior, abusive relationships, and the more Tabloid aspects of his life....and seems to gloss-over the details of the writing of "The Equinox" (a 5 year project, skimmed-over in this biography) --I would have enjoyed a detailed break-down of the formation of that work and the people involved. The author sort-of skips-over Crowley's connections with Blavatsky, with minor references.

Although this is an amazing, and well-written, biography of Crowley, one is left with the impression: "So....when did he do Occult stuff ?" (the Occult workings almost seem mere footnotes). This book details his "Book of The Law" workings and the related occult workings, but one gets the impression that the O.T.O. was just something Crowley wrote letters about as an afterthought, occasionally, when he needed money from the members (yet, wouldn't touch L500 of OTO $ under his bed, while lying on the same bed in extremely poor health).

As a member of various organizations, I know that it takes a tremendous amount of work to keep any kind of Masonic or Occult group operational....so, it seems a bit odd that this aspect of Crowley's life seems almost like a background story, or basic framework for Crowley's Love Life.

A more appropriate title for this book would be: "Do What Thou Wilt: The Life and Loves of Aleister Crowley."

Don't get me wrong--I loved this book and learned a lot--but, I feel a large aspect of Crowley's life was given the back shelf to his enormous sex drive. Yet, considering the fact that Crowley and others have covered the "Occult" territory numerous times, this book makes a fine addition to a Crowley collection and fills-in many gaps that Crowley's admirers or apologists would not care to reveal--one would be hard-pressed to portray Crowley as a "Spiritual Leader" if one included the extremely Misogynistic / Abusive behavior (depicted in this book) of Crowley in a biography extolling his virtues as "Prophet of The New Aeon."

Faix ce que veult
There is a mystery to the end of the nineteenth century in the sudden appearance of figures such as Nietzsche, Gurdjieff, and Crowley, out of the blue, trying to rewrite the rules of various games, and in each case with a vicious sadistic streak. We fail to see the connection, or suspect one, but with Crowley we have a clue, albeit a misleading one, almost like a decoy. And then we see the Hitler phenomenon. With Crowley we see the explicit connection between autonomy pursued and autonomy occulted, as Nietzsche suddenly becomes transparent, thrasing around, he never knew what hit him. Your move, beware of reaching in the cookie jar here. Do you have potential Faustian propensities? If you have gotten this far, I'd be worried. Click on Paton's The Categorical Imperative for the Kantian take on will. Much better, first rate, when Crowley is second rate, though interesting, and pitiable. He would be of no importance were it not for his 'book of the law' and 'new aeon' swindle, which nonetheless expresses, and distorts, an important thematic that needs to be salvaged from the occult altogether, to be seen in its true form.
This is a useful biography of Crowley whom the author understandably wishes to defend, at least to the degree of a biography, given the rote excoriations, which are inevitable, and in the end deserved. Crowley's 'magic' is a waste of time, but one meets enough idiots in this field to require some leery investigation. A man of many talents, the colorful self-realization of his 'career' is something you could never imitate so beware of trying. A good poker player folds often, very dull. A bad one reaches into the cookie jar. With Crowley, fold, I would say, just observe.
A useful account. ... Read more

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Scientist, poet, and self-proclaimed Antichrist, Jack Parsons was abizarre genius whose life reads like an implausible yet irresistible sciencefiction