Transcription
Hello everyone, and welcome to another edition of the Foolish Fish Esoteric News, with your weekly updates on the worlds of esoteric and occult book publishing, and arts and events and paraphernalia. Thank you so much for joining me once again, and thank you to mscatonicbooks.com for sponsoring the show. miscatonicbooks.com is the website that you can see on your screens right now, just uh, just behind me over here, and uh, they've got all the latest wonderful books, right?
So, uh, you'll find all of the Mark Allen Smith books. You'll find, um, uh, all all of the books that have been published by small independent publishers around the world. You'll find, for example, *Erbario*, which I reviewed just yesterday, uh, by Black Letter Press, and, uh, it's a beautiful, beautiful book. If you haven't seen my review of *Erbario* yet, I do recommend going to check out at least what it is.
Um, then you've got *The Faceless God*, also second edition, which I've just received. Thank you so much to Theon Publishing for sending me a copy of this second edition of *The Faceless God*. I already reviewed the first edition, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what updates have been made uh to this second edition, and lots and lots more offerings: *Isis* and the special limited edition hard cover, *US Diabolicum*, and so on. Lots and lots of very, very cool stuff, and as I told you last week, some very nice courses available through the website as well. Do go and check all of that out. Uh, really, really very, very nice place to find all the best stuff. Oh my goodness, they've got a nice edition of *Truth Me* over there as well, by Frataka. You never know what you're going to find in these pages. Lovely. Uh, links down below, of course.
Good. We're going to start off by pointing out that Owla Luchi have got um a special collector's vellum edition of *The Search for Truth*. Now, *The Search for Truth* came out towards the end of last year, and um, I I have to be 100% honest, it wasn't right for me. I'm very, very close to this stuff, and as soon as someone's got a slightly different opinion, I don't mind generally people having a slightly different opinion from mine on many things. Uh, but uh, but but but this is uh this is like my core, and so I found it a little bit difficult to engage. Uh, uh, many people have really enjoyed this, and uh, I have to say that it it was in fact one of the most beautiful books that I got my hands on last year. The production was just out of this world, and this new special collector's vellum edition. Oh my word, look at that. I mean, just look at that. It's just it sings, doesn't it?
So, *The Search for Truth* is a unique investigation in 12 chapters of the occult secrets in the Bible; its mystery language, their origin in the wisdom teachings of ancient Egypt. Throughout the book, occult writer and theologian John Temple discusses some of the mystery keys without which it is impossible to unlock the hidden meaning concealed within the many biblical stories, symbols, and sacred teachings, some of the some of which predate Christianity by many millennia. So, you can tell I think many people will thoroughly enjoy this. Uh, but um, but it it just wasn't for me. This is uh the the just a picture of the original regular um um edition there. Just so incredibly beautiful. Uh, uh, yeah, gorgeous, gorgeous stuff. I honestly believe that u luchis are have joined the pantheon of most beautiful book producers. Uh, there's no question about that.
Um, so yeah, uh, do do consider it if uh um esoteric Christianity uh is your thing. Um, uh, definitely check out the blurb over here. Um, just to to point out maybe you heard of, let me see, of this one, *Astral Conversations*. It's not explicitly said that it's the same author, but I've got a feeling like it might be. So, if you picked up *Astral Conversations* and you loved that, then uh, it if it's not the same writer, it's certainly in a very similar style. Okay. So, just for your information, um, uh, there we are. Very, very lovely books either way. Right. Very, very cool.
