This section lists some of the books that I’m currently reading or frequently referencing. I will update it periodically. At the bottom of the page is a plug-in that you can use to see some of the other books that I have around. You can click on the picture or the list to get more info from the Amazon page…
October 11, 2007
I’ve started reading “The Iliad”, as translated by Robert Fitzgerald. The interaction between humans and supernatural forces throughout the story is definitely worthy of further study. I’m certainly not an expert on Ancient Greece, or their literature, so I’m also reading “Essays on the Illiad: Selected Modern Criticism” (John Wright, Ed.), which is helping me along…
Sept. 20, 2007
“The Polynesian Family System in Ka’u, Hawai’i”, is a very interesting anthropological study of culture in rural Hawaii Island up to the early-to mid-twentieth century. There is a great deal of information about the kinship system of Hawai’i, the importance of extended family, and the interconnectedness, even unity of the Hawaiian and powers of nature that surround him (or her!). It also has a section regarding the importance of dreams to the Native Hawaiians. In pre-Christian Hawai’i, dreams were taken with great importance, and studied and interpreted by elders. This is also related to the Hawaiians’ belief in the “world of light”, Akaku, which may appear to an individual in sleep, or in waking moments. “Hihi’o is another word that refers to such visions, whether in sleep or waking consciousness: hihi’o is the act of visioning, whereas akaku is the vision seen. Dreams are the doings of the ‘uhane or soul after the body has fallen asleep…”
The Polynesian Family System in Ka’u
The book as a whole is really fascinating, and highly recommended to those interested in non-western perspectives…
I am currently reading “The Tree of Life,” one of Isreal Regardie’s early works. It is fascinating in a multitude of ways, not least because it is a compendium of practical magic from the perspective of one of Aliester Crowley’s most thorough chroniclers. Regardie discusses the Qabalah, Astral projection, Magick in the Hindu, Egyptian, and other traditions, and gives a theoretical and practical treatment on a number of topics in ceremonial magick. It is an enormously complex work, especially when viewed in tandem with other works such as The Middle Pillar, A Garden of Pomegranates, or The Golden Dawn. The editing by the Ciceros is also excellent and welcome. Even if the Golden Dawn is not a tradition that you follow, for historical (and anthropological) reasons alone, all of these books have my highest recommendation for enlightenment-seekers.
I read Stephen LaBerge’s “Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming”, several years ago, before I was really mature enough in my knowledge to completely appreciate it. I have only very recently picked it up again, to realize the depth and complexity of understanding that it represents. I also very much appreciate the sober and scientific perspective his methodology brings. Some of the results of these techniques will be appearing in the bleam section soon… You can get more information on this book here.
I’ll update again on my reading in a few days…