Inflating Vs. Distilling Witchcraft

Last updated on: January 30, 2018 at 6:59 pm by Laura Tempest Zakroff

Inflating Vs. Distilling Witchcraft 2018-01-30T18:59:17-08:00 Laura Tempest Zakroff

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Photo by David Pennington on Unsplash

“Sometimes you have to read between the Blavatsky.” These words fell out of my mouth while I ranted gave a talk on my latest book to the gathered members of the Cascadia Illuminati this past Saturday. I’ve done several podcast and radio interviews about Sigil Witchery, but this was the first book talk for it. It was rather free-form. As many discovered last summer while I was on tour, that when given some booze, free rein, and the floor to speak, I can be rather entertaining. Even more so when it’s a bunch of occultists in front of me – which makes me a mix of emboldened and slightly anxious (because of there being a possible outburst of POS – Pompous Occultist Syndrome from the crowd.)

At this moment in the talk, I was referencing Austin Osman Spare’s The Book of Pleasure, which he wrote most of in his mid-20’s. It is the book that made me count all the blessings that the book I started on at the same time in my life perished in a horrible computer failure. Most occultists can cipher from the book that he was deeply inspired by Madame Blavatsky and similarly styled occult writings – and also he very much wanted to sound knowledgeable, important, and deep. (Which I think is exactly what most intellectual folks desperately want to be perceived as when in their 20’s.) However, you can get a better sense of the man he was (and became) through the tone of his footnotes. Which is why in Sigil Witchery, I describe the character of main text as something that makes you want to drink whiskey to get through it, and while the footnotes depict a person you want to drink whiskey with.

Someone on the Internet misconstrued this comparison as evidence that I found the text “difficult.” (Which is hilarious because I’m also the same person at the age of 11 read the Book of Revelations for fun. Also I have long been (rightly) accused of having a SAT vocabulary and overly complex sentence structure.)

No, I wouldn’t call it difficult at all. More like tedious and overblown if I was going to be snarky (and honest – and really, I like Spare.)

You see, the thing I have discovered over the years is that I’ve lost tolerance and patience for having to plow through inflated (and often poorly written) text to get to the point. Do you have time for that shit? Because I certainly don’t.

Inflated Occult Texts usually have one or more issues at the root:
– The text is modeled after earlier texts of the same nature
– A desire for esoteric embellishment
– The text is more of an exercise of ego vs. education
– An inability to explain simply, succinctly, efficiently, or effectively
– The text is designed to purposely confuse and confound the “unworthy”

Photo by Matt Briney on Unsplash

Let me give you two examples of text, each explaining a part from the same ritual (that I just made up):
Example A:
“Within the outer circumference of the sacred sphere, the duly-prepared dedicant must trace a path thrice round. Upon entering the primary revolution, the seeker shall withdrawal essence from the aether, channeling pluerally and releasing through the solar plexis. This progression ignites the lowest entity of the spiritual trinity, awakening the beastly spectre that resides ethereally at the base of the abdomen. Commanding thy carnal nature, bring it forthright to the temple of the mind. Once secure profoundly within your bodily vessel, proceed to embark upon the secondary revolution. ”

Example B:
“In casting your circle, you will slowly trace the outer edge of it three times. During the first cycle, you will call upon your fetch or animalistic part of your spirit by breathing in deeply down into your belly. Imagine the breath waking the sleeping creature, stirring it to life. Then proceed to the second iteration.”

Do you see what I mean? Which was easier to read and understand? Both as a writer and a reader, I’d rather cut the crap and avoid the wankery.

Now don’t get me wrong. I love words. LOVE THEM. I am definitely no stranger to waxing poetically when inspired. I’m also a Gemini so I feel driven to tell you ALL THE THINGS. However, I am eternally grateful to my book editors for their ability to push me to make sure what I wrote is cohesive and relatively clear. I don’t write books to satisfy my ego – my goal is to provide material that is educational and accessible. I believe it shows respect for the reader.

I also believe in immediate, unadorned Witchcraft. My goal is for people to be empowered and aided by what I write. I don’t need to bury truths in flowery language or prominently display my own knowledge and resources. As a teacher in multiple media, it’s my job to impart knowledge effectively and inspire students.

Especially in times like these, the need to help people find their way is even more important and essential. Adding on additional superfluous layers of mystery serves little purpose. There is no need to be excessively elitist and full of hot air. Because folks, we have work to do.

(However, I will be more than happy to raise a glass and cheer on alliteration any time.)

Previous Post

January 25, 2018

Witching in the Space Between Virgin and Whore

Next Post

February 7, 2018 I Bring You Kittens! Book Tour, PantheaCon, ConVocation!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Books cats cauldron month community contest Events home Metaphysics Modern Practice Movement Myth & Folklore satire sigils Tradition travel Uncategorized video

Select a Month May 2026 March 2026 January 2026 September 2025 August 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 June 2024 May 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 February 2023 December 2022 November 2022 September 2022 July 2022 May 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz