Sol Ascendans - The Website of Alex Sumner | Novelist and writer on the Occult

December 7, 2018 · 12:37 pm

Whither Lulu?

A cautionary tale for both my readers and for other Authors! Please read on…

Not that Lulu. Unfortunately.

One of my loyal readers has informed me that the paperback versions of The Magus Trilogy are not available from Amazon except through third party sellers and then only for silly money! On investigation, I found the facts to be as follows:

Whilst this is true about the paperback versions, the Kindle versions are still fully available, and at the prices at which I intended them. They are also available electronically from other sites such as iTunes, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords at similar prices (the links to these three sites can be found via my web-page).
The paperback versions of “A Fairy Story By Any Other Name,” “Taromancer” and “Eternal Witch” are available from Amazon as normal. So too are they from Barnes & Noble – which doesn’t have paperback versions of the Magus Trilogy at all.

On redeeming the Sumner Family Brain Cell from the local pawn shop and re-engaging it, the truth dawned on me. Of all my novels, the three books of the Magus Trilogy were published via the website http://www.lulu.com which I had used on the understanding that it would distribute the paperbacks through Amazon for me anyway. The Kindle versions however I published through Amazon’s own Kindle Direct Publishing.

Hence, it would appear that both Amazon and Barnes and Noble have decided to arbitrarily stop selling the books I created via lulu.com, but are quite happy to continue to sell those via Amazon’s own CreateSpace!

Might this have anything to do with the fact that Amazon earlier this year were consolidating their CreateSpace and Kindle Direct Publishing ventures into one streamlined whole, and were therefore wanting to edge out competitors?

What bugs me, though, is that whatever the real explanation for this predicament – I received no notice of it from either Amazon or Lulu!

This may very well mean that you may be seeing new paperback editions appearing on Amazon via CreateSpace in the not too distant future. In the meantime, I encourage you to save a tree in the Amazon rain-forest and treat yourself to a Kindle version all the same.

Are you a Lulu-published author and have you been affected like this? Please respond in the comments below!

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December 7, 2018 · 10:35 am

How can you do a tarot reading on yourself? – Quora

(A2A) In the tradition with which I am familiar, it is unusual not to do tarot readings for oneself, because: firstly, Tarot is most importantly a tool for self-discovery; and secondly, you can only ultimately learn the real meanings of the cards through practice. A real Tarot reader ought to know what the Tarot cards mean without having to refer to the Little White Book all the time.

You can use any decent Tarot spread like the Celtic Cross, but you should Use ALL the tarot cards at once: don’t resort to the vile practice of removing some of the cards from the deck, and don’t interfere with the cards once you have dealt them. In other words, don’t resort to any of the practices that hucksters use to cheat rubes who come to them for fake readings. Be brutally honest with yourself – that’s how you achieve objectivity.

Whilst you may chose to go to another person to read your Tarot cards for you, I find the idea of insisting on someone go to another person for a reading is deceitful: it encourages slavish dependence at best, and charlatanism at worst.

Source: Alex Sumner’s answer to How can you do a tarot reading on yourself? – Quora

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November 19, 2018 · 10:50 pm

Review: “Archangels of Magick,” by Damon Brand

Archangels of Magick: Rituals for Prosperity, Healing, Love, Wisdom, Divination and Success by Damon Brand

I was surprised by how powerful the magick contained in this book actually was. I admit I have been wary of occultism contained in mass-market paperbacks, having had low opinions of Finbarr Books and Parker Publishing and the like. However: whilst reading this book, and especially examining the methods of invocation and evocation, I became convinced that the formulae which Damon Brand describes actually work. This may be because he describes them as being derived from “Shorshei Ha Shemot,” a very hard-to-come-by Qabalistic text, and other obscure tomes which only Masters of the Holy Name are said to be able to use.

In one sense I find it disturbing, because my first reaction is how can such potent magic be published in a book for public consumption? Is it not like giving babies nitro-glycerine with which to play? Nevertheless, me and a group of magicians have been adapting some of the rituals here for use in ceremonial magic, and to good effect. It also inspires me to go search out Shorshei Ha Shemot et al for deeper research, on the supposition that there is far more within the Hebrew Qabalah without having to go outside it to Hermeticism. Possibly not what Damon Brand intended, but for me it is a happy side-effect.

