STELLAR MAGIC by Payam Nabarz

Avalonia is proud to announce that STELLAR MAGIC by Payam Nabarz is now
available for pre-order from www.avaloniabooks.co.uk. This long-waited and very
practical Liber Astrum is being released on the Full Moon – 7 / 7 /2009.

More info & Order Information

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STELLAR MAGIC

By Payam Nabarz

Avalonia 2009, RRP £12.99

PB, 208 pages, ISBN 978-1905297252

The stars have influenced mankind with their magic from time
immemorial, as evidenced by Archeoastronomy; instructing astrologers
and priests, guiding sailors and inspiring poets. For millennia,
cultures all around the world have told their myths and legends
through the canvas of the night sky. Yet despite the immense
significance of the constellations and stars in the ancient world,
stellar magic has been largely ignored in recent centuries.

In this inspirational and practical Liber Astrum, the author draws
together material from ancient, classical and medieval sources;
spanning East and West, fusing modern poetry with ancient magic,
mysticism with myth and ritual with recital to lift our gazes back to
the heavens.

The author’s breadth of scholarship is seen in the spectrum of
material he weaves together, from sources as diverse as the Hymns of
Orpheus and Plato’s Timaeus to the Zoroastrian Yasht hymns and Persian
Pahlavi Texts, the Sufi works of the Ibn Arabi and Rumi; from the
Chaldean Oracles and the Greek Magical Papyri to the Books of Ezekiel
and Enoch, from the Picatrix and the Sefer Yetzirah to the works of
John Dee, Rudolf Steiner, Gerald Gardner and Aleister Crowley. The
poetic inspiration of the stars is also expressed through material and
ideas by such luminaries as John Milton, Gerald Manly Hopkins, Sylvia
Plath, Robert Graves and W.B. Yeats.

Through the enchanting words and ceremonies provided to lead the way,
timeless journeys to the stars are woven around the participants.
Included amongst the rites are ceremonies with the constellations of
Perseus & Andromeda, Cygnus, Orion, the Pleiades, the Great Bear,
Draco, the twelve signs of the Zodiac, the star Sirius, the Moon, the
seven classical Planets, and the Stellar World Cave: the Mithraeum.

This is a highly accessible, succinct and practical book on a complex
subject, which will benefit anyone interested in the magic of the
stars, from the casual observer of the night skies to the dedicated
magician or mystic.

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http://www.avaloniabooks.co.uk/catalogue/titles/stellar_magic2.htm

BOTH SIDES OF HEAVEN *now available for pre-order*

BOTH SIDES OF HEAVEN
A collection of essays exploring the origins, history, magic and nature
of divine winged messengers, angels, demons and fallen angels.

Edited by Sorita d’Este (various contributors, details below)
www.avaloniabooks.co.uk

Look up towards the heavens and open your mind to the infinite, for it is there that you will see the colourful multifaceted world of winged messengers – Gods, Angels, Fallen Angels and Demons.

BOTH SIDES OF HEAVEN is a collection of 18 essays by some of the foremost modern esoteric writers, occult scholars and magicians. In their personal contributions they share their experiences, research and unique insights into the spiritual realms of the mysterious beings who have played such an important and inspirational role in human spiritual history.

From the nature of the daimons of the Graeco-Roman world, the Zoroastrian Ahuras and Daevas, the seductive Lilith and mighty Lucifer, through to the Fallen Angels of the Bible and the Book of Enoch, and their children the Nephilim, we find that these powerful beings are harbingers of change.

In this anthology their magical natures are explored through the works of Renaissance magicians such as Dr John Dee and Edward Kelley, Dr Thomas Rudd and more recently Madeline Montalban, as well as in that of the experiences of the contributors themselves. The ceremonies and conjurations of grimoires such as the Key of Solomon, Goetia and Grimorium Verum are considered, as well as adaptations thereof and simpler, personal encounters.

When you look at Both Sides of Heaven seeking wisdom and knowledge from the wings of ethereal messengers, you will see legions of angels and demons, archangels, fallen angels, old gods and even a few faeries and green butterflies. And maybe, they will be looking back at you too.

Contents:

A Host of Winged Messengers – Sorita d’Este

Fallen Angels and Legends of the Fall – Rufus Harrington

On the Wings of Rebirth – Katherine Sutherland

The Myth of the Fallen Ones – Michael Howard

The Enochians – Aaron Leitch

Madeline Montalban, Elemental and Fallen Angels – Julia Phillips

Azazel & Shemyaza – Diana Allam

Thirteen Unicycles in the Woods – Adele Nozedar

The Salvation of the Sidhe – Emily Carding

The Green Butterfly – Dan Harms

The Fallen Angels and the Goetia – David Rankine

Demons & Devils – Maestro Nestor

Grimoires for Pagans – Jake Stratton-Kent

The Thwarting Angels – Stephen Skinner

Loving Lilith – Melissa Harrington

The Face in the Mirror – Charlotte Rodgers

Between Gods and Men – Kim Huggens

Zoroastrian Angels and Demons – Payam Nabarz

See http://www.avaloniabooks.co.uk/catalogue/titles/both_sides_of_heaven.htm for details

Midsummer Approaching, as are three new titles from Avalonia!

The past couple of weeks has been a tremendously productive and busy time for us here at Avalonia!  At the end of last month we launched “Hekate Liminal Rites” by Sorita d’Este and David Rankine which has been hugely popular.  So far so good and those of you who bought the book and wrote back to tell us what you thought seemed to have enjoyed it and found the research of interest.    Likewise it seems that there has been a surge of interest in our book Practical Elemental Magick which was released late last year, with many comments coming in from readers who are eager for us to do further volumes in the set.  To join Practical Elemental Magick and Practical Planetary Magick in the near future is Practical Qabalah Magick; and later this year “Practical Astral Magick”.  There are a couple of further volumes planned, but not until later in 2010 and 2011.

Then in addition to dealing with queries, orders and other correspondence generated by the above, we have also been getting ready for the launch of THREE new titles!  Pre-orders for all three these will open very soon at the Avalonia Books website – make sure to join our Newsletter Mailinglist if you wish to stay informed:

The first of the three titles to be released will be “Both Sides of Heaven” (due out 25-06-09).  This is an anthology considering the nature, history and magical practices associated with Angels, Fallen Angels and Demons.  With a host of amazing contributors (see cover below for details) this anthology is already drawing in a lot of attention from people with an interest in the subjects covered:

Then, to join the heavenly chorus (or, sometimes ex-heavenly chorus!) of Both Sides of Heaven, comes the long awaited book by the author Payam Nabarz, “Stellar Magic”.  This book brings together both carefully researched material in relation to the Stars, Planets and Constellations; with inspired rituals, poetry and liturgy which would appeal to both Pagans and Ceremonialists alike.   More information on this project can be found at www.stellarmagic.co.uk and will soon also be available on the Avalonia Books website.  We have shown it to friends of ours in the Fellowship of Isis; who are Wiccan and who are Thelemites over the last couple of weeks and they have all been justifyable excited to see a book like this be prepared for publication.  (The Wiccan HPS remarked that it would be a great book for any Pagan group to have, as quite a few of the rituals are designed for group use, something which is rare in the marketplace as of course it is usually considered less “commercial” !).  We are excited as we think this book compliments some of our own titles very well, but also because it does offer a lot of new practical material which would be very useful to people working by themselves or who are trying to start groups of their own.

(Stellar Magic, by Payam Nabarz is due out on the July Full Moon, 7/7/09)

Then finally, to join the above we have “A Book of Treasure Spirits” (edited by David Rankine).  This book contains annotated transcriptions from a seemingly forgotten (or ignored!) MSS, as well as a conjuration which was alledgedly done for King Edward IV of England – more information at Avalonia Books soon!

Practical Rune Course with Katie Gerrard

For those readers who enjoyed the anthology “Priestesses Pythonesses & Sibyls” ( see http://pythoness.avalonia.co.uk/foreword.htm for details) you may recall the exellent essay “The Seer” by Katie Gerrard.  In this essay Katie writes about her experiences and research of Seidr, a trance technique originating from the Norse traditions of magic.  Katie has been working with Seidr since the 1990’s researching and experimenting with what information is available on the historical techniques.  For the last few years she has been involved in the facilitation of a practical Seidr group in centra Lonon and has also lectured on this and related subjects at national events in the UK.

Well we have just found out that Katie will be facilitating a  course in using the Runes at the magical bookshop Treadwells in Covent Garden, London this September.  In this workshop she will cover the history of the Galdra, Spellcraft, intoning and making your own set of Runes and it is great oppurtunity for anyone interested in working with the Runes to find out more.   Details can be found at Katie’s website “The BirchTree” http://www.thebirchtree.com/page12.htm

Both Sides of Heaven ::: Coming Soon

We are currently preparing for the launch of the latest Avalonia Anthology edited by Sorita d’Este “Both Sides of Heaven” – more information and pre-order information will soon be available at Avalonia Books. Contributors include some of the foremost modern researchers and writers on the occult, each contributing original articles on subjects related to Angels, Fallen Angels and Demons. Subjects covered include: Enochian Magic and Angels, The Fall, Lillith, HGA (Holy Guardian Angel), Zorastrian Angels, John Dee, controlling angels from the Key of Solomon, Angels and Demons of the Goetia, Madeleine Montalban and Lumiel, personal experiences of angels, The Sidhe (Faeries), Demons, Devils, Pacts, Azazel and Shemyaza … and more besides!

