Overview

"Vs. Duality and conflict in magick, mythology and paganism Edited by Kim Huggens ""Relationship cannot be created without duality: we are divided for love's sake, for the chance of union..."" Vs. is a unique collection of twenty-one essays exploring the dynamic and wide-ranging nature of duality in magic, paganism and folklore, from polarity to paradox to opposition to friction to union. The essays by magicians, witches, folklorists, sorcerors, Norse and vodou practitioners, weave together diverse threads of wisdom, knowledge, experience and inspiration into a tapestry of fallen angels, heroes, gods, goddesses, fairies, lwa, dreams, myths and stories. The significance of the interplay between two disparate or similar powers is explored through the relationship of divine twins, siblings, lovers and enemies in a variety of different pantheons and tales, from Cain and Abel to Lilith and Eve, from Shiva & Shakti to Inanna and Dumuzi, from Perseus and Andromeda to Ares and Hephastus. The union of divine and mortal is another powerful theme explored in this book, both through the hieros gamos (sacred marriage) and the maryaj (Vodou spirit marriage) where a person weds one of the lwa. Vs. also explores the theme of self and other, as experienced both in ritual techniques for trance and dreaming, and in social commentaries on the diversity of beliefs within the modern esoteric revival such as Wicca, Sorcery and Neopaganism. Vs. covers a span of thousands of years, from ancient writings such as those of Plato and Gnosticism to the modern works of twentieth century magicians such as Austin Osman Spare and Dion Fortune. From the wisdom of the Emerald Tablet to the tales of the Mabinogion, Vs. challenges you in numerous ways to accept diversity and strive for the union of perfection. ""I am the voice whose sound is manifold and the word whose appearance is multiple. "" Thunder, Perfect Mind, 3rd century CE"

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9781905297368

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Lightness and Darkness, Good and Evil, Male and Female our universe is filled with opposites. Opposites create a duality and opposition. Most people try to focus on one or the other. There is a constant effort for most of us to be all good to stay on the side of the light. Some spiritual systems embrace only the masculine or the feminine. True spirituality however, must find a way to embrace both. True power comes from the energy that is produced when both of them are united rather than separate. Both the left hand and the right hand must work in conjunction. Avalonia publications has put together a compilation of essays that embrace this concept of duality. There is such a vast spectrum of spiritualities represented that it is virtually impossibe to summarise all of them. Several essays did grab my attention above all the others in this excellent collection. Michael Howard gives the reader a taste of Robert Cochrane's Witchcraft and gives us a different perspective on the Devil, Lilith and Cain. I will not blow the details but Lucifer is not a bad guy, after all he rules this planet and his redemption is dependent on our redemption. Lilith refuses to submit and is said to have seduced Adam numerous times. Cain built the first cities. You got to read his essay. I am an avid fan of Middle Eastern Mythology the fact that there were 3 essays on Inanna/Ishtar thrilled me to death, especially when one of the authors had been to Iraq on a mission to help the people. Inanna/Ishtar herself embodies duality. She is the queen of the Earth and the Heavens. She is a goddess of love and fertility yet she is also a goddess of war and destruction. Inanna is both the harlot and virgin. Lapis Lazuli and dates are sacred to her. If you are a Norse pagan or a Heathen there is a lively essay on Freya and Frigg. Big question are they both the same or are they different goddesses? Freya is mentioned in Scandinavian countries but not in Germanic countries. There are several parallels between the two. In some of the sagas they are fighting side by side. Are they two Goddesses or one Goddess? That is a quest you will need to take if you wish to find out. One last essay that really thrilled me was when a young female had a converstation with Aleister Crowley and another female occultist. Remember this is about unifying dualities. She is given a choice to choose which form her Holy Guardian angel will take . Before making her choice she is blessed with the opportunity to listen them bantering back and forth. What choice will she make? I love Avalonia and this book deserves to be counted. I realize that after you read this book that this review did not do the book justice. It is a great book. Avalonia keep up the great work. - S. Cranow, Amazon reviewer

Author Information

Kim Huggens is a researcher and author, focusing on the malefic-erotic magic of the Late Antique period, world mythology, Tarot, and Vodou. She is a Tarot reader of 17 years experience, and co-creator of Sol Invictus: The God Tarot and Pistis Sophia: The Goddess Tarot with Nic Phillips. Kim is a Vodou practitioner and Hounsi Lave Tet with Sosyete Gade Nou Leve, and Body Master of the Tamion Camp of the Ordo Templi Orientis. In her spare time she makes jewellery, sequin flags and spirit dolls, runs Tarot workshops and classes, writes short fiction, and roleplays. Vikki Bramshaw is a British researcher and author of books specialising in pre-christian religion and esoteric traditions including religious history, theurgy, initiatory rites and trance. As an author she specialises in pre-Abrahamic religion and esoteric traditions. Some of her passions are religious history, theurgy, initiatory rites and trance. Her first book 'Craft of the Wise: A Practical Guide' was published with JH Publishing in 2009, after which she wrote for several anthologies with Avalonia Books: Swaying with the Serpent for Hekate Her Sacred Fires in 2010 and 'The Scorpion & the Bridal Bed' in VS: Thou Art That - That Thou Art in 2011. Her latest book, 'Dionysos: Exciter to Frenzy' was published by Avalonia in 2013.

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