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semi-satori
post May 19 2007, 10:20 PM
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I know probably all of ya have heard of Michael Ford. I'm thinking about buying a couple of his books. Then I read an article of his on chaostatic.com. Now I am confused. Hopefully someone here can set me straight.

It seems to me the guy can't make up his mind on whether or not the individual is the deity, the deity is within the practitioner or the deity is something outside the practitioner. From what I've read regarding his books, the deity is not the practitioner, because of the religious rites use in his books to invoke/envoke them.

The in the article he comes off as deity aspects are something within the practitioner. If this is so, why would he or any other person need/desire a rite to get in touch with these inner deities?

Finally, does anyone have any of his books? Are they any good? How about the rites/exercises in them? What were your experiences using them?

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J*S
post May 20 2007, 04:02 AM
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We ordered in some of his books at the occult shop that I am "affiliated" to. Initially we were quite excited when they came in, then we got around to reading them....

The first one we had was "Luciferian Witchcraft".

I guess one thing in its favour is that a lot of it is (apparently) ripped off from Andrew Chumbley. Since his material is like gold-dust you could get the Ford book instead and try and pick out the Chumbley stuff from that, although I don't think any of it is referenced.

Bad points are:

- Everything else. Seriously.
- His understanding of the myth cycles and entities that he utilises is shockingly flawed.
- His rituals are poorly constructed and poorly referenced. There were several counts on which I looked at what he was saying and realised that a) He had pinched it from somewhere else, and b) He had it out of context and was applying it incorrectly. I am sure other people would be able to spot other instances of the same thing depending on their own areas of specialisation, so this is further evidence of his fundamental failure to engage with the material. Like I say, most it is seems to be stuff he has cut n' pasted together from other sources without understanding them in the first place.
- Further to the above, the rituals aren't even that good anyway! That said, it is probably a good thing as otherwise they would be dangerous for the kind of inexperienced people that seem to buy the books.
- I get more "Luciferian" things free with my breakfast cereal. It may seem frightfully exciting and blasphemous to a 13 year old, but not for anyone that has got past puberty.

That was my opinion based on a couple of cursory flicks through the book, but a couple of people I know bought copies before any of us had looked at them, got them home and came to the same conclusions. We stuck them up next to the Satanic Bibles and Necronomicons and they seem popular with the hordes of gothic teenagers that we get trooping in on Saturdays. We also got in some more of his books (since the first one was selling to the kids) and they seem to sell through as well, although not to people over the age of 20! I mean, "Luciferian Sex-Magic"?? Please!

I have had a flick through some of the other titles and the overall quality seems comparable, so I cannot recommend them.

Edit: Here is a synopsis of one of his other titles at amazon.co.uk:

"Presenting the forbidden works of Chaos, Vampiric and Luciferian Sorcery. A grimoire which explores the dark feminine current of HECATE, Witch Moon explores ritual and dream Lycanthropy, Chaos Sorcery and Luciferian Ritual practice as well as the darksome practice of Vampirism and Predatory Spirituality. The Nine Angles and the Trapezoid workings, inspired by Anton LaVey and presented around the cult of Daeva-Yasna, the persian demon-sorcery of Yatuk Dinoih. Contains the Rituals of Dream, ritual and astral vampirism as an initiatory tool, other Cabalistic workings presenting the Qlippoth. Contains the Grimoire based on Ancient Egyptian Vampirism, LIBER AAPEP, Luciferian Magick practice, The Chaos Cult Workings of Choronzon as Vampire, The Rites of Hecate, the Infernal and Luciferian Sabbat, and the foundations of Satanic practice in Magick."

