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The Astral Geographic: The Watkins Guide to the Occult World
EXPLORE THE LANDSCAPES OF THE OCCULT – EXPAND THE HORIZONS OF YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS
This ground-breaking new approach to the history of magic explores the occult through geography, inviting you to embark on ten astral travel journeys that span centuries and continents. Each itinerary comes complete with a route map, postcards of the sites, artworks of magical artefacts and an essay exploring a key occult theme, from necromancy and alchemy to standing stones and drowned cities.
Follow in the hoof steps of the Devil from ancient Egypt to London’s Hellfire Club to the black magic venues of 1960s San Francisco; invoke angels and demons in the Algerian desert; meet witches in the Mediterranean temples of Hekate and Circe and the ancient cemeteries of Scandinavia; practise cloud divination in druidic Ireland then travel to the English countryside in search of hidden hexes … and much more!
Finally, try practising magic for yourself using the Grimorium Terra , a manual that teaches how to use geography as a magical tool. Discover how to perform rituals in different terrains, use your surroundings to catalyze altered states of consciousness, explore astral travel and seed your own lucid dreams!
This ground-breaking new approach to the history of magic explores the occult through geography, inviting you to embark on ten astral travel journeys that span centuries and continents. Each itinerary comes complete with a route map, postcards of the sites, artworks of magical artefacts and an essay exploring a key occult theme, from necromancy and alchemy to standing stones and drowned cities.
Follow in the hoof steps of the Devil from ancient Egypt to London’s Hellfire Club to the black magic venues of 1960s San Francisco; invoke angels and demons in the Algerian desert; meet witches in the Mediterranean temples of Hekate and Circe and the ancient cemeteries of Scandinavia; practise cloud divination in druidic Ireland then travel to the English countryside in search of hidden hexes … and much more!
Finally, try practising magic for yourself using the Grimorium Terra , a manual that teaches how to use geography as a magical tool. Discover how to perform rituals in different terrains, use your surroundings to catalyze altered states of consciousness, explore astral travel and seed your own lucid dreams!
- GenresOccultTravelNonfiction
272 pages, Paperback
Published October 10, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 12, 2023
I found it fascinating and discovered some new places and lore about those places.
I think some places are missing (Turin, Prague) but some less known were an interesting discovery
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I think some places are missing (Turin, Prague) but some less known were an interesting discovery
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
December 16, 2023
I recently had the pleasure of diving into "The Astral Geographic" by Andy Sharp, a captivating exploration of the occult world published in 2023 by Watkins Publishing.
Full disclosure: I received a copy from the publisher, who also happens to have published my own work. However, any reservations I may have had about potential bias were quickly dispelled as I delved into this mystical journey.
Subtitled "The Watkins Guide to the Occult World", the book promises a grand tour of esoteric locales around the globe, blending magick and psychogeography into a seamless tapestry. Known for his previous work, "The English Heretic" (Repeater Books, 2020), Sharp brings his unique perspective to the table, offering readers an enticing glimpse into the hidden corners of the mystical realm.
The structure of the book is as intriguing as its subject matter. Sharp organizes the content into ten routes, each dedicated to a specific theme or figure in the occult world, ranging from landscapes filled with ancient stones to the alchemical mysteries embedded in certain locales. This thematic approach adds a layer of coherence to the narrative, making it accessible to both seasoned practitioners and curious novices.
One might expect a text focused on the occult to be dense and impenetrable, but Sharp's prose is both engaging and accessible. His writing style effortlessly weaves historical anecdotes, personal experiences, and arcane knowledge into a rich tapestry that keeps the reader eagerly turning pages. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or a novice, this book invites you to embark on a global quest for hidden knowledge.
One standout aspect of the book is its commitment to exploring a wide range of esoteric subjects. Sharp's diverse routes cover everything from Crowleyan mysticism to the secrets of alchemy and the intricacies of Tantra. Each chapter unfolds like a spell, casting a spellbinding narrative that draws the reader deeper into the mystical tapestry of the world.