The stunning cover image on Both Sides of Heaven is by Emily Carding, well known artist who is the creator of The Transparent Tarot. For more info on her work see www.childofavalon.com

New Newsletter Mailinglist

Avalonia Books now has one mailinglist (rather than six!) … if you wish to receive notifications about our projects and research, as well as seasonal folklore to your email inbox once a month (rather than just announcements here on WP / RSS) please go to http://avaloniabooks.co.uk/announce/?p=subscribe to subscribe to the Avalonia Newsletter.

::: Hekate Liminal Rites ::: New !

Avalonia is very proud to announce the most recent addition to our growing catalogue:

HEKATE LIMINAL RITES
A study of the rituals, magic and symbols of the torch-bearing Triple Goddess of the Crossroads
By Sorita d’Este and David Rankine

Available for preorder (with free P&P to all destinations!) at www.avaloniabooks.co.uk and soon all good esoteric bookshops.
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About Hekate Liminal Rites

At the crossroads of life, death and rebirth stands the Goddess Hekate. Honoured by men, women and gods alike, traces of her ancient provenance reach back through the millennia providing clues about her nature and origins along the way. Depictions of her as three formed facing in three ways, sometimes with the heads of animals such as the horse, dog and snake hint at her liminal nature, as well as the powers she holds over the triple realms of earth, sea and sky.

The sorcery of Medea and Circe, the witchcraft of the women of Thessaly, the writings of philosophers such as Hesiod and Porphyry all provide glimpses into the world of those who honoured her. Her magical powers were considered so great that even King Solomon became associated with her, she was incorporated into Jewish magic, and merged with other goddesses including Artemis, Selene, Bendis and the Egyptian Isis. Whilst for some she was the Witch Goddess, for others she was the ruler of angels and daimons, who made predictions about Jesus and Christianity.

Wherever you look, be it in the texts of Ancient Greece and Rome, Byzantium or the Renaissance, the Greek Magical Papyri or the Chaldean Oracles, you will find Hekate. The magical whir of the strophalos and the barbarous words of the voces magicae carry her message; the defixiones, love spells and charms all provides us with examples of the magic done in her name. She was also associated with the magic of death, including necromancy and reanimation; as well as prophetic dreams, nightmares, healing herbs and poisons. The temples dedicated to her and the important role she played in the mysteries of Eleusis, Samothrace and Aigina all provide us with clues to her majesty. The popular shrines at the doorways of ordinary people, offerings left at the crossroads and guardian statues of her at the entrance ways to cities and temples all attest to her status in the hearts and minds of those who knew her mysteries.

In this book the authors draw from a wide range of sources, bringing together historical research which provides insights into the magical and religious practices associated with this remarkable Goddess. In doing so they provide an indispensable guide for those wishing to explore the mysteries of Hekate today.

A table of contents is available at http://www.avaloniabooks.co.uk/catalogue/titles/hekate_liminalrites.htm
Now available for pre-order from www.avaloniabooks.co.uk

Avalonia, 2009 – RRP £12.99, 196pp

The Origins of Wiccan Ritual Practices and Beliefs

In a series of articles, starting today, author and esoteric researcher Sorita d’Este will explore some of the key beliefs and practices of the Wicca tradition, with numerous extracts from the book “Wicca Magickal Beginnings”.  If you are interested in finding out more about these, visit Sorita’s website & blog at www.sorita.co.uk – you will have the option of subcribing to her feeds on the site.  Additionally you can leave feedback in regards to the articles, with your own views and experiences.  Today’s blog is about the origins of the term “Athame” in relation to the use of the black handled knife so loved by modern Wiccans, as well as Witches and Pagans from a variety of traditions.

Wicca Magickal Beginnings (USA)

Dear Readers,

For those of you who like to shop at Amazon.com and who have been thinking of getting a copy of “Wicca Magickal Beginnings” this month is the one to go ahead and spoil yourselves!  Instead of the usual US$24.99, you can now get a copy for just US$16.99 (May 2009 only).

Go see:

WICCA MAGICKAL BEGINNINGS by Sorita d’Este & David Rankine, on Amazon.com

It is also of course available directly from ourselves at www.avaloniabooks.co.uk

Medea’s Prayer to Hekate

“O night, night, night! Whose darkness holds

All mysteries in shade, O flame-lit stars,

Whose golden rays with Luna floating near

Are like the fires of day – and you, O Hecate,

Who know untold desires that work our will

And art the mistress of our secret spells.”

Medea praying to Hekate, Metamorphoses, Ovid, 8 CE, trans. Horace Gregory