Hello from Pantheacon: Plus…an announcement

I’m posting this from the lobby of the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, California, where Pantheacon is being held. The entire hotel has literally been taken over by Pagans, Witches, Heathens, Thelemites, Golden Dawners, and magickal people of all levels of experience and direction. A few weeks ago I gave a workshop where I suggested that magickal people can disagree without being disagreeable, and that we can find strength and unity by accepting our widespread diversity. The thousands of people (and I’m being literal with that number) in attendance are proof that this is possible.

I’ve given two well-attended workshops (well over 100 people in each) already. I’ve got one more to give later today. There are so many workshops I’d like to attend, too. And that doesn’t include all of the rituals concerts and…oh yes, parties!

An Important Announcement

Well, it’s an important announcement for me!

The book Modern Magick has been an important part of my life. It’s enabled me to travel all over the U.S. and even in Europe. Everywhere I go I see beat-up copies, filled with notes, and it makes me glad that I’ve been able to give a bit of help to so many people.

Almost every day I get letters and email from people all over the world who tell me their stories about how my book has helped them. Now in its second edition, there are over 150,000 copies in print, and knowing how people pass it around and use it in groups and individually, I like to think it has helped the lives of close to a quarter-million people or more.

When I first wrote the book I wanted it to be modern. That’s why I gave it the title. But in the years since it’s been published, so many things have changed. The military draft, the war in Vietnam, the fear of the USSR, the menace of the Berlin Wall, have vanished. Many people today have no idea of what an album on a record looks like, have always had a computer, and think that UPC codes are expected to be on everything. It wasn’t that way when Modern Magick was first published. Styles of music have greatly changed. Disco has come and (thankfully, in my opinion) gone. Things that were modern decades ago are “classics” or “golden oldies” today. And the fact is, Modern Magick isn’t as modern as it was when it was first published.

Years ago, my teacher of acupressure, acupuncture, Taoist philosophy and Zen philosophy told me something that has stuck with me: Everything that is born, dies. And so it is with great sadness that I announced at the workshop I gave yesterday (it was entitled “Future Trends in Magick”), that for the first time since its original publication…

Modern Magick is going out-of-print.

When the current print run is depleted, the 2nd edition of Modern Magick will be no more. As of this announcement it is officially a collector’s item. If you have a beat up copy, and would like to own a pristine and collectable piece of history, I would suggest you consider getting a copy to put aside and keep. Yes, there are a lot of copies out there, but not many in good shape or perfect condition!

Magick is in my heart and spirit, and I will have things to say here about future efforts in writing about magick. On Facebook, I’ve talked about something I’m calling “Book X.” I’ll announce more about that book real soon. I’m sad to see Modern Magick go, but I’m thrilled and excited about what is coming. I think you’ll be excited, too!