The legendary Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) is a tantalising and bizarre subject. As an occult leader, heroin addict, sexual adventurer, misogynist, and visionary, he is the inspiration for many vile Gothic protagonists. Author W. Somerset Maugham even devoted a novel, The Magician to this chilling figure of indulgence and religious mockery. Like any good biographer, Lawrence Sutin set out to discover the man behind the myth. After considerable research, Sutin admits that Crowley was "a shameless scoffer at Christian virtue" and "a spoiled scion of a wealthy Victorian family" but he also sees him as a 20th century figure as "protean, brilliant, courageous, and flabbergasting as ever you could imagine".

Consider these facts about the man who named himself "The Great Beast": he was one of the first Westerners to seriously study Buddhism and Yoga. He radically redesigned the traditional Tarot deck (thus the "Crowley deck"). Contrary to common belief, he was never known to participate in satanic ritual--to do so would acknowledge the Christian church, which he was loathe to do (although he nicknamed his son "The Christ Child"). These are but a few of the surprising morsels one can glean from this excellent biography. Don't expect to find Crowley a likeable figure. Do, however, expect to meet a flamboyant man who challenged all forms of religious, sexual, and social oppression and hence became a revered visionary and a reviled demon. --Tara West

Kether on the biog tree of life!, 30 Sep 2003
Having read nine other biographies of A.C. I consider this to be in many regards the best. Sutin has here managed a thorough and fair treatment of the head spinning character that is Crowley, whom we follow up mountains, through deserts, into psychedelic discombobulation and beyond. Sutin has a great style which carries the reader smoothly through A.C.'s incredible life, never relying too much on extracts from the 'Confessions' as others have done. I feel Sutin's dedication to this book was immense; it really is a superb addition to the library dedicated to Crowley, oozing high quality research and sanity.

Warts and all., 07 Jul 2002
Crowley has always been a figure deserving of a good biography but untill now he has only ever been portrayed as a charlatan and a pervert. Sutin has tried to draw up a picture of the man without exaggerating or overdramatising him. He never mocks Crowley's vocation and reports on his rituals and experiments with admirable impartiality, giving more credibility to the man as a whole. Overall, Crowley does not come across as a likeable person; he is arrogant, misogynous, intolerant, xenophobic etc But he is also shown as intelligent and capable and, in some cases, justified in his arrogance. Importantly the book never becomes boring, Sutin does not dwell on the more lurid details nor does he resort to reporting anecdotes or rumours. Some well known stories about the man are notably absent from the book. Probably the main problem about with this biography is the lack of concrete fact about Crowley. A good deal of the information in the book is drawn from Crowley's own autobiography and, as Sutin points out, Crowley is not always to be believed.
Overall the book is an enjoyable read, although those looking for sensational and lurid stories may want to look elsewhere, those with an interest in the magickal philosophy of Crowley, will be glad to see that it is presented with the respect that maybe it deserves.

Kether on the biog tree of life!, 30 Sep 2003
Having read nine other biographies of A.C. I consider this to be in many regards the best. Sutin has here managed a thorough and fair treatment of the head spinning character that is Crowley, whom we follow up mountains, through deserts, into psychedelic discombobulation and beyond. Sutin has a great style which carries the reader smoothly through A.C.'s incredible life, never relying too much on extracts from the 'Confessions' as others have done. I feel Sutin's dedication to this book was immense; it really is a superb addition to the library dedicated to Crowley, oozing high quality research and sanity.

Warts and all., 07 Jul 2002
Crowley has always been a figure deserving of a good biography but untill now he has only ever been portrayed as a charlatan and a pervert. Sutin has tried to draw up a picture of the man without exaggerating or overdramatising him. He never mocks Crowley's vocation and reports on his rituals and experiments with admirable impartiality, giving more credibility to the man as a whole. Overall, Crowley does not come across as a likeable person; he is arrogant, misogynous, intolerant, xenophobic etc But he is also shown as intelligent and capable and, in some cases, justified in his arrogance. Importantly the book never becomes boring, Sutin does not dwell on the more lurid details nor does he resort to reporting anecdotes or rumours. Some well known stories about the man are notably absent from the book. Probably the main problem about with this biography is the lack of concrete fact about Crowley. A good deal of the information in the book is drawn from Crowley's own autobiography and, as Sutin points out, Crowley is not always to be believed.
Overall the book is an enjoyable read, although those looking for sensational and lurid stories may want to look elsewhere, those with an interest in the magickal philosophy of Crowley, will be glad to see that it is presented with the respect that maybe it deserves.

Taisha Abelar's Spiritual Path, 10 Jan 2008
The Sorcerer's crossing is the story of Taisha Abelar's spiritual development. It's honest funny and moving. I read her book roughly ten years ago and I still remember the book so clearly.
As a practicing Clairvoyant of over twenty years I have recomended this book many times to people who genuinely what to grow and learn toltec ways. Even if your not interested in pursuing the toltec ways this book will take you to another world where anything is posable.

Absolutely Magickal, 10 Apr 2005
This book comes highly recommended to all students of astral projection, psychic work and magick in general. It is a must read, and clearly illustrates the need for mental clarity, need to be fearless and need to be absolutely precise and disciplined -

Loved it, and hope that one day there will be a follow-up.

Left wanting more, 28 Aug 2003
I really loved this book. Taisha Abelar like Carlos Castandeda before her seems to be irritatingly mental from start to finish and one wonders why she was chosen. That said, her teachers are wonderful and humerous and I found I could not put the book down but was left feeling like I had just enjoyed the starters only to find the chef had not done the course in cooking mains and puddings. Very frustrating to find there was no follow up....


A clear and insightful account of the apprenticeship ., 01 Mar 2000
For a person who has been reading and following Carlos Castanedas accounts of his apprenticeship it is refreshing and joyful to read an account that corroborates his accounts. I was deeply moved and inspired by Taisha`s experiences as she was taught how to manipulate her perception. I feel it provoked a fundamental change in myself and lead me to re-order my life. One can truly achieve remarkable things with the philosophical basis of what Taisha and Carlos describes. What is best about Taisha`s account for me is the clarity and readability of her writing. Sometimes Carlos Castaneda`s writing of the dialogues can be hard going and repetitive. All in all Sorcerers Crossing is a very worthwhile read indeed.

HELIONS Recommendation, 24 Dec 1998
HELIONS - this is a book we keep in our library and recommend it to all who are interested in energy and psychical work. The book gets off to a difficult start, but perserverence makes it most worthwhile in the end.