Archangels of Magick: Rituals for Prosperity, Healing, Love, Wisdom, Divination and Success by Damon Brand – available on Amazon.

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November 6, 2018 · 7:58 am

Deo, Non Fortuna – Dion Fortune, Psychic Warfare and the Magical Battle of Britain

EXPLORING THE OUTER EDGES OF SOCIETY AND MIND

“What mathematics are to matter and force, occult science is to life and consciousness…” – Dion Fortune, Sane Occultism*

Dion_Fortune_Golden_Dawn-mp83c0mq99wwycukllv8n6ywkjyilhyavy2gxup8co Penry Evans and Dion Fortune

The 21st century for all of it’s scientific propensity rivals past civilizations in the widespread and popular acceptance of what is commonly called occultism. From indie bands like the Klaxons, to mainstream artists like Lady Gaga and Jay-Z, occult imagery and philosophies are spread far and wide with a surprising lack of reaction from all but the most fundamentalist branches of culture.

Christian leaders like Rick Warren “cast their visions” on the culture, popular Kabbalah is a mainstay in Hollywood, Scientology (L. Ron Hubbard’s association with, and betrayal of, the occultist Jack Parsons is often overlooked) holds sway over established actors like Tom Cruise and John Travolta, even Oprah, a household favorite, is knee deep in mysticism and channeled teachings.

When we begin to look there appears…

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October 30, 2018 · 12:52 pm

What does dreaming about demons but not scary mean? – Quora

A Demon

(a2a) On the quest to become a fully-realised individual, every one of us, sooner or later, comes to realise that we each have a Dark Side, and the only way to become whole is to face up to it. It remains Dark, because it represents what we most hate about ourselves. Ironically however, it is also a source of strength. Hence the journey to wholeness involves integrating the Dark Side – or making your Demons work for you, instead of against you.

Luckily for you, dreaming about demons but in a non-scary manner would suggest that you are confident about facing up to your inner darkness, and are already well on the way to becoming a well-rounded individual.

Source: Alex Sumner’s answer to What does dreaming about demons but not scary mean? – Quora

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October 27, 2018 · 10:37 am

Do you believe in tarot card readings? Have you ever had one? How do you believe that would work? Did you gain insight from the reading? Did you do it more than once? With different readers? – Quora

Tarot

(a2a) I rarely go to other people for Tarot readings (I’ve had about two in my entire lifetime) – usually it is me giving readings for them. So if I wanted a Tarot reading, the first person I would think of going to is myself. The cards make me think of things which I would not normally consider, and hence because I am forced out of my habitual thought-patterns, this helps to spark my intuition. The Tarot cards really work as Keys to Unlock my own insight, and stimulate my psychic awareness.

I also find that if I have a question bothering me, and I do a tarot reading on it once, that provides closure on the issue, whatever the particular outcome of the reading happens to be. I strongly advise against the temptation to attempt to have more than reading or consult more than one reader attempt to answer the exact same question – you would be losing objectivity by hearing only what you want to hear.

Source: Alex Sumner’s answer to Do you believe in tarot card readings? Have you ever had one? How do you believe that would work? Did you gain insight from the reading? Did you do it more than once? With different readers? – Quora

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October 26, 2018 · 10:18 am

How do you astral project from a lucid dream state? – Quora

Astral Projection

(a2a) If you can lucid dream already, you are so close to full astral projection. You just need to be able to do three things:

Firstly: take control of your lucid dream. Not only do you need to be aware you are dreaming but you can alter the content of, and move about in, your dream at will.

Secondly: you have to do something which in New Age speak is called raising your level of vibration. In practical terms this means invoking divine energy, e.g. through the chanting of divine and angelic names, meditating on and filling yourself with the qualities of the place on the Astral Plane you wish to visit, etc.

