The Greatest Occult Writer of All Time Is...

Kath · Post by **Kath** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 4:58 pm

drumroll...

kinda an overdone buildup isn't it?

anyway, its just an opinion, so don't feel the need to disagree with mine, just share yours too! its easy just cut & paste "The Greatest occult writer of all time is..." and then put your author, and some mushy fanboy sentiments

but this is dragging things out a bit.

so without further adieu,

The greatest occult writer of all time is... Douglas Adams

"wait what? he's not even an occultist or member of any order!"
mmm, I'd agree that he's not a member of any order, but occultist? whether he means to be or not, I consider him an occultist par excellence. He's the smartest writer I have read, in any genre. His ideas blend science, philosophy, religion, the human condition, and humor, all seamlessly, and with tremendously deep insight. In telling a single paragraph joke he seems (to me) to convey more depth of contemplation than most authors can manage in an entire dry chapter. He makes you think, and makes you think about how to think, and then he makes you question everything you just thought... all while being immensely enjoyable to read. And even when he's just being completely silly, there's subtle traces of deeply relevant thought woven in.

I would credit douglas adams for having an instrumental role in my leaving the cult-like religion of which I was a part. I would also credit douglas adams for greatly shaping my occult path and understandings. I would highly recommend any book written by him, to any person, in any path, from any background.

I read my first douglas adams book on May 14th, 2001, the same day he died (apparently a mishap involving a CD of vogon poetry). I read my second douglas adams book the day after...

This all probably means I'm just a closeted discordian, since I think you could call douglas adams a vaguely discordian individual.

Anyway, if I ever owned an occult book store, I'd put Douglas Adams' books in the window display.
...and I'd probably put a sign over the door reading "enter at your own risk" (mostly because of the books *not* written by douglas adams, but also just in case i haven't had any coffee)

Vashta · Post by **Vashta** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:45 pm

Hmm, interesting one (and a fine choice, might i add

)

The book that most rocked my world was "Urban Shaman" by Serge Kahili King. I think I was about 16 when I read it, and it completely blew my mind. After reading it, I started seeing the world in a whole new light. I thoroughly recommend it to virtually anyone who asks me to recommend a book

Although, I don't know if you've read any of his works or not, Kath, but I would recommend to you an author called China Mieville. First book I read of his was "Perdido Street Station", and it was awesome. Strongly recommended. Very steampunk meets magick, I think you'll love it. Fiction, about 700 pages, but you'll read it in no time, it's very compelling and addictive writing, the world of new crobuzon is captivating, I promise you won't regret spending a few bucks on the book ^_^

Azzerac · Post by **Azzerac** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 4:17 am

The Greatest Occult Writer of All Time Is...WAIT!!
Just One?
That's tying hands, Girl! ~L~
Do I say L. Frank Baum? He wrote about The Great Ak, so that makes him great in THIS Ac's Book! ~L~

I'm a huge fan of Higgins! His 1800's guide on the origins of Druidism was very influential!
Fred Alan Wolf did more to cross the Left-Brain Chasm than Zukov or Emoto ever did!
Cunningham made spell casting Art.
Bonewitz made it a science.

I make it Punk! (Does that mean The Greatest Occult Writer of All Time Is..."In My Pants!"?)

No.
"The Greatest Occult Writer of All Time Is..." Terry Pratchett!
He did in three books what Rolling couldn't do in Seven.
He Taught how to be a Witch.
He taught it with a Girl as the Hero (Rolling said "Little Boys Have Adventures").
...and he's still going: No Expiration Date.

In three books, entitled "Wee, Free Men", "Hat Full of Sky", and "Wintersmith", he teaches what it means to Think Like a Witch, Do what a Witch Does, and Know what a witch knows.
He teaches you that a Witch is more than casting spells, that "You can't be a better witch by 'Going Shopping'", and that anthropomorphic personifications aren't to be trifled with. Gods aren't there for YOU. You're there for THEM!