The final chapter, titled "Grimorium Terra", serves as the proverbial cherry on top of this occult sundae. Here, Sharp guides the reader through practical magick, providing instructions on how to tap into the mystical energies present in various locations. This hands-on approach distinguishes "The Astral Geographic" from mere armchair occultism, offering readers a chance to actively engage with the material and forge their own connections to the esoteric.
The practical instructions in "Grimorium Terra" empower readers to use the places they encounter as portals to mystical realms. Sharp's guidance is clear and concise, making it accessible even to those who might be new to the world of magick. This final chapter not only ties the entire book together but also elevates it from a mere travelogue to a practical guide for those seeking to incorporate magick into their lives.
Beyond its compelling content, "The Astral Geographic" stands out visually. The beautiful typesetting and the inclusion of rich colour images throughout the publication enhance the reading experience. Despite being only available in softcover, the book exudes quality, dispelling any concerns about its durability. The attention to detail in both design and content showcases the publisher's commitment to delivering a product that is not only informative but also aesthetically pleasing - something I actually wished they did with my own, too.
In conclusion, "The Astral Geographic" by Andy Sharp is the Christmas/Yule gift you didn't yet know you needed. Its thematic organization, engaging prose, and practical insights make it a must-read for anyone interested in the mystical arts. Sharp's global journey is not just a tour of esoteric places; it's an invitation to explore the depths of one's own spirituality. The final chapter, with its practical magick instructions, is a fitting conclusion to a book that seamlessly blends the mystical with the practical.
If you're ready to embark on a journey that transcends the boundaries of the ordinary, "The Astral Geographic" is your passport to the occult world.
Full disclosure: I received a copy from the publisher, who also happens to have published my own work. However, any reservations I may have had about potential bias were quickly dispelled as I delved into this mystical journey.
Subtitled "The Watkins Guide to the Occult World", the book promises a grand tour of esoteric locales around the globe, blending magick and psychogeography into a seamless tapestry. Known for his previous work, "The English Heretic" (Repeater Books, 2020), Sharp brings his unique perspective to the table, offering readers an enticing glimpse into the hidden corners of the mystical realm.
The structure of the book is as intriguing as its subject matter. Sharp organizes the content into ten routes, each dedicated to a specific theme or figure in the occult world, ranging from landscapes filled with ancient stones to the alchemical mysteries embedded in certain locales. This thematic approach adds a layer of coherence to the narrative, making it accessible to both seasoned practitioners and curious novices.
One might expect a text focused on the occult to be dense and impenetrable, but Sharp's prose is both engaging and accessible. His writing style effortlessly weaves historical anecdotes, personal experiences, and arcane knowledge into a rich tapestry that keeps the reader eagerly turning pages. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or a novice, this book invites you to embark on a global quest for hidden knowledge.
One standout aspect of the book is its commitment to exploring a wide range of esoteric subjects. Sharp's diverse routes cover everything from Crowleyan mysticism to the secrets of alchemy and the intricacies of Tantra. Each chapter unfolds like a spell, casting a spellbinding narrative that draws the reader deeper into the mystical tapestry of the world.
The final chapter, titled "Grimorium Terra", serves as the proverbial cherry on top of this occult sundae. Here, Sharp guides the reader through practical magick, providing instructions on how to tap into the mystical energies present in various locations. This hands-on approach distinguishes "The Astral Geographic" from mere armchair occultism, offering readers a chance to actively engage with the material and forge their own connections to the esoteric.
The practical instructions in "Grimorium Terra" empower readers to use the places they encounter as portals to mystical realms. Sharp's guidance is clear and concise, making it accessible even to those who might be new to the world of magick. This final chapter not only ties the entire book together but also elevates it from a mere travelogue to a practical guide for those seeking to incorporate magick into their lives.
Beyond its compelling content, "The Astral Geographic" stands out visually. The beautiful typesetting and the inclusion of rich colour images throughout the publication enhance the reading experience. Despite being only available in softcover, the book exudes quality, dispelling any concerns about its durability. The attention to detail in both design and content showcases the publisher's commitment to delivering a product that is not only informative but also aesthetically pleasing - something I actually wished they did with my own, too.
In conclusion, "The Astral Geographic" by Andy Sharp is the Christmas/Yule gift you didn't yet know you needed. Its thematic organization, engaging prose, and practical insights make it a must-read for anyone interested in the mystical arts. Sharp's global journey is not just a tour of esoteric places; it's an invitation to explore the depths of one's own spirituality. The final chapter, with its practical magick instructions, is a fitting conclusion to a book that seamlessly blends the mystical with the practical.
If you're ready to embark on a journey that transcends the boundaries of the ordinary, "The Astral Geographic" is your passport to the occult world.
November 3, 2023
My thanks to Watkins Publishing for a temporary digital review copy via NetGalley of ‘The Astral Geographic: The Watkins Guide to the Occult World’ by Andy Sharp.
This work of nonfiction presents a new approach to the history of magic utilising geography. It is set out in the form of a classical travel guide including itineraries of places to visit, route maps, postcards of the sites, artworks of magical artefacts, and even suggestions of places to stay and eat.
Each of these ten chapters concludes with an essay that explores the key occult theme of that individual journey. The final eleventh chapter: the Grimorium Terra, is a manual on the use of geography as a magical tool.
While I consider myself fairly well aware of the history of magic and the occult, I was impressed with the information contained within ‘The Astral Geographic’ and certainly there were areas that I hadn’t encountered before. It was clear that Andy Sharp knew his subject well and importantly was able to share his knowledge in an accessible way with his readers.
The book concludes with a list by chapter of recommended reading and an index. I would have appreciated more photos of the various locations cited though this might have proved cost prohibitive. In addition, a number of artworks were mentioned throughout the text and again while images might have been too expensive, a list of these and their locations, if known, in order to facilitate further investigation would have been useful.
Overall, I found ‘The Astral Geographic’ a fascinating read and recommended for those seeking a guide to this subject, whether their travelling is physical or via their armchair.
This work of nonfiction presents a new approach to the history of magic utilising geography. It is set out in the form of a classical travel guide including itineraries of places to visit, route maps, postcards of the sites, artworks of magical artefacts, and even suggestions of places to stay and eat.
Each of these ten chapters concludes with an essay that explores the key occult theme of that individual journey. The final eleventh chapter: the Grimorium Terra, is a manual on the use of geography as a magical tool.
While I consider myself fairly well aware of the history of magic and the occult, I was impressed with the information contained within ‘The Astral Geographic’ and certainly there were areas that I hadn’t encountered before. It was clear that Andy Sharp knew his subject well and importantly was able to share his knowledge in an accessible way with his readers.
The book concludes with a list by chapter of recommended reading and an index. I would have appreciated more photos of the various locations cited though this might have proved cost prohibitive. In addition, a number of artworks were mentioned throughout the text and again while images might have been too expensive, a list of these and their locations, if known, in order to facilitate further investigation would have been useful.
Overall, I found ‘The Astral Geographic’ a fascinating read and recommended for those seeking a guide to this subject, whether their travelling is physical or via their armchair.
July 23, 2023
The Astral Geographic is like a travel guide for the occult. I really enjoyed this book and thought the idea of a "travel guide" to these locations was original and unique. I loved learning about the different locations, their history/myths and how it relate to the occult.
I'm hoping one day this author does a similar guide specifically for the US since I likely won't be traveling abroad anytime soon.
The only negative I had was that I wished there were more location photos. The written descriptions were so intriguing that I couldn't help but google photos of every location to get a visual.
Thank you to Netgalley and Watkins Publishing for an e-arc of this book!
I'm hoping one day this author does a similar guide specifically for the US since I likely won't be traveling abroad anytime soon.