All right, let's move on to news from Troy Books. *The Magical Ritual of the Sanctum Regnum*, interpreted by the tarot trumps, translated from the manuscripts of Eliphas Lévi, and this uh was edited by William Wincott in 1896, and I believe it is unveiled for the first time in English. There we go. *The Magical Ritual of the Sanctum Regnum* presents an extraordinary, previously unpublished manuscript by the legendary occultist Eliphas Lévi, born Alphonse Louis Constant, whose profound influence shaped the course of Western esotericism. You don't say? I mean, he's the one uh, uh, I recently found out from uh, just a moment, from I think it was David Rankin who pointed out that Eliphas Lévi was the one who switched round uh, um originally fire in the east and air in the south. Uh, and uh, and and switched those rounds so that air would be in the east and fire in the south. Uh, which of course the Golden Dawn then latched on to and uh, and and made kind of uh standard for our world today. And uh, which I strongly reject. Uh, but yeah, it was Eliphas Lévi who did that. This enigmatic text, handwritten by Lévi himself and preserved within the pages of a rare 1567 edition of Trithemius's *De septem secreatis*, offers a mystical framework that interweaves tarot symbolism with the cosmic rule of the seven archangels: Saturn to Saul, Oriel to Mikail, each governing epochs of human history in a grand celestial cycle from the flood to the birth of Christ and beyond. Lévi explores the spiritual architecture of time and destiny. That sounds exciting, doesn't it? Yeah. I mean, whether it's um, uh, how to say traditional or not, it doesn't really matter. It seems like an interesting investigation. So, that's *The Magical Ritual of the Sanctum Regnum*.
And let's see. The special edition is currently available to add to your basket. The uh dust jacketed hard cover edition and the paperback edition are not quite available yet. Um, but uh, yeah, at £29, as I was saying when I reviewed Zadkiel's *Dream Book*, those are pretty impressive prices for uh, uh, for for for pretty nice books. There we go. We're not talking quite Owla Luchi's uh levels, um, quite on the contrary, but nevertheless a lot nicer than a lot of the mass market books that are available for a lot more nowadays than just um, just £30 plus shipping.
Good. Let's see. We've got news from Richard Kaczynski. Apparently, his *Sword of Song* uh books are available. They're they're not quite available, but they are they have reached the warehouse, and they will be shipping very soon, becoming available on May the 13th. So, you can put in your order already for a hard cover, leather edition of the *Sword of Song*. It's uh the the critical um edited and annotated edition by Richard Kaczynski. And you can take a a look inside over here to see um the care that's been brought to making this work available. Okay. Pretty pretty essential stuff. Very, very lovely. And uh, yeah, thank you Richard Kaczynski for making this available. Amazing. Amazing.
All right, let's have a look. We've got—you can see I purchased this few days ago—*Financial Transformation Magic*. Well, I reviewed it a few days ago as well. Uh, so if you haven't seen my review, again, do go and check it out. Unless you utterly hate The Gallery of Magic, in which case don't check it out. Uh, this book can help you rise from poverty, get out of debt, increase income, protect your earnings, build investments, and accumulate wealth. Wherever you begin, you can get where you want to be faster than seems possible. So this book replaces uh *Wealth Magic*, which is no longer available for purchase. There's a lot of uh discussion in my comments over whether this was an artificial intelligence graphic. It seems to be to me, but I may be wrong. And um, some people pointed out that The Gallery of Magic have stated officially that they do not like artificial intelligence and do not use artificial intelligence. Who knows? Maybe this—I mean, it is in keeping with the style of uh covers that they've been using since 2014. And uh, uh, yeah, maybe maybe it's not artificial intelligence. Who knows? Uh, nevertheless, some people have have had concerns that if the cover was artificial intelligence, then the interior must be artificial intelligence as well. I can I can guarantee that that's not the case. Uh, it's the same style as has always been. And there was no AI um happening in 2014. That's for sure. Uh, okay. So um, yeah, uh, I'm going to say that it's quite a quite a safe um process, and for more of my thoughts on this, do go and check out my uh my review uh which you can find on YouTube as well.
Good. We've got *Magic from the Hilltops and Hollers: Folk Witchery, Superstitions, and Healing Practices from Appalachia*. Uh, this book stands as a valuable addition to the growing library of works on the lived experiences of Appalachians and how folk magic continues to be a valuable part of its cultural identity. I hope after you read this that you feel as in love with this land and its citizens, both human and more than human, as we do. Long live Appalachia, says Rebecca Beyer, author of *Wild Witchcraft*. So this is Leia Middleton writing about folk witchery, superstitions and healing practices from Appalachia. Uh, and it's a book that is published by Wiser Books. So we can probably u trust the quality of the contents here. It's an ode to her Appalachian roots and ancestors, known and unknown, of blood and kin. Explore the superstitions of the mountains, the healing charms of doctors, and the folk beliefs of witchery. Wander down shadowy paths lined with rhododendrons, uncovering the hidden corners where charms are whispered and prayers are spoken. Uncover the superstitions captured by this region that have inspired magical workings for protection and healing. And learn to walk the witch's path as a rite conducted with reverence and solemnity. There we go. So, that looks pretty good.
All right. And then we've got *Etheric Magic: A Complete System of Elemental, Celestial, and Alchemical Magic* by Ike Baker. Oh, this is uh this is a beauty right here. The clearest and most detailed guide to etheric magic and how to use it. The ether, the generic realm of the heart in esoteric traditions and vital uh to nearly every type of magic, has been long been veiled in obscure language and mystery. Now, Baker demystifies the ether and teaches you how to use it in your practice. Step by step, Baker walks you through the history, theory, and practice of etheric magic, leaving no question or topic unexplored. This comprehensive book presents not only historical evidence of this energy, but also 50 practical exercises: ritual, breath work, visualization, and more that teach you how to sense it and direct it towards magical goals. Uniting Western ceremonial traditions with Eastern energy healing practices, *Etheric Magic* helps you achieve material, spiritual, mental, and physical transformation in ways previously unimagined. There we go. This is a book published by Llewellyn Publications. If you don't know Ike Baker's work yet, yeah, it's worth looking out for. Um, very, very nice stuff. Uh, okay.
And then we've got *Throne of Bliss: Transform Your Inner World, Transform Yourself* by Daniel Hatzy Malice. What if happiness wasn't something to chase, but rather something to uncover? In *Throne of Bliss*, the pursuit of happiness is stripped down to its essence. No fluff, no feel-good motivation, just a clear, no-nonsense plan for those ready to take full command of their inner world. Through the transformative cycle of observation, realization, and accountability, you'll learn to recognize destructive patterns, reshape your mind, and transform your life with intention from the inside out. Not to escape, but to evolve. This is not a book for passive readers. It's a guide for those ready to stop living a reactive life and start controlling their thoughts, emotions, and actions. Whether your life is in shambles or you simply seek more clarity, *Throne of Bliss* offers a grounded, practical path towards lasting change. Happiness is not a right, it's a privilege. Happiness is not given, one must take it. There we go. Uh, so uh, definitely worth a look I think, and it's available as paperback. Um, there we go, for $19.95.
Right. A few oracle decks that I spotted this week. Uh, couple maybe. First of all, the *Deep Dreams Oracle*. Oh my goodness, folks. This is so lovely. This is uh watercolor work, and really beautiful watercolor work. Um, I I'm completely spellbound by this deck. Uh, I I I I find some watercolor uh work a little just leaves me a little cold. Uh, but when it's very careful like this, very detailed, very precise, which is a difficult thing to achieve with watercolor. As someone who's actually tried to uh to to work with watercolor, I can definitely testify to how hard it is to get very, very precise um uh detail and edges with watercolors. Oh my goodness, this just so beautiful. So, so beautiful. And as an oracle deck, I think this is going to work so nicely. I love the fact that there are um extension packs to add to the to the main pack. So this is the uh the *Tentacle Prophecy* pack to add to the to the main pack. Uh, which contains I think it's 10 extra cards. There are eight being shown here. Um, oh, maybe these are the extra two. There we go.
And then, uh, uh, there is this one. Um, the *Hearts Tied*. Uh, and again, another I think another 10 cards right here. Aren't they lovely, though? Aren't they beautiful? Oh, love that style. Love it so much. Okay, the uh the details. The details are actually a little bit difficult to find. It's much easier to scroll down here and read what's on the various levels of the uh of the Kickstarter rewards. Okay. uh, than it is to scroll down over here because as soon as you start getting down to the ones that uh cost a little more. Um, it says yeah, plus one something, and you have to kind of open it right to find out what the plus one something is. It's kind of the same thing as before plus something, and then same thing as before plus two somethings, right? Uh, so the plus somethings are described over here. For €64 you're getting um uh the main deck and one expansion. Uh, for €89 you're getting the main deck and two expansions. Okay. And then beyond that, you're you're going to get extra stuff like an original sketch, a certificate of authenticity for that original sketch. Um, a fully hand-painted watercolor illustration. Right, that looks uh that looks pretty worth it to me actually. Personal note from the artist. Oh, really, really lovely stuff. Beautiful. Okay, so that is called the *Deep Dreams Oracle*. Am I gonna just pick this one? I think I might. I really, really love it.
