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Pieces of Eight: Chaos Magic Essays and Enchantments
Does Chaos Magic even exist anymore? What has changed and what has survived over the first three decades of this iconoclastic magical tradition?
Discover what Chaos Magic is today, how it fits into the wider magical tradition and how you can be part of it in this groundbreaking new book from author, podcaster and blogger, Gordon White.
Learn about:
The grimoire tradition and its relationship to Chaos Magic.
The latest consciousness science and the return of Animism.
The role of the Devil and the Saints in European magic and witchcraft.
Begin practising:
A Chaos Magic form of Remote Viewing.
An Ancient Roman system of hexing.
A method of summoning Dragon Spirits.
A Sumerian method of banishing Ghosts.
A complete system of spirit evocation.
From the author of the acclaimed Star.Ships: A Prehistory of the Spirits and The Chaos Protocols: Magical Techniques for Navigating the New Economic Reality comes a definitive and much-needed exploration of the core principles of Chaos Magic.
"Whoever said books on magick can't be fabulously entertaining as well as eminently practical has obviously not read up on their Gordon White. Remedy that situation." -Christopher Knowles. The Secret Sun.
Discover what Chaos Magic is today, how it fits into the wider magical tradition and how you can be part of it in this groundbreaking new book from author, podcaster and blogger, Gordon White.
Learn about:
The grimoire tradition and its relationship to Chaos Magic.
The latest consciousness science and the return of Animism.
The role of the Devil and the Saints in European magic and witchcraft.
Begin practising:
A Chaos Magic form of Remote Viewing.
An Ancient Roman system of hexing.
A method of summoning Dragon Spirits.
A Sumerian method of banishing Ghosts.
A complete system of spirit evocation.
From the author of the acclaimed Star.Ships: A Prehistory of the Spirits and The Chaos Protocols: Magical Techniques for Navigating the New Economic Reality comes a definitive and much-needed exploration of the core principles of Chaos Magic.
"Whoever said books on magick can't be fabulously entertaining as well as eminently practical has obviously not read up on their Gordon White. Remedy that situation." -Christopher Knowles. The Secret Sun.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2016
121 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Gordon White
4 books206 followersGordon White runs one of the world's leading chaos magic blogs and podcasts, Rune Soup. He has worked nationally and internationally for some of the world's largest digital and social media companies, including BBC Worldwide, Discovery Channel, and Yelp.
Gordon has presented at media events across Europe on social and data strategy as well as the changing behaviors and priorities of Generation Y. During this time, he has partied with princes, dined in castles, dived on sunken cities and even had a billionaire knight buy him bottles of champagne.
Gordon has presented at media events across Europe on social and data strategy as well as the changing behaviors and priorities of Generation Y. During this time, he has partied with princes, dined in castles, dived on sunken cities and even had a billionaire knight buy him bottles of champagne.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 23, 2017
Gordon White is one of the most thought-provoking writers\speakers that I have encountered. When I first heard him (and at various times in the book), my initial instinct was something along the lines of, "I think this man might be a loon - albeit a highly intelligent one." However, that is an unfair first impression. If you actually read his work and listen to his reasoning, he is a very clear and cogent thinker who simply "follows the data" without a filter. Although his conclusions are not mainstream, he is not a thinker\observer to be ignored.
Philosophically he makes very clear and cogent epistemological, metaphysical, and theory of consciousness claims that can stand in any academic setting. His critique of scientific materialism and his reservations on philosophical idealism are first rate and his conclusion leading towards animism is exceedingly well done. While I generally lean to idealism (and never really considered animism), I find his work to be well-considered. He also seems to have a grasp on the history of thought which powers his writings. His built-in iconoclasm is witty and erudite, almost like a 21st century H. L. Mencken who takes aim at the academic and philosophical establishment.
I read this book because I had heard his thoughts expressed on various podcasts. It was a highly enjoyable and eye-opening read. His thoughts are in the process of being systematized and I'm looking forward to seeing where his ideas end up. We have clearly not heard the last from him.
