The Mind Telegraph: Now Available!

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This fairly short work is another of the various bizarre releases of its era, which has little back story and content which fluctuates wildly from subgenre to subgenre. Supposedly based off an older German version (said here to be popular, but which may indeed not exist at all), it first lays out some philosophical principles tied with the use of willpower and psychic force, then launches off on a series of situational tales regarding the use of iron will and such- indeed, the author (or the avatar the author depicts) claims to have become miserable by having too much force of will, leading to a life utilizing it for money and fame, to the neglect of spirituality and wisdom, warning the reader to be wary of the use of true will, which is in part prefaced by a simple declarative refusal to surrender or back down.

34 pages.

The Kybalion: Now Available!

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This fine work is quite well known and is a book I'd planned to edit for a couple of years, having heard of its existence but never actually read it. Well written if a bit dense, and quite enigmatic, the Kybalion purports to have been created by three initiates into the Hermetic secret, and contains multiple sections ruminating on the nature of existence, vibration of matter, the nature of thought, creation, and so forth. It's a philosophical work and claims itself to be merely the introductory text of this mystery tradition, passed orally from master to student since antiquity.

The author or authors of the work remain unknown and I am unsure any comprehensive study has attempted to compare its linguistic style to other contemporary individuals. Altogether, the work is quite good, and an interesting read- although its habitual use of upper case letters can be a bit jarring. I decided to leave that intact for authenticity.

115 pages.

Weeds Used as Medicine: Now Available!

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This interesting booklet was released in the early 20th century as a helpful government bulletin designed to inform farmers that some of the weeds they were constantly removing from their land were medicinal in nature and potentially of at least enough value to make the work of exterminating them mildly profitable. It has been beautifully re-illustrated by the talented Rita Metzner. You can see some of her other works here.

It covers quite a few species; datura is here notable along with poison hemlock as plants that are no longer generally considered to be valid within medicine. Catnip is also mentioned somewhat amusingly here as more valuable on the medicinal end; these days of course its primary reason for sale is as a narcotic for peoples' miniaturized lions and tigers. The general medical use of each species, along with a description of its prevalence and appearance, is paired as well with some interesting asides regarding the commercial nature of early 20th century herbal medicine.

58 pages.

Lore of the Unicorn: Now Available!

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This work is pure rationalism circa the early 20th century. Penned by Odell Shepard, it goes to great lengths in being as detailed as possible, not limiting itself by time period or region. Speaking of lore as separate as that of Africa and India, the tale of the unicorn (or alicorn) is rendered not simply to a misunderstood and real beast here, but takes on a wider symbology and meaning.

The most interesting component of Shepard's work here though is medicinal and related to medieval folklore; the unicorn horn (variously the horn of a rhinoceros or narwhal, and sometimes that of an antelope or even a chunk of petrified wood) was rumored in those days to sweat in the presence of any poison and to act as a souped-up sort of bezoar taken internally. The content is at times dense, and it draws on many primary sources both antiquated and then-modern.

216 pages.

Three More Works Coming Soon

Because I felt sick (and a little under the weather even after the sickness subsided) I didn't do much for a few days there, but now I'm roaring ahead and finishing up with three entirely separate works.

First, "Weeds as Medicine" which was actually put out under US government contract back at the dawn of the 20th century. Part of it is utilitarian but it is also an interesting herbal. It's about half done save for the illustrations.

Second, "Valuable Herbal Prescriptions" which is done except for the illustrations which I have not had the gumption to render yet; it's a 50-ish page herbal medicine tract.

Third, "Demons and Tongues" which is one part early 20th century demonology, one part anti-pentecostal manifesto, and quite interesting. I am almost 3/4 done editing this work which, thankfully, has no illustrations.

Pagan Ideas of Immortality: Now Available!

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This work is one of the most dense academic materials I have edited. Written in the early 20th century, it is a historical look at some of the philosophical schools of antiquity and their conception of the afterlife, purgatory, reincarnation, and the nature of the human spirit.

Its details regarding Mithra do not extend to comparisons to Jesus, as was typical in this era. A century ago, such claims would have been taboo. It dwells instead on multiple stories from antiquity (going back before Rome to previous religious schools which later influenced Rome as well) especially with regards to the form of tartarus and so forth. The evolution of the antiquated conception of the immortal soul is revealed here in great detail.

32 pages.