The only negative I had was that I wished there were more location photos. The written descriptions were so intriguing that I couldn't help but google photos of every location to get a visual.
Thank you to Netgalley and Watkins Publishing for an e-arc of this book!
July 17, 2023
When I saw this book I was really excited because I thought it was a good idea. The book is divided into different topics for esoteric travel like necromancy, satan, witches, etc... giving you different geographical locations of places to visit that fall/include the history of such topics. I liked the ideas and places mentioned, the only reason I removed one star is because I would have loved to see more pictures of the different places mentioned.
Thank you NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for providing me with a copy to review.
Thank you NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for providing me with a copy to review.
October 4, 2023
Cheers to Andy and Watkins for an advanced copy. Blog version: https://alchemisland.wordpress.com/20...
In the introduction to Astral Geographic, Andy Sharp says that magic can become a life enrichment tool. Something which enables one to enhance experience through creative engagement. Andy’s first book, The English Heretic Collection, arrived at just the right time for me, when my life was in dire need of enrichment.
Couple months into lockdown and I’m in my room wondering whether the world is ending. In desperate need of distraction I flick through my new book, little knowing the profound effect its words will have on me. Inside this tome resides a world of profane strangeness which sets my mind on fire. This book single-handedly tears apart the drab, changeless interiors of the house in which I am gaoled, awakening in me additional freedom of mind; the stirring to life of some dormant chimera glistening with webbed amniotic fluid.
I wasn’t familiar with English Heretic’s music or writing before buying the book but it entered my algorithm a day or two after publication – something I consider entirely auspicious and magical. The book’s bold red cover depicts its author in a blazer that wouldn’t look misplaced on the Lord of Summerisle, wearing a sort of sackcloth gimp mask somewhere between sado-zoidberg and a Thomas Hardy farmer’s idea of bondagewear. He looms inside a tear, a man stuck betwixt skulls and winged abominites. An appropriate calling card for an author who explores concepts like the self predicted ritual deaths of fashion icons, the omen-laden lives of presidents eventually subjected to ancient bog deaths, and the concept of the pig as the word of the Aeon.
For me the appeal of Andy’s guildless gospel is the sheer joyous anarchy of it all. We get no sense that occult knowledge is forbidden to us. Magical experience is taken out of the lodge, dusted off, and joyridden for all its worth, much to the chagrin of the grade-obsessed. Andy never pretends that he is a benefactor of ancient lore, attainable only through a paid subscription plan. In his inimitable guerilla style, he tells you how he has enriched his own experiences, and the depth thereof, through magical practice. Most importantly, he shows you that you can do it too.
Like the statue-still victim of a hit and run, English Heretic is now in the rearview. Astral Geographic represents new pastures, strange seeds. After a lifetime’s delving into occultism and psychogeography, engaging with landscape to lure out its liminality, Andy presents his Atlas of magic and witchcraft with a veteran craftsman’s deftness. The book is loosely an occult travel guide, a web of routes the examination of whose stations teases out a lineage of witchcraft, but it’s so much more than its conceit. Andy’s wide reading and linguistic dexterity, prosewise think Dukkornet and Ballard in a trench recounting ghost stories to the muddy redcoats of some future medieval war, allow him to condense entire cult’s worth of esoteric information into pithy, readable vignettes. It is in the connection of disparate dots that Sharp excels, revealing the checkmated chessboard you even didn’t know he’d set.
Like a great southeast-moving river, Astral Geographic’s Orphic travels start in Egypt and conclude in Kenya, visiting everywhere in between. Meandering past the jungle centers of weird cults, stopping to strip them of louche exoticism and outmoded fashion. Little heed is paid to the implicitly imperial, that preferred flavor of the last new century’s magical corpus. Magic is recaptured as a lens and wand for radicalism, renewing historically maligned archetypes and imbuing them with animating astral light.
We visit the redoubt of a ram god bloated on the blood of Carthagian children, the wind-shorn faces of hillside hunting lodges in Ireland, and carnivalesque oracular caves in Greece, where gas-maddened sylphs pronounced sanguine tidings in the dawn age.
Not only will Andy expand your vocabulary with his deep time grammar, he’ll tell you where the best nosh is at, and where you can comfortably lay your head if you take a pilgrimage to one of these sites.
Gorgeous illustrations by the masterly Nick Taylor raise the text from mere treatise to vital occult document. Enabling astral travel, readers are sent on journeys across the hylic concepts of time and space, to the nightside of the tree of life. Bright colors bring to mind cover illustrations by John Minton; geometric Milton and Minton meeting at last, in appropriately infernal surrounds.
Any sensible satanist or worthwhile wizard needs this and the English Heretic Collection on their shelves! Surprise your coven by planning a holiday to Hades next summer using one of the routes laid out in this book.
In the introduction to Astral Geographic, Andy Sharp says that magic can become a life enrichment tool. Something which enables one to enhance experience through creative engagement. Andy’s first book, The English Heretic Collection, arrived at just the right time for me, when my life was in dire need of enrichment.
Couple months into lockdown and I’m in my room wondering whether the world is ending. In desperate need of distraction I flick through my new book, little knowing the profound effect its words will have on me. Inside this tome resides a world of profane strangeness which sets my mind on fire. This book single-handedly tears apart the drab, changeless interiors of the house in which I am gaoled, awakening in me additional freedom of mind; the stirring to life of some dormant chimera glistening with webbed amniotic fluid.
I wasn’t familiar with English Heretic’s music or writing before buying the book but it entered my algorithm a day or two after publication – something I consider entirely auspicious and magical. The book’s bold red cover depicts its author in a blazer that wouldn’t look misplaced on the Lord of Summerisle, wearing a sort of sackcloth gimp mask somewhere between sado-zoidberg and a Thomas Hardy farmer’s idea of bondagewear. He looms inside a tear, a man stuck betwixt skulls and winged abominites. An appropriate calling card for an author who explores concepts like the self predicted ritual deaths of fashion icons, the omen-laden lives of presidents eventually subjected to ancient bog deaths, and the concept of the pig as the word of the Aeon.
For me the appeal of Andy’s guildless gospel is the sheer joyous anarchy of it all. We get no sense that occult knowledge is forbidden to us. Magical experience is taken out of the lodge, dusted off, and joyridden for all its worth, much to the chagrin of the grade-obsessed. Andy never pretends that he is a benefactor of ancient lore, attainable only through a paid subscription plan. In his inimitable guerilla style, he tells you how he has enriched his own experiences, and the depth thereof, through magical practice. Most importantly, he shows you that you can do it too.
Like the statue-still victim of a hit and run, English Heretic is now in the rearview. Astral Geographic represents new pastures, strange seeds. After a lifetime’s delving into occultism and psychogeography, engaging with landscape to lure out its liminality, Andy presents his Atlas of magic and witchcraft with a veteran craftsman’s deftness. The book is loosely an occult travel guide, a web of routes the examination of whose stations teases out a lineage of witchcraft, but it’s so much more than its conceit. Andy’s wide reading and linguistic dexterity, prosewise think Dukkornet and Ballard in a trench recounting ghost stories to the muddy redcoats of some future medieval war, allow him to condense entire cult’s worth of esoteric information into pithy, readable vignettes. It is in the connection of disparate dots that Sharp excels, revealing the checkmated chessboard you even didn’t know he’d set.
Like a great southeast-moving river, Astral Geographic’s Orphic travels start in Egypt and conclude in Kenya, visiting everywhere in between. Meandering past the jungle centers of weird cults, stopping to strip them of louche exoticism and outmoded fashion. Little heed is paid to the implicitly imperial, that preferred flavor of the last new century’s magical corpus. Magic is recaptured as a lens and wand for radicalism, renewing historically maligned archetypes and imbuing them with animating astral light.
