Coruscatio: The Magical Cactus Voice

by Frater Shiva

From remote antiquity to the present day people of all cultures and societies have experimented with "magick libations" involving psychoactive substances as part of their spiritual quest. While many of the materials are legally proscribed, other plants and potions used in these rites are legal and often easily available. This text explores the use of such libations - biochemically, medically, psychologically and spiritually - with particular emphasis on their role in modern-day occultism. The author, Frater Shiva, was a senior member of "Solar Lodge" - the 1960s US occult fraternity that drew many of its teachings from the works of Aleister Crowley - who since went on to explore other spiritual vistas. A licensed, primary-care health practitioner with extensive first-hand experience in these matters, both as a participant and as a guide, Shiva stresses that the book is not a "user's manual" or "recommendation," but rather an investigation and exploration of the subject. This book has the technical/magical title "Sepher Nesek Magi Qaqtvs Qol vel Coruscatio, sub figurâ CMXXXIV: "The Book of Libation - The Magical Cactus Voice." It is dedicated to Aleister Crowley's "lost Liber," that is: "The Cactus - Liber CMXXXIV - 934," no copies of which are known to have survived.

158 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read recently by the Thelemite physician, Frater Shiva; onetime Grand Secretary General of the infamous Solar Lodge, an offshoot of the O.T.O at a time when the mainstream organization was in disarray (see my previous review of Frater Shiva's history of this organization). Unlike some current magicians, Frater Shiva remains an enthusiastic proponent of the use of ethnobotanical medicines (as he calls them) as an aid to communion with our higher selves, and as an adjunct to magickal practice. This book is a guide to such usage, and more. It is lavishly illustrated, and filled with fascinating nuggets of information and observation. Coruscatio lays out a psychedelic path to the knowledge and conversation with the Holy Guardian Angel that some will find to be absolute heresy, some will condemn as foolhardy and dangerous, and some will bemoan as yet more self-indulgent and soft-headed 60's hippie nonsense ("when will these people go away?"). As an unregenerate child of the 60's myself, I have to say I enjoyed this book very much. I will offer no judgement about the magickal effectiveness of such methods. I note only that The Book of the Law states "Be strong o man! lust, enjoy all things of sense and rapture: fear not that any God shall deny thee for this."

Frater Shiva is a fabulous character and an illuminating writer, and I'm grateful to be continuing to share the planet with him.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I meant to read this book many years ago. Especially in my "chaos magick" days and when I first got into magick in earnest.

I previously read the same author's book on the Solar Lodge and really, really enjoyed it but somehow I never got around to this volume until recently.

This is another great book from Frater Shiva. Sort of a glimpse into his world view on drugs for spirtual and occult practices. I think he puts forth a lot of interesting ideas that are easy to digest and run with if this is a field that interests you.

[Zaubin Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating glimpse in the use of psychedelics for occult purposes in the Solar Lodge era... and beyond.