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Chaos Monk: Bringing Magical Creativity to the New Monastic Path
Sitting still is where it all starts. Only by ceasing to move can we gain access to the state of mind necessary to move. Both in our psyches, and in our lives, we carve out a space which is our own to pause, to take stock, to commune with our higher Self. And then, with our feet in the right place, we take the steps necessary towards our goals, in fellowship with our communities. The modern monk constructs their cell within the everyday world.
This book helps to model some of these processes for you. It contains personal examples, historical reviews of Monasticism through the ages, gentle prods to keep things moving, and reflections upon what such a pilgrimage might mean. The alchemy of transmutation applied to the soul takes time, but gives us gold.
A profoundly beautiful exploration of spirituality, magic and self that I consider to be one of the most important books I have read on the subject in many years. Particularly relevant to this era, Chaos Monk is intellectually satisfying whilst presenting an eminently practical approach. This book examines internal and external realities and the tensions they generate; acknowledging wider relationships that impact upon magical and spiritual development. Referencing Tantra, Thelema, Monastic Traditions, Chaos Magic and psychology, 'Chaos Monk’ structures a template for the development of a long term, pertinent, spiritual approach to the self and the times, and as such should be an essential component of every committed practitioner and seeker's library. Charlotte Rodgers, creator of sculptural art works, writer of books which include P is for A Modern Primer, The Sky is A Gateway Not A Ceiling, and The Bloody Sacrifice.
An exhilarating journey through chaos monasticism, a mystical practice informed by chaos magic. Accessible and clearly written, yet informed by a deep knowledge of the history of spiritual movements in both East and West, decades of magical practice, psychotherapy and art, this is a book for anyone with mystical leanings who wants to put them into practice. The first part describes the theoretical basis of chaos monasticism, and the second part shows how to put it into practice. Steve offers genuinely original spiritual exercises to help you develop your practice and introduces an element of play into the inner work. He also taps into the important mystical streams of apophatic theology and the dark night of the soul, and offers an exploration of one of my favourite spiritual practices, lectio divina. Other practices offered here include pilgrimage, psychogeography, and pathworking, all of which are great ways of engaging with sacred space and time. Yvonne Aburrow, author of All Acts of Love and Inclusive Wicca ; Dark The Inner Work of Witchcraft ; and The Night Witchcraft as Transformation .
Chaos Monk is a book I've been looking for for quite some time as it helps fill an often neglected area in the Chaos Magick approach—Mysticism! Steve Dee has an in-depth look at what a modern day monastic approach to Chaos Magick might look like. He draws from the past and other approaches but ultimately supplies the reader with some practical and useful ways of actually going out and doing it in a modern world setting. His thoughts on Chaos Mysticism, and his approach, ideas, and insights really resonated with me. I can only imagine that there will be a large number of people in the Chaos Magic community who will be well served by this book. Tommie Kelly, Irish artist. musician, and writer, best known for his oracle deck The Forty Servants.
This book helps to model some of these processes for you. It contains personal examples, historical reviews of Monasticism through the ages, gentle prods to keep things moving, and reflections upon what such a pilgrimage might mean. The alchemy of transmutation applied to the soul takes time, but gives us gold.
A profoundly beautiful exploration of spirituality, magic and self that I consider to be one of the most important books I have read on the subject in many years. Particularly relevant to this era, Chaos Monk is intellectually satisfying whilst presenting an eminently practical approach. This book examines internal and external realities and the tensions they generate; acknowledging wider relationships that impact upon magical and spiritual development. Referencing Tantra, Thelema, Monastic Traditions, Chaos Magic and psychology, 'Chaos Monk’ structures a template for the development of a long term, pertinent, spiritual approach to the self and the times, and as such should be an essential component of every committed practitioner and seeker's library. Charlotte Rodgers, creator of sculptural art works, writer of books which include P is for A Modern Primer, The Sky is A Gateway Not A Ceiling, and The Bloody Sacrifice.
An exhilarating journey through chaos monasticism, a mystical practice informed by chaos magic. Accessible and clearly written, yet informed by a deep knowledge of the history of spiritual movements in both East and West, decades of magical practice, psychotherapy and art, this is a book for anyone with mystical leanings who wants to put them into practice. The first part describes the theoretical basis of chaos monasticism, and the second part shows how to put it into practice. Steve offers genuinely original spiritual exercises to help you develop your practice and introduces an element of play into the inner work. He also taps into the important mystical streams of apophatic theology and the dark night of the soul, and offers an exploration of one of my favourite spiritual practices, lectio divina. Other practices offered here include pilgrimage, psychogeography, and pathworking, all of which are great ways of engaging with sacred space and time. Yvonne Aburrow, author of All Acts of Love and Inclusive Wicca ; Dark The Inner Work of Witchcraft ; and The Night Witchcraft as Transformation .
Chaos Monk is a book I've been looking for for quite some time as it helps fill an often neglected area in the Chaos Magick approach—Mysticism! Steve Dee has an in-depth look at what a modern day monastic approach to Chaos Magick might look like. He draws from the past and other approaches but ultimately supplies the reader with some practical and useful ways of actually going out and doing it in a modern world setting. His thoughts on Chaos Mysticism, and his approach, ideas, and insights really resonated with me. I can only imagine that there will be a large number of people in the Chaos Magic community who will be well served by this book. Tommie Kelly, Irish artist. musician, and writer, best known for his oracle deck The Forty Servants.
149 pages, Paperback
Published June 19, 2022
34 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 30, 2022
An exhilarating journey through chaos monasticism, a mystical practice informed by chaos magic. Accessible, clearly written, and witty, yet informed by a deep knowledge of the history of spiritual movements in both East and West, decades of magical practice, psychotherapy and art, this is a book for anyone with mystical leanings who wants to put them into practice.
The first part describes the theoretical basis of chaos monasticism, and the second part shows how to put it into practice. Steve offers genuinely original spiritual exercises to help you develop your practice and introduces an element of play into the inner work. He also taps into the important mystical streams of apophatic theology, the Via Negativa, and the dark night of the soul, and offers an exploration of one of my favourite spiritual practices, lectio divina. Other practices offered here include pilgrimage, psychogeography, and pathworking, all of which are great ways of engaging with sacred space and time.
The third section invites the reader to find their own personal version of neo-monasticism by reflecting on their life’s purpose and how they can express that through their spiritual practice. In seeking to formulate a new magical monasticism, Steve draws upon ideas as diverse as the Slow Movement and minimalism, and praises the trope of the armchair occultist. He then proposes a new version of the monastic rule which works with contemporary sensibilities, and explores the perils of working in magical and spiritual groups.
It is so refreshing to read a book on spiritual practice that is both informed by a deep knowledge of the subject and which presents a genuinely original and inspiring vision, as well as offering practical guidance for putting that vision into practice in a way that feels authentic to the individual following the path. This is a genuinely original and inspiring book which I really enjoyed reading. It’s great to see someone else engaging with two of my favourite spiritual practices (lectio divina and pilgrimage) and exploring some of my favourite theological concepts (apophatic and process) in a magical and occult context.
The first part describes the theoretical basis of chaos monasticism, and the second part shows how to put it into practice. Steve offers genuinely original spiritual exercises to help you develop your practice and introduces an element of play into the inner work. He also taps into the important mystical streams of apophatic theology, the Via Negativa, and the dark night of the soul, and offers an exploration of one of my favourite spiritual practices, lectio divina. Other practices offered here include pilgrimage, psychogeography, and pathworking, all of which are great ways of engaging with sacred space and time.
The third section invites the reader to find their own personal version of neo-monasticism by reflecting on their life’s purpose and how they can express that through their spiritual practice. In seeking to formulate a new magical monasticism, Steve draws upon ideas as diverse as the Slow Movement and minimalism, and praises the trope of the armchair occultist. He then proposes a new version of the monastic rule which works with contemporary sensibilities, and explores the perils of working in magical and spiritual groups.
It is so refreshing to read a book on spiritual practice that is both informed by a deep knowledge of the subject and which presents a genuinely original and inspiring vision, as well as offering practical guidance for putting that vision into practice in a way that feels authentic to the individual following the path. This is a genuinely original and inspiring book which I really enjoyed reading. It’s great to see someone else engaging with two of my favourite spiritual practices (lectio divina and pilgrimage) and exploring some of my favourite theological concepts (apophatic and process) in a magical and occult context.
August 16, 2022
Que livrinho fantástico. Adorei tanto a abordagem quanto a linguagem. Foi tão bom reler temas que me encantaram em tempos passados, como jnana e "via negativa". Também aprendi sobre Psicogeografia e mais sobre o significado da peregrinação.
September 7, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this. It provided a useful framework to create monastic rule for the aspiring Chaos magician or anyone else with a magical or spiritual practice.
It's also refreshing to read a Chaos magician who isn't afraid of Christian influences when they are useful. For all their talk of paradigm shifting a lot of Chaos magic practioners have a strong knee-jerk reaction against it.
It's also refreshing to read a Chaos magician who isn't afraid of Christian influences when they are useful. For all their talk of paradigm shifting a lot of Chaos magic practioners have a strong knee-jerk reaction against it.
December 5, 2023
Fantastic read and so timely!
At this point on my path, I've been alone socially and spiritually for a year or so.... This book showed me why and it gave me an amazing structure to both understand why I feel like I do (unsatisfied spiritually) as well as what I can do to mitigate and change that situation.
At this point on my path, I've been alone socially and spiritually for a year or so.... This book showed me why and it gave me an amazing structure to both understand why I feel like I do (unsatisfied spiritually) as well as what I can do to mitigate and change that situation.
July 9, 2022
informative, thoughtful, kind
This book has given me a lot of food for thought on my journey towards monasticism. I will come back to consult it for ideas again and again!
This book has given me a lot of food for thought on my journey towards monasticism. I will come back to consult it for ideas again and again!
July 23, 2022
A clearly-written, accessible, and lighthearted look into the practice of monastic chaos.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews