Tag Archives: aleister crowley

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Magic

The word “magic,” with or without the K at the end that Aleister Crowley preferred, derives from “magus,” a term for a Zoroastrian priest. I’ve seen indications that it might have referred to a specific tribe or caste. When the … Continue reading

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All in How You Spell ‘Em

I saw something recently about the difference between the words “fairy” and “faerie.” Really, there’s no difference; the latter is just an archaic spelling. The word comes from the French for “fate,” and therefore “enchantment”; and was applied to many different … Continue reading

Posted in Authors, British, Celtic, Discworld, Etymology, Greek Mythology, J.R.R. Tolkien, L. Frank Baum, Language, Magic, Mythology, Norse, Oz, Oz Authors, Ruth Plumly Thompson, Terry Pratchett | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Listening Backward

One thing I was reminded of in response to my recent post on Satanic panic was that there were some people who genuinely did do horrible things due to what they thought were messages from the Devil or some other … Continue reading

Posted in Beatles, Camper Van Beethoven, Cartoons, Christianity, Conspiracy Theories, Humor, Music, Religion, Satanism, Television, The Simpsons, They Might Be Giants, Urban Legends, Weird Al Yankovic | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Catching Up with Constance (and Others)

Not counting the one on The Lost Tales of Oz, how long has it been since I’ve done a book review post? I checked, and it looks like it’s been about a month. And on Goodreads, I’m still listed as … Continue reading

Posted in A. Lee Martinez, Authors, Book Reviews, Brentford Trilogy, Greek Mythology, Humor, incryptid, Monsters, Mythology, Relationships, Robert Rankin, seanan mcguire | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Come On, Let’s Make Trouble Together Somehow

Karla Kane, King’s Daughters Home for Incurables – That title sounds like that of the Emilie Autumn book I’ve been reading. Anyway, Karla has been a friend on the online social media for some time now, and she’s also the … Continue reading

Posted in Albums, Beatles, Feminism, Humor, Magnetic Fields, Music, Stephin Merritt, XTC | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Morbid and Marvelous

The Chickens of Atlantis and Other Foul and Filthy Fiends, by Robert Rankin – This is the fourth, and presumably the last, book in Rankin’s series of novels taking place in a steampunk Victorian England where War of the Worlds … Continue reading

Posted in Astronomy, Authors, Book Reviews, Christianity, Education, Evolution, Fairy Tales, Humor, Jonathan Swift, Monsters, Philosophy, Poetry, Prejudice, Religion, Robert Rankin, Science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Daft Steampunk

I’m way behind with writing reviews of books I’ve finished recently, so here are a few. The Song of the Quarkbeast, by Jasper Fforde – The sequel to The Last Dragonslayer continues the adventures of Jennifer Strange, the orphan girl … Continue reading

Posted in Authors, Book Reviews, Chronicles of Kazam, Humor, Jasper Fforde, Lewis Carroll, Magic, Robert Rankin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Conjury Through Copulation

My wife was recently looking up stuff about Devil worship and the occult, and came across the Wikipedia article on sex magic. In addition to being the hind part of a Red Hot Chili Peppers album title, it’s apparently a … Continue reading

Posted in Authors, Discworld, Magic, Religion, Terry Pratchett | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What’s in Hubbard’s Cupboard?

If you haven’t yet, you probably should read The New Yorker‘s recent exposé on Scientology, which focuses on former member Paul Haggis, a writer and director. Scientology has a reputation of being really frightening, and I’m inclined to think the … Continue reading

Posted in Cults, Mystery Cults, Religion, Scientology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Creepy Crowley

I can’t tell you how many interviews I saw with Keith Olbermann back when he did the Worst Person in the World segment where he felt the need to point out that these people weren’t REALLY the worst in the … Continue reading

Posted in Christianity, Cults, Egyptian, Historical Personages, History, Mythology, Philosophy, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments