Kissing the Limitless: Deep Magic and the Great Work of Transforming Yourself and the World

by T. Thorn Coyle

Kissing the Limitless is a manual for self-liberation through magic. By practicing the Great Work of the ancient alchemists and magicians, readers are guided into self-possession constant communication with their divine selves and connection with the Limitless Divine. Using the tools of energy and breath, shadow and dream work, tarot and meditation, readers will learn to open up "life power" and access breath, will, and desire the key components of effective magic to, quite literally, reshape the world.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Paganism, Religion, Magick, Witchcraft, Occult

256 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2008

About the author

TT. Thorn Coyle has been arrested at least four times. Buy her a cup of tea or a good whisky and she'll tell you about it.

A salty-tongued, tattooed mystic, Thorn is author of the alt-history urban fantasy series The Panther Chronicles, the novel Like Water, and two short story collections. The Witches of Portland will be out in Spring, 2018. She has also written multiple non-fiction books including Sigil Magic for Writers, Artists & Other Creatives, Kissing the Limitless, and Evolutionary Witchcraft. Thorn's work appears in many anthologies, magazines, and collections.

She has taught magical practice in nine countries, on four continents, and in twenty-five states. Her other occupations have been numerous, and include working four years each on the Pacific Stock Options floor (as a young Anarchist punk with a blue, flat-top Mohawk), in a woman-run peep show, and full time in the San Francisco soup kitchen she ended up volunteering at for twenty years. All of this, along with her activism, informs her fiction.

An interloper to the Pacific Northwest, Thorn joyfully stalks city streets, writes in cafes, and talks to crows, squirrels, and trees.

Thorn is active on:
Twitter @ThornCoyle
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tthorncoyle
Medium https://medium.com/@ThornCoyle
Patreon https://www.patreon.com/ThornCoyle

http://www.thorncoyle.com

Reviews

[JHM · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book of magic as spellcasting and it's not Wicca 101. This is a book for people who are serious about the challenging and rewarding path of The Great Work, the transformation of self through communion with the Divine.

T. Thorn Coyle is quite simply one of the most talented and sophisticated of Pagan teachers, and in this book she presents life-tested techniques with an attitude of both seriousness and joy.

This is a book about how to use magical-spiritual practices as the foundation for transforming the personality through meditation, purification, self-examination, facing inner demons and shadows, and cultivating an ever-deeper connection with the Divine. Although her perspective and theology are distinctly Pagan, most of the the techniques can be applied by people of other faiths, especially if one is willing to translate her terms into ones one more comfortable and familiar. Thorn herself frequently mentions practices from a variety of mystical traditions as possible options for approaching specific parts of the work.

Thorn's style is conversational but never condescending. She presents advanced spiritual concepts simply and clearly. In fact, this text helped me achieve several breakthroughs around topics I've studied before but never grasped until now.

[Dreya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it incredibly boring and bland; I couldn't even push myself to finish it. An attempt at a self help book, it lacks 'shiny' moments to keep me flipping pages. Even amongst all its activities, suggestions and ideas, I found more enlightenment and fulfillment in other books such as A New Earth by Ekhart Tolle.

[Tracey Ledel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, advance spiritual guide for mystics of any flavor.

[Angela Pippinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! I read through it once and I am now going to do the work outlined in the chapters.

[Louis Pompanio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful blend of eclectic witchcraft and practical psychological approaches to manifesting, banishing and seeking. If you are able to do any of her workshops: do it!

[Thomas Pinneck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kissing the Limitless is far more than a book on magic—it is a manual for profound personal transformation and self-liberation. T. Thorn Coyle masterfully guides readers through the alchemical process of integrating mind, body, and spirit, offering a path to deep self-possession and a continual connection to the divine within. This book is an invitation to engage in the Great Work, not as a theoretical exercise, but as a living practice that transforms both the self and the world. Central to Coyle’s teachings is the idea of “kissing the limitless,” a concept that encourages practitioners to push beyond their perceived boundaries and engage directly with the source of power and will that flows through all things. Coyle’s approach blends techniques from traditional alchemy, shadow work, and energy manipulation, providing a cohesive system that empowers readers to reshape their inner and outer realities. This is not magic for the sake of power, but magic as a means of self-realization and communion with the Limitless Divine.

The book’s focus on using breath, energy, and desire as primary tools for magical work is particularly effective, grounding esoteric concepts in practical techniques that can be applied to everyday life. Coyle’s use of tarot, dreamwork, and meditation as pathways for self-exploration adds further depth, ensuring that each reader can find an entry point that resonates with their unique style and experience level. Her exercises are designed to cultivate awareness and intention, making the book both a spiritual guide and a toolbox for active change.

What sets Kissing the Limitless apart is Coyle’s emphasis on the interplay between personal transformation and the greater world. She positions the work of self-liberation as inseparable from the work of reshaping society, making this book a call to action as much as a guide to personal growth. The integration of shadow work and dream practices encourages practitioners to confront and transmute their own limitations, allowing them to engage with the world from a place of strength, clarity, and purpose. Kissing the Limitless is a deeply empowering text that blends mysticism, practical magic, and spiritual philosophy into a single cohesive vision. T. Thorn Coyle’s teachings challenge readers to move beyond superficial change and embrace the Great Work as a lifelong journey toward liberation. For those seeking a transformative approach to magic that is rooted in both the personal and the universal, this book is a powerful companion on the path.

[Heather Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book for people who have been on a magical/spiritual path for a while and are ready to take their spirituality to another level. Full of energy exercises, meditations, quotes and perspective, it has both practical tips as well as advice on walking this into the world at large. I highly recommend it for those who want to explore a deeper connection to themselves, their deity/ies, and their world! It is written from a witchy perspective, but isn't fundie in that regard at all. The author references multiple spiritual paths and how they view things like love, justice, enlightenment, and self-care.

[Brendan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book presents an interesting hodgepodge of various occult and esoteric schools of thought, from Gurdjieff’s work to Crowley’s Thelema, with brief stops at almost every technique in between. That combination of ideas, however, is not quite enough to spark much interest for me in the course of study laid out here; much of the “Doing the Work” sections feel less like work and more like simple guided meditations. An intriguing concept, but it feels to me like mixing so many works together waters them all down in the long run, and one could be better served devoting time to focusing on one of the foundations of this system than the system itself.

[Laura]

as much there are many truths in this book I just could not get into this book.

[Catia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A way of being.. your spirituality needn't be separate from other aspects of yourself but rather a part of everything you do.. beautiful.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly grounded and practical advice. Excited to be deepening the practice.

[Terri Kempton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Currently reading this ecstatic account of T. Thorn Coyle's journey through different religious traditions. I find it enjoyable as a travelogue through the territory of paganism, witchcraft, and fairy work with a touch of zen and yogic teachings added in. As an editor, I have to say that it's discombobulated and oddly organized. It also has chapter headings on almost every page, often in an unrelated order, which makes for a disjointed read. Although not revolutionary or new in and of themselves, her meditations and suggestions are a unique combination from different traditions and well-centered in the pagan way. The content is true and meaningful, and a good reminder to dedicate ourselves to daily practice.

[Stan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book but it is not one that I would recommend as someone's first read about magical subjects. That being said, it is worth the time for readers who are serious about personal transformation and deep magic.

[Victor De witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully deep book to read. Guaranteed to plow deep within your soul. Probably will have to read this one many times.