An Essay on Demonology, Ghosts, and Apparitions: Now Available!

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This nice literary edition predominantly describes medical quackery, the persecutions of Salem (and attempts at the same from latter time periods well into the 18th century!) and some interesting supernatural tales involving those who believed themselves demonically troubled or bewitched. I decided to edit this particular work partly as a cautionary tale for occultists not to be too incredulous, and as an amusing look at times of persecution and charlatan medicine which roughly equate to the 2020s. The more things change the more they remain the same!

132 pages.

A Treatise on Magic: Now Available!

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This fairly short work is a nice example of early 19th century Christian rationalism. Penned by a Lutheran, it accepts the basic concept of Biblical spirituality while expressing deep skepticism of magic generally (of the superstitions of its era)- notably the work derives a lot of its content from the concept of the Biblical Witch of Endor. It speaks in some degree of detail of the Devil, and deviates from the fire and brimstone of both prior and latter Christendom.

67 pages.

Occultism (Two Lectures): Now Available!

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This work comes strictly from the rationalist camp of its era. Seeking primarily to discredit phrenology, dowsing, seances, and spiritualistic beliefs in general, Clodd managed to perform two tasks; first, to give a good cautionary warning to occultists, and second to categorize some interesting phenomena (including the legendary appearance of angels on WWI battlefields, aiding British troops!) for the purposes of discrediting the same.

Like with several other editions I have released lately I provide this primarily to warn off practitioners of spiritual systems from credulity- we must remember that dowsing, phrenology, etc were widely popular and accepted in their time and even backed by supposedly objective science.

66 pages.

Secrets of Black Arts!: Now Available!

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This interesting little volume is roughly similar in some ways to the Book of Forbidden Knowledge (which became and has remained one of my top selling titles.) It is a mix of different lore, delivered from a skeptical-but-not-atheistic position on subjects ranging from the divining rod (dowsing), to omens and apparitions, and the Salem Witch Trials- this last is covered in some degree of depth indeed, about 50 pages of content giving the backdrop, opinions of the era, and some of the names and trials of note from the entire series of events there.

A short treatment on Satan and demonology gives way to this more historical content and it is subsequently capped off with a two page ramble about the need to refute fire and brimstone ideology and irrational superstition. The original edition came with about ten pages of ads (removed in my edition) for other works which ranged from mesmerism and palmistry to brief annotated historical guides.

122 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.

The Devil, His Origin, Greatness, and Decadence: Now Available!

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This manuscript is a fine example of a mid 19th century spiritual historic work. Seeking to explain the origin and general history of Satan up through that point in history, it speaks of Ahriman, the disembodied and physical Satans of time, the Jewish and Christian origins of the same general principles, and the latter day, then-modern rationalist explanation of the devil as essentially a bogeyman.

Of course, more than a century has elapsed since then, and this rationalized imp subsequently became a symbol of capitalism, the leader of communism, the master of the world elite, a banker, and a humorous red skinned figure loosely twain with, of all things, Santa Claus.

58 pages.