World Book Day Blog 1 - The Occult Book by John Michael Greer

Happy World Book Day! Books have played such a massive part in my witchcraft journey so far and I wanted to share three recent favorites.

Rather than lump them all together on one blog I though I'd take inspiration from the 'rule of three' and devote a blog to each.

On this blog I'm going to tell you all about John Michael Greer's Occult Book.

The book came recommended on an Instagram Thread I was reading through where people were asking for suggestions of books about the history of magick, witchcraft or the occult in general. I'm not ashamed to say that when I clicked on the link I let out an "oooooo" at the gorgeous cover of it.
Whilst I know we're always cautioned not to judge a book by it's cover in this case I think I'm justified in my admiration for it's cover.

See what I mean?

It's not just the front cover that's so eye-catching, the design continues across to the back -

Obviously it's the contents that count and I'm pleased to say that they more than live up to the promise of their cover. Greer covers topics from as early as the 6th Century BCE (Pythagoras comes to Crotona) right up to the present day (The end of the Thirteenth Baktun in 2012 when the world did in fact not end!).

One topic is covered on each page and are all gorgeously illustrated. 

Chapter 1

A particularly colourful page about New Orlean's Hoodoo shops

The chapters are each in-depth without being heavy and have helped me identify particular areas of history that I'd like to explore more e.g the history of tarot cards and a lot of the philosophical histories.

Another important thing that I took from the book was that although occultism/magick/witchcraft/Wicca whatever you want to call it has been persecuted over the centuries there is also a great deal more in common between all of our beliefs and spiritual paths and in fact how they inform each other. An example of this is on page 51 'Origins of the Cabala' which describes Rabbi Issac and his student's belief that number mysticism revealed the key to the innermost teachings of Judaism. The Cabala in turn became a core element of occult traditions in the Western World. Or of course the chapter (page 97) recounting the story of Pope Urban VIII's request that Tommaso Campanella perform rituals that would extend his life!

In short I would really recommend this book for anyone like me who wants to learn more about our ancestor's traditions and beliefs or for anyone wanting a book that's a little off the beaten path and easy to dip in and out of.

In my next blog I'm going to be reviewing Wiccapedia by Shawn Robbins & Leanna Greenaway

Blessed Be
Jen
XxxX