He drove hard the specifics in multiple "Weird Sisters" threads, but with Tiffany Aching he made a course in magic that everyone should read. The very essence of gaining strength from the Land is worth it alone.

He teaches you "How To Make Your Own Hat", and that's a lesson many will die without ever knowing.
It's one of the most important.

Vinncent · Post by **Vinncent** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:41 am

Wow. That's a tough question. I suppose there are a few angles to attack this question. "Great" could mean beautiful writing, clear writing, concise writing...

I vote Frater U.D.. His book "High Magick" was the most straightforward, -correct- occult oriented book that I had read in a long while. I just saw "High Magick II" at the local bookstore the other day, but didn't buy it because I knew I would not get any of my schoolwork done until I had finished it.

Kath · Post by **Kath** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:19 pm

Don't tell me this is the first time a girl tied up your hands Ac?

"Urban Shaman", "Perdido Street Station", "Wee, Free Men", "Hat Full of Sky", and "Wintersmith" all added to the amazon.com wishlist

(secret ulterior subplot revealed!)

I like Frater U.: D.: too. I haven't read his High Magick II yet either, I'm definitely going to have to pick that up as well.

Since everyone else is listing more than one writer, I'll mention that my second and third favorites are Freidrich Nietzsche, and Carl Jung (again i'm picking names outside mainstream occultism itself, but I call it like I see it

). But I think the thread is more interesting if 'there can be only one'... really makes a person think, and results in a pretty refined list of authors

It sets a stage, so to speak, that I picked Douglas Adams above Jung or Nietzsche, no?

Azzerac · Post by **Azzerac** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:06 pm

Too True!
The stage is set. ~L~
Burlesque-Style.

Seriously: There are so many great authors in the public domain, and I've found that Kessinger Publications has quite catalog of these older titles.
What I don't find there, or find they've put TOO High a Price tag on, I reproduce as PDFs on my store site.
There's few, soon to be more.

Der Eremit · Post by **Der Eremit** » Tue May 05, 2009 10:10 pm

Vinncent wrote:Wow. That's a tough question. I suppose there are a few angles to attack this question. "Great" could mean beautiful writing, clear writing, concise writing...

I vote Frater U.D.. His book "High Magick" was the most straightforward, -correct- occult oriented book that I had read in a long while. I just saw "High Magick II" at the local bookstore the other day, but didn't buy it because I knew I would not get any of my schoolwork done until I had finished it.

I have Frater U.D.'s High Magick. I have to agree from what I've read so far it is an excellent book. Although I hear that he is more of a chaos magician, and in seeing what he left out of rituals like the LBRP (i.e. the sign of the enterer) it seems pretty obvious.

I haven't read nearly enough authors to label any one the best, but the best I've seen so far has to be Donald Michael Kraig. His style is very similar to that of Frater U.D., but more inclined to a ceremonial magician rather than a chaote.

Zhydanzyel · Post by **Zhydanzyel** » Sat May 09, 2009 8:08 pm

Hmmm... very hard to choose only one...

But if I had to, I would say... Franz Bardon.
Simply put, his IIH was very inspirational for me in so many way...

jeviscachee · Post by **jeviscachee** » Sun May 17, 2009 10:31 am

Ohh, difficult question! I'd have to say Robert Graves; whilst not an occultist, he has a wonderful grip on tradition and writes lucidly and entertainingly. For me, he manages to capture much of what I'd term important.

PRAXIS · Post by **PRAXIS** » Wed May 20, 2009 2:59 am

The Greatest Occult Writer of All Time Is...

Your statement is requireing me to access levels and diemensions of being that I am not currently at liberty to do in order to fully answer that statement. All Time...... I will try.

The Greatest Occult Writer of All Time Is... That which is boundless, Nameless throughout all Eternity. THAT! which gives vain men and women the "inclination" (the pure prompting of the soul.) to put pen to parchment. THAT hidden and ineffalable Essence of Right Understanding that abbideth in the Sanctuary of the Adytum which shall never be profaned. Which quality of Being IS NOT affected by the sham,speech and glamour show of the Magus. Lust of the Mind. Duality of Thought. Imbalance brought upon the Mind in order to produce the phantom show of Space and Time. Change. base illusion. Ignorance. It is not right to give Glory to the hammer and chisel... It is not right to give praise to tools. I give praise and glory unto THAT which made those tools Fit to bear the Imprint of Its Will to reveil that which was Hidden in order that IT may be known.

I spose the answer to this riddle would be... ETERNITY. No Man may Truely Understand the Will of God and have the purity of being nessasary in order to break the Word down to the level of the dog.

In Service,
Praxis
Fra. Sapere Noblis Astrum

Post by **Venefica** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:35 pm

Difficult to say, different paths have different authors which is really, really good. It also comes down to individual taste, also I doubt anyone have read every occult book out there. I am fond of Don Kreig and Eliphas Levi. But as for the greatest...Robert Jordan is not a occult author, the wrote fantasy, but the way he describes magick in his Wheel of Time books, it is brilliant. I would say Robert Jordan is the greatest occult writer of all times, even if he do not write occult books.

Mitch · Post by **Mitch** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:22 am

In my opinion, The Greatest Occult Writer of All Time is C. G. Jung. One of the few, and possibly the most influential, expert occultist to break the invisible barrier into the mainstream. His ideas are taught in Universities worldwide. Jungian psychologists, who are all arguably occultists, have respected practices and treat patients across the globe.

The Archetypes and The Collective Unconscious is where most people start. Once you grasp the concepts, move on to the pure occult genius of The Seven Sermons to the Dead (http://www.freewebs.com/navanath/seven_sermons.html)

xcb · Post by **xcb** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 3:39 am

For me, it's St. John.

1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

If that's not occulted, I dunno what is.

Lizard1138 · Post by **Lizard1138** » Sat May 07, 2011 7:22 pm

The greatest occult writer of all time hasn't been discovered yet

Lizard1138 · Post by **Lizard1138** » Thu May 26, 2011 11:20 pm

Do we have a moderator who can start requiring a captcha for these threads?

Tytus · Post by **Tytus** » Sun May 29, 2011 11:02 pm

Spam alert!!!!! this was such an interesting topic for a thread too

Metaller · Post by **Metaller** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 7:41 pm

just a question for Gypeeagela... why do you spam in a forum where you are one of the most active users? if you like the forum why risking ban? just for a small amount of bucks? c'mon you are a magician of some type so why this nonsense?

pathfinder · Post by **pathfinder** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:22 pm

I think the greatest occult author is Franz Bardon (1909-1958). Bardon had many highly spiritual incarnations before this one, such as Hermes Trismegistus, Comte St. Germain, Nostradamus, to mention a few, and as a highly-evolved adept, he has been on earth many times to help mankind in its quest for enlightenment. Bardon was commissioned by Divine Providence in the early 20s/30s to reveal the Holy Mysteries, also known as the Egyptian Mysteries, or Hermetics (note: from Hermes Trismegistus), and all his volumes are pure White Magic, namely development from the inside, ie our spirit, and not from an external source, ie rhyming off chants and spells. Bardon's books give more than most people can understand because he delves into our own negative characteristics and how to deliminate them before we can progress to higher spiritual realms. Any good spiritual material will certainly include "cleaning" out the soul in order for the spirit to shine through.

Vashta · Post by **Vashta** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 1:20 pm

Sorry, missed that spammer, please use the "Report post" links on the posts to bring things to the attention of the moderators

Post by **Madavascus** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 3:33 am

The greatest occult writer of all time was...

...Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim

His Three Books of Occult Philosophy (De Occulta Philosophia libri III) is a fundamental text in Western occultism and no occultist can be truly of the Western tradition until he has at least read Agrippa once in his lifetime.

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