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Apocalyptic Witchcraft
Apocalyptic Witchcraft gives a compelling and profound account of the Sabbat and Wild Hunt as living experiences. These are the core of our ritual practice. Dream, lunar and, critically, menstrual magic are explored as a path to this knowledge. The wolf, the Devil, and the Goddess of witchcraft are then encountered in a landscape that ultimately reveals the witch to her or himself. These are not separate threads, but arise from a deep mythic structure and are woven together into a single unifying vision. Alternating between polemic, poetic and ecstatic prose, an harmonious course is revealed in a sequence of elegant stratagems. The book is threaded together with a cycle of hymns to Inanna, pearls on the tapestry of night. Seemingly disparate aspects are joined into a vision which is neither afraid of blessing nor curse. This is a daring undertaking, born from both urgency and need. It offers a renewed sense of purpose and meaning for a witchcraft that has seen many of its treasured ideas about itself destroyed. An apocalyptic age demands an Apocalyptic Witchcraft, and this is a book which is offered up to revolutionise the body of the craft, a way out of the dark impasse.
182 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
97 people are currently reading
1,116 people want to read
About the author
Peter Grey
52 books100 followersPeter Grey is the co-founder of Scarlet Imprint with Alkistis Dimech. He is a devotee of Babalon and the author of The Red Goddess, which has become the standard work on the Goddess of Revelation. A deliberately provocative telling of her story, this has become essential reading for many.
His controversial Apocalyptic Witchcraft has been called the most important modern book on Witchcraft, placing it in the context of the Sabbat and in a landscape suffering climate and ecological collapse. It stands in the tradition of the work done by Peter Redgrove, Ted Hughes and Robert Graves. His latest work is Lucifer: Princeps, a study of the origins of the figure of Lucifer. Further essays can be found in Howlings, Devoted, At the Crossroads and XVI. His work has also appeared in numerous small journals and collections, such as The Fenris Wolf, as well as online, though most of his work is now published through Scarlet Imprint.
Peter Grey has spoken at public events and conferences in England, Scotland, Norway and the United States as well as closed gatherings. These have included Occulture, the Occult Conference in Glastonbury, Treadwell’s Bookshop, the Esoteric Book Conference in Seattle, Here to Go in Norway, and many Pagan Federation events. A long term supporter of the Museum of Witchcraft in his native Cornwall, his work on the Witches’ Sabbat was first given at the annual Friends of the Museum gathering.
His controversial Apocalyptic Witchcraft has been called the most important modern book on Witchcraft, placing it in the context of the Sabbat and in a landscape suffering climate and ecological collapse. It stands in the tradition of the work done by Peter Redgrove, Ted Hughes and Robert Graves. His latest work is Lucifer: Princeps, a study of the origins of the figure of Lucifer. Further essays can be found in Howlings, Devoted, At the Crossroads and XVI. His work has also appeared in numerous small journals and collections, such as The Fenris Wolf, as well as online, though most of his work is now published through Scarlet Imprint.
Peter Grey has spoken at public events and conferences in England, Scotland, Norway and the United States as well as closed gatherings. These have included Occulture, the Occult Conference in Glastonbury, Treadwell’s Bookshop, the Esoteric Book Conference in Seattle, Here to Go in Norway, and many Pagan Federation events. A long term supporter of the Museum of Witchcraft in his native Cornwall, his work on the Witches’ Sabbat was first given at the annual Friends of the Museum gathering.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 10, 2019
I did not finish this one because within the first 20 pages, Grey compared the radicality of Witches to the radicality of Tupac, describing him as an “n-word thug” railing against the racism of the American system. I’m quite disappointed in Peter Grey who decided that he would unambiguously evoke a violent slur that would risk alienating his audience because there is no way around the fact that many Black folks really don’t want to see that word casually thrown around and wholly uncontextualized to describe us. And we have made this quite clear over decades. Further that the editors of Scarlet Imprint didn’t think that if they were going to let it slide that it shouldn’t have been further contextualized and not just a slur casually thrown around. Probably has something to do with the fact that Peter Grey is the founder, which unfortunately makes it feel that he must be above reproach at his imprint, when clearly he needed to be informed that this was a problematic choice.
I got this to read as I’m planning a performance about witchcraft and environmentalism. It was a recommendation from a store that I thought I respected but this has really spoiled that relationship, as so far I have seen no critical engagement from the larger pagan community with the text or Grey about what is just casual slur usage for the sake of a point. Black people’s trauma is not just a prop for being utilized to spice up your argument.
