Book Description
The ancient Greeks commonly resorted to magic spells to attract and keep lovers-as numerous allusions in Greek literature and recently discovered "voodoo dolls," magical papyri, gemstones, and curse tablets attest. Surveying and analyzing these various texts and artifacts, Christopher Faraone reveals that gender is the crucial factor in understanding love spells. There are, he argues, two distinct types of love magic: the curselike charms used primarily by men to torture unwilling women with fiery and maddening passion until they surrender sexually; and the binding spells and debilitating potions generally used by women to sedate angry or philandering husbands and make them more affectionate. Faraone's lucid analysis of these spells also yields a number of insights about the construction of gender in antiquity, for example, the "femininity" of socially inferior males and the "maleness" of autonomous prostitutes. Most significantly, his findings challenge the widespread modern view that all Greek men considered women to be naturally lascivious. Faraone reveals the existence of an alternate male understanding of the female as "naturally" moderate and chaste, who uses love magic to pacify and control the "naturally" angry and passionate male. This fascinating study of magical practices and their implications for perceptions of male and female sexuality offers an unusual look at ancient Greek religion and society.

Editorial Reviews
Dan Liss, Aquarius
Sirona Knight's Love, Sex and Magick, Exploring the Sacred Union Between Male and Female, is a concise guide for those couples ready to explore ways to reach new levels of intimacy and awareness in their relationships. Sirona provides clearly described exercises for partners to try at home, complete with appendixes of information and recipes you can use right away. Take a cue from the author to discover how to evolve your relationship from sensuous to sensitive to spiritual. Once you realize how...

Book Description
Most of us sincerely want to find the perfect partner or enhance our primary relationship. Love, Sex and Magick offers an innovative, personal, and comprehensive approach to love as well as sacred sex, magical expressions, and ritual. It gives an overview of the folklore, mythology, and contemporary practices of Eastern and Western spiritual traditions of love and sacred sex. Magical patterning, clarity, and strength of desire are explained, as are straightforward methods of deepening rapport...

Synopsis
A high priestess of the Celtic Gwyddonic Druid Tradition offers a New Age guide to deeper, stronger love and more satisfying sexual experiences.

From the Back Cover
Discover sacred love, ecstasy, and bliss every day! You'll find the secrets of lasting love, superb sex, and powerful magick within the pages of this provocative and intriguing book. Love, Sex, and Magick unites Eastern and Western sex magick into one useful and exciting resource guide. Learn successful techniques that will enhance very facet of your spiritual , emotional, and sensual life. Enter into higher states of consciousness and sensual awareness and experience the sacred union between...

About the Author
Sirona Knight is the author of Moonflower: Erotic Dreaming with the Goddess; Greenfire: Making Love With the Goddess; and the forthcoming Citadel book Celtic Traditions. She is a contributing editor for Magical Blend and a contributing writer for New Age Retailer and Aquarius. Sirona is a Third Degree Craftmaster and High Priestess of the Celtic Gwyddonic Druid tradition; she holds a master's degree in psychology and is a certified hypnotherapist. She lectures extensively, hosts an Internet...

Customer Reviews

This is what you are looking for!

Reviewer: A reader from Columbus, OH      April 6, 1999

If you are interested in Sex Magick, this is probably what you are looking for. The author blends East and Western magickal traditions with love and sex to create one of the BEST approaches I have ever experimented with. NOT the dry guarbage created by perverts in the 12th century under Church oppression. If you are interested in Sex Magick, this is probably what you are looking for. If you are looking for an excuse to masturbate or degrade your partner, look elsewhere!

Editorial Reviews
The author, Nan Hawthorne , February 17, 1998
You are Goddess --- love yourself!
It has been over 8 years since I wrote LOVING THE GODDESS WITHIN, and while I no longer myself follow the spiritual path voiced within its pages, I hope you will find and read it. Women in our society often unknowingly cling to Christian restrictions on our bodies, fearing to be bold, to be self-loving, to be as beautiful as you are NOW. Don't let fashion, diet mongers and others rule you. Love the Goddess Within.

Synopsis
This is one of the first books to clearly reveal the secrets of Western sex magick without relying on Tantric theory. It explores the latest scientific discoveries in the field of human sexuality. 55 line illustrations.

The author, DMKraig@mediaone.net , December 13, 1998
I’m excited about being able to share something really new.
Dear friends: You may know me from my book Modern Magick, the fastest-selling book of its type. By the time you read this it will have over 100,000 copies in print.

Since Modern Magick was first published I have concentrated on shorter works. You may have read my articles in magazines, the chapters I’ve written for the Golden Dawn Journal series or the book Ecstacy Through Tantra, through booklets I’ve written or my introductions to books such as Planetary Magick or The Rabbi’s Tarot.

After years...

The publisher, Carl Lleweylln Weschcke , December 6, 1998
Superb Book by Genius Author
This is a superb book by an author of known genius. It examines sexual magick from a nonpartisan, nondenominational viewpoint and eschews the screwball attitudes of many wannabee authors on the subject. It is the only book on the subject to date that treats the material in this manner. Buy it or else!

Customer Reviews

Highly intelligent and practical

Reviewer: alasdairf@yahoo.com from South Africa      November 6, 1999

There are some criticisms which could be made of this book. For example, on the back cover it promises, "Revealed at last - sex magick secrets of the Golden Dawn." There are no secrets, Kraig merely says that maybe the Golden Dawn had sex magick teachings, but there's no conclusive evidence. That aside, the book is quite excellent. The rituals and exercises described are practical and, most importantly, work. Without exception, every practice I have tried from the book has produced results. The articles from the women magicians were highly informative and thought provoking. You will not be able to judge the value of Modern Sex Magick by looking through it or even reading it. Only by practicing the techniques Kraig sets out will you discover the true worth of this book. I don't agree with everything Mr. Kraig has written, but I still recommend the book without reservation to anyone who's interested in actually doing magick and getting results.

A wonderful book on the energies of Magick!!!

Reviewer: Daniel E. Burgess (mburg99@prodigy.net)   from Kentucky,      October 30, 1999

Being a practicer of what some call "High Magick", it was no surprise to me that the focus of this book was on the Highest energies that can be raised! Before i bought this book, and had read much of anything on sex magick, considered the methods of raiseing energy through sex as "Just another Way" of Raiseing it. I thought that the incorperation of sex into magick was just another way of doing the same old thing. However, the levels of energy raised through these rituals is astounding. I have only practiced but two of the Monofocal sex magick rituals, and the energy raised in them was many times that of the Middle pillar ritual, or the watch tower ritual ever was for me. I know, through these rituals that I can increase the level of energy a thousand or even more fold. If you are interested in learning about the energy this is a good book, which describes the channels in wich it naturely flows through your body, and with experimentation, one might even Empower such rituals as the middle pillar and increase the strength of there various soul/mental aspects with the extream amounts of energy. With the formulation of each spere, one might use the monofocal sex magick to "Have the orgasmic energy greatly strengthen the visualization in each instance," which would cause each sphere to be embedded even more strongly in the person then if they just performed it regularly. Kraig gives much room and encourages experementation in this work. I thank him whole heartedly, for my control over the energies are now twice as strong as before, AFTER ONLY 2 RITUALS, performed by myself i might add! I love books about magickal energy and this is a wonderful book on how to raise it. Thank you once agin Donald Michael Kraig, Im sure your teachings will help empower all of those who listen, and take the first step tword self realization and enlightenment!

An Honest Expression of a successfull Artist.

Reviewer: A reader from St. Louis, Missouri, USA      December 11, 1998

Most books on the subject of occultism are filled with theory, philosophy and downright delusions the authors have. The ones that do not have that mostly is reorganized information that has been "borrowed" by another source. And the few that do not have either of those two problems contain misinformation on purpose to blind those who would hurt themselves with such knowledge. An exeption to this rule is the author Donald Michael Kraig. The book contains practical technique that in this readers opinion shows the authors true and succesfull practice of erotic magick. He writes with authority and clarity and charges you to find out for yourself. He even gives information and practices of other occultists that he seems to personally disagree with along with the reason he disagrees. But again he gives you the information so you can find out for yourself. I usually have a problem with authors from the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn because of intentional blinds placed upon their information<Save Donald Michael Kraig and Dion Fortune>. His book seemed to actually be geared to give the magickal student tools in an area loathed to be discussed and filled with confusion. The only reason I give it a four is at times he seemed a bit to cautious with his spiritual disclaimers and he shared some points of view on ALiester Crowley that were very biased in my opinion (Although that did not get in the way of presenting Crowleys techniqes)

A moralizing letdown with little functional information.

Reviewer: the Reverend Rob (reverendrob@realm-of-shade.com)   from Somewhere over the rainbow.      November 14, 1998

If you've discovered much of anything about sex magick during research or exploration, expect to see it repeated here in spades. Basic information is repeated ad nauseum, with little explanation other than "how to" in multiple combinations of partners. At the same time, Kraig successfully strips problems with "morality" in sex magick out of the book, but adds a new level of disgusting white-light fluff about "harm none" and the like into the commentary. Despite attempts to remove the stigmas attached to sex and sex magick, Kraig fills this void with sermonizing on the "moral" nature of magick. By liberating one area, he foists imposed moral judgements on another. The book is further flawed by the fact that it fails to cite references, particularly in notable attempts to claim sex magick as part of traditional Judaism and as official Golden Dawn practice. Ideas are put forth as authorative statements, but rarely backed up by the references necessary to check the sources of them. This doesn't surprise me given it's a Llewellyn book, though. Beyond these problems, it also must be noted that it appears that Kraig has a severe bias against several individuals and magickal orders that come out full-force in the book. He cites Crowley's "invocation of a demon into himself" without references (I assume he's referring to the L. 418 practices with Neuberg), and uses this as an example of how people believe that this marked the beginning of Crowley's "decline." This idea is repeated throughout the book, with nary a positive comment on the man or his works. Similarly, Kraig's treatment of A.O. Spare is brutal and attacks the man for his beliefs, and of all things, his appearance. I don't understand how the book is enhanced by the frequent character assassinations, or how Kraig expects to be taken seriously given the lack of references and obvious slams. This bias pops out full-force when referring to initiatory orders and individuals who "keep secrets", namely the O.T.O. Despite requiring the female authors who assisted in one chapter to "not reveal secrets of any group", Kraig gleefully makes time to hand out what he alleges are "secrets" of the OTO and other organizations, but somehow given the level of dismal scholarship elsewhere, they probably are less than accurate.

Editorial Reviews Amazon.com
Sex, Magick, and Spirit is not a sex manual, but an important evolution in the practice of sacred sexual magic that breaks contemporary western taboos regarding sex as immoral, as it overcomes the gender bias of eastern systems such as Tantra. Balance is the overriding message in Sex, Magick, and Spirit. Balance within the self and between partners; balance physically, with repeated encouragement for commitment, respect, and cooperation; and balance spiritually, through the practice of potent exercises that teach control, development, and sharing of celestial and terrestrial energy flows. While not for timid readers, this is the perfect book for the adventurous reader seeking potent new ways to explore higher consciousness. --Brian Patterson

Synopsis
"Sex, Magic and Spirit" is the first book to discuss the sexual mysteries of Western culture in a way that is revelant to modern times. It is for those who are interested in sacred sexuality but feel alienated by Eastern-based Tantra. Here, readers learn the more advanced and esoteric aspects of sex. Illustrations .