Thirdly, after you’ve done that, you then project to somewhere you -know- is on the Astral Plane. This could be done by deliberately flying as far away from Earth as possible – which signifies getting away from content created by your own brain, until you reach astral phenomena which exist objectively. Alternatively, try dissolving everything you see into Whiteness – and when you think you can’t dissolve any more, dissolve -that- as well.

In occultism, the most popular method is to project through a Magical Symbol as if it were a Doorway – this has the effect of taking you away from your own mind, to a place on the Astral Plane which the Magical Symbol represents. “Tattva” symbols are commonly used to take one to a place associated with Elemental forces, but you could theoretically use a whole host of symbols, such as astrological or Qabalistic symbols, or even Tarot cards.

Apas (i.e. Water) tattva

It is always sensible to remain cautious: be open to what you see and experience but don’t necessarily believe it; ask for a Guide to accompany you when you project, and always make the beings and things you encounter show bona fides that they are telling you the truth. Then when it is time to leave, thank your guides, and retrace your steps back to your physical body here on Earth.

Source: Alex Sumner’s answer to How do you astral project from a lucid dream state? – Quora

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October 25, 2018 · 10:38 am

You Can Own The House Where Aleister Crowley Raised Satan!

You now have the opportunity to own this desirable little residence in Cornwall, where Aleister Crowley once conjured up the devil, causing the death of one woman and driving another man insane.

Aleister Crowley in A.'.A.'. regalia making the sign "Vir."

Did someone mention my name?

Yes indeed! I’m aware that Estate Agents come up with a complete load of bullshit sometimes, but I presume they have now scraped below the bottom of the barrel by actually using some of the Great Beast’s more salacious (allegedly) activities as marketing gumph.

Carn Cottage, between St Ives and St Just in Cornwall, may in Estate Agent language be charitably described as a “Period piece that would suit a home improvement enthusiast,” or in English as a “dilapidated eyesore that hasn’t been touched in over fifty years.”

Exterior of Carn Cottage, in disrepair and overgrown by bushes: with free abandoned car thrown in!

What actually Crowley did there is hard to make out. In the language of tabloid journalism, he was said to have conjured up the Devil there in 1938: in more sober occultist language, he conjured up something which an onlooker claimed to be a “Lizard Demon” – which could actually mean anything from a harmless Salamander to one of my old friends from the Goetia – but was enough to freak those inexperienced magicians present well and truly out.

Incidentally: I tried looking this up on a map, and noticed that the place is on a direct line passing through St Michael’s Mount and Carnac in France – so perhaps it was chosen because of it Ley Line positioning?

The current owner, I now read, wants someone like an artist or an author to take it over – presumably because she is fed up with teenagers breaking in just so they could say they have spent the night in a haunted house. I admit I’m tempted … although if I walk in and find a load of dead bodies walled up in the cellar, it will start feeling like the plot of really frightening horror story.

PS: This sketch from Armstrong & Miller seems appropriate at this point:

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October 19, 2018 · 9:16 am

Alex Sumner’s answer to Was Elijah taken by God or aliens on a fiery chariot into heaven? – Quora

Elijah and his “Chariot.”

Neither. In this case, “Chariot” (Hebrew: “Merkavah”) refers to a type of mysticism, kind of like proto-Kabbalah. In other words, he astrally ascended to heaven in a state of perfected consciousness, whilst his physical body probably just died normally. This is not dissimilar to the Yogic concept of “Mahasamadhi,” which is how great sages end their physical incarnation whilst in a state of perfected meditation.

Source: Alex Sumner’s answer to Was Elijah taken by God or aliens on a fiery chariot into heaven? – Quora

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October 8, 2018 · 10:27 am

Alex Sumner’s answer to As someone interested in Alchemy, would you recommend any book? Why would you propose those book in particular? What did they taught you? – Quora

For a beginner, I would recommend “The Alchemist’s Handbook” by Frater Albertus. Although the spagyric work it describes is only introductory, it does do a good job of acquainting the student with the basic terminology.

Also, one should read up on Hermeticism. Freke & Gandy’s “The Hermetica” is an introduction, although I prefer GRS Mead’s edition of “Corpus Hermeticum.”