Kether on the biog tree of life!, 30 Sep 2003
Having read nine other biographies of A.C. I consider this to be in many regards the best. Sutin has here managed a thorough and fair treatment of the head spinning character that is Crowley, whom we follow up mountains, through deserts, into psychedelic discombobulation and beyond. Sutin has a great style which carries the reader smoothly through A.C.'s incredible life, never relying too much on extracts from the 'Confessions' as others have done. I feel Sutin's dedication to this book was immense; it really is a superb addition to the library dedicated to Crowley, oozing high quality research and sanity.

Warts and all., 07 Jul 2002
Crowley has always been a figure deserving of a good biography but untill now he has only ever been portrayed as a charlatan and a pervert. Sutin has tried to draw up a picture of the man without exaggerating or overdramatising him. He never mocks Crowley's vocation and reports on his rituals and experiments with admirable impartiality, giving more credibility to the man as a whole. Overall, Crowley does not come across as a likeable person; he is arrogant, misogynous, intolerant, xenophobic etc But he is also shown as intelligent and capable and, in some cases, justified in his arrogance. Importantly the book never becomes boring, Sutin does not dwell on the more lurid details nor does he resort to reporting anecdotes or rumours. Some well known stories about the man are notably absent from the book. Probably the main problem about with this biography is the lack of concrete fact about Crowley. A good deal of the information in the book is drawn from Crowley's own autobiography and, as Sutin points out, Crowley is not always to be believed.
Overall the book is an enjoyable read, although those looking for sensational and lurid stories may want to look elsewhere, those with an interest in the magickal philosophy of Crowley, will be glad to see that it is presented with the respect that maybe it deserves.

Taisha Abelar's Spiritual Path, 10 Jan 2008
The Sorcerer's crossing is the story of Taisha Abelar's spiritual development. It's honest funny and moving. I read her book roughly ten years ago and I still remember the book so clearly.
As a practicing Clairvoyant of over twenty years I have recomended this book many times to people who genuinely what to grow and learn toltec ways. Even if your not interested in pursuing the toltec ways this book will take you to another world where anything is posable.

Absolutely Magickal, 10 Apr 2005
This book comes highly recommended to all students of astral projection, psychic work and magick in general. It is a must read, and clearly illustrates the need for mental clarity, need to be fearless and need to be absolutely precise and disciplined -

Loved it, and hope that one day there will be a follow-up.

Left wanting more, 28 Aug 2003
I really loved this book. Taisha Abelar like Carlos Castandeda before her seems to be irritatingly mental from start to finish and one wonders why she was chosen. That said, her teachers are wonderful and humerous and I found I could not put the book down but was left feeling like I had just enjoyed the starters only to find the chef had not done the course in cooking mains and puddings. Very frustrating to find there was no follow up....


A clear and insightful account of the apprenticeship ., 01 Mar 2000
For a person who has been reading and following Carlos Castanedas accounts of his apprenticeship it is refreshing and joyful to read an account that corroborates his accounts. I was deeply moved and inspired by Taisha`s experiences as she was taught how to manipulate her perception. I feel it provoked a fundamental change in myself and lead me to re-order my life. One can truly achieve remarkable things with the philosophical basis of what Taisha and Carlos describes. What is best about Taisha`s account for me is the clarity and readability of her writing. Sometimes Carlos Castaneda`s writing of the dialogues can be hard going and repetitive. All in all Sorcerers Crossing is a very worthwhile read indeed.

HELIONS Recommendation, 24 Dec 1998
HELIONS - this is a book we keep in our library and recommend it to all who are interested in energy and psychical work. The book gets off to a difficult start, but perserverence makes it most worthwhile in the end.

Mindfreak: Revelations of a Dissapointed Reviewer!, 26 Jan 2008
Waited for this on pre-order with excitement only to be let down by the book content: no I was not expecting a book of secrets either!

Much hype surrounds Criss Angel and his Rock/Blaine mix style of extraordinary illusions, unfortunately the book does not really carry this feel; instead the pages are constantly scattered with comments of self praise, suffering and the almost constant need to state how dangerous or difficult a particular situation was for him.

The overall feeling is that the "secret revelations from the master of surreality" is book that demonstrates many insecurities in the life of the artist and the love for his family , to be honest not a lot else I'm afraid.

The last section of the book provides the reader opportunities to learn a few magic tricks. A few words of warning, if you are buying this book to learn Criss Angel's secrets or to be able to perform like him with the tricks revealed in the book you will be more than dissapointed. The tricks demonstrated require minimal skill and are aimed at early beginners in conjuring, most of the secrets are already widely known and easily available within the many conjuring and magic books available, at less cost.

If you are just buying the book for the addition to your library on magic or like a book that you can walk away from then return to at a later date then I'm sure you will gain some enjoyment.

Mindfreak Book!, 03 Aug 2007
Great must for any Criss Angel fan, i was hooked from page one, well worth the wait for it to come on the market.
Book starts with Angel talking about life and magic followed by Angel teaching many great tricks!!
Well worth the money!!

Kether on the biog tree of life!, 30 Sep 2003
Having read nine other biographies of A.C. I consider this to be in many regards the best. Sutin has here managed a thorough and fair treatment of the head spinning character that is Crowley, whom we follow up mountains, through deserts, into psychedelic discombobulation and beyond. Sutin has a great style which carries the reader smoothly through A.C.'s incredible life, never relying too much on extracts from the 'Confessions' as others have done. I feel Sutin's dedication to this book was immense; it really is a superb addition to the library dedicated to Crowley, oozing high quality research and sanity.

Warts and all., 07 Jul 2002
Crowley has always been a figure deserving of a good biography but untill now he has only ever been portrayed as a charlatan and a pervert. Sutin has tried to draw up a picture of the man without exaggerating or overdramatising him. He never mocks Crowley's vocation and reports on his rituals and experiments with admirable impartiality, giving more credibility to the man as a whole. Overall, Crowley does not come across as a likeable person; he is arrogant, misogynous, intolerant, xenophobic etc But he is also shown as intelligent and capable and, in some cases, justified in his arrogance. Importantly the book never becomes boring, Sutin does not dwell on the more lurid details nor does he resort to reporting anecdotes or rumours. Some well known stories about the man are notably absent from the book. Probably the main problem about with this biography is the lack of concrete fact about Crowley. A good deal of the information in the book is drawn from Crowley's own autobiography and, as Sutin points out, Crowley is not always to be believed.
Overall the book is an enjoyable read, although those looking for sensational and lurid stories may want to look elsewhere, those with an interest in the magickal philosophy of Crowley, will be glad to see that it is presented with the respect that maybe it deserves.

Taisha Abelar's Spiritual Path, 10 Jan 2008
The Sorcerer's crossing is the story of Taisha Abelar's spiritual development. It's honest funny and moving. I read her book roughly ten years ago and I still remember the book so clearly.
As a practicing Clairvoyant of over twenty years I have recomended this book many times to people who genuinely what to grow and learn toltec ways. Even if your not interested in pursuing the toltec ways this book will take you to another world where anything is posable.

Absolutely Magickal, 10 Apr 2005
This book comes highly recommended to all students of astral projection, psychic work and magick in general. It is a must read, and clearly illustrates the need for mental clarity, need to be fearless and need to be absolutely precise and disciplined -

Loved it, and hope that one day there will be a follow-up.

Left wanting more, 28 Aug 2003
I really loved this book. Taisha Abelar like Carlos Castandeda before her seems to be irritatingly mental from start to finish and one wonders why she was chosen. That said, her teachers are wonderful and humerous and I found I could not put the book down but was left feeling like I had just enjoyed the starters only to find the chef had not done the course in cooking mains and puddings. Very frustrating to find there was no follow up....


A clear and insightful account of the apprenticeship ., 01 Mar 2000
For a person who has been reading and following Carlos Castanedas accounts of his apprenticeship it is refreshing and joyful to read an account that corroborates his accounts. I was deeply moved and inspired by Taisha`s experiences as she was taught how to manipulate her perception. I feel it provoked a fundamental change in myself and lead me to re-order my life. One can truly achieve remarkable things with the philosophical basis of what Taisha and Carlos describes. What is best about Taisha`s account for me is the clarity and readability of her writing. Sometimes Carlos Castaneda`s writing of the dialogues can be hard going and repetitive. All in all Sorcerers Crossing is a very worthwhile read indeed.

HELIONS Recommendation, 24 Dec 1998
HELIONS - this is a book we keep in our library and recommend it to all who are interested in energy and psychical work. The book gets off to a difficult start, but perserverence makes it most worthwhile in the end.

Mindfreak: Revelations of a Dissapointed Reviewer!, 26 Jan 2008
Waited for this on pre-order with excitement only to be let down by the book content: no I was not expecting a book of secrets either!

Much hype surrounds Criss Angel and his Rock/Blaine mix style of extraordinary illusions, unfortunately the book does not really carry this feel; instead the pages are constantly scattered with comments of self praise, suffering and the almost constant need to state how dangerous or difficult a particular situation was for him.

The overall feeling is that the "secret revelations from the master of surreality" is book that demonstrates many insecurities in the life of the artist and the love for his family , to be honest not a lot else I'm afraid.

The last section of the book provides the reader opportunities to learn a few magic tricks. A few words of warning, if you are buying this book to learn Criss Angel's secrets or to be able to perform like him with the tricks revealed in the book you will be more than dissapointed. The tricks demonstrated require minimal skill and are aimed at early beginners in conjuring, most of the secrets are already widely known and easily available within the many conjuring and magic books available, at less cost.

If you are just buying the book for the addition to your library on magic or like a book that you can walk away from then return to at a later date then I'm sure you will gain some enjoyment.

Mindfreak Book!, 03 Aug 2007
Great must for any Criss Angel fan, i was hooked from page one, well worth the wait for it to come on the market.
Book starts with Angel talking about life and magic followed by Angel teaching many great tricks!!
Well worth the money!!

Slaying those sacred cows with style !, 01 Apr 2008
The long awaited autobiography of Maxine Sanders does not pull any punches! Until now the only available works were the difficult to obtain Maxine: Witch Queen or the almost impossibly elusive Ecstatic Mother. The influence of Maxine Sanders on the development of the Wiccan tradition has long been overshadowed by Alex Sanders and others, when in fact Maxine has more claim to being the "first lady of Wicca" than any other high priestess in the history of the modern Craft movement.

This book reflects Maxine's character. It is not an easy read, and it certainly slays a herd of sacred cows! Nevertheless, shining through the humour and sadness found in equal measure, is a sense of the inspiration which flows through Maxine and has inspired so many people into the Wiccan path. As can be seen from the accounts of her life with Alex, if he was the mind, she was the heart. Maxine was the pre-eminent priestess during the decades when Wicca went from being a small elite club to being a global spirituality.

So what stands out in Maxine's tale of her magickal life and the people who have populated it? Her early life and the influence of her family in shaping Maxine's future are well documented. However it is when she reaches the influence of Alex and how the two of them interacted that things quickly become more revealing (happily this is from chapter 3 onwards!). Maxine is very honest about how her shyness was almost painfully clear during her early exposure to the media. What is more surprising is her revelation that Sharon Tate was initiated into Wicca during the filming of `Eye of the Devil'.

It would be too easy to recount lots of fascinating details from this book, presented from a unique perspective from the point of view of the development of Wiccan and modern paganism. However it is more appropriate to look at what the book says about Maxine. Here is a woman of courage, who has been to hell and back many times, and is still around to tell the tale. Not only that but she has grown strong in the fires of testing which she has been repeatedly exposed to through her life. Maxine is also very honest, admitting her own mistakes and failings in a way that many people would find difficult to.

Firechild is a wonderful book that is very difficult to put down. It will give you a completely different view of the development of Wicca, and many of the people within it. As such it is a very important book for everyone interested in the history of modern paganism (whichever tradition) and of course everyone whose work, beliefs and practices have been inspired, in one way or another, by Maxine - which quite possibly includes all of us.(Only those suffering from extreme arrogance or who prefer to bury their head in the sand, will tell themselves differently)

The Craft book that everyone should read, 19 Jan 2008
This (along with 'Triumph of the Moon' by Ronald Hutton) is the Craft book that everyone should read - in this age of dilettantes, it is instructive to find out just how hard working, disciplined, driven and sometimes ruthless these people were. Alex Sanders runs like a magical thread through the book, encompassing all the highs and the pitfalls that someone on the Path can encompass - a real Magician and medium with a breathtaking capacity for healing and generosity coupled with an equally dark magical past and destructive egoism.