Philosophically he makes very clear and cogent epistemological, metaphysical, and theory of consciousness claims that can stand in any academic setting. His critique of scientific materialism and his reservations on philosophical idealism are first rate and his conclusion leading towards animism is exceedingly well done. While I generally lean to idealism (and never really considered animism), I find his work to be well-considered. He also seems to have a grasp on the history of thought which powers his writings. His built-in iconoclasm is witty and erudite, almost like a 21st century H. L. Mencken who takes aim at the academic and philosophical establishment.
I read this book because I had heard his thoughts expressed on various podcasts. It was a highly enjoyable and eye-opening read. His thoughts are in the process of being systematized and I'm looking forward to seeing where his ideas end up. We have clearly not heard the last from him.
January 27, 2022
A series of essays having to do, at least in part, with chaos magic and the occult. Gordon white is all over the map, and since he's smart and entertaining, so is the book. It doesn't necessarily hold together as a whole, even taken with his other books in a rough trilogy you're going to have to squint and do a lot of your own work to come to some conclusion, and hey, maybe that's for the best.
edit: my third re-read and I'm giving it another star. It holds together as a whole more than I remembered and it all seems very apropos right now.
edit: my third re-read and I'm giving it another star. It holds together as a whole more than I remembered and it all seems very apropos right now.
April 30, 2020
Gordon White succeeds - again! - in offering poignant insights into the workings of magic in the 21st century, its pitfalls, its needs and opportunities. This is a short, concise "Magic in Theory and Practice" and best - as the author himself states - read together with the first two volume of the London trilogy, The Chaos Protocolls and Star.Ships. "Pieces of Eight" has everything one might want to have on top of the other two volumes - musings on a wide variety of magical subjects, as well as practical enchantments and suchlike considerations for ones own practice. This trilogy is a must read for every magician and aspiring to be.
July 31, 2016
this discerning examination & exploration of chaos magic had me taking pages of notes. upon finishing, i am resoundingly (& pleasantly) saturated, and look forward to the inevitable insights to come as i metabolize. this merits a nearish-future re-read of gordon's 2016 releases, in sequence, in order to more fully unlock his 'fourth, unwritable book'.
February 12, 2020
I’m a premium member on Gordon Whites website Runesoup so that should give you an idea of how highly I rate this author. He is certainly a very unique voice at a time when it is most needed. This book is a joy to read, succinct and so well written. If you’re interested in chaos magic this is your guy!
October 24, 2016
I am not a spellcaster or anything. I read Chaos Processes and liked it--but I did not really like this book. This is probably because I am not looking for spells to cast.
March 5, 2023
Da neopagano diligente non potevo esimermi dall'integrare gli studi di storia delle religioni e ricostruzione del rituale (cfr. The Practical Art of Divine Magic: Contemporary & Ancient Techniques of Theurgy) con una panoramica sugli sviluppi più recenti di teologia e metafisica, la famosa (per noi picchiatelli) "magia del Caos", e questo
Pieces of Eight: Chaos Magic Essays and Enchantments
mi era stato indicato come un testo validissimo sull'argomento.
Ciò che non avevo capito, però, è che non si tratta di un volume introduttivo: l'autore stesso esplicita che si tratta di un libriccino minimalista che va inserito in un percorso di studi più ampio, e per quanto i concetti nucleari della magia del Caos vi siano sì presentati, nondimeno tutta la trattazione è chiaramente in dialogo con temi e autori che si danno per già noti al pubblico – e io per fortuna avevo le nozioni minime per tenere il passo, ma solo perché avevo seguito alcune preziose conferenze. Senza una base del genere, il lettore del tutto digiuno sul tema si ritrova spaesato già alla terza menzione di Alistair Crowley e del mago Abramelin...
Posto questo caveat, Pieces of Eight è davvero così valido? Personalmente, sì e no.
No, perché a livello di prosa saggistica il testo è costruito su tre delle peggiori male pratiche, ovverosia lasciare in sospeso parti della trattazione per rimandare alle altre pubblicazioni dello stesso autore (autopromozione, gente...), non fornire bibliografia terza verificabile in relazione ai passaggi più fattuali (tramite un implicito "andate a documentarvi per conto vostro, pigroni"), e adottare un tono sarcastico e saccente che porti il lettore ad assentire per automatismo ("l'autore dice che la sua controparte sono dei cialtroni, ma io non sono un cialtrone!") – pratiche tanto più discutibili nel momento in cui White gioca a fare l'intellettuale anti-sistema a priori e sostiene che la magia del Caos, come quadro di riferimento epistemologico, dia ragione praticamente in toto alla dottrina New Age nelle sue varie branche pseudoscientifiche, il che mi sembra profondamente incoerente con le sue iniziali affermazioni programmatiche di riconciliazione della scienza empirica con le pratiche spirituali e di applicazione dello studio filologico alla tradizione mistica. Francamente non vedo come si possa da un lato presentare le tecniche della teurgia classica come un "protocollo operativo", e dall'altro e dall'altro presentare come un eroe il truffatore finanziario Martin Arthur Armstrong...
Presa coscienza di questa enorme pecca, il volume funziona comunque bene come libello miscellaneo dal quale trarre suggestioni su tutta una serie di argomenti, come una borsa di semini da piantarsi in testa per farli sbocciare in studi tematici: ci sono elementi di metafisica a tema panpsichismo e animismo, di magia cristiana (preziosi per un sincretismo con i paganesimi europei paragonabile a Vudù e Santerìa), di culto della Dea Madre secondo la veste mesopotamica di Tiamat (per chi ama gli archetipi ricorsivi), di goezia e diabolismo (non il mio genere, ma non sta a me fermare i cretini, ed è carino il paragrafo sull'icona del Bafometto), di mitologie comparate antiche e moderne (e i riferimenti tolkieniani sono molto appropriati), di fenomenologia del rituale sacro – e una selezione graziosissima di incantesimi vari, dalla canalizzazione del genius locii alla costruzione di un proprio calendario festivo. E come ciliegina sulla torta, il collante di tutti questi contenuti è una visione del mago come individuo poliedrico e contro-culturale per definizione, visione che, personalmente, adotto volentieri in un'ottica di riappropriazione dello spirituale in un quadro di progressismo politico. Di questo al signor White va reso merito.
Ciò che non avevo capito, però, è che non si tratta di un volume introduttivo: l'autore stesso esplicita che si tratta di un libriccino minimalista che va inserito in un percorso di studi più ampio, e per quanto i concetti nucleari della magia del Caos vi siano sì presentati, nondimeno tutta la trattazione è chiaramente in dialogo con temi e autori che si danno per già noti al pubblico – e io per fortuna avevo le nozioni minime per tenere il passo, ma solo perché avevo seguito alcune preziose conferenze. Senza una base del genere, il lettore del tutto digiuno sul tema si ritrova spaesato già alla terza menzione di Alistair Crowley e del mago Abramelin...
Posto questo caveat, Pieces of Eight è davvero così valido? Personalmente, sì e no.
No, perché a livello di prosa saggistica il testo è costruito su tre delle peggiori male pratiche, ovverosia lasciare in sospeso parti della trattazione per rimandare alle altre pubblicazioni dello stesso autore (autopromozione, gente...), non fornire bibliografia terza verificabile in relazione ai passaggi più fattuali (tramite un implicito "andate a documentarvi per conto vostro, pigroni"), e adottare un tono sarcastico e saccente che porti il lettore ad assentire per automatismo ("l'autore dice che la sua controparte sono dei cialtroni, ma io non sono un cialtrone!") – pratiche tanto più discutibili nel momento in cui White gioca a fare l'intellettuale anti-sistema a priori e sostiene che la magia del Caos, come quadro di riferimento epistemologico, dia ragione praticamente in toto alla dottrina New Age nelle sue varie branche pseudoscientifiche, il che mi sembra profondamente incoerente con le sue iniziali affermazioni programmatiche di riconciliazione della scienza empirica con le pratiche spirituali e di applicazione dello studio filologico alla tradizione mistica. Francamente non vedo come si possa da un lato presentare le tecniche della teurgia classica come un "protocollo operativo", e dall'altro e dall'altro presentare come un eroe il truffatore finanziario Martin Arthur Armstrong...
Presa coscienza di questa enorme pecca, il volume funziona comunque bene come libello miscellaneo dal quale trarre suggestioni su tutta una serie di argomenti, come una borsa di semini da piantarsi in testa per farli sbocciare in studi tematici: ci sono elementi di metafisica a tema panpsichismo e animismo, di magia cristiana (preziosi per un sincretismo con i paganesimi europei paragonabile a Vudù e Santerìa), di culto della Dea Madre secondo la veste mesopotamica di Tiamat (per chi ama gli archetipi ricorsivi), di goezia e diabolismo (non il mio genere, ma non sta a me fermare i cretini, ed è carino il paragrafo sull'icona del Bafometto), di mitologie comparate antiche e moderne (e i riferimenti tolkieniani sono molto appropriati), di fenomenologia del rituale sacro – e una selezione graziosissima di incantesimi vari, dalla canalizzazione del genius locii alla costruzione di un proprio calendario festivo. E come ciliegina sulla torta, il collante di tutti questi contenuti è una visione del mago come individuo poliedrico e contro-culturale per definizione, visione che, personalmente, adotto volentieri in un'ottica di riappropriazione dello spirituale in un quadro di progressismo politico. Di questo al signor White va reso merito.
November 15, 2020
A concise series of essays, not so much on chaos magic but the context in which enchantment and all the goodies contained in magic arrives. A nice survey on the importance of myths, gods, spirits and animism from a chaos magician's point of view. This is sort of like the point to diverge and indulge in all sorts of sorcery. Not in the LARPing sense (sorry LARPers, here is a potion containing three drops of green food dye in water). Fun read. A funny read. A nice companion piece to the blog Runesoup.
November 16, 2018
Primer for Chaos Magic
A more basic summary for those who might find The Chaos Protocols overwhelming -- or who perhaps are still digesting that material. Very readable, conveys White's sassiness in a way that will please Rune Soup fans. I enjoyed it very much and was sad as the end approached. I will read it again and highly recommend to others.
A more basic summary for those who might find The Chaos Protocols overwhelming -- or who perhaps are still digesting that material. Very readable, conveys White's sassiness in a way that will please Rune Soup fans. I enjoyed it very much and was sad as the end approached. I will read it again and highly recommend to others.
April 20, 2020
El libro tiene buenos ensayos, sn embargo, no cumple mucho con la promesa de encantamientos prácticos, salvo en uno o dos capítulos. Las autoreferencias a otros libros del mismo autor dan para pensar que esto es más un compendio de blog posts reunidos en un libro, más que una pieza original. Un libro básico si quiere sentar las bases filosóficas de una práctica de la magia del caos.
January 26, 2022
Chaos
This book is the thoughts of the author and also an explanation of his basis for magical practise. He seems to flow freely within his methodology. It is well written and ,I think, very interesting. Not a grumpier of the traditional sense but an opening of doors for those who wish to enter.
This book is the thoughts of the author and also an explanation of his basis for magical practise. He seems to flow freely within his methodology. It is well written and ,I think, very interesting. Not a grumpier of the traditional sense but an opening of doors for those who wish to enter.
March 27, 2018
Hmm.... Mind opening for sure, but I’m reserving judgement as I am unfamiliar with many of the ideas and references in the book. Four stars for piquing my interest and expanding my to-read list in a whole new direction.
December 4, 2018
A good book. Just the Introduction is worth the price. The author proposes rituals for the modern age, he uses very old material like Greek Magical Papyri all the way into Chaos Magick and sigils. Interesting for the practitioners.