We visit the redoubt of a ram god bloated on the blood of Carthagian children, the wind-shorn faces of hillside hunting lodges in Ireland, and carnivalesque oracular caves in Greece, where gas-maddened sylphs pronounced sanguine tidings in the dawn age.
Not only will Andy expand your vocabulary with his deep time grammar, he’ll tell you where the best nosh is at, and where you can comfortably lay your head if you take a pilgrimage to one of these sites.
Gorgeous illustrations by the masterly Nick Taylor raise the text from mere treatise to vital occult document. Enabling astral travel, readers are sent on journeys across the hylic concepts of time and space, to the nightside of the tree of life. Bright colors bring to mind cover illustrations by John Minton; geometric Milton and Minton meeting at last, in appropriately infernal surrounds.
Any sensible satanist or worthwhile wizard needs this and the English Heretic Collection on their shelves! Surprise your coven by planning a holiday to Hades next summer using one of the routes laid out in this book.
August 27, 2023
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Watkins Publishing for an advance copy of this unique travel guide to the world for both armchair travellers and those who like to take spiritual and adventures journeys.
One of the the most frequent questions I get in the bookstore are from people looking for travel guides that are different. Rick Stern and Lonely Planet are just too common, they want the different to travel to places that are seldom discussed, not so touristy, but real, and off the beaten path. Though few have ever asked me for a Satan tour. And where many have asked for guides to The Camino de Santiago, no one has ever asked me for a Crossing the Desert with Crowley itinerary. Hopefully this will soon change, as I have the perfect book to recommend. The Astral Geographic: The Watkins Guide to the Occult World by Andy Sharp is a travel guide, planner, and illustrated look to many places of power, and repute all over the world, with lodging and dining suggestions in the area.
Based on the classic Shell travel guides that were once popular in Britain, with a similar layout the The Astral Geographic offers 10 tours of the world based on a variety of occult ideas, and locations either of power, or of historic note. Some tours stay in country, while others cross the globe, such as the previously mentioned Satan tour, which starts in Egypt, travels through Africa, Ireland, France and the United States, ending in London, England. Places in this tour include the Black House of Anton LeVey, Montpellier Hill in Dublin and others. Others like the again previously mentioned Aleister Crowley Crossing the Desert stay in Africa, with mentions of spots Crowley stopped at to rest or to practice rituals. There are tours for witchcraft, Atlantis and more with suggestions for lodging, dining, and other places of interest to a traveller who grows weary of seeing the same old things.
The book is the perfect armchair guide for a reader of occult literature, offering a complete history, along with photos for certain places. For the brave explorer with an interest in the occult arts, and no fear of the problems that travel can cause, this is a fine book to begin a grand tour. The book offers a very good overview of places, history, the meaning, and what it looks like today, along with suggestions of where to stay and where to eat. This information should be checked as things change fast in our modern age, but that is true of most travel books. There is not much about America, but considering the shortness of their history it makes sense. Also not all the places are illustrated, but that is what the Internet is for. What one gets is information on place that have been mentioned in many books, and movies, with a better understanding of what they are and there importance. This is not some horror guide or murder pilgrimage book, but a reference to those places that meant so much in the past, and continue to do so.
Recommended for occult readers, brave travellers, and those who just like to read about interesting places that make the world that much more exciting. I can't wait to recommend this book to people who are looking for something different in their travel books.
One of the the most frequent questions I get in the bookstore are from people looking for travel guides that are different. Rick Stern and Lonely Planet are just too common, they want the different to travel to places that are seldom discussed, not so touristy, but real, and off the beaten path. Though few have ever asked me for a Satan tour. And where many have asked for guides to The Camino de Santiago, no one has ever asked me for a Crossing the Desert with Crowley itinerary. Hopefully this will soon change, as I have the perfect book to recommend. The Astral Geographic: The Watkins Guide to the Occult World by Andy Sharp is a travel guide, planner, and illustrated look to many places of power, and repute all over the world, with lodging and dining suggestions in the area.
