My Life With The Spirits: The Adventures of a Modern Magician [Paperback]

Lon Milo DuQuette (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1999

A rare glimpse into the fascinating, sometimes terrifying, sometimes hilarious world of a modern ceremonial magician. Hailed by critics as the most entertaining author and one of the most widely respected members of the magick community, Lon Milo DuQuette provides a beacon for aspiring magicians everywhere.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Red Wheel / Weiser (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578631203
• ISBN-13: 978-1578631209
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #240,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #89 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Social Scientists & Psychologists

More About the Author

LON MILO DUQUETTE

Author of 15 critically acclaimed books (translated in 11 languages) on Magick and the Occult, Lon Milo DuQuette is one of the most respected and entertaining writers and lecturers in the field of the Western Mystery Traditions.

Since 1975 he as been a national and international governing officer of Ordo Templi Orientis, one of the most influential magical societies of the 20th Century. He is currently the Order's United States Deputy Grand Master. He is an internationally recognized authority on tarot and western ceremonial magick. Although he takes these subjects very seriously, he tries not to take himself too seriously. This rare combination of scholarship and humor has earned him in the last 20 years a unique and respected position in American spiritual and esoteric literature.

DuQuette appears occasionally on television and radio as a guest expert on subjects involving the occult. He is a contributor to the Magical Egypt DVD series' and a host on the new series, The Great Work.

He is a faculty member of the Omega Institute in Reinbeck New York, and Robert Anton Wilson's Maybe Logic Academy.

He is also a professional musician/singer/songwriter.

He lives in Costa Mesa, California with his wife of 43 years, Constance.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just another magical autobiography, April 7, 2005

By 

Boudica (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Life With The Spirits: The Adventures of a Modern Magician (Paperback)

This book is an autobiography. But it differs from most as it is also a teaching tool, with the focus being magic. It is about personal responsibility and personal growth. It is a book of inspiration as well as failure. It's about being human, becoming a holy man and dealing with the divine. It is a book about the student who becomes the teacher. Sounds interesting but confused? Let me back up and explain.

Amongst his many practices, Lon Milo DuQuette is a Qabalahist, one who studies and practices the Qabalah. No, he is not Jewish. Not everyone who studies the Qabalah is Jewish. He is a magician, in the truest sense of the word.

Mr. DuQuette starts out by giving us his background, his youth, and explains how his parents choices of a spiritual path failed to meet his special, personal needs. Born in time to grow up in the 50s and 60s on the West Coast, he had the opportunity to seek out the spiritual path that made the most sense to him, and allowed him to explore it to the fullest.

Mr. Duquette has a way about him, of looking at a situation, in retrospect, and finding the "meat and potatoes" of why he chose a particular path or project, and making it into hash. We all had adventures at that time. Mr. Duquette had some whoppers. And he admits to them and tells us all about them in a most charming way.

That is what makes this book unique. This is not another dry and dull autobiography by some Ceremonial Magician that becomes an ego trip for the magical and famous. This is a real person exploring magic. He has some spectacular successes on his chosen path, and some stupendous flops. We all learn from our mistakes, and Mr. Duquette is not afraid to admit to his share of a few. He never takes anything so seriously that he forgets to laugh. And he shares this with the reader to our delight.

Each success and each failure becomes a learning experience he shares with the reader, passing on his own brand of validation of experience.

He also shares some of his knowledge in a way that almost anyone can understand. You don't have to be a Qabalahist to follow what he is talking about or doing. Mr. DuQuette lays it out for you in the simplest form, and you may even come away with some understanding of what the Qabalah is all about, without even realizing it. We see the beginnings of a person who will become an excellent teacher.

This is a wonderful book about one person's journey along a magical path. It is a book of exploration, a book of learning and a book to make you realize that we are all human and we are all magical. It is about finding one's path and making the most of our lives. It is full of positive affirmations about life, and is inspiration for those looking at what magic is about.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone considering the path of magic in their lives, be it High Magic or kitchen witchery. And I recommend this to anyone who knows someone on the magical path and wants to know what it is all about. While it is very specific to Mr. DuQuette, I couldn't think of a better teacher for what magic is and is not for those not familiar with magic.

And for those who already walk the path of magic, I recommend this book as an essential part of our learning. We can all use a reminder that we are but human, no matter how much we tend to think we are something more. Thanks, Mr. DuQuette, for that lesson. boudica

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ANY MAGICIAN, ASPIRING OR EXPERIENCED, SHOULD READ THIS ONE!, November 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: My Life With The Spirits: The Adventures of a Modern Magician (Paperback)

Trust me on this one, folks! I read this book and immediately had every one of my personal students read it! They all loved it, not to mention the fact that it gave them hope (and provided a beacon of light) that they WILL succeed; in life AND in Magick. If you take any of my reviews seriously, please make it this one.

32 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Exciting Autobiograpy of an Expert Magickian!, November 16, 2002

By 

Frater V "The Truth is Absolutely Not Absolut... (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: My Life With The Spirits: The Adventures of a Modern Magician (Paperback)

This first-hand account of Lon Duquette's Magickal life and personal life is very, very interesting. His whimsical style and unabashed Honesty are thrilling. This amazing man can switch from seriously discussing the intricacies of Magickal operations, to making you laugh until you nearly cry. Every Magickian, Wiccan, Witch and whatnot should own this book for the autobiographical dissertation on how he created his first Wand!

Don't get me wrong, this book isn't written to be placed in the humor section--he obviously takes his Work very seriously. However, Lon has discovered one of the Greatest Keys of occultism (don't take yourself too seriously).

This definitely is not a typical "I'm a big dark, brooding Occultist" story. this guy has his stuff together, and I have it on good word that he is just as jovial in person as he is in real life--yet, can switch to Magickian Mode, as if taking off a hat and putting another on.

I have never enjoyed an autobiography so much. Crowley's autohagiography was wonderful, yet his style is not exactly easy to read....Crowley is more like College Courses of study.

Duquette's book can be read in one sitting, yet leaves a tremendous Impression upon the reader. You really feel as-if you know this guy and could actually talk to him.

I learned a lot of very, very useful information from this great book and I will highly recommend it to every Magickal person I know. The lessons to be learned regarding various Magickal Practices are priceless.

No matter what type of Magick you practice, this book will be a useful addition to your library (tell your friend's to get their own copy, or you'll probably never get it back).