Running along her day to day life as a Witch, Maxine had a foot in another, more formally ritualised Occultic world - the Egyptian Mysteries - a fabulously wealthy but deeply serious organisation led by a man who Maxine makes clear was as important a part of her life as Alex.

Joyous celebration with wild nature is coupled with a dark sixties undertow giving a new light on the Tate/Manson/Process connections that should be of interest to counter culture historians.

Recommended!


A Magical Journey Through Time, 14 Jan 2008
Professor Ronald Hutton's statement [on www.amazon.co.uk ] that "[t]his is one of the most important books ever published on modern paganism" is easily corroborated, even by the uninitiated: as disclosed at page two, the copyright of this very well written and highly readable book is jointly held by Mandrake (one of the leading Publishers in the subject area) and the author herself, Maxine Sanders.

We believe it is rare for a reputable Publisher (such as Mandrake) to share copyright except when the material is considered of great significance to the subject area and competition for the publishing rights is keen.

That should be enough to compel anyone with a genuine interest and natural curiosity to schedule the space to curl up with this great book - an amazing story of one very gifted person's journey through life that, for her, is not remotely over.

This autobiography is clearly not a memoir and Maxine Sanders is definitely no wilting lilly.

The trials and tribulations, the joy and sadness, the pain and elation are all courageously and objectively shared with wit, humour and valuable insights on the human condition.

It was both a genuine pleasure and real privilege for us to read this book.

Unlike Professor Ronald Hutton, whose valued opinion appears to yield out of Maxine Sanders' role as a teacher, ours is from direct experience as clients of Maxine Sanders over some thirteen years - more than enough time for even the most naïve to figure out the "real thing".

Over the years, we have consulted Maxine on a wide range of business as well as personal matters. In our experience, her timely and valued insights - oddly enough in the range of probability, never wrong, which is amazing by any reasonable standard and a huge credit to her Craft - would not have surfaced through any other medium, in every sense of that word on this or any other plane.

Tom and Laura, London.

FireChild by Maxine Sanders., 10 Dec 2007
This long awaited book by Maxine does not disappoint! An extremely open and honest account of her life,before, during and after her marriage to Alex Sanders. She tells of her joys and sorrows of being a teacher of The Mysteries and High Priestess of The Temple of The Mother.Funny, moveing and challenging throughout, a MUST read for anyone interested in the Craft and the history of the Alexandrian Tradition.
Thank you, Maxine.

Privileged to read a preview, 19 Nov 2007
This is a fascinating book. Whether you were part of the group in the sixties and seventies, know Maxine from her recent talks or are simply interested in the roots of Modern witchcraft I guarantee you will learn something new. Written with candour and warmth every chapter reveals something new about Maxine, the times and the craft. I enjoyed this book immensely - as a great read and story itself as well having real depth. What a welcome departure from the previous books written about Alex and Maxine. Can't recommend it highly enough.

Kether on the biog tree of life!, 30 Sep 2003
Having read nine other biographies of A.C. I consider this to be in many regards the best. Sutin has here managed a thorough and fair treatment of the head spinning character that is Crowley, whom we follow up mountains, through deserts, into psychedelic discombobulation and beyond. Sutin has a great style which carries the reader smoothly through A.C.'s incredible life, never relying too much on extracts from the 'Confessions' as others have done. I feel Sutin's dedication to this book was immense; it really is a superb addition to the library dedicated to Crowley, oozing high quality research and sanity.

Warts and all., 07 Jul 2002
Crowley has always been a figure deserving of a good biography but untill now he has only ever been portrayed as a charlatan and a pervert. Sutin has tried to draw up a picture of the man without exaggerating or overdramatising him. He never mocks Crowley's vocation and reports on his rituals and experiments with admirable impartiality, giving more credibility to the man as a whole. Overall, Crowley does not come across as a likeable person; he is arrogant, misogynous, intolerant, xenophobic etc But he is also shown as intelligent and capable and, in some cases, justified in his arrogance. Importantly the book never becomes boring, Sutin does not dwell on the more lurid details nor does he resort to reporting anecdotes or rumours. Some well known stories about the man are notably absent from the book. Probably the main problem about with this biography is the lack of concrete fact about Crowley. A good deal of the information in the book is drawn from Crowley's own autobiography and, as Sutin points out, Crowley is not always to be believed.
Overall the book is an enjoyable read, although those looking for sensational and lurid stories may want to look elsewhere, those with an interest in the magickal philosophy of Crowley, will be glad to see that it is presented with the respect that maybe it deserves.

Taisha Abelar's Spiritual Path, 10 Jan 2008
The Sorcerer's crossing is the story of Taisha Abelar's spiritual development. It's honest funny and moving. I read her book roughly ten years ago and I still remember the book so clearly.
As a practicing Clairvoyant of over twenty years I have recomended this book many times to people who genuinely what to grow and learn toltec ways. Even if your not interested in pursuing the toltec ways this book will take you to another world where anything is posable.

Absolutely Magickal, 10 Apr 2005
This book comes highly recommended to all students of astral projection, psychic work and magick in general. It is a must read, and clearly illustrates the need for mental clarity, need to be fearless and need to be absolutely precise and disciplined -

Loved it, and hope that one day there will be a follow-up.

Left wanting more, 28 Aug 2003
I really loved this book. Taisha Abelar like Carlos Castandeda before her seems to be irritatingly mental from start to finish and one wonders why she was chosen. That said, her teachers are wonderful and humerous and I found I could not put the book down but was left feeling like I had just enjoyed the starters only to find the chef had not done the course in cooking mains and puddings. Very frustrating to find there was no follow up....


A clear and insightful account of the apprenticeship ., 01 Mar 2000
For a person who has been reading and following Carlos Castanedas accounts of his apprenticeship it is refreshing and joyful to read an account that corroborates his accounts. I was deeply moved and inspired by Taisha`s experiences as she was taught how to manipulate her perception. I feel it provoked a fundamental change in myself and lead me to re-order my life. One can truly achieve remarkable things with the philosophical basis of what Taisha and Carlos describes. What is best about Taisha`s account for me is the clarity and readability of her writing. Sometimes Carlos Castaneda`s writing of the dialogues can be hard going and repetitive. All in all Sorcerers Crossing is a very worthwhile read indeed.

HELIONS Recommendation, 24 Dec 1998
HELIONS - this is a book we keep in our library and recommend it to all who are interested in energy and psychical work. The book gets off to a difficult start, but perserverence makes it most worthwhile in the end.

Mindfreak: Revelations of a Dissapointed Reviewer!, 26 Jan 2008
Waited for this on pre-order with excitement only to be let down by the book content: no I was not expecting a book of secrets either!

Much hype surrounds Criss Angel and his Rock/Blaine mix style of extraordinary illusions, unfortunately the book does not really carry this feel; instead the pages are constantly scattered with comments of self praise, suffering and the almost constant need to state how dangerous or difficult a particular situation was for him.

The overall feeling is that the "secret revelations from the master of surreality" is book that demonstrates many insecurities in the life of the artist and the love for his family , to be honest not a lot else I'm afraid.

The last section of the book provides the reader opportunities to learn a few magic tricks. A few words of warning, if you are buying this book to learn Criss Angel's secrets or to be able to perform like him with the tricks revealed in the book you will be more than dissapointed. The tricks demonstrated require minimal skill and are aimed at early beginners in conjuring, most of the secrets are already widely known and easily available within the many conjuring and magic books available, at less cost.

If you are just buying the book for the addition to your library on magic or like a book that you can walk away from then return to at a later date then I'm sure you will gain some enjoyment.

Mindfreak Book!, 03 Aug 2007
Great must for any Criss Angel fan, i was hooked from page one, well worth the wait for it to come on the market.
Book starts with Angel talking about life and magic followed by Angel teaching many great tricks!!
Well worth the money!!

Slaying those sacred cows with style !, 01 Apr 2008
The long awaited autobiography of Maxine Sanders does not pull any punches! Until now the only available works were the difficult to obtain Maxine: Witch Queen or the almost impossibly elusive Ecstatic Mother. The influence of Maxine Sanders on the development of the Wiccan tradition has long been overshadowed by Alex Sanders and others, when in fact Maxine has more claim to being the "first lady of Wicca" than any other high priestess in the history of the modern Craft movement.

This book reflects Maxine's character. It is not an easy read, and it certainly slays a herd of sacred cows! Nevertheless, shining through the humour and sadness found in equal measure, is a sense of the inspiration which flows through Maxine and has inspired so many people into the Wiccan path. As can be seen from the accounts of her life with Alex, if he was the mind, she was the heart. Maxine was the pre-eminent priestess during the decades when Wicca went from being a small elite club to being a global spirituality.

So what stands out in Maxine's tale of her magickal life and the people who have populated it? Her early life and the influence of her family in shaping Maxine's future are well documented. However it is when she reaches the influence of Alex and how the two of them interacted that things quickly become more revealing (happily this is from chapter 3 onwards!). Maxine is very honest about how her shyness was almost painfully clear during her early exposure to the media. What is more surprising is her revelation that Sharon Tate was initiated into Wicca during the filming of `Eye of the Devil'.

It would be too easy to recount lots of fascinating details from this book, presented from a unique perspective from the point of view of the development of Wiccan and modern paganism. However it is more appropriate to look at what the book says about Maxine. Here is a woman of courage, who has been to hell and back many times, and is still around to tell the tale. Not only that but she has grown strong in the fires of testing which she has been repeatedly exposed to through her life. Maxine is also very honest, admitting her own mistakes and failings in a way that many people would find difficult to.

Firechild is a wonderful book that is very difficult to put down. It will give you a completely different view of the development of Wicca, and many of the people within it. As such it is a very important book for everyone interested in the history of modern paganism (whichever tradition) and of course everyone whose work, beliefs and practices have been inspired, in one way or another, by Maxine - which quite possibly includes all of us.(Only those suffering from extreme arrogance or who prefer to bury their head in the sand, will tell themselves differently)

The Craft book that everyone should read, 19 Jan 2008
This (along with 'Triumph of the Moon' by Ronald Hutton) is the Craft book that everyone should read - in this age of dilettantes, it is instructive to find out just how hard working, disciplined, driven and sometimes ruthless these people were. Alex Sanders runs like a magical thread through the book, encompassing all the highs and the pitfalls that someone on the Path can encompass - a real Magician and medium with a breathtaking capacity for healing and generosity coupled with an equally dark magical past and destructive egoism.

Running along her day to day life as a Witch, Maxine had a foot in another, more formally ritualised Occultic world - the Egyptian Mysteries - a fabulously wealthy but deeply serious organisation led by a man who Maxine makes clear was as important a part of her life as Alex.

Joyous celebration with wild nature is coupled with a dark sixties undertow giving a new light on the Tate/Manson/Process connections that should be of interest to counter culture historians.

Recommended!


A Magical Journey Through Time, 14 Jan 2008
Professor Ronald Hutton's statement [on www.amazon.co.uk ] that "[t]his is one of the most important books ever published on modern paganism" is easily corroborated, even by the uninitiated: as disclosed at page two, the copyright of this very well written and highly readable book is jointly held by Mandrake (one of the leading Publishers in the subject area) and the author herself, Maxine Sanders.

We believe it is rare for a reputable Publisher (such as Mandrake) to share copyright except when the material is considered of great significance to the subject area and competition for the publishing rights is keen.

That should be enough to compel anyone with a genuine interest and natural curiosity to schedule the space to curl up with this great book - an amazing story of one very gifted person's journey through life that, for her, is not remotely over.

This autobiography is clearly not a memoir and Maxine Sanders is definitely no wilting lilly.

The trials and tribulations, the joy and sadness, the pain and elation are all courageously and objectively shared with wit, humour and valuable insights on the human condition.

It was both a genuine pleasure and real privilege for us to read this book.

Unlike Professor Ronald Hutton, whose valued opinion appears to yield out of Maxine Sanders' role as a teacher, ours is from direct experience as clients of Maxine Sanders over some thirteen years - more than enough time for even the most naïve to figure out the "real thing".

Over the years, we have consulted Maxine on a wide range of business as well as personal matters. In our experience, her timely and valued insights - oddly enough in the range of probability, never wrong, which is amazing by any reasonable standard and a huge credit to her Craft - would not have surfaced through any other medium, in every sense of that word on this or any other plane.

Tom and Laura, London.

FireChild by Maxine Sanders., 10 Dec 2007
This long awaited book by Maxine does not disappoint! An extremely open and honest account of her life,before, during and after her marriage to Alex Sanders. She tells of her joys and sorrows of being a teacher of The Mysteries and High Priestess of The Temple of The Mother.Funny, moveing and challenging throughout, a MUST read for anyone interested in the Craft and the history of the Alexandrian Tradition.
Thank you, Maxine.

Privileged to read a preview, 19 Nov 2007
This is a fascinating book. Whether you were part of the group in the sixties and seventies, know Maxine from her recent talks or are simply interested in the roots of Modern witchcraft I guarantee you will learn something new. Written with candour and warmth every chapter reveals something new about Maxine, the times and the craft. I enjoyed this book immensely - as a great read and story itself as well having real depth. What a welcome departure from the previous books written about Alex and Maxine. Can't recommend it highly enough.

A fraud, however charming, 20 Aug 1999
A book that purports to be a true story should tell the truth. In this version of the story, poor Sadako pops off before finishing a thousand cranes. In reality, she did over 1300 and still died. I think that's a much more moving story and points out there is no panacea for the horror of atomic weapons. You can see some of the cranes in the A-bomb museum in Hiroshima.

the most greatest book I ever read!!!, 08 Jun 1999
Its a tearful but enjoyble book!It has a wounderful beggining,middle,and end. It tells factual things like about the atom bomb and how it hit Heroshima in world war two and the determanation of a young girl trying to get out of cancer and the goal she dearly want to make a thousand paper cranes so that the gods would give her the power and hope that she would need to get out of cancer! It is a wonderful book you should read it!!

This is the saddest book I've ever read., 04 May 1999
The story made me think about life and illness and my family. This was a true story.

The touching story of one girl's battle with cancer., 17 Apr 1999
Readers from the very young to the very old will be moved by Sakako's battle with leukemia. Her story reminds us of why we must work towards peace. It is a story of hope.

Magnificent! It was heartwrenching!, 13 Apr 1999
I think that this story was a wonderful story. I first read it when I was younger, and I really enjoyed it. Sadako has such spirit and life in the story, and her determination to live is very courageous. It made me cry at the end, but I would read it again any time!! I recommend this book to anyone, whether you are looking for a good tearjerker, or just another good book to add to your collection! Please, take the time to read this one! It is well worth it!

Kether on the biog tree of life!, 30 Sep 2003
Having read nine other biographies of A.C. I consider this to be in many regards the best. Sutin has here managed a thorough and fair treatment of the head spinning character that is Crowley, whom we follow up mountains, through deserts, into psychedelic discombobulation and beyond. Sutin has a great style which carries the reader smoothly through A.C.'s incredible life, never relying too much on extracts from the 'Confessions' as others have done. I feel Sutin's dedication to this book was immense; it really is a superb addition to the library dedicated to Crowley, oozing high quality research and sanity.

Warts and all., 07 Jul 2002
Crowley has always been a figure deserving of a good biography but untill now he has only ever been portrayed as a charlatan and a pervert. Sutin has tried to draw up a picture of the man without exaggerating or overdramatising him. He never mocks Crowley's vocation and reports on his rituals and experiments with admirable impartiality, giving more credibility to the man as a whole. Overall, Crowley does not come across as a likeable person; he is arrogant, misogynous, intolerant, xenophobic etc But he is also shown as intelligent and capable and, in some cases, justified in his arrogance. Importantly the book never becomes boring, Sutin does not dwell on the more lurid details nor does he resort to reporting anecdotes or rumours. Some well known stories about the man are notably absent from the book. Probably the main problem about with this biography is the lack of concrete fact about Crowley. A good deal of the information in the book is drawn from Crowley's own autobiography and, as Sutin points out, Crowley is not always to be believed.
Overall the book is an enjoyable read, although those looking for sensational and lurid stories may want to look elsewhere, those with an interest in the magickal philosophy of Crowley, will be glad to see that it is presented with the respect that maybe it deserves.

Taisha Abelar's Spiritual Path, 10 Jan 2008
The Sorcerer's crossing is the story of Taisha Abelar's spiritual development. It's honest funny and moving. I read her book roughly ten years ago and I still remember the book so clearly.
As a practicing Clairvoyant of over twenty years I have recomended this book many times to people who genuinely what to grow and learn toltec ways. Even if your not interested in pursuing the toltec ways this book will take you to another world where anything is posable.

Absolutely Magickal, 10 Apr 2005
This book comes highly recommended to all students of astral projection, psychic work and magick in general. It is a must read, and clearly illustrates the need for mental clarity, need to be fearless and need to be absolutely precise and disciplined -

Loved it, and hope that one day there will be a follow-up.

Left wanting more, 28 Aug 2003
I really loved this book. Taisha Abelar like Carlos Castandeda before her seems to be irritatingly mental from start to finish and one wonders why she was chosen. That said, her teachers are wonderful and humerous and I found I could not put the book down but was left feeling like I had just enjoyed the starters only to find the chef had not done the course in cooking mains and puddings. Very frustrating to find there was no follow up....


A clear and insightful account of the apprenticeship ., 01 Mar 2000
For a person who has been reading and following Carlos Castanedas accounts of his apprenticeship it is refreshing and joyful to read an account that corroborates his accounts. I was deeply moved and inspired by Taisha`s experiences as she was taught how to manipulate her perception. I feel it provoked a fundamental change in myself and lead me to re-order my life. One can truly achieve remarkable things with the philosophical basis of what Taisha and Carlos describes. What is best about Taisha`s account for me is the clarity and readability of her writing. Sometimes Carlos Castaneda`s writing of the dialogues can be hard going and repetitive. All in all Sorcerers Crossing is a very worthwhile read indeed.

HELIONS Recommendation, 24 Dec 1998
HELIONS - this is a book we keep in our library and recommend it to all who are interested in energy and psychical work. The book gets off to a difficult start, but perserverence makes it most worthwhile in the end.

Mindfreak: Revelations of a Dissapointed Reviewer!, 26 Jan 2008
Waited for this on pre-order with excitement only to be let down by the book content: no I was not expecting a book of secrets either!

Much hype surrounds Criss Angel and his Rock/Blaine mix style of extraordinary illusions, unfortunately the book does not really carry this feel; instead the pages are constantly scattered with comments of self praise, suffering and the almost constant need to state how dangerous or difficult a particular situation was for him.

The overall feeling is that the "secret revelations from the master of surreality" is book that demonstrates many insecurities in the life of the artist and the love for his family , to be honest not a lot else I'm afraid.

The last section of the book provides the reader opportunities to learn a few magic tricks. A few words of warning, if you are buying this book to learn Criss Angel's secrets or to be able to perform like him with the tricks revealed in the book you will be more than dissapointed. The tricks demonstrated require minimal skill and are aimed at early beginners in conjuring, most of the secrets are already widely known and easily available within the many conjuring and magic books available, at less cost.

If you are just buying the book for the addition to your library on magic or like a book that you can walk away from then return to at a later date then I'm sure you will gain some enjoyment.

Mindfreak Book!, 03 Aug 2007
Great must for any Criss Angel fan, i was hooked from page one, well worth the wait for it to come on the market.
Book starts with Angel talking about life and magic followed by Angel teaching many great tricks!!
Well worth the money!!

Slaying those sacred cows with style !, 01 Apr 2008
The long awaited autobiography of Maxine Sanders does not pull any punches! Until now the only available works were the difficult to obtain Maxine: Witch Queen or the almost impossibly elusive Ecstatic Mother. The influence of Maxine Sanders on the development of the Wiccan tradition has long been overshadowed by Alex Sanders and others, when in fact Maxine has more claim to being the "first lady of Wicca" than any other high priestess in the history of the modern Craft movement.

This book reflects Maxine's character. It is not an easy read, and it certainly slays a herd of sacred cows! Nevertheless, shining through the humour and sadness found in equal measure, is a sense of the inspiration which flows through Maxine and has inspired so many people into the Wiccan path. As can be seen from the accounts of her life with Alex, if he was the mind, she was the heart. Maxine was the pre-eminent priestess during the decades when Wicca went from being a small elite club to being a global spirituality.

So what stands out in Maxine's tale of her magickal life and the people who have populated it? Her early life and the influence of her family in shaping Maxine's future are well documented. However it is when she reaches the influence of Alex and how the two of them interacted that things quickly become more revealing (happily this is from chapter 3 onwards!). Maxine is very honest about how her shyness was almost painfully clear during her early exposure to the media. What is more surprising is her revelation that Sharon Tate was initiated into Wicca during the filming of `Eye of the Devil'.

It would be too easy to recount lots of fascinating details from this book, presented from a unique perspective from the point of view of the development of Wiccan and modern paganism. However it is more appropriate to look at what the book says about Maxine. Here is a woman of courage, who has been to hell and back many times, and is still around to tell the tale. Not only that but she has grown strong in the fires of testing which she has been repeatedly exposed to through her life. Maxine is also very honest, admitting her own mistakes and failings in a way that many people would find difficult to.

Firechild is a wonderful book that is very difficult to put down. It will give you a completely different view of the development of Wicca, and many of the people within it. As such it is a very important book for everyone interested in the history of modern paganism (whichever tradition) and of course everyone whose work, beliefs and practices have been inspired, in one way or another, by Maxine - which quite possibly includes all of us.(Only those suffering from extreme arrogance or who prefer to bury their head in the sand, will tell themselves differently)

The Craft book that everyone should read, 19 Jan 2008
This (along with 'Triumph of the Moon' by Ronald Hutton) is the Craft book that everyone should read - in this age of dilettantes, it is instructive to find out just how hard working, disciplined, driven and sometimes ruthless these people were. Alex Sanders runs like a magical thread through the book, encompassing all the highs and the pitfalls that someone on the Path can encompass - a real Magician and medium with a breathtaking capacity for healing and generosity coupled with an equally dark magical past and destructive egoism.

Running along her day to day life as a Witch, Maxine had a foot in another, more formally ritualised Occultic world - the Egyptian Mysteries - a fabulously wealthy but deeply serious organisation led by a man who Maxine makes clear was as important a part of her life as Alex.

Joyous celebration with wild nature is coupled with a dark sixties undertow giving a new light on the Tate/Manson/Process connections that should be of interest to counter culture historians.

Recommended!


A Magical Journey Through Time, 14 Jan 2008
Professor Ronald Hutton's statement [on www.amazon.co.uk ] that "[t]his is one of the most important books ever published on modern paganism" is easily corroborated, even by the uninitiated: as disclosed at page two, the copyright of this very well written and highly readable book is jointly held by Mandrake (one of the leading Publishers in the subject area) and the author herself, Maxine Sanders.

We believe it is rare for a reputable Publisher (such as Mandrake) to share copyright except when the material is considered of great significance to the subject area and competition for the publishing rights is keen.

That should be enough to compel anyone with a genuine interest and natural curiosity to schedule the space to curl up with this great book - an amazing story of one very gifted person's journey through life that, for her, is not remotely over.

This autobiography is clearly not a memoir and Maxine Sanders is definitely no wilting lilly.

The trials and tribulations, the joy and sadness, the pain and elation are all courageously and objectively shared with wit, humour and valuable insights on the human condition.

It was both a genuine pleasure and real privilege for us to read this book.

Unlike Professor Ronald Hutton, whose valued opinion appears to yield out of Maxine Sanders' role as a teacher, ours is from direct experience as clients of Maxine Sanders over some thirteen years - more than enough time for even the most naïve to figure out the "real thing".

Over the years, we have consulted Maxine on a wide range of business as well as personal matters. In our experience, her timely and valued insights - oddly enough in the range of probability, never wrong, which is amazing by any reasonable standard and a huge credit to her Craft - would not have surfaced through any other medium, in every sense of that word on this or any other plane.

Tom and Laura, London.

FireChild by Maxine Sanders., 10 Dec 2007
This long awaited book by Maxine does not disappoint! An extremely open and honest account of her life,before, during and after her marriage to Alex Sanders. She tells of her joys and sorrows of being a teacher of The Mysteries and High Priestess of The Temple of The Mother.Funny, moveing and challenging throughout, a MUST read for anyone interested in the Craft and the history of the Alexandrian Tradition.
Thank you, Maxine.

Privileged to read a preview, 19 Nov 2007
This is a fascinating book. Whether you were part of the group in the sixties and seventies, know Maxine from her recent talks or are simply interested in the roots of Modern witchcraft I guarantee you will learn something new. Written with candour and warmth every chapter reveals something new about Maxine, the times and the craft. I enjoyed this book immensely - as a great read and story itself as well having real depth. What a welcome departure from the previous books written about Alex and Maxine. Can't recommend it highly enough.

A fraud, however charming, 20 Aug 1999
A book that purports to be a true story should tell the truth. In this version of the story, poor Sadako pops off before finishing a thousand cranes. In reality, she did over 1300 and still died. I think that's a much more moving story and points out there is no panacea for the horror of atomic weapons. You can see some of the cranes in the A-bomb museum in Hiroshima.

the most greatest book I ever read!!!, 08 Jun 1999
Its a tearful but enjoyble book!It has a wounderful beggining,middle,and end. It tells factual things like about the atom bomb and how it hit Heroshima in world war two and the determanation of a young girl trying to get out of cancer and the goal she dearly want to make a thousand paper cranes so that the gods would give her the power and hope that she would need to get out of cancer! It is a wonderful book you should read it!!

