1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An amazing collection regarding polarity, November 28, 2010
This review is from: Polarity Magic: The Secret History of Western Religion (Paperback)
If a person is truly advanced in their work in the esoteric fields, they will be amazed at the material put forward by the authors. If , however, a person doesn't grasp the principles being set forth in the book, they should simple set the book aside until they mature in these areas of endeavor.
I still recall reading in the 60's that polarity was everything in the field of magic, but there were no books like this to provide useful directions for the erstwhile seeker.
If you apply the knowledge in this book, you'll see more clearly what many myths were hinting at, and most important you'll see why polarity is all in the applications of esoteric lore.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
recommended to me by a friend..., September 15, 2011
This review is from: Polarity Magic: The Secret History of Western Religion (Paperback)
Here, the authors delve into the inter-cultural relevance of polarity in esoteric religion or magic. That is, not muddling the various archetypes but still appreciating their mythologies in their countries of origin. And while they deal with nature and pagan elements, this is integrated into a ceremonial system of magic.
Certainly Hellenism was influenced by ancient Egyptian culture and vice-versa. This book deals heavily with and chooses to focus on Celtic gods and goddesses, though the authors don't explain this choice over the other possibilities. It is through ritual that we 'live' mythology. The thing is that it reiterated the union of opposites too frequently - perhaps they could have further related this concept to others or put it in different terms.
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7 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
B-O-R-I-N-G!, January 19, 2005
This review is from: Polarity Magic: The Secret History of Western Religion (Paperback)
Ye Gods! What a hard road the first half of this book was to get thru! Why is it every British Occultist of the "Western Mystery Tradition" has to bore us with their lineage whether it's back to Crowley, A.O.Spare, S. L. McGregor Mathers or as in this case, Dion Fortune? What should have tipped me off from the get-go was the fact their students of that pompous windbag Gareth Knight.
Frankly I had hoped the book would be better than what I found it to be and that's an over-rated, pompous b-o-r-i-n-g! I hate trashing another author's book but damnit why do so many make it so easy too? Do we need yet another book that has to take a huge portion of the book to discuss Egyptian pantheons, myths, religions, etc.? Pages 29 thru 57 was somewhat tolerable but when you hit pages 59 and read thru 134 about Qabala, Judaism, Yahweh, the Torah, Menorahs, Tabernacles, you get the edgy deja vu feeling of "been here, read that".
Even the section on the Celtic myths was way to anal-yzed for my taste. Why is it Western Esoteric Magicians seem to have to over-anal-yze every myth, symbol and detail? Perhaps they're frustrated psychologists who couldn't hack it in the university environment? I dunno but it's irritating to spend hard earned money for more of this "Magic-is-all-psychology-and-here's-our-take-on-the-subject" crapola. Nothing new here in that respect, folks.
The book's premise is the "creative use of Myths coupled with the Polarity aspect of priesthood and sexuality". Wow. That's no secret tradition I know of. Sexuality is a large part and parcel of every religion, philosophy and creed out there since the day people became aware that procreation caused pregnancies not Spirits.
The practical section starts off with the discussion of sexual partners working thru the myths and rites together. It's quite factual and gives you some things to consider. What the authors are trying to do with much verbosity is blend the Hermetic and Orphic pillars of the Qabalistic Tree of Life. The left hand pillar (path) is the Hermetic and that is one of study and disciplined ritual whereas the right hand pillar (path) is the Orphic and is where creative drama and ecstasy is found. Either side can take you to Kether but the authors seem to want to blend both sides together while delving into rites based on myths.
There's a complete index and full bibliography with the token names in Occultism listed. The endnotes really didn't help me much (but in all fairness I fought boredom to finish the book!) The asking price is typical Llewellyn fare at nineteen dollars and ninety-five cents. I rate it two out of five stars. Look elsewhere folks.
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