I’ve seen several witches talk about their love for this book without so much as a comment about how the first 10 minutes of reading we are presented with this.
We need to do better witches. We need to do better. This goes for any and everybody, but especially a community that is involving itself in so called “activism.” That unfortunately rings hollow when we don’t hold our members accountable for violence that is the foundation of the things we claim to be hexing the patriarchy for.
I got this to read as I’m planning a performance about witchcraft and environmentalism. It was a recommendation from a store that I thought I respected but this has really spoiled that relationship, as so far I have seen no critical engagement from the larger pagan community with the text or Grey about what is just casual slur usage for the sake of a point. Black people’s trauma is not just a prop for being utilized to spice up your argument.
I’ve seen several witches talk about their love for this book without so much as a comment about how the first 10 minutes of reading we are presented with this.
We need to do better witches. We need to do better. This goes for any and everybody, but especially a community that is involving itself in so called “activism.” That unfortunately rings hollow when we don’t hold our members accountable for violence that is the foundation of the things we claim to be hexing the patriarchy for.
January 16, 2020
Grammatical errors, inane use of words that used to be Hebrew before the author got his hands on them, florid prose that made me laugh out loud about once per page... I mean these are all serious issues, but kind of par for the course when it comes to manifestos written by young, able-bodied white men who perceive themselves to be violently persecuted by the guitar-strumming female pastor/divorcee at the neighbourhood church.
There's also a great moment where he humblebrags about not calling himself the king of the witches. ("Unless?")
But there are more foundational problems. The author's vision of witchcraft is in fact borrowed entirely from Christianity. He explicitly states that witchcraft is and ought to be as the nastiest Christians in history have defined it. The institutions of witchcraft which he prizes in the book also do not come from actual witches, but from inquisitors imposing a role on outsiders to serve the needs of the Church.
I want to take a moment to underline that point. The fantasy of the blood-drinking, Satan-screwing witch is one that fundamentalist Christianity invented because IT NEEDS IT. Playing up to this delusion is continuing to serve those needs and strengthen that energy. For more information on the historical reality of inquisitors inventing this style of witchcraft, I recommend The Night Battles: Witchcraft & Agrarian Cults in the Sixteenth & Seventeenth Centuries.
Additionally, cribbing from Christian masculininities has caused the author a serious failure of spiritual imagination. Just as one example, the divine feminine is repeatedly imagined as a BJ-dispensing "whore." Noice, bro!
The author's use of a racial slur to describe Tupac ("see, I know about hip hop!") is the real shit cherry on top of this shit sundae.
Real witches look elsewhere. Maybe here: Magic of the Northgate
There's also a great moment where he humblebrags about not calling himself the king of the witches. ("Unless?")
But there are more foundational problems. The author's vision of witchcraft is in fact borrowed entirely from Christianity. He explicitly states that witchcraft is and ought to be as the nastiest Christians in history have defined it. The institutions of witchcraft which he prizes in the book also do not come from actual witches, but from inquisitors imposing a role on outsiders to serve the needs of the Church.
I want to take a moment to underline that point. The fantasy of the blood-drinking, Satan-screwing witch is one that fundamentalist Christianity invented because IT NEEDS IT. Playing up to this delusion is continuing to serve those needs and strengthen that energy. For more information on the historical reality of inquisitors inventing this style of witchcraft, I recommend The Night Battles: Witchcraft & Agrarian Cults in the Sixteenth & Seventeenth Centuries.
Additionally, cribbing from Christian masculininities has caused the author a serious failure of spiritual imagination. Just as one example, the divine feminine is repeatedly imagined as a BJ-dispensing "whore." Noice, bro!
The author's use of a racial slur to describe Tupac ("see, I know about hip hop!") is the real shit cherry on top of this shit sundae.
Real witches look elsewhere. Maybe here: Magic of the Northgate
July 13, 2020
It takes some pretty big balls to center a book on witchcraft around the work of known abuser Ted Hughes, but I guess inspiring speculation about the size of his balls was probably Grey's motivation in the first place.
I know a lot of people really love this book, and I agree that it makes some very insightful points, but the gems are thoroughly embedded in comically overwrought and pretentious prose, and encrusted with archaic attitudes towards sex and women masquerading as empowerment.
I have grown very weary of reading white men's tone deaf edgelord opinions on witchcraft and seeing them praised for their faux wokeness.
I know a lot of people really love this book, and I agree that it makes some very insightful points, but the gems are thoroughly embedded in comically overwrought and pretentious prose, and encrusted with archaic attitudes towards sex and women masquerading as empowerment.
I have grown very weary of reading white men's tone deaf edgelord opinions on witchcraft and seeing them praised for their faux wokeness.
May 26, 2020
Wow. So this was pompous. I hope there are those who appreciate the neverending, endless, infinite, boundless, eternal stringing together of synonyms, adjectives and adverbs in one sentence. Kinda like I just ironically did, because this writing style is not cute!
DNF but truly, if I want to read about witchcraft, I don't want to read something that reads like pseudo-witchy philosophy on acid.
DNF but truly, if I want to read about witchcraft, I don't want to read something that reads like pseudo-witchy philosophy on acid.
July 19, 2021
Yikes. I don’t even know where to begin with how problematic this book is. I purchased an e-book copy of this book upon a recommendation from a fellow witch I respect. I am so glad I paid so little for the e-book because I regret any money I spent on it.
Firstly, racism. This has been addressed by other reviewers here as it occurs in Grey’s book. I’d like to add that in no uncertain terms is it ever okay for any White person to use or refer to a Black person with the n-word, no matter the context. White people are inherently racist by virtue of the western society we live in. We do not get to use ableist, racist words or determine that the context in which these words are used makes it okay for us to use them. Peter Grey’s use of the word in any regard is abhorrent and completely inexcusable.
Next, the “Let’s Save England” rally cry that occurs at least twice in the book is a disturbing and it’s a subtle indication that this text is very much written from a perspective of unrecognized White privilege that also supports racist perspectives. (This is especially relevant in terms of how one of the very few persons of colour quoted in the text has his name misspelled by Grey.) This call to save England is both misplaced and really out of context - why the heck is this even in the book?
Then there is the statement that Grey isn’t a misogynist despite the rather unsettling interest in using women’s menstrual blood in magic (as someone who identifies as female, reading about Grey’s belief about the importance of menstrual blood in magic is a bit creepy). It felt a bit like mansplaining and it felt icky. There are undertones of misogyny throughout the book, and this is particularly obvious in how many White cis-gendered male poets Grey refers to in the text. Yes, he does refer to and quote Emma Wilby and Margaret Murray, but overall reference to works by women are largely absent.
When you co-own the press that published this very overpriced book, it’s also rather convenient to dismiss views that don’t agree with the views in the book and avoid being accountable for what you’ve put into the world. Grey pretty much says as much, which is another example of the White privilege he doesn’t seem to want to recognize.
Lastly, Grey begins the book in the Exordium with the statement that “I have avoided archaic sounding language, ermine-trimmed as it often is with unfounded claims.” This is interesting given that much of the text reads as disjointed due to the flowery and prosaic words and imagery. It is in no way poetic despite Grey’s intentions. Instead, the text reads at times as academic-like and artsy, using complicated words that make the text largely unrelatable. (And I say this as someone with two post-secondary English Literature degrees who is very familiar with the sometimes pompous writings of academia.)
Now, there were certainly a few things I did agree with in the book despite its major flaws. I absolutely agree with Grey’s perspectives on capitalism and consumption and how social media and the phones we all have in our pockets are hugely problematic. I also found his manifesto interesting and can certainly align myself with some aspects of it.
Overall, I wanted to get back the time I spent reading this book. It didn’t prove to be much of a useful springboard for thought about my own practice and perspectives about witchcraft (and I do mean witchcraft and not Wicca or paganism). It seems like a very self-serving creation that from the start displays an unsettling misogynistic White heteronormativity alongside a thinly veiled White supremacist colonizer attitude.
Firstly, racism. This has been addressed by other reviewers here as it occurs in Grey’s book. I’d like to add that in no uncertain terms is it ever okay for any White person to use or refer to a Black person with the n-word, no matter the context. White people are inherently racist by virtue of the western society we live in. We do not get to use ableist, racist words or determine that the context in which these words are used makes it okay for us to use them. Peter Grey’s use of the word in any regard is abhorrent and completely inexcusable.
Next, the “Let’s Save England” rally cry that occurs at least twice in the book is a disturbing and it’s a subtle indication that this text is very much written from a perspective of unrecognized White privilege that also supports racist perspectives. (This is especially relevant in terms of how one of the very few persons of colour quoted in the text has his name misspelled by Grey.) This call to save England is both misplaced and really out of context - why the heck is this even in the book?