December 18, 2023
enjoyed the first half more than the second
Well written and certainly thoughtful and thought provoking, I just sort of lost interest in the second half with the specific rituals and such.
Well written and certainly thoughtful and thought provoking, I just sort of lost interest in the second half with the specific rituals and such.
April 16, 2025
Excellent Book
Far more than what I was expecting. It has a little theory, a little practicality, and a little recommended reading. I enjoy Gordon's worldview a lot. Even when I don't agree, he always gives me something to chew on. Bravo sir.
Far more than what I was expecting. It has a little theory, a little practicality, and a little recommended reading. I enjoy Gordon's worldview a lot. Even when I don't agree, he always gives me something to chew on. Bravo sir.
Read
September 14, 2025Great!
Find your own path. You don't need to do what all those dead people did.. you are you and there's nothing more relevant to you than what's going on right now, around you - thats what the former greats did, after all... Gordon has great thoughts and inspirations for this very idea.
Find your own path. You don't need to do what all those dead people did.. you are you and there's nothing more relevant to you than what's going on right now, around you - thats what the former greats did, after all... Gordon has great thoughts and inspirations for this very idea.
Want to read
February 6, 2023* learning first
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2017
Than You
As a stalker ... follower of Mr. White's work, I am very happy with this latest book. As he repeatedly writes, this is not a "beginning magic" book but, as someone who is not familiar with most magical concepts and terminology, I did not find myself having to look up definitions. I look forward to his next book.
As a stalker ... follower of Mr. White's work, I am very happy with this latest book. As he repeatedly writes, this is not a "beginning magic" book but, as someone who is not familiar with most magical concepts and terminology, I did not find myself having to look up definitions. I look forward to his next book.
March 3, 2017
Gordon White is an elegant writer for a more civilized age.
August 12, 2016
An elegant volume
Volume is defined as length, width, and depth. It's perhaps the wrong word to describe an eBook, which can't be said to occupy much space. Yet Gordon White's essay collection shares characteristics or properties with volume: it occupies space. It takes up space in the mind, and takes up space in the lived experience of the body; it transforms how one thinks about economics and medicine; it raises even more complicated questions about magic, and the magician's relationship to its practice. As always with Gordon's work, I stop to put bits of it into practice, try it out on people in conversation, unpack it in my head. Well done.
Volume is defined as length, width, and depth. It's perhaps the wrong word to describe an eBook, which can't be said to occupy much space. Yet Gordon White's essay collection shares characteristics or properties with volume: it occupies space. It takes up space in the mind, and takes up space in the lived experience of the body; it transforms how one thinks about economics and medicine; it raises even more complicated questions about magic, and the magician's relationship to its practice. As always with Gordon's work, I stop to put bits of it into practice, try it out on people in conversation, unpack it in my head. Well done.
Read
September 7, 2016Great!
Find your own path. You don't need to do what all those dead people did.. you are you and there's nothing more relevant to you than what's going on right now, around you - thats what the former greats did, after all... Gordon has great thoughts and inspirations for this very idea.
Find your own path. You don't need to do what all those dead people did.. you are you and there's nothing more relevant to you than what's going on right now, around you - thats what the former greats did, after all... Gordon has great thoughts and inspirations for this very idea.
March 20, 2018
This is my second time reading Pieces of Eight by Gordon White. It is still short, concise, and informative. Pieces of Eight is meant to be on the shelves of modern magicians, and is a testament of modern occult thinking and practice. I highly recommend.
November 10, 2016
Although I am not a magician, I enjoyed Pieces of Eight for its humor and mythology. The price was right (ebook), and Gordon White's Star.Ships is now available through Kindle as well. Worth reading, if you are interested in chaos magic, the occult, or are a follower of Rune Soup.
August 11, 2016
Inspiring, irritating and insightful by turns.
April 11, 2017
Appropriately transgressive. Useful book.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews