BLK Celebration 2022 Speaker – Dr. Christian Giudice presents Drinking from Hecate’s Fountain

Our annual Black Lotus Kult Celebration will return this 5, Nov in London, where we will proudly present

One Beyond Ten

A Celebration of the works of Kenneth and Steffi Grant

BLKLOndon

We are happy to announce Dr. Christian Giudice will return to BLK Celebration to present

Drinking from Hecate’s Fountain:

Kenneth Grant’s Typhonian Trilogies and the Fusion Between Literature and Practiced Magic 

Hacate

In this talk, Dr. Giudice will attempt to situate occultist and author Kenneth Grant and his peculiar blend of fictional occultism, represented by Grant’s Typhonian Trilogies (1972-2002) as one of the most recent practitioners, chronologically speaking, to blur the lines between literary fiction and magical practice. After a brief introduction to Grant’s occult system, Dr. Giudice will draw examples of the blurring of the lines between fiction and practice from his Trilogies, focusing on the text richest in examples of such experiments in fiction: Hecate’s Fountain. Through these examples, a general theory of Grant’s employment of instances of fiction and practiced magic, to constantly keep the reader in a liminal state of consciousness, will be attempted, with particular attention devoted to the British occultist’s use of ufology as a novel instrument to achieve his aims. By employing an old literary device, which he had certainly recognized as being used by previous occultists of the nineteenth and twentieth century, and enhancing it by using novel themes such as the Lovecraft mythos and extraterrestrial entities, Grant has succeeded in creating a vibrant mélange, where, once again, the lines between fiction and reality are constantly being negotiated.

Chris

Chris Giudice is an independent scholar, who has lectured widely on subjects ranging from 19th and 20th century occultism, to psychedelic new religious movements, to occultism in politics and avant-garde cinema. Having obtained a BA in Classics from the University of Oxford, he went on to achieve an MA in Western esotericism at the University of Exeter and a PhD in Religious Studies at the University of Gothenburg. For ten years he was the lead singer of eso-neofolk band The Green Man, publishing 3 albums and 1 ep and touring extensively across Europe. His latest book Occult Imperium – Arturo Reghini, Roman Traditionalism, and the Anti-Modern Reaction in Fascist Italy was published by Oxford Univeristy Press as part of their Oxford Studies in Western Esotericism series. Find it HERE

We will converge on 5 November in Camden Town  for an evening of discussions on aspects of and experiences with the Typhonian Current.

Due to venue considerations, the event’s location will not be published, and will be sent to those wishing to attend as demand or space allows. Please send an email to caroline@starfirepublishing.co.uk for specifics if you wish to attend.

Starfire is republishing the Typhonian Trilogies, and you can find those currently available HERE

Black Lotus Kult

BLK Celebration 2019 – Michael Staley presents “Austin Osman Spare & Kenneth Grant: Two Magicians”

At BLK Celebration 2019

Michael Staley

will present

“Austin Osman Spare & Kenneth Grant: Two Magicians”

Kenneth Grant first encountered the work of Austin Osman Spare in 1941, coming across The Book of Pleasure. By the time he met Spare in 1949 he had thoroughly steeped himself in Spare’s published work. Spare was then writing another book, and soon Grant was typing drafts for him, editing, and collaborating on some of the material. When Spare died in 1956, he left his manuscripts and papers to Grant. The material was eventually collated and edited in the early 1990s, and published in Zos Speaks! by FULGUR PRESS in 1998.

Drawing on unpublished typescripts and diary entries, Michael discusses Grant’s growing understanding and presentation of Spare across the decades, and the influence of Spare on Grant’s own work.

Michael Staley

Michael Staley

 

Michael Staley is the founder of Starfire Publishing. He knew Kenneth Grant for more than forty years, becoming his publisher in the mid 1990s, and across a number of years republished the Typhonian Trilogies in new editions. Starfire also published the lavishly-produced title Two Grimoires by Austin Osman Spare in 2011.

Michael lives in north-west London with his wife Caroline Wise.

***

 

This year’s BLK Celebration will be held in Orlando, FL on Nov 1 & 2. For details, please click HERE

Tickets on sale NOW at – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blk-celebration-2019-tickets-66741233827

BLKLV

BLK Celebration 2018 – Q&A with Michael Bertiaux, Michael Staley and Black Lotus Kult

BLK Celebration 2018 is coming next week to Chicago, IL – 14-16 Dec. Read further posts below on this page, or click HERE for details.

As part of the Centennial Celebration at the Occult Bookstore, we will see a special Q&A session with

Michael Bertiaux

MB at work2

Michael Staley of Starfire Publishing

Michael Staley

and members of Black Lotus Kult.

Isis

This is a unique opportunity to tap into these minds and learn about Occult Art, Writing and Publishing, Gnostic Voudon, The Typhonian Tradition, Austin Osman Spare and a variety of other topics.

This will occur late Friday evening, after the launch of Servants of the Star & the Snake

BLK Celebration 2018

BLK Celebration 2018 – Servants of the Star & the Snake North American Launch

Starfire Publishing, The Occult Bookstore and Black Lotus Kult proudly present the North American launch party for

Servants of the Star & the Snake.

SSS_frontcover
Compiled and edited by Henrik Bogdan, Servants of the Star & the Snake is a collection of eighteen essays exploring the work of Kenneth and Steffi Grant.

  • Kenneth Grant: Servant-Satguru-Savant, by Martin P. Starr;
  • From Zos-Kia to the As-If: Kenneth Grant and Austin Osman Spare, by Michael Staley;
  • Advaita Vedanta in the Works of Kenneth Grant, by Henrik Bogdan;
  • Kenneth Grant and Lord Kusum Haranath, by Ruth Bauer;
  • From Central Africa to the Mauve Zone: Gerald Massey’s Influence on Kenneth Grant’s Idea of the Typhonian Tradition, by Christian Giudice;
  • Lam and the Typhonian Tradition, by Michael Staley;
  • Inside Outer Space, by Kyle Fite;
  • The Other Woman: Babalon and the Scarlet Woman in Kenneth Grant’s Typhonian Trilogies, by Manon Hedenborg-White;
  • The Nuclear Art of Steffi Grant, by Henrik Bogdan;
  • The Art of Darkness: Kenneth Grant and the Unity of the Soul, by Vadge Moore;
  • Kenneth Grant and Maat, by Nema;
  • Clarity versus Weirdness: A Vital Tension Within Magical Culture, by Ramsey Dukes;
  • Foundations of the Typhonian Trilogies, by Michael Staley;
  • Beyond Crowley: The Foundations of Sexual Magick, by Jan Fries;
  • Evocation of the Fire Snake: Kenneth Grant and Tantra, by Henrik Bogdan;
  • The Magic in Fiction, by Alistair Coombs;
  • The Role of H. P. Lovecraft in the Work of Kenneth Grant, by Stephen Dziklewicz;
  • Shakti in Chinatown, by Michael Bertiaux.

BLKLV

This launch event occurs during the BLK Celebration weekend, and is part of The Occult Bookstore’s Centennial celebration. All copies purchased at this event will include a signed and numbered certificate. Book contributors, including Michael Staley and Michael Bertiaux, will be present to sign copies.

For more info on this event click – www.facebook.com/events/144558179485539

SSS_backcover

BLK Celebration 2018 – Michael Staley presents “Kenneth Grant’s New Isis Lodge”

We’ve known Michael Staley for over 20 years, and have had the honour of watching him speak on a variety of esoteric subjects.

At this year’s BLK Celebration, it is our pleasure to announce that he will present –

“Kenneth Grant’s New Isis Lodge”

In early 1955 Kenneth Grant launched New Isis Lodge, writing rituals, gradework, visualization exercises and instructional papers for the various Degrees, and later published the Manifesto of New Isis Lodge. At the centre of it was Nu-Isis, a compelling vision which was synthesised from Thelema, Advaita Vedanta, and Spare’s Zos-Kia Cultus, and which was subsequently developed throughout Grant’s Typhonian Trilogies. This talk examines the mystical and magical experiences out of which Grant fashioned his conception of Nu-Isis, and the structure of New Isis Lodge which he subsequently developed.

Starfire Logo

Michael Staley is the founder of Starfire Publishing. He knew Kenneth Grant for more than forty years, becoming his publisher in the mid 1990s, and across a number of years republished the Typhonian Trilogies in new editions. He lives in north-west London with his wife Caroline Wise.

Michael Staley.jpg

BLK Celebration 2018 – Caroline Wise presents “Nuit, Isis and the Nu-Isis Lodge”

We had the honour of viewing the Caroline Wise production of a Florence Farr play in Seattle, Washington and we later performed a special Elen of the Ways ritual for her at a past Black Lotus Kult Celebration.

It is our great pleasure to announce that Caroline will present at BLK Celebration 2018

She will bring to us – “Nuit, Isis and the Nu-Isis Lodge”

There has been speculation and misunderstanding about the Nu-Isis Lodge over the decades. Caroline discusses the rituals of the Nu-Isis Lodge, their structure and purpose. She also explores the goddesses Nuit and Isis through the Typhonian Thelemic lens, showing their relevance to magicians – especially women magicians – today. Will include a visualization exercise based on one of the rituals.

Please see the BLK Celebration’s Facebook page HERE to let us know you are coming and to read updates and details regarding these events.

