Customer Reviews

Understanding Chaos Magic

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

 

 

With Chaos Magic books being still rather rare, this is possibly one of the most essential of the bunch as it gives some history and perspective on what it is all about without all the hype that traverses the e-lists. Can't wait to see what else this author writes, her Spirits of the Elements series has loads on practical magic and I heard that she was working on another Chaos book!

Okay, I am probably too advanced for this book, having already read all of Phil Hine, Kenneth Grant, and Peter Carroll. I would only recommend it if you are very new to chaos magic, so new that you don't know who Austin Spare is at all, or the basic tenents of chaos magic--which are study all systems, take what works for you, and hit the delete key on what doesn't. Chaos magic is wonderful, it allows you to be free to practice whatever gets results (don't you wish everything in this world was that simple?). I wouldn't recommend this for anyone who is already advanced through at least 1 magical system, it is strictly a beginner's book.

I found this book to be a clear and concise work on what chaos magick means. Chaos science is explained in understandable terms and related to magickal practice. The background I got from this book has been very important.

It's not a cookbook or workbook, though. You still have to think for yourself!

I found this book to be invaluable as a background to what chaos magic is and where it comes from. I also notice that Pete Carroll himself gave it a good review in Chaos International. I hope to see more from this author on chaos magic, as her writing style is straight forward and easy to read, and I got more actual information from this slim volume than from many other more cryptic magick books with loads of filler.

Understanding Chaos Magic has just been re-released in 2004 in an updated second edition.It is also currently being translated to German, with possibilities of Polish and Japanese to follow. Although it has never actually gone out of print, the updates were overdue and I am pleased to see that it continues to be popular, as chaos magic continues to spread across the globe and to speak to so many discerning magicians.

~ Jaq

This book is the first (and my knowledge only) book to deal with the history and background of the phenomenon known as Chaos Magic. Fairly short and easy to read, this book gives a history of Spare and the IOT. I really enjoyed using the maps of Spares old residence to make a 'Chaos Pilgrimage' when I visited London, and the background of Chaos Science, fractals and strange attractors are explained in a simple easy to understand manner. I highly recommend that anyone curious about what Chaos Magic might and might not be, take a look at this book.

This is an excellent introductary book on chaos magick. It clearly outlines the history, terminology and philosophies and commonatlities found among chaotes.

It explains and dispells many assumptions often made about chaos magick which I found interesting, such as how it is sometimes percieved as being of the 'left hand path'.

If you're new to chaos magick, or curious to know more, this is the book to pick up. If you're more experienced, it likely won't have anything new to offer, but may be worth the read to authoritatively recommend it to people who ask you 'What is chaos magick?'

I found the book to be a bit slim for the price. But, I did find the chaos science information written in plain languge useful and informative. The maps detailing the home neighborhood of AOS were interesting, as were the author's personal antecdotes on her experiences with magic. I'd personally like to hear from more female Choas Magicians! But, if the reader is looking for an excellent book on Chaos magic, read anything by Phil Hine.

The new edition of this book is true to the first, with only minor changes to update information. It is a classic, and has much for the chaos magician of any level in my opinion.

Although essentially a beginner's book, the later chapters on perspective serve to remind those of us who have been around a while what the idea of what chaos magic was all about at the beginning. The new cover is rather spectacular as well, and adorns my bookshelf next to the other classic books on chaos magic.

This book is "Kaa-Kaa", Iwould not recommend this book to any magickian, wheather just starting out or advanced!!