Hermetic Library Newsletter - Issue #20 (still with the downward pointing rosette because it is funny)

Did you hear about Oxford University Press closing? I mean, little old Hermetic Library has outlived a lot of things, I’ve observed before and will again, but that one surprised me. So, if even OUP can’t make it work, how in the world are the rest of us managing to survive whilst following our passions? It boggles the mind.

This week I worked on adding more material from Hargrave Jennings and Franz Hartmann. I also created a new propaganda poster based on a quote that struck me from the new Hartmann material.

The new poster is in the “village” style, which is inspired by the little creepy signs around The Village in The Prisoner, that Patrick McGoohan spy-story deconstruction genre-transcendent classic. At first I used the “village” style for quotes that felt really more like they’d appear in that show; but lately I’ve taken to using the “village” style for quotes that are not from Crowley, for which, of course, I use the “unicursal” style, still with the downward pointing rosette because it is funny to me how some people react uptight and pedantic to that, and give themselves away as someone that’s like that. Anyhow, I don’t think I’d ever said the what or why about the two designs aloud before, so there you go and now you know!

Getting ready to announce the next Patron first-come giveaway, for those physical copies of The Master and Margarita, which will be available to all Patrons, probably in the next few days, so if you want in on a chance to get one, and pitch in to keep the library going, hop on in with at least a buck for the tip jar!

Also I have a very exciting special offer coming soon for Patrons who join at either of the new Sol (“Propagandist”) and Saturn (“Fashionist”) tiers, a collaboration with Century Guild, who do some amazing work with period book and poster reproductions, that’s in the pipeline, but more on that later! But, it’s going to be spiffy!

Consider participating on Magick, Music and Ritual 16, the next anthology album; and/or, sending in something for the next Zine. Moreover, do let others who would be interested know about them.

Then there’s the usual hearty stew of quotes, book reviews, updates, and so on to check out.

And, as always, I worked on various other things on website, blog, and more … Enjoy!

I recently sent out physical Postal Exchange perks for active Patrons in May 2021. The next one should be in a couple months, for those active in July, and put in the post in early August; in case you want to become a Patron to get in on that.

Also, do remember that even if you aren’t able to become a Patron right now, for whatever reason, consider just sending me something I can add to a Postal Exchange and I’ll send you something back.

I mean, you know, this is one idea I share with people that ask what kind of stuff to send: if there’s an occult or esoteric bookshop near you, consider looking for a display of free pamphlets, and grabbing a variety stack of those, especially any fun and wild ones! Then send ‘em my way. (And, you know, then I’ll also have more stuff to feature for mail call in the newsletter!)

This one included sending out the awesome magazines and ritual kit donated by Femme Occulte to some lucky winners of that Patron giveaway we collaborated on! (Look back on my IG or YT for an unboxing post when they arrived earlier, and I also talked about that in a past newsletter…)

Also, check out this mostly-time-lapse video of me putting those together.