Based on the classic Shell travel guides that were once popular in Britain, with a similar layout the The Astral Geographic offers 10 tours of the world based on a variety of occult ideas, and locations either of power, or of historic note. Some tours stay in country, while others cross the globe, such as the previously mentioned Satan tour, which starts in Egypt, travels through Africa, Ireland, France and the United States, ending in London, England. Places in this tour include the Black House of Anton LeVey, Montpellier Hill in Dublin and others. Others like the again previously mentioned Aleister Crowley Crossing the Desert stay in Africa, with mentions of spots Crowley stopped at to rest or to practice rituals. There are tours for witchcraft, Atlantis and more with suggestions for lodging, dining, and other places of interest to a traveller who grows weary of seeing the same old things.
The book is the perfect armchair guide for a reader of occult literature, offering a complete history, along with photos for certain places. For the brave explorer with an interest in the occult arts, and no fear of the problems that travel can cause, this is a fine book to begin a grand tour. The book offers a very good overview of places, history, the meaning, and what it looks like today, along with suggestions of where to stay and where to eat. This information should be checked as things change fast in our modern age, but that is true of most travel books. There is not much about America, but considering the shortness of their history it makes sense. Also not all the places are illustrated, but that is what the Internet is for. What one gets is information on place that have been mentioned in many books, and movies, with a better understanding of what they are and there importance. This is not some horror guide or murder pilgrimage book, but a reference to those places that meant so much in the past, and continue to do so.
Recommended for occult readers, brave travellers, and those who just like to read about interesting places that make the world that much more exciting. I can't wait to recommend this book to people who are looking for something different in their travel books.
January 19, 2026
Book Review: The Astral Geographic
I've read many strange and weird yet fun books. This is one of them which I read last year. The author takes you on 10 trips across the world, shows you different places and sheds light on the theme of each trip. Journey through the realm of the occult and the paranormal, peek on secret ceremonies, meet oracles and necromancers, follow the trail of alchemists, encounter secret societies, explore the legend of Atlantis, cross the desert with Crowley, gaze upon megaliths, witness the trend of witchcraft across places, visit indian temples and tantra cults, and discover different cursed objects.
It was interesting to know about different cultures and their concept of magic. Also acts like a travel guide for those who want to explore strange places.
I would rate it ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5).
I've read many strange and weird yet fun books. This is one of them which I read last year. The author takes you on 10 trips across the world, shows you different places and sheds light on the theme of each trip. Journey through the realm of the occult and the paranormal, peek on secret ceremonies, meet oracles and necromancers, follow the trail of alchemists, encounter secret societies, explore the legend of Atlantis, cross the desert with Crowley, gaze upon megaliths, witness the trend of witchcraft across places, visit indian temples and tantra cults, and discover different cursed objects.
It was interesting to know about different cultures and their concept of magic. Also acts like a travel guide for those who want to explore strange places.
I would rate it ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5).
December 14, 2023
A clever and unique approach to magic, using the conceit of a travel guide to explore various aspects to occultism. It is accessible but highly informed. From alchemy to tantra we see their methods encoded in statues and buildings. Elsewhere the land itself lends itself to fear and initiation. All beautifully executed with lovely artwork. Highly recommended!
January 11, 2024
While a unique idea for a travel guide - places where various occult myths and activities have taken place around the world - the execution wasn't great. Very wordy with a lot of purple prose so it didn't hold my attention. Not a lot of actual travel information either.
January 12, 2024
Satanic canons and basilicas of Christ Blood. Cosplaying necromancers. Stoner Alchemists. Frog coffin curses. Wild trip around the occult world, and avoiding obvious tourist traps. Great fun and obviously for the armchair traveler as much as the explorer.
Read
July 29, 2023This was a very cool travelogue with occult history. Not the kind of book you read cover to cover but something you dip in and out of. I would've liked more pictures!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews