I am not doing many book reviews, but from time to
time publications shows up that are worthy to bring some attention to. Hadean Press
published two worthy volumes recently that for quite different reasons, but bound
in a thread of commonality, make them well worth to read – and keep. The thread
of commonality is about ‘tradition’. Traditionalism is also known as perennialism;
what is eternal and timeless. We are speaking about words given voice and ink
on basis of being rooted in this timeless truth that lies at the core of
tradition proper. These two books unfold in the entire spectrum of celestial
and infernal – and in this is found parts of their beauty. They demonstrate the
importance of Heaven, Hell and Earth - not as categories of exclusion - but
inclusion...
The first book is Talia Felix’ translation of the
French Grimoire Le Petit Albert, The
Little Albert, that like many other French grimoires influenced the Western and
Caribbean magic in dramatic ways. This book that came out in several editions
from 1702 and into the early 19th Century is now presented in its
first published English translation, and I only wonder why it took so long. What
is fascinating with this little volume is the range of recipes provided. We
find here material originating from the Solomonic Tradition, Picatrix,
astrological almanacs, but also material taken - and transformed – from Villanova
and Clairvaux handbooks of health. We find recipes for making various forms of
waters side by side with wine recipes, formulae’s of the thief’s vinegar, hand
of glory and a great amount of material dealing with the celestial realms and
the making of talismans and much material is derived from – or ascribed to - Paracelsus.
Many of these formulas clearly inspired later hoodoo men and woman in the
various ways of generating their mojo bags and other hoodoo workings, a factor also
noticed by Felix who suggest that this work also influenced the Vodou Queen of
New Orleans, Marie Laveau. This book is
not only interesting because of its arsenal of magical workings, but also because
it gives us an idea of the traditional worldview the grimoires where developed
within. The Petit Albert introduces us to formulaes of a practical, pragmatic, celestial
and infernal nature – and I find this to be crucial for understanding the pre modern
world. It was always about using the right tools for obtaining a given goal.
Angels and ‘demons’ danced around in the same world and who we approached was
mediated by pragmatic interest and a god-fearing disposition. It is a spell
book absolutely, but it is also a little treasure in so many other ways and I
hope this little volume will find a home in many libraries. It is truly a gem.
Speaking of the Traditional World View we find another
book expounding on this theme in academic ways. Alexander Cummins’ The Starry Rubric in his post graduate
thesis expands on the role of astrology in the 17th Century Britain.
In doing this he also brings our attention to the importance of practical and
traditional astrology in the understanding of the Western Mystery Traditions.
As he demonstrates; astrology was used as a reference for all forms of human
activity. If it concerned the world, society or the man unique, astrology could
always explain the fortune and misfortune – and held the remedy for thwarting both.
In the 17th and 18th Century it was expected that any
occultist or educated man (and the few woman of education) had a basic understanding
of traditional astrology, because in an enchanted world, the movements of the
stars and planets where god’s finger in action – and thus by understanding the
divine script in the stellar heavens we could become more understanding in
general. As a traditional astrologer myself I welcome this book, as a
Traditionalist, I welcome this book because it presents the pillars of
astrology and traditionalism is such clear and concise ways. I would say; if
the ‘traditional worldview’ is a concept difficult to grasp, read this book, it
will give a clear and lucid idea about the importance of astrology in how
pre-modern men and woman understood the world and society. I can only
congratulate Felix, Cummins and Hadean Press in making such treasures available
for us.
So visit Hadean Press at: http://www.hadeanpress.com/ and find food for mind and heart.