The author, Bonnie L. Johnston (bonfire@full-moon.com) , July 28, 1998
Explore the intersection between sexuality and spirituality.
Sex, Magick and Spirit is about the Western tradition ofsacred sexuality, and how the techniques of sacred sexuality can help you to develop healthier relationships, gain a greater understanding of your own sexual identity, transcend socially-prescribed gender roles, and integrate sexuality into your chosen spiritual path.

This book is based on experiences we have had while studying both Eastern Tantra and Western sex magic, and on our research into the history and mythology of various ancient cultures. You do not need to study Eastern philosophy or religious thought to practice the exercises described in this book. It will not be necessary ...

Customer Reviews

Mythology, sexual archetypes, chakra energy & sexual magick

Reviewer: A reader from San Francisco, CA      October 25, 1999

I had to ask myself, have I fully engulfed the characteristics of the four basic sexual archetypes? And where I haven't, are my missing qualities the qualities I am attracted to in the partner I mate with? This book provided me a good guide for examining myself primarily as a "star" and the "goats" I have been attracted to. I enjoyed the exploration of the energy link to the chakras and how they are influenced during sex. Rather than using the exercises as a guide, quite ironically, I used the information to clarify why emotional release of past traumas had become a common element in a very splendid sexual relationship I was engaged in.

Editorial ReviewsSynopsis
Outlines the art of Tantra, explaining how it can be used to maximize one's true spiritual potential and revealing the secrets to developing sensuality through simple and practical instruction. Original."

From the Publisher, Simon & Schuster

Discover the liberating joys of Spiritual Sex.

It's wondrous, exhilaration, and true: you can use sexual pleasure as a guide to spiritual fulfillment. Not only is the sensual path to personal enlightenment enriching and joyful, but it's delightfully accessible with Tantra, the ancient sexual practice explored and impeccably researched in this lavish volume.

Encyclopedic in scope, Spiritual Sex is the most complete and authoritative guide on Tantra, covering every aspect of the venerable practice—its origins and evolution as the oldest and most natural religion, its history, rites, sects, rituals, magical powers, and its exquisite panoply of Indian and Near Eastern ...

The author, nik douglas - shanker@earthlink.net , July 31, 1997
This important book has 410 pages, 147 illustrations, $20 .
I have done my best to produce a lavish and thorough volume on the history and practices of Tantra through several different cultures culminating in the USA. Many mysterious or controversial spiritual sex topics are openly discussed for the first time. This book includes an extensive Tantra database, bibliography and guide to Tantra on the Web. Release date : August 12th 1997

Customer Reviews

An excellent resource tool to be taken seriously

Reviewer: harrietklausner@worldnet.att.com      September 16, 1997

When most westerners hear the term Tantra, they typically think of Oriental erotic sex using secret rites. In reality (a strange word to use in this context), the Tantra is Sanskrit and means to expand, spread like a universal "cosmic weave". Tantra deals with a spiritual sex that when applied correctly expands the horizon of the individual and subsequently that of society. Nik Douglas, renowned for his previous works on erotica and the Orient, provides the definitive work on the Tantra with this intriguing work. The book provides a historical perspective, but is not limited to just the east or the ancients from which Mr. Douglas affectionately provides information. Instead readers are also guided through the interface of sexuality and spirituality in the Judeo-Christian philosophy, and in other western thought. Mr. Douglas also provides more fresh insight into spiritual sexual topics than this reviewer or her spouse has ever seen in any book, including college social science courses. Finally the book provides a section for those readers who want to delve deeper into this concept with a comprehensive list of other sources. SPIRITUAL SEX - Secrets of Tantra From the Ice Age to the New Millennium is an intriguing nonfiction work that is clearly not for everyone. It is for anyone either interested in the New Age, Oriental philosophy that wants to set their spirit free, or is just plain curious about an intriguing new concept. Not only will they want to read this book, they will find themseves opening their psyches to an radically different but believable mindset. One warning : although sexual topics are graphically pictured and described, this is not a pornographic book. Those looking for a quick thrill, need to turn elsewhere because this nonfiction work is a serious tool designed to enhance the mind and body of the reader. Harriet Klausner

Editorial Reviews
Synopsis
/Charles and Caroline Muir With the fear of AIDS and with couples too tired to tango because of double careers and parenting, sex is losing its luster. This unprecedented book familiarizes readers with physical, spiritual, and emotional methods of achieving ecstasy in love.
Customer Reviews

Think sex is over-rated? This book will change your mind!

Reviewer: A reader from Washington, D.C.      November 30, 1999

I'm a woman, and before I found this book, I thought I just didn't like sex very much. The Muirs changed that, however. Reading their book helped me respect myself, my body, and it helped me understand how men and women are different, but can work together for something that is both natural and pleasurable, but not always 100% intuitive. Just one warning to potential readers. This book may well fire you up to try new things. But don't necessarily expect your partner to go along with it. Instead, read it for yourself, and let him or her find the book and read it alone, without knowing or suspecting it was your idea. Many partners are intimidated by the idea of a sex how-to manual. But this book is much, much more than that. It is truly an introduction to the art of conscious loving.

Required Reading for Couples!

Reviewer: Rhiannon Louve (rieweb@v-town.com) from the Northern Oregon Coast      July 17, 1999

I learned so much about my own sexuality as a woman and what kind of wonders, both physical and spiritual, were possible for myself and my partner. The emphasis is heterosexual and fairly traditional, but even so I think it has amazing things to offer for everyone. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Excellent Book

Reviewer: A reader from Anahiem, CA      November 24, 1998

As a person new to Tantra, I purchased this book in hopes of getting a better understanding of Tantra. I received just that and more. Not only do Charles and Caroline Muir explain Tantra in clear easy to understand language, they take it a step farther and give many examples to make this a truly self help book. I would recommend this book to every couple looking to take their relationship to the highest attainable level. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Absolutely AMAZING BOOK!!!

Reviewer: peaceland@earthlink.net from Los Angeles      September 2, 1998

I atteneded their seminar recently and bought this book, and the book is nearly as awesome as the seminar... talk about a revolution in your love/sex life!!!??? Meeting the authors in person is much better if you can, but the book does an EXCELLENT job of communicating the spirit and practices of this MOST WONDERFUL practice!!!

Customer Reviews

A reliable and practical book on genuine sex magic.

Reviewer: A.Pert@library .usyd.edu.au      October 26, 1997

The author is a leading occult writer and practitioner, from the esoteric group The Servants of the Light.Part 1 of this book looks at how sex was inseparable from religion in the ancient world and generally seen in a positive light.Then Christianity put a curse on the flesh and perverted the expression of the sex instinct.Part 2 outlines practices and advice for the rituals to come.Dolores emphasises that the book is for committed partners,not for those who just want to fool around.Part 3: the rituals are based on the Tree of Life from the qabalah.Each sephiroth or sphere/realm has its particular ritual and pathworking.In Malkuth or the Earth realm the man becomes Pan and the woman Syrinxe his priestess.In Netzach or Venus the man is Merlin and the woman is Nimue.This is advanced magic and not for the beginner. --This text refers to the UNKNOWN BINDING edition.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description
With more than 200 vivid illustrations, here is the complete guide to tantric lovemaking.

For the first time, Kenneth Ray Stubbs brings together the books of his beloved "Secret Garden Trilogy"--Tantric Massage, Sensual Ceremony, and Sacred Orgasms--into one complete volume. In this three-in-one book, couples will find the broadest range of creative ideas and resources available in any Tantric guide.

The author, Kenneth Ray Stubbs , October 7, 1999
Three former books in One
Written prior to publication:

This new book is three books now in one plus additional writings: Tantric Massage, Sensual Ceremony, and an expanded edition of Sacred Orgasms. All three of the original editions are now out of print. I will be writing more when the new version is released.

Thanks, Ray

About the Author
Kenneth Ray Stubbs is the author of Erotic Massage and Secret Sexual Positions. His self-published sexual guides have sold more than a half-million copies.