Then there is the statement that Grey isn’t a misogynist despite the rather unsettling interest in using women’s menstrual blood in magic (as someone who identifies as female, reading about Grey’s belief about the importance of menstrual blood in magic is a bit creepy). It felt a bit like mansplaining and it felt icky. There are undertones of misogyny throughout the book, and this is particularly obvious in how many White cis-gendered male poets Grey refers to in the text. Yes, he does refer to and quote Emma Wilby and Margaret Murray, but overall reference to works by women are largely absent.
When you co-own the press that published this very overpriced book, it’s also rather convenient to dismiss views that don’t agree with the views in the book and avoid being accountable for what you’ve put into the world. Grey pretty much says as much, which is another example of the White privilege he doesn’t seem to want to recognize.
Lastly, Grey begins the book in the Exordium with the statement that “I have avoided archaic sounding language, ermine-trimmed as it often is with unfounded claims.” This is interesting given that much of the text reads as disjointed due to the flowery and prosaic words and imagery. It is in no way poetic despite Grey’s intentions. Instead, the text reads at times as academic-like and artsy, using complicated words that make the text largely unrelatable. (And I say this as someone with two post-secondary English Literature degrees who is very familiar with the sometimes pompous writings of academia.)
Now, there were certainly a few things I did agree with in the book despite its major flaws. I absolutely agree with Grey’s perspectives on capitalism and consumption and how social media and the phones we all have in our pockets are hugely problematic. I also found his manifesto interesting and can certainly align myself with some aspects of it.
Overall, I wanted to get back the time I spent reading this book. It didn’t prove to be much of a useful springboard for thought about my own practice and perspectives about witchcraft (and I do mean witchcraft and not Wicca or paganism). It seems like a very self-serving creation that from the start displays an unsettling misogynistic White heteronormativity alongside a thinly veiled White supremacist colonizer attitude.
August 8, 2021
This book, whilst being something that needs slow digesting, is very poetic, but is also not without punch. It discusses mythology, history, nature and man and how we are linked through this Apocalyptic Witchcraft,threaded with references to the goddess Inanna, in an Age where the Apocalypse itself has inexorably begun, with some asleep, without noticing. It touches on how out of touch we all are as a Species when it comes to what is happening to Nature, which in turn, is a reflection of ourselves and how to reclaim what we have so obviously lost or deliberately hidden.
August 4, 2018
Impassioned is the call for nature. This is no spellbook or pie in the sky philosophy. Rather it is a call for Magical action to defend nature. Right now corpoarate greed is shrinking our forests, polluting our water, and wiping out animal life.this is not the time to shrink into our own little fantasy world it is time for action and that is what the path of the witch is about.
Corporate greed is taking over nature and it also taking over our mind. They tell us what we should be dreaming and thinking about. We have to take back nature and we must reclaim our mind. The Shabbat takes place in dreams and it occurs in the physical realm. Both must be protected.
Witchcraft is the set of relations between menstrual blood, the moon and nature. The Sabbat has been sanitized to make it more palatable but this only serves the interests of the enemy. Neon pagans gorge themselves on THe fluffiness. The sabbat and the wild hunt were savage bloody affairs. Time to stop living in denial. Witches pray to the goddess and her consort the devil. The devil was recourse for the powerless peasant against thr corrupt church and the tyrannical rich.
The wolf is the hunter, the one who balances the population by killing off the weak stragglers. The hunt initiates men into male mysteries with rituals and donning the wolf skins. This book is a call to the witch from the depths of the forest.
Corporate greed is taking over nature and it also taking over our mind. They tell us what we should be dreaming and thinking about. We have to take back nature and we must reclaim our mind. The Shabbat takes place in dreams and it occurs in the physical realm. Both must be protected.
Witchcraft is the set of relations between menstrual blood, the moon and nature. The Sabbat has been sanitized to make it more palatable but this only serves the interests of the enemy. Neon pagans gorge themselves on THe fluffiness. The sabbat and the wild hunt were savage bloody affairs. Time to stop living in denial. Witches pray to the goddess and her consort the devil. The devil was recourse for the powerless peasant against thr corrupt church and the tyrannical rich.
The wolf is the hunter, the one who balances the population by killing off the weak stragglers. The hunt initiates men into male mysteries with rituals and donning the wolf skins. This book is a call to the witch from the depths of the forest.