 

Caroline Wise instigated the republishing of Kenneth Grant’s books at Skoob Esocterica in 1989, which led to previously unpublished works coming into the light, including Grant’s novellas. She co-edited ‘The Secret Lore of London’ with John Matthews (Hodder and Stoughton 2016) and has contributed to several books on the goddesses of the Ancient World; on Austin Osman Spare, tarot artist Pamela Coleman Smith, and on magician Florence Farr, whose Egyptian themed plays she produced at The Rudolph Steiner Theatre in 1993. She gives talks and workshops on the goddesses in Britain, and in USA, Germany and Italy. She works with Starfire Publishing and has a special interest in the work of Kenneth Grant.

Caroline

Caroline in the Spare Room

Black Lotus Kult and The Occult Bookstore announce BLK Celebration 2018!

We are pleased to officially announce our annual BLK Celebration will once again be held in our planet’s Zothyrian Stargate – Chicago, IL, with events Dec 14-16.

We are producing this year’s event in partnership with The Occult Bookstore in celebration of their 100th Anniversary.

LotusLand2

Schedule of Activities

Friday 14 Dec at The Occult Bookstore

Servants of the Star & the Snake – We will celebrate of the publication of Servants of the Star & the Snake, a collection of eighteen essays by fourteen different writers on the work of Kenneth and Steffi Grant by Starfire Publishing. Publisher Michael Staley will be on hand to speak to us about this work. After this talk, attendees may has their copies signed by various contributors in attendance (including Michael Staley and Michael Bertiaux). See – http://www.starfirepublishing.co.uk/SSS_published.htm for more info on this work.

Centennial Celebration – We will then entertainment as we break for a toast to The Occult Bookstore’s 100th year in business! The oldest spirit shop in the world was founded in 1918, and has served the community for a century, including a present day staff who are skilled and experienced practitioners on the path of spirituality.

Q&A – We’ll end the evening with a question and answer session with Starfire, Michael Bertiaux and Black Lotus Kult

Store

 

Saturday 15 Dec at the Congress Plaza

Lectures – BLK is partnering with the Hyde Park Lodge to bring back a day of lectures in the tradition of the Beriaux/Lully seminars of the 70’s and 80’s. The line-up includes Michael Staley, Ariock Van de Voorde, Steven Slane Intermill, Caroline Wise and more.

Entertainment – Kindle Cimmerian will be enticing with Typhonian Tribal Fusion performances throughout the day.

Vudu

Kindle Cimmerian

 

Sunday 16 Dec Chicago, IL

A meeting of the Synod of Bishops of Ecclesia Gnostica Spiritualis – Private event.

EGS Logo

Please see the event’s Facebook page HERE to let us know you are coming and to read updates and details regarding these events.

Cults of the Shadow!

Starfire Publishing has produced many fantastic works over the last quarter century, with a focus on the Typhonian tradition. First published in 1986, Starfire Journal has been the official voice of the Typhonian Order (previously known as the Typhonian Ordo Templi Orientis), and has shed light on many of the ideas brought forth in Kenneth Grant’s writings.

Starfire Journal, Volume I, Issues 1-5

Starfire Journal, Volume I, Issues 1-5

With Beyond the Mauve Zone (1999) and The Ninth Arch (2002), Starfire completed the final volumes of Grant’s Typhonian Trilogies. Starting in 2008, they then began to reprint enhanced editions of the previous out-of-print titles in this series; Outside the Circles of Time (2008), The Magical Revival (2009), and Aleister Crowley and the Hidden God (2013). Now comes the announcement of Cults of the Shadow, due this summer.

Although Grant’s works are all amazing, Cults holds a special place to many as their introductory vehicle into the wondrous world of Michael Bertiaux. This title explores Left Hand Path systems and histories, and looks into their manifestation in the works of Bertiaux, Aleister Crowley, Charles Stanfeld Jones and Austin Osman Spare. As with all Starfire reprints of Grant’s work, this will be an “enhanced” edition, with a new typeset, errata from the previous version within the text and notes taken from Grant’s personal copy included. In addition, these new versions have seen new art, interesting endpapers and, when possible, newly photographed versions of the original art. Many plates which were originally presented in black and white are now in colour. Fulgur Esoterica‘s presentations of Michael Bertiaux’s art speak volumes to the importance of colour in examining his work, and we feel many will be amazed when comparing the plates between new and old versions of Cults.

For more details on this title, head to http://www.starfirepublishing.co.uk/Cults_of_the_Shadow.htm

While on the subject of such things, some were caught sleeping at the pace of Starfire’s republication schedule, and a few of the much sought after deluxe copies of Aleister Crowley and the Hidden God are still available. We have nearly every Starfire deluxe in the BLK Library, and while all are spectacular, this volume really matches the physical object well to the content of the book.

AC&THG Deluxe

AC&THG Deluxe

To order, or read more, see http://www.starfirepublishing.co.uk/aleister_crowley_and_the_hidden_god_moredetails.htm

Starfire has also posted a link to Living Traditions Magazine‘s review of  Aleister Crowley and the Hidden God at http://www.starfirepublishing.co.uk/HG_review.html