Speaks for itself really, doesn't it? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/insane.gif)

This post has been edited by J*S: May 20 2007, 04:16 AM


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"If thou thyself hast not a sure foundation, whereon wilt thou stand to direct the forces of Nature?" Liber Librae, AC

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bym
post May 21 2007, 07:28 PM
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(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ac42.gif) Alas and alack, J*S, it isn't apparent to most let alone the younger set...Your review is welcome and I plan on placing it in the book review if you won't ... The membership/readers need to hear from wellread/accomplished people in order to be better informed! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flame.gif)


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Rest in Peace Bym.
http://www.sacred-magick.org/index.php?showtopic=7662

~The Sacred Magick Management

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J*S
post May 22 2007, 02:44 AM
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Well, assuming that that the very slight note of sarcasm I detect in your post is purely a result of my own high levels of background paranoia, I thank you for your response, Bym! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol_2.gif)

I wouldn't call it a full review as I have not sat down and read the thing in depth (did I mention that the proofing was also terrible, making it a pain to read?) Also, it is possible that someone who is more immersed in Satanic/Luciferian things may get something out of the Ford books that myself and my associates didn't.

We recently sold a copy to a fellow from the Temple of Set (first one I have met, lovely guy in his mid 40s). He picked it up with a whole load of other stuff on magic and masonry that he was buying, despite our warnings that he might regret spending the money. It will be interesting to see what he makes of it, but as far as I am concerned its use-value is practically nil.

On a related note, I recall that getting the Ford book in did cause us to "Staff Choice" another title that has been around for ages and that we all enjoy. It does not claim to be specifically Luciferian, but if you want dark, sinister witchery it is great fun. The author might be making it all up, but a) It is totally workable, and b) He does it with style! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohyeah.gif)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Call-Horned-Piper-...79823370&sr=1-1


Edit: It clearly is my high levels of background paranoia! Apologies!

This post has been edited by J*S: May 22 2007, 02:49 AM


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semi-satori
post May 23 2007, 08:34 PM
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Thank you both for replying. J*S, just the other day I found a picture of him with his girlfriend. The two were dressed goth. I have nothing against those that dress this way, but I think it goes to credibility given the topic he wrote on. That's my two cents. I'm going to spend my money on two more of Stephen Mace's books and High Magic by Frater U:.D:.

Thanks again.

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J*S
post May 24 2007, 04:26 PM
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Well, I am glad you found my comments helpful. I too have nothing against people who are Goths. I know many Goths who are serious occult practitioners as well (hell, several of my friends are Goths), but I also meet many coming into the store I mentioned who have very little knowledge or experience and just think that "Satan is, like, cool!!1!".

If I hear that the Temple of Set guy found the book useful I will try to remember to post some of his feedback up here (it will probably be second-hand though as I don't spend much time at the store atm). I hope you enjoy the Mace books. I have heard they are very good, although they are not available here. The Fr U:.D:. is a nice book too. I am looking forward to the second one in the series.

Edit: Edited for syntax.

This post has been edited by J*S: May 24 2007, 04:30 PM


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Ignis STNS
post Sep 30 2010, 09:17 AM
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QUOTE(semi-satori @ May 19 2007, 11:20 PM) *

I know probably all of ya have heard of Michael Ford. I'm thinking about buying a couple of his books. Then I read an article of his on chaostatic.com. Now I am confused. Hopefully someone here can set me straight.

It seems to me the guy can't make up his mind on whether or not the individual is the deity, the deity is within the practitioner or the deity is something outside the practitioner. From what I've read regarding his books, the deity is not the practitioner, because of the religious rites use in his books to invoke/envoke them.

The in the article he comes off as deity aspects are something within the practitioner. If this is so, why would he or any other person need/desire a rite to get in touch with these inner deities?

Finally, does anyone have any of his books? Are they any good? How about the rites/exercises in them? What were your experiences using them?


About deities.. You don't understand basic principles of magick, do you? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) 'As above so below'.. Every deity, every demonic or angelic being that exist is also within you, everything that exist in universe is part of human being. Universe is at the same time objective and subjective phenomenon. Invocation means that you are awakening that part of your Self that is represented by that deity only symbolic trough its qualities which you want either to awake trough ritual or to use them for some goal. Evocation means that you are trying to make contact with actual entity and make it manifest.
About books.. I found that whole system very useful and I would recommend 'Liber HWHI' for begining.

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