September 7, 2016
A very engaging look on what it means to be a practicing witch in the modern age. Peter Grey draws from many different sources for inspiration (which you can see for yourself in the Select Bibliography included at the end). And it is Grey's wide sense of inspiration that helps imbue the text with relevance. Although not as revolutionary as I was led to believe, there is still a lot of food for thought contained within. Each chapter seems devoted to dissecting an idea or concept associated with witchcraft. Chapter subjects range from such things as The Witches Sabbath, Lycanthropy, The Goddess, and even Satan himself. Each chapter traces the possible origin(s) of the symbol, how it has changed over time, and how it fits into our modern times. Mind you, this is not a history of these concepts as such. More of an examination on why they are strongly associated to witchcraft and how we can use it to our advantage now. This book is definitely aimed at the self-identified witch. It urges one to get out of the armchair and engage in the world. For you see, all the essays that make up each chapters are supposed to coalesce into the big picture... Which is for witches everywhere to get up and do something. Peter Grey sees the world being raped by capitalism and greed, all at the expense of the environment. The environment and nature, Grey argues, is the source of magick and witchcraft. It is up to us to defend our allies, and this book is a clear call to arms.
March 24, 2014
this book is well written and weaves myth, history, and ritual into a rich story with many threads. it has some really beautiful moments, but a lot of it wasn't really my thing.
the excellent premise that we depend on the earth, magic arises from specific land bases, and we therefore must defend the last bits of intact-ish land from being destroyed by industrial capitalism, while i absolutely agree, did not blow my mind or make up for the long sections about menstruation, the hunt, ted hughes, and the goddess which i had trouble getting into. but if those kinds of things are your jam, you will love this book.
in general, the fierce and anti-authoritarian tone of this book is appreciated.
the excellent premise that we depend on the earth, magic arises from specific land bases, and we therefore must defend the last bits of intact-ish land from being destroyed by industrial capitalism, while i absolutely agree, did not blow my mind or make up for the long sections about menstruation, the hunt, ted hughes, and the goddess which i had trouble getting into. but if those kinds of things are your jam, you will love this book.
in general, the fierce and anti-authoritarian tone of this book is appreciated.
December 12, 2021
I just can't with him using the n-word so cavalierly as a white man. Like really?! You don't get to use that word, my man.
October 18, 2018
We need witches now more than ever.
November 8, 2024
quando li adolescente lembro da sensação de amar muito esse livro, agora adulta lendo a tradução para o português simplesmente odiei. tirando algumas frases forçadas mas que carregam consigo certa beleza pela temática, é um livro presunçoso, machista, racista e cheio de afirmações estapafúrdias. agora vou ter que reler vários favoritos pra ver se é isso mesmo ou foi delírio febril da puberdade.
December 23, 2013
When I first got this book I was hoping it was a continuation of things that were explored in The Red Goddess, in a sense it touched on some of it but overall it goes on to other things. My first impressions when I started reading it, particularly when I came to the manifesto, was how much it seemed like I was reading Anton Laveys Satanic Bible back when I was a kid. Not a bad thing at all because it is forceful in its presentation and it makes you think. The whole book makes you think, about your purpose, your connection to the world, where you are going, and how to get to the end goal. I agree with many of his sentiments about witchcraft and have stated many of the same things for years too. I have slowly over the years came to some of the same conclusions concerning our needed connection to the natural world around us and our need to fight to preserve it. I havent gotten to the full fledged eco terrorist level yet though, lol !! It is a good book though to have on the shelf and to definitely reread in the near future.
November 4, 2018
A verdade é que, como poeta, Peter Grey é um excelente black bloc. Eu não exatamente gosto da aura ~poética~que ele tenta dar ao texto (e falha de um jeito meio constrangedor).
Mas.
Eu estou muito interessada nas implicações entre magia, política, ativismo e movimentos sociais. A parte histórica também é bem boa. Mas o manifesto da bruxaria apocalíptica é, de longe, a melhor coisa do livro.
"Witchcraft is the recourse of the dispossessed, the powerless, the hungry and the abused. It gives heart and tongue to stones and trees. It wears the rough skin of beasts. It turns on a civilization that knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
If you have no price you cannot be bought. If you do not want you cannot be bribed. If you are not frightened you cannot be controlled.
Witchcraft is folk magic, the magic of the people and for the people."
Mas.