Okay, the *Stormcloud Oracle* is the next one on my list. And this is another one that I think is gorgeous. I really like this uh kind of uh pen and ink um style. Uh, beautifully illustrated deck of Gothic symbolism and bad omens for everyday guidance and cosmic wisdom. Uh, it's just really, really lovely. Once again um uh Clark Designs makes alternative jewelry inspired by Gothic symbolism. Uh, 44 cards based on a bad omen, a feared creature or an unlucky sign drawn as if seen in a cloud. Okay. I think they're very, very cool. *The Inverted Torch: All Hope Is Not Lost*. Yeah. So, that is uh currently I think it's already funded. Yeah. 11,000 of £10,000 has already been achieved. So, it's already unlocked, and so you can uh you can go ahead and back it if you like that style. I recommend clicking on the play button. I'm not going to play it for you in order to not get a copyright strike, but yeah, both this one and the previous one. I I recommend watching those videos.
Okay, so next we've got a course um by—I forget her name—um, something like a really, really big name in tarot. I'm so embarrassed. um, you you'll know exactly who it is. Um, hopefully we can find her name uh soon. Uh, so this is a course in three parts on the strange and peculiar nature of agency in cards. When people ask, surely you don't do what the cards say, we say no, and then do what the cards say. The only time we don't do what the cards say is when we try to avoid the prediction, *Oedipus Rex* style. In uh other words, we will act according to what the cards say, only in the opposite direction. If this wasn't the case, no person alive could ever consider consulting oracles. So, what is this power that the cards have apart from being objects on our table? How do they dictate? How do they make us fear and tremble? How do they inspire us? What place do they take uh what place do they take us to? And uh by what ritualistic means? The idea is to look at how cards not only reflect but also influence events. In addition to exploring conceptually three interrelated topics in this course, each session is also connected to a process of creation when we will uh make things with the card. Make a thing with the cards. The topics are as follows: Cards and people, active agents and passive symbols; Cards and objects, meaning-making mirrors, omens, talismans, and happenings; and Cards and smoke, reflecting, shaping, and summoning events through scrying and ritualistic incense burning. And I I come on, come on. I'm I'm going to pause the video for a second and find her name because this is too embarrassing. Of course, it's Chameliea Elias. I'm sorry, Chameliea. I feel very bad. Yeah, Chameliea Elias, one of the biggest names in tarot. So, um, so yeah, and uh and Ben Sorenson right there. So, go and check out their page, Ardia Academy, along with all of their courses.
Good. Um, right, let's see what else. We've got news from Sarah Mastros. Sarah Mastros has got uh 10% off all her courses if you use the code FLASH10 at checkout. This is up until the first of May, I believe. Uh, so go over to witchlessons.com and check out all of the courses that Sarah's got available for you. There's a very, very cool course there on the Arbatel, and uh, yeah, *Introduction to Witchcraft*, which is her upcoming book—in fact, I think it's already available—*Introduction to Witchcraft*, very, very cool, at least available for pre-order if not already available, and uh and lots and lots of others uh I'm sure you can see on your screen what's there, and there's some free courses as well. Strong recommendation to go and check out uh all of this stuff. Some of them are tasters for larger courses and stuff like that. So, yes, go over there, witchlessons.com, and use that code FLASH10 to get 10% off at checkout.
All right. And then we've got—Oh, this was this was kind of an afterthought. Um, I saw these and I kind of thought, do you know what? Maybe they're nice. Uh, I'm not sure I can see myself using them, but um, maybe some of you can. They are vases. Um, uh, I'm looking at the low price: 117 zlotys is around $25, something along those lines. So I'm expecting them to be plexiglass, something like that. Um, uh, but they are uh yeah, using designs from the covers of classic books. And um, yeah, they're quite quite quite pretty. Quite pretty. I don't know. Are they quite pretty? Are they a little bit tacky? Maybe a little bit of both. Uh, either way, I think uh they they they caught my eye, right? They caught my eye, which is uh uh um all it takes. Okay. Yeah. *Homers Odyssey*, excuse me. Uh, I don't know. I maybe maybe good.
