Customer Reviews

Psybermagick: Advanced Ideas in Chaos Magic

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm not sure why the above review puts an !alert! on New Falcon Press books, I have exactly the opposite reaction. Psybermagick is very readable, and does give what the title offers-ideas, not necessarily techniques. Chaos magick is highly invidualized, I'm not sure how a book could go much beyond the formulas and algorithms offered elsewhere-it would be purely intellectual and hypothetical, and the enthusiast should consider if they wouldnt rather enjoy learning mathematics, perhaps applied to computer graphics.

As I have met a few chaos magickians, I would say that they have trouble holding onto money, and keeping things together, just like most students. Anything which will more quickly bring you through the "overwhelmed Neophyte" stage and back in touch with the "new you" is greatly to be desired.

Especially if Chaos Magick is actually part of your life, this book probably is vital to you, as chaos magickians are spread out all over the world, without the same support groups as, say, Wiccans. This books helps aquiant you with some of the societal results of the Work, and gives you a look at your potential selves.

It's almost a "Magick Without Tears" for Chaos Magick, in terms of the breath of understanding it imparts. To be blunt, I'm not really a practicing Chaos Magickian but I found it fascinating.

'In selecting beliefs we might as well try to go for maximum entertainment value and capability enhancement, regardless of the so-called 'facts'; for if a human really wants something, statistics count for nothing.' (pg 11)

And this represents the central theme of 'PsyberMagick', which is essentially a collection of magickal maxims intended to compliment his two previous works 'Liber Null and Psychonaut' and 'Liber Kaos'. As a supplementary text, it further develops the ideas previous presented, and indeed the rituals and commentaries assume that the readers possess both previous works.

In this work Carroll has adopted the multiple selves paradigm (or multiple selfs as he terms it). even offering an apology 'in advance for any irritation and confusion caused by the use of standard Chaotic grammar which avoids all concepts of 'being', and uses 'we' instead of 'I', in recognition of the legionary nature of the personal multimind' (pg 13).

'PsyberMagick' is predominantly compiled of brief notes on various subjects with a page or so of commentary, all in e-prime. Carroll covers subjects such as retroactive magick, magickal attack, politics; as well as introducing a few more magickal equations. Yes, Carroll is still playing around with physics, trying to find a mathematical justification for magick, which I find very unnecessary, distracting and, frankly, impractical.

Carroll does devise an interesting political system called 'Chaocracy', operating on the principle of selecting a legislative body 'purely by random means', stating that 'a chaocracy will free us from the conflict of party political ideology with conscience, and free us from the distasteful business of casting our votes amongst professional liars'. It could work, as he says 'we trust people's lives to randomly selected juries as the only fair method; should we use any less fair method for a nation or a planet?'

Much of the inspiration for this work is obviously drawn from Crowley as it is written in the style of Crowley's 'Book of Lies', and Carroll's newfound adoption of his spelling of 'magick'. Though it is still typically infused with Carroll's personal dogmas, he does demonstrate a unique sense of humour.

Ultimately witty and inspirational, this book will likely find a favoured place on any chaote's bookshelf.

You must absolutely read this book (but only after reading his first two). Humorously inspired by Crowley's "The Book of Lies" format with single page chapters followed by a commentary after each. Includes a couple more equations of magick (for those who are so inclined), the three dimensions of time, a section on "politicks", spell procedures to attack the semantic virus commonly known as BEING, retroactive enchantment (altering the apparent past), a section entitled Heresy with something to offend almost anyone (unless you are one the few humans who has gotten over the habit of thumb sucking), and tons more. Written in his famous "precise and laconic" style, this book covers EVERYTHING. I find myself going back to it continuously and reading a chapter or two at random while sitting on the throne.

Very, very funny, sometimes scattered, commentary. Although several reviewers have emphasized its unsuitability for novices (for one thing, you won't get all the jokes), the section on Abysses, read and considered early on, will save considerable trouble & provide a good antidote to solipsism.
Something here to offend everyone; much that appears trivial has a sting in its tail, and yours ...

This book is a magickal classic and a must read for all aspiring magicians. It is funny, sometimes offensive, witty, challenging and best of all very useful. There are only 1/2 dozen or so working magick rituals in here but they are very very powerful. And the rest is very mind expanding.

It is also a Falcon Press book, which in spite of the odd negative review listed here is a stamp of quality to me. They put out consistently excellent books. The Peter Carroll CD's they have just put out are excellent as well.

Psybermagick is Peter Carroll's greatest work. You will feel the energy of this book creating a vortex around you. This is definately not a book for the newcomer (the title alone should suggest that). If you consider yourself an advanced chaos mage its a must read. Psybermagick is first and foremost a complementary book to Libber Null and Liber Chaos.

Like any Peter Carrol book it suffers from dogmatism and personal propaganda however his ideas are more approachable than his previous books. Strangely enough this book mainly talks about ideas in magic than specific techniques and approaches which I personally found appealing since it opened a new horizon for my magical adventuring.

A little warning: reading this book you might attempt to use we instead of I, which is exactly what I tried. In doing so you will touch chaos with your fingertips at that very moment you might have to struggle to retain your sanity. Thankfully I survived, got everything I needed and moved on.

Assume nothing.

an enchanting, mind eviscerating collection of magickal maxims upon which to feed the brain and fortify your soul. Pop psychologists beware - this is no fanciful step through the garden of love and kisses.

These are biting, highly charged morsels, intellectual bullets that penetrate preconceptions and re-impregnate your mental structures with new and improved software.

If you enjoy turning neurons upside down and spinning them around a bit to see what you come up with, order this roulette wheel for the mind.

Peter Carroll's writing style is quite a lot different than the vast majority of occult/pagan/magic writers. This is both pleasant and somewhat annoying at different times. The thing that stands out most to me is how the tone and style of the book fits into several broad stereotypes of 'male' thinking/speaking/writing styles. While not overly off-putting, even to a diehard feminist like myself, it can be a bit distracting. Further, the (mostly joking) arrogant tone is another annoyance. However, if you can overlook all of that it is a very useful book. The ideas and exercises presented in the book are quite good when you're trying to move past old mental structures. Chaos Magick cleanses the palate of the mind so that you can more easily appreciate and experience the world around you. If Chaos Magick interests you, and it really ought to if you're serious about performing magic/k, then this book is a vital addition to your library.

A work with little magickal use, but vital to prevent arrogance in the magician, Carroll continually pokes holes in the power games and egotism of non-serious practicioners. If you can read this and not see yourself in some chapter you know that you are on the right Path.

One gets the idea Carroll woke up one day and thought, "Time for another book." He gathered his scribbles together and sent them to the publisher. 41% of the pages are half full or less so the 130 pages are quite a stretch. There's nothing new here, nothing useful. Phil Hine is a much, much better bet.