Eu estou muito interessada nas implicações entre magia, política, ativismo e movimentos sociais. A parte histórica também é bem boa. Mas o manifesto da bruxaria apocalíptica é, de longe, a melhor coisa do livro.
"Witchcraft is the recourse of the dispossessed, the powerless, the hungry and the abused. It gives heart and tongue to stones and trees. It wears the rough skin of beasts. It turns on a civilization that knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
If you have no price you cannot be bought. If you do not want you cannot be bribed. If you are not frightened you cannot be controlled.
Witchcraft is folk magic, the magic of the people and for the people."
May 27, 2022
A racial slur, really? DNF. Also, this entire concept of witchcraft seems to be borrowed from Christianity, defined not even against but gleefully within Christian reactionary fear-mongering, with no thought of the existence of witchcraft outside of the Church’s vision. This book/approach isn’t radical at all, but rather narcissistic and derivative. Grey, it would appear, loves the idea of witches as cis women who sexually service Satan, which is trite and tired. The best words in this book are my own, which I don’t even remember writing but are in my handwriting, probably just a thought I had when I first bought it.
June 30, 2016
Or perhaps 3 and a half. It's not life changing and not half as original as it thinks it is but it's a welcome antidote to "fluffier" writers. Genuinely inspiration sections are followed by slightly toe-curling passages and vice versa. The chapter on Ted Hughes, however, is wholly excellent and sets a benchmark in balancing polemic and attentive, visionary reading that I wish the rest of the book could have matched. A curate's (witch's?) egg, then.
November 8, 2020
É um bom livro, até um pouco denso pela prosa rebuscada "poética"e semi acadêmica do autor (que não parece ter funcionado muito bem), mas muitíssimo interessante e relevante no que se trata o manifesto, me inspirou a entrar mais e mais de cabeça na natureza primitiva dentro de mim.
May 23, 2020
Yes and No
It has some truly interesting ideas couched in often obscure language, run-on sentences, and spelling errors. There is a lot of hand waving going on.
It has some truly interesting ideas couched in often obscure language, run-on sentences, and spelling errors. There is a lot of hand waving going on.
March 5, 2024
Some interesting ideas/passages, but it's mostly stupid and meandering drivel. The dropping of the n-word in the first ~15 pages re: Tupac was not great either lol
September 11, 2024
problematic book with issues other reviewers have dutifully covered. sus grammar, poor word choices, racial slur, menstruation, trace elements of british colonialist imperialism, the church, with a heap of suburban whiteboi edgelordism.
i think Peter brings up these issues with the intent of putting them to rest, but, does that poorly. it also raises the question... for Peter, is witchcraft a cloak of persecution he can wear?
it might not be the intent, but if we judged people solely on their intent, we wouldn't have much reason to complain about the church would we?
no matter how belittling the 'churchiverse' is toward Peter and his cloak of witchcraft, he will never endure, in this lifetime, the injustices that women and BIPOC community have to. their injustice is not a historic talking point, but a daily reality.
he might find the monster facing his allies staring back at him in the mirror.
if Peter had stuck with a poetic rallying cry for environmentalism to rise up against late stage capitalism, that would have been beautiful. he definitely didn't need to reduce practicing witches to "war and love" - for all the 10 dollar words, why suddenly run out of vocabulary when assigning new labels? seeking to avoid debating who the real witches are, but ends up having the opposite effect by repeatedly firing little cheap shots.
others have complained about the way it is written, but i found the way it was written to be quite pretty and enjoyable. to remove all the polemic and focus on the lucid poetry would have been a real bonus to this book and cut it down by 50%. "bring the nightmare to them" is an amazing concept, but framed so poorly and out of touch that it's just embarrassing and offensively ignorant given the academic ability of the author (he knows better, but chose to flex privilege rather than compassion).
you cannot read this book and be unaware that the language used by Peter to describe Tupac will be felt as an act of violence agains Black people. for no good purpose it's just sheer laziness. I don't see how a single Black person could feel empowered by what he has to say. that's the poison of old empire at work. then the inevitable cringelords trying to argue down the criticism 'that's not what he meant!' poisoned as well.
these issues sting more because through all of that, there is some good here. i expected more.
despite its flaws, the book hits pay dirt in the final chapter, where it's finally over christianity (on which Peter seems helplessly dependent, but that seems honest, many western white people carry with us a large amount of culturally christian morality, to deny it is to lie to yourself), menstrual blood magic (edgelordism), howling at the moon naked (over simplification for brevity, but one of the nicer parts of the book), and provides a clear unambiguous goal for witches (seek out the life around you and dance).
i like the general overriding message presented in the final chapter and the emotional catharsis and galvanizing effect it had on me, there is quite a lot about this book that i love (+5 stars). but i had to suspend a lot of judgement and betray my allies to get there (-3 stars).
