Fresh ideas for the modern mage lie at the heart of this thought-provoking guide to magic theory. Approaching magical practice from an information paradigm, Patrick Dunn provides a unique and contemporary perspective on an ancient practice. Dunn teaches all about symbol systems, magical artifacts, sigils, spirits, elementals, languages, and magical journeys, and explains their significance in magical practice. There are also exercises for developing magic skills, along with techniques for creating talismans, servitors, divination decks, and your own astral temple.
Postmodern Magic: The Art of Magic in the Information Age
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| |||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Patrick Dunn (Chicago, IL) is a poet, linguist, Pagan, and a university English instructor with a PhD in modern literature and language. His understanding of semiotics and the study of symbols arise from his training in linguistics and literary theory. He has practiced magic since childhood. Visit him online at Pomomagic.nfshost.com.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 36 people found the following review helpful
By Fr. R. O.
Format:Paperback
I don't like Chaos Magic, and for years I've seen this book on shelves and haven't purchased it because I suspected it was more of the same tripe that Peter Carroll popularized in the later decades of the twentieth century. I was so wrong.
This book is solid gold. While there are some things in it I disagree with, Patrick Dunn presents the information every magician *must* have if they are going to be successful in their magickal endeavors. His style is smooth, entertaining, and he presents everything I wish I had known when I was starting out in my magickal career sixteen years ago. If I had started with this instead of Donald Michael Kraig's Modern Magick, I'm sure I'd be further along in my Work today.
This book is not a genre-specific approach to performing magick, as it may appear to be. It provides the basic processes of every magickal path, a strong philosophical understanding of the information exchanged in ritual workings, and intermediate-to-advanced information as well. While I suggest it more to beginners, long-time practitioners will find nuggets of gold on every page as well. Reading this book spackled up the cracks in my understanding on some aspects of magickal theory that have eluded me for years.
It's an excellent companion for Agrippa-esque ceremonial magicians, Solomonic practitioners, and even Golden Dawn or Thelema initiates looking for more practical information that won't be found in the dogma so prevalent in initiatory systems. And it's so much easier to read than Regardie or Crowley.
This book has not received the appreciation it deserves in the occult community. I strongly recommend it to anyone who practices magick.
This book is solid gold. While there are some things in it I disagree with, Patrick Dunn presents the information every magician *must* have if they are going to be successful in their magickal endeavors. His style is smooth, entertaining, and he presents everything I wish I had known when I was starting out in my magickal career sixteen years ago. If I had started with this instead of Donald Michael Kraig's Modern Magick, I'm sure I'd be further along in my Work today.
This book is not a genre-specific approach to performing magick, as it may appear to be. It provides the basic processes of every magickal path, a strong philosophical understanding of the information exchanged in ritual workings, and intermediate-to-advanced information as well. While I suggest it more to beginners, long-time practitioners will find nuggets of gold on every page as well. Reading this book spackled up the cracks in my understanding on some aspects of magickal theory that have eluded me for years.
It's an excellent companion for Agrippa-esque ceremonial magicians, Solomonic practitioners, and even Golden Dawn or Thelema initiates looking for more practical information that won't be found in the dogma so prevalent in initiatory systems. And it's so much easier to read than Regardie or Crowley.
This book has not received the appreciation it deserves in the occult community. I strongly recommend it to anyone who practices magick.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By Vargr
Format:Paperback
This book presents a fairly straightforward system of magical practice which draws on such diverse sources as the Golden Dawn, classical Greek magic, Zen Buddhism and Chaos Magic. It is a suitable read for those who have had little or no magical experience, as well as for more experienced traditionalists who might find that some of its material could provide new perspectives. Readers who are highly experienced in modern magic techniques might not find anything new, but might still find this an enjoyable read.
The active, daily practice of magic in the real world is encouraged, as is a great deal of creativity in the construction of rituals and working tools. Each chapter contains practical exercises pertaining to its subject matter, including topics such as evocation, divination, astral travel, and linguistics. Further questions for study and research are also presented in the appendices.
In my opinion, the most notable and enjoyable feature of the book, is the way in which semiotics, and communication theory are woven into the magical system. I have long believed that an understanding of both of these disciplines is vital to the successful practice of magic, and I was pleased with the way in which each was presented. Not too much information for a newcomer to these respective concepts to digest, but enough to provide a useful foundation for further exploration. I do disagree with Dunn's dismissal of memetics as merely a metaphor, and his aversion to applying scientific principles to magical study, but these are small matters of conflicting opinion which did not spoil my appreciation of the book overall.
