Everything and Nothing

by Michael Kelly

Unlike previous volumes in this series, Everything and Nothing is primarily a volume of philosophy rather than practice. It is a volume that is now sorely needed, as the occult in general – including the Left-Hand Path – becomes increasingly mired in superstition, loose thinking, unfounded beliefs and old habits which are taking far too long to die. Draconian Magic Works upon the Real, and without a clear and precise Understanding of what is Real, you cannot hope to master it.

The book is divided into three sections. The first two sections of the book follow the old alchemical process of solve et coagula: in the first section, magic is deconstructed and taken to pieces, discarding all the flim-flam until its purest Essence is revealed and unsullied; only then can it be rebuilt into a coherent and powerful engine in the second section. The third section employs this new Understanding of magic to address some of the most common questions people pose about life, the universe and everything.

The title of this book, Everything and Nothing, has a multitude of meanings. You will find that some of these feel more appropriate the more you read the book and come to Understand it. First time round, as you're sore because it's rubbished some of the things you may have held sacred, you may feel that the book promised Everything and gave you Nothing; later, as its perspective starts to paint a new picture of Reality, you may feel that it reduced your prior worldview to Nothing, but provided Everything in return; as Understanding and Mastery dawn, you will discover that Everything and Nothing are Truth in the most sublime sense.

168 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 16, 2016

Reviews

[Gebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep dive into LHP occult philosophy. One of the best books I've read on the subject. Definitely has some places of overreach, but decent arguments for the things he proposes.

[V+V MERCURII · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely brilliant!

You don't have to agree with Kelly's conclusions, but most certainly everyone seriously interested and involved in anything occult should go through this process of solve et coagula at some point of their life.

[Mathew Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any serious student of Occultism should read this book. Anyone who wants a great philosophical mind screw should read this book. Hell, everyone should read this book! I can't remember if this was the second or third time I've read this. I just went back because I couldn't remember a few things, and ended up reading the whole damn book again! It will undo and redo the entire universe, as the title pretty much suggests. Strips Occultism (secrets) to the absolute bare-bone core (composed of Void stuff), and builds it back with sound logic, yet with Wonder and True magic ever at the heart of this magnificent read. Michael Kelly, after ripping apart all the frauds and charlatans, rebuilds a magical world from scratch after considering all the rather sobering beginning of the book, then proceeds to talk about mythic thinking, origin stories, complete with plenty of philosophical considerations which I guarantee you will keep you thinking for years. That's how I've come to read this book again, I was pondering one or two simple ideas that I knew I would find again here, and I got all wrapped up in it again, and read the whole thing in a day. It's addictive in the way it absolutely rips your whole world view apart in the most truthful way possible from a teacher with years of experience, saves some questions for later chapters, while leaving tid bits and teases for those interested enough to pick up on them, and then dispels or compels you to at the very least think for yourself, and consider a lot of things I guarantee you might not have thought of beforehand, at least in the way he brilliantly puts forth in this must-have, must-read time and again philosophical Occult mind unscrew, and screw. Cannot more highly recommend this one, I would definitely couple it with Apophis, Aegishjalmur, Draconian Consciousness, and Grimoire of the Sevenfold Serpent, if you ask me.