Uh, and then there's this course, this uh class actually. It's a conference. I think it's uh the US's largest Egyptology conference uh on the topic of the Egyptian Book of the Dead. And that's happening on April 25th to 27th uh at the Weston and St. St. Francis, the Western St. Francis at San Francisco on Union Square. Uh, if you're interested in the the Egyptian Book of the Dead, then uh go ahead and and book your tickets. Um, there are lots of options. Uh, so go and check those out. Um, just letting you know that if you are in San Francisco around that time and you happen to be interested in Egypt uh and Egyptian mythology and specifically the Egyptian Book of the Dead, then uh that annual meeting is happening end of April.
Then finally, my game of the week is not really a board game. It's uh it's actually a tabletop RPG for one player called *And the Crops Withered*. So, it's a tabletop RPG about Demeter's search to find her missing daughter, Persephone, inspired by the abduction of Persephone. And well, that that description caught my attention, and it might catch some of your attentions as well. Let's have a look. Uh, it's funded already, so it's yeah, a pretty safe bet. We've got eight days to go. If you'd like to uh get your copy either as a uh, let me see, as a digital PDF version of the game for $3 or a printed booklet, a zine booklet hand-folded and stapled uh edition for $5. Uh, that's pretty cool, right? Um, you can get both for $7. Um, got a sticker pack in addition to the um to the zine. And what else? And um, yeah, goes up to Oh, $52: 13 printed copies. Okay, we get the general idea, right? Um, yeah, so it uses the tarot, it seems, right? uh for journaling, uh a narrative seems to be the the general idea of the of of the of the game of the of the story. Yeah. Anyway, I thought it was a little bit of fun.
So, there we go, folks. Thank you very much once again for joining me, and um uh just if you enjoyed the video, don't forget to leave a thumbs up. It really helps the video to reach a broader audience. And leave a comment, whatever it might be, even if it's a just a a kind emoji or an unkind emoji. Either way, uh any any comments also really helps with the reach of the video. And if you'd like to support the channel, then the best way to do that is through the Patreon. Uh, links down below for that. And uh if you'd like to have a one-to-one chat with me, uh a video chat, then uh the links to do that can be found down below.
As I was uh saying in in a few uh posts over the past week, I made a post on Facebook. I made a post to members uh on uh uh YouTube and uh on the Foolish Fish Discord, which is available to all members uh and uh and through Patreon, that yeah, I'm going to be leaving this flat. Uh, um, actually, I was probably supposed to um to spend tonight away from this flat. Um, uh, uh, but uh but yeah, the flat, my new flat is not quite ready, and so I'm going to be spending another night here. Uh, yeah, just life situation. Um, I'll be coming back from time to time. Um, we're—my wife and I are separating. It's uh it's it's after 20 years, uh it's the way it goes, and we're in a very good place, as I said in in those posts, and um and I'm excited for what hap what comes next. Uh, but uh but yes, a little bit of disruption as as might be expected. But uh but yeah, I'm going to have a lot more time on my hands to do a lot more stuff for the channel. So I'm excited for that. Just not as nice a background for many of my videos, unfortunately. Uh, not on the short term. I'm going to be spending the next six months putting some money aside—attempting to put some money aside at least—to put a deposit down for another flat where I will hopefully be able to uh haul all my books to. But uh, yes, in the meantime, um, little bit of belt tightening, and we'll see how things go.
Right. Thank you so, so much for all of your support, everyone who's watching uh and everyone who's sent such lovely messages. Uh, really, really appreciate it, and uh uh uh yeah, and onwards and upwards for sure. Uh, looking forward to lots and lots of new content, lots and lots of new options for Patreon members. Um, I've got a few ideas I'm I'm I'm hoping to bring to you in the very near future. Uh, so look out for those. Take care of yourselves, everyone. Thanks for watching. See you very soon with another video. Bye-bye.