The chapter on occult networking includes guidelines for etiquette, as well as a survey of various types of magical groups, which although somewhat brief could be very useful to a solo practitioner who is looking to meet others with whom to work.
The active, daily practice of magic in the real world is encouraged, as is a great deal of creativity in the construction of rituals and working tools. Each chapter contains practical exercises pertaining to its subject matter, including topics such as evocation, divination, astral travel, and linguistics. Further questions for study and research are also presented in the appendices.
In my opinion, the most notable and enjoyable feature of the book, is the way in which semiotics, and communication theory are woven into the magical system. I have long believed that an understanding of both of these disciplines is vital to the successful practice of magic, and I was pleased with the way in which each was presented. Not too much information for a newcomer to these respective concepts to digest, but enough to provide a useful foundation for further exploration. I do disagree with Dunn's dismissal of memetics as merely a metaphor, and his aversion to applying scientific principles to magical study, but these are small matters of conflicting opinion which did not spoil my appreciation of the book overall.
The chapter on occult networking includes guidelines for etiquette, as well as a survey of various types of magical groups, which although somewhat brief could be very useful to a solo practitioner who is looking to meet others with whom to work.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
From the beginning, this book captivates through ample use of humor backed with an informative, comprehensive dialogue that the author forms with the reader. Although it seems to be written for beginners, Postmodern Magic is open-ended enough to allow for the practicing mage to branch off and form his/her own ideas. Instead of lauding this book as a manual to be used for magical reference, I see it as a physical embodiment of an informal teacher/student discussion about magic. Many people have trouble "learning" from an instruction book; however, Patrick Dunn's Postmodern magic interacts with the student, encouraging personal growth and experience over "how things ought to be."
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
I only wish this book had a hardcover edition.
As an educated witch (I have BAs in English and Linguistics, and post graduate work in Education),I have searched long and hard for a work that could marry my rational and magickal... Read more
Published on November 15, 2009 by Jade Moonstar
5.0 out of 5 stars
A future classic
I heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject. I actually was in the process of reading the author's later book when I thought to look at this one for some... Read more
Published on April 30, 2009 by Roy
5.0 out of 5 stars
POSTMODERN MAGIC
"Commonsense at it's best!" Overall Mr. Dunn's book is very informative. I would recommend this title to any practitioner truly interested in learning the bare-bones approach too... Read more
Published on May 19, 2008 by A. Miles
4.0 out of 5 stars
A whirlwind tour of magick.
This book seems to take a lot of flak because it boils down a lot of different practices and paradigms to their most basic principles - what kinds of symbols there are and how they... Read more
Published on November 20, 2006 by Bryce A. Lynch
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pat Rocks
The book is great and the author is u833r c00l. =)
Great work, Pat.
Great work, Pat.
Published on November 10, 2006 by Moab
3.0 out of 5 stars
Makes a few good points. . .
This was an interesting book, although rather thin, and a number of topics are just barely addressed rather than further developed. Read more
Published on December 28, 2005 by Mister Smyth
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Pagan book stands out in a crowd
Patrick and I have both taken issue with the shoddy scholarship in Pagan writings when we have conversed throughout the years. Read more
Published on October 7, 2005 by Geoff Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Most important stuff in one place.
I should have written this a long time ago. I got it the day I saw it and haven't been dissapointed.
It has the backbone of modern magick with out all the fluff. Read more
It has the backbone of modern magick with out all the fluff. Read more
Published on August 13, 2005 by dart
3.0 out of 5 stars
Is the symbol really the reality?
For the most part I enjoyed this book. The author impressed me with using footnotes, which is definitely a step up from the majority of occult books out there. Read more
Published on July 20, 2005 by Taylor Ellwood
5.0 out of 5 stars
The next Cunningham
I've been practicing magic for over 20 years. This book comfirms some of what I've been doing. Read over half the book in one day. Was making sigils by page 54. I love this guy. Read more
Published on May 31, 2005 by woverxx
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 48
books:
See all 48 books this book cites
1
book
cites this book:
- The Golden Dawn: The Original Account of the Teachings, Rites & Ceremonies of the Hermetic Order (Llewellyn's Golden Dawn) by Israel Regardie on 6 pages
- Modern Magick: Eleven Lessons in the High Magickal Arts (Llewellyn's High Magick) by Donald Michael Kraig on page 43, page 131, and Back Matter
- The way of the shaman by Michael J Harner on page 68, and Back Matter
- Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns on page 19, and Back Matter
- Liber Kaos by Peter J Carroll on page 181, and Back Matter
See all 48 books this book cites
- Foundations of Magic: Techniques & Spells that Work by J.F. O'Neill in Back Matter
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
|
|