Peter, and the white male witches defending him. take a cultural safety course. no magic will cure you of the poison of ignorance.
i think Peter brings up these issues with the intent of putting them to rest, but, does that poorly. it also raises the question... for Peter, is witchcraft a cloak of persecution he can wear?
it might not be the intent, but if we judged people solely on their intent, we wouldn't have much reason to complain about the church would we?
no matter how belittling the 'churchiverse' is toward Peter and his cloak of witchcraft, he will never endure, in this lifetime, the injustices that women and BIPOC community have to. their injustice is not a historic talking point, but a daily reality.
he might find the monster facing his allies staring back at him in the mirror.
if Peter had stuck with a poetic rallying cry for environmentalism to rise up against late stage capitalism, that would have been beautiful. he definitely didn't need to reduce practicing witches to "war and love" - for all the 10 dollar words, why suddenly run out of vocabulary when assigning new labels? seeking to avoid debating who the real witches are, but ends up having the opposite effect by repeatedly firing little cheap shots.
others have complained about the way it is written, but i found the way it was written to be quite pretty and enjoyable. to remove all the polemic and focus on the lucid poetry would have been a real bonus to this book and cut it down by 50%. "bring the nightmare to them" is an amazing concept, but framed so poorly and out of touch that it's just embarrassing and offensively ignorant given the academic ability of the author (he knows better, but chose to flex privilege rather than compassion).
you cannot read this book and be unaware that the language used by Peter to describe Tupac will be felt as an act of violence agains Black people. for no good purpose it's just sheer laziness. I don't see how a single Black person could feel empowered by what he has to say. that's the poison of old empire at work. then the inevitable cringelords trying to argue down the criticism 'that's not what he meant!' poisoned as well.
these issues sting more because through all of that, there is some good here. i expected more.
despite its flaws, the book hits pay dirt in the final chapter, where it's finally over christianity (on which Peter seems helplessly dependent, but that seems honest, many western white people carry with us a large amount of culturally christian morality, to deny it is to lie to yourself), menstrual blood magic (edgelordism), howling at the moon naked (over simplification for brevity, but one of the nicer parts of the book), and provides a clear unambiguous goal for witches (seek out the life around you and dance).
i like the general overriding message presented in the final chapter and the emotional catharsis and galvanizing effect it had on me, there is quite a lot about this book that i love (+5 stars). but i had to suspend a lot of judgement and betray my allies to get there (-3 stars).
Peter, and the white male witches defending him. take a cultural safety course. no magic will cure you of the poison of ignorance.
October 20, 2024
A soulful, heartfelt, and inflamed call to arms for all those who identify as witches to emerge from the shadows and embrace their power. It urges us to return to our humanity and makes a strong case for witchcraft as the most sure method to achieve this. As our civilisation crumbles and burns around us, we, as witches, must set our sights to rebuilding from the rubble a world in tune with nature, magick, and our common diversity as as a species.
Although I did really enjoy the unbridled free-flowing style of writing here, I did find myself tuning out near the end of the book and felt that the author really hammered home the point maybe a few too many times. Although it's already a fairly short work, I can't help but think it would've been a bit more impactful if it were even shorter.
Furthermore, some of the problematic language being employed here does need to be called out. While I do have the ability to recognise the use of certain words and terms to make an impactful statement, Grey's descriptions of Tupac Shukur and a notion that 'queerness should not be deified' left a pretty bad taste in my mouth. Coupled with the recent misguided transphobic remarks on social media from the publisher, these bizarrely privileged edgelord perspectives don't bode well. And just to be clear, this isn't me virtue signalling and jumping on keyboard warrior bandwagons - I still enjoyed this book overall and do recommend it. I just wish the author had of thought a little harder and perhaps with the vital humanity that he's calling on us to all embody.
Nevertheless, I did find it a very empowering and inspiring read. Recommended for any witchy folk our there who need some fiery encouragement to get through this seemingly apocalyptic era in human history.
Although I did really enjoy the unbridled free-flowing style of writing here, I did find myself tuning out near the end of the book and felt that the author really hammered home the point maybe a few too many times. Although it's already a fairly short work, I can't help but think it would've been a bit more impactful if it were even shorter.
Furthermore, some of the problematic language being employed here does need to be called out. While I do have the ability to recognise the use of certain words and terms to make an impactful statement, Grey's descriptions of Tupac Shukur and a notion that 'queerness should not be deified' left a pretty bad taste in my mouth. Coupled with the recent misguided transphobic remarks on social media from the publisher, these bizarrely privileged edgelord perspectives don't bode well. And just to be clear, this isn't me virtue signalling and jumping on keyboard warrior bandwagons - I still enjoyed this book overall and do recommend it. I just wish the author had of thought a little harder and perhaps with the vital humanity that he's calling on us to all embody.
Nevertheless, I did find it a very empowering and inspiring read. Recommended for any witchy folk our there who need some fiery encouragement to get through this seemingly apocalyptic era in human history.
August 21, 2018
Poetic Witchcraft. “The Wild Hunt as living experience". This is a war manual for these troubled times. This books is getting into a mindset and establishing a mood. Play suitable music while listening. Even if you are perhaps too "rationale" this take it fully--it's still an headspace once should try and enter every once and a while.
2016 was shit for many people and some of us see this as the end times. Witchcraft and magick was typically a tool that gave power to those oppressed. 'If the land is poisoned, the witchcraft must respond.'
The enemy is many things, the Patriarchy, Corporate Fascism, our cleft from nature. This book is a manfiesto, rant and smiting against these foes and milder/New Age version of Witchcraft.
As Warren Ellis says--"Extinction Symbol. Dark Extropianism. Apocalyptic Witchcraft. Dark Mountain. Uncivilisation. In The Dust Of This Planet. Health Goth. Accelerationism. After Nature/Dark Ecology/Ecognosis. Early signals: The New Nihilism, Speculative Realism, Neoreaction, Occulture. Cusp: Toxic Internet. Post-Westphalian."
2016 was shit for many people and some of us see this as the end times. Witchcraft and magick was typically a tool that gave power to those oppressed. 'If the land is poisoned, the witchcraft must respond.'
The enemy is many things, the Patriarchy, Corporate Fascism, our cleft from nature. This book is a manfiesto, rant and smiting against these foes and milder/New Age version of Witchcraft.
As Warren Ellis says--"Extinction Symbol. Dark Extropianism. Apocalyptic Witchcraft. Dark Mountain. Uncivilisation. In The Dust Of This Planet. Health Goth. Accelerationism. After Nature/Dark Ecology/Ecognosis. Early signals: The New Nihilism, Speculative Realism, Neoreaction, Occulture. Cusp: Toxic Internet. Post-Westphalian."
June 21, 2018
The bookending chapters are both more manifesto than anything & they are brilliant. The middle passages have their worts, as others have mentioned; I may delve into them in other forums, but really what would a book of witchcraft be without some anomalies of the flesh? Anyway, while I often found myself outside of the intended audience (or am I a weird inversion of it?), the fact is that I'm happy as hell to know this will be the handbook of the next generation of witches. So just read it already and let it work its magic...
November 3, 2021
A call to action
I've clung to every word and will do so again and again. This book should be required reading for all who would venture into the self mastery of witchcraft. Before Buckland or Ferrar or Starhawk or any of the current hot tickets on the market...THIS should be studied.
Answer the call, witches. We ride at dark.
I've clung to every word and will do so again and again. This book should be required reading for all who would venture into the self mastery of witchcraft. Before Buckland or Ferrar or Starhawk or any of the current hot tickets on the market...THIS should be studied.
Answer the call, witches. We ride at dark.
January 27, 2018
Apocalyptic Witchcraft is a superb piece of work with its look at history and how that history pertains to modern witchcraft. I honestly feel this should be required reading for those interested in, or involved with, modern witchcraft. Definitely check this one out.
November 30, 2019
this book is unreal, connects anarchy to political fire to witchcraft. plus the typesetting is stunning. perhaps my top book in 2019. i read this in like 4 sittings in a cabin by a lake. you're gonna love it.
June 15, 2021
A fascinatingly political take on witchcraft. I do not know that I full agree with Grey’s arguments and his writing style is a bit tough to digest at first. That said this is still well worth reading.
July 12, 2017
Timeless.
May 14, 2019
A game changing book for magick practitioners
January 30, 2020
Love this series of books by Peter grey. Very inspirational.
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