avalonia.co.uk review
By Peter Grey
Published by Scarlet Imprint
2007
156pp, HB, beautifully bound and in a card slipcase
Reviewed by Sorita d'Este for Avalonia
When I ordered this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. Except that I expected something unique, interesting and exciting because, well frankly, the author is one of those rare people in the occult / magickal world who I find unique, interesting and exciting. As for Babalon, he describes her in Book I of "The Red Goddess" as (amongst many other things!) "the meeting point of ceremonial magick and the witch cult. She is a power that comes out of the past and resonates into the Now with the compelling song of the witch woman. She is both the primal form of the Goddess from the far distant past and the most modern icon of post-human style" (p2). His passion for the Holy Whore shines through on each page, even in the dedication and love which went into producing and presenting this volume. It arrived beautifully packaged, in a slipcase, with fragrant rose petals, bound in red ribbon, a beautiful and symbolic contrast to the white cover. Everything about this book is symbolic and magickal, a Work of passionate love rather than (yet another!) rehashed work, which in recent years seems to have become the hideous obsession of the occult publishing world.
The Red Goddess is a book for the coming century, a book which conveys modern ideas and practice without chucking out the old school necessities of magickal work. This book is about today and tomorrow, not about the past. It is not gentle, nor does it aim to disguise the realities of working with Babalon. The book is not "politically correct" so if you are expecting something gentle telling you about "womyn's things" then this book will probably offend you and is best left well alone. However, if you have at one time or another felt the calling of Babalon, felt her inside you or seen her in a lover, then this book may inspire you towards taking action. (Or possibly to let go of some delusions!). If you are a Thelemite (rather than a Crowleyite), a Ceremonial addict fascinated with the practices of sex magick or a Witch seeking to broaden your horizons this book may also appeal to you, if you enter it with an open mind, that is.
Mr Grey strikes a great balance between poetry and research, history and modern ritual in this work. My only complaint is that there is no index and no bibliography, which is a pity. But it does not detract from this book in anyway whatsoever and it has been given a special place on our shelves. More information can be gotten by emailing scarletimprint@gmail.com or by visiting http://scarletimprint.livejournal.com
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