This is the saddest book I've ever read., 04 May 1999
The story made me think about life and illness and my family. This was a true story.

The touching story of one girl's battle with cancer., 17 Apr 1999
Readers from the very young to the very old will be moved by Sakako's battle with leukemia. Her story reminds us of why we must work towards peace. It is a story of hope.

Magnificent! It was heartwrenching!, 13 Apr 1999
I think that this story was a wonderful story. I first read it when I was younger, and I really enjoyed it. Sadako has such spirit and life in the story, and her determination to live is very courageous. It made me cry at the end, but I would read it again any time!! I recommend this book to anyone, whether you are looking for a good tearjerker, or just another good book to add to your collection! Please, take the time to read this one! It is well worth it!

It's OK but that's it, 17 Nov 2008
While this book is well written and well constructed I must confess that it didn't hold my attention and I lost interest about half way through.For me the best segments of the book are where David Blaine talks about his influences and gives a brief history about the magicians that inspired him.I don't know if it is because of the negative publicity that he gets,but I did wonder if that is why my interest started to wane.If so that is unfair as this autobiography shouldn't be judged on the personality but on it's readability.Maybe I am shallow but I am giving an honest opinion.

This is by no means the worst autobigraphy I have read but it is one that I woudn't read again.He is a brilliant magic man especially his street magic and that is how he should be remembered.Not a bad book but not one that lingers in the memory.

David Blaine - The Ultimate magic man !!, 07 Mar 2004
This Book is truly wonderful , aswell as showing magic tricks it tells you how he survived in Ice and on a massive pole in new york and this book is Truly spectacular !!!

Will his secrets be yours?, 11 Nov 2003
Very interesting reading about a man who has captivated the public imagination. He is not a god but gives people the impression he is !He knows how to project a certain image. The book gives a lot of interesting background info into magicians etc from the past, and there are a few sections which allow you to emulate some of the tricks he performs. Dissapointingly little inside info revealed I have to say though, in the end. The sections relating his various feats of endurance are worth a read and reveal his status as a mere mortal. Buy it but you'll have to pay other people for the secrets!

A REALLY GREAT BOOK FROM DAVID BLAINE, HE'S THE MAN !!, 12 Oct 2003
I'VE JUST RECEIVED THIS BOOK FROM AMAZON I STARTED READING THIS BOOK AND I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN TILL I READ FROM COVER TO COVER. ITS GOOD TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS STRANGE GUY .GO AND BUY IT HIGHLY RECOMMENED FROM A DAVID BLAINE FAN, GO SEE HIM AT TOWER BRIDGE TO .

A Must-have for all., 02 Oct 2003
David Blaine is certainly a man who will be remembered in history for his illusions and endurance tasks, but love him or loathe him this book is a great read for all ages.

In his book, David covers the history of magic including among others the feats of his inspiration Houdini.Tricks and stories from the past are explained so well the reader can place themselves in the audience.

Stories and incidences from Davids personal life are told in this book, from his own childhood and his early experiences of magic and trickery, to the creation of his "Street Magic" show which I found compelling to read.

David also speaks touchingly of his relationship with his much loved mother, who without a doubt was and still is his most positive and nurturing influence in his life.

For the curious there are card tricks and techniques for you to try out which are explained so simply and easily that my four year old is having fun with them.

The book wouldn't be complete without covering David Blaines feats of endurance. His thoughts and feelings during "Buried Alive", "Vertigo" and "Frozen in Time" are all told giving the reader amazing insight into the illusionists experiences for each feat, as well as explaining the "how's" and "why's" behind them.

The beauty of this book is that it is written as if you are having a conversation with the man himself.
The stories and anecdotes are written with humour that will bring a smile to your face, and to read about the influences and experiences that made the four year old from Brooklyn who saw his first magic trick into the most talked about illusionist brings the reader a little closer to the mysterious stranger himself.

Kether on the biog tree of life!, 30 Sep 2003
Having read nine other biographies of A.C. I consider this to be in many regards the best. Sutin has here managed a thorough and fair treatment of the head spinning character that is Crowley, whom we follow up mountains, through deserts, into psychedelic discombobulation and beyond. Sutin has a great style which carries the reader smoothly through A.C.'s incredible life, never relying too much on extracts from the 'Confessions' as others have done. I feel Sutin's dedication to this book was immense; it really is a superb addition to the library dedicated to Crowley, oozing high quality research and sanity.

Warts and all., 07 Jul 2002
Crowley has always been a figure deserving of a good biography but untill now he has only ever been portrayed as a charlatan and a pervert. Sutin has tried to draw up a picture of the man without exaggerating or overdramatising him. He never mocks Crowley's vocation and reports on his rituals and experiments with admirable impartiality, giving more credibility to the man as a whole. Overall, Crowley does not come across as a likeable person; he is arrogant, misogynous, intolerant, xenophobic etc But he is also shown as intelligent and capable and, in some cases, justified in his arrogance. Importantly the book never becomes boring, Sutin does not dwell on the more lurid details nor does he resort to reporting anecdotes or rumours. Some well known stories about the man are notably absent from the book. Probably the main problem about with this biography is the lack of concrete fact about Crowley. A good deal of the information in the book is drawn from Crowley's own autobiography and, as Sutin points out, Crowley is not always to be believed.
Overall the book is an enjoyable read, although those looking for sensational and lurid stories may want to look elsewhere, those with an interest in the magickal philosophy of Crowley, will be glad to see that it is presented with the respect that maybe it deserves.

Taisha Abelar's Spiritual Path, 10 Jan 2008
The Sorcerer's crossing is the story of Taisha Abelar's spiritual development. It's honest funny and moving. I read her book roughly ten years ago and I still remember the book so clearly.
As a practicing Clairvoyant of over twenty years I have recomended this book many times to people who genuinely what to grow and learn toltec ways. Even if your not interested in pursuing the toltec ways this book will take you to another world where anything is posable.

Absolutely Magickal, 10 Apr 2005
This book comes highly recommended to all students of astral projection, psychic work and magick in general. It is a must read, and clearly illustrates the need for mental clarity, need to be fearless and need to be absolutely precise and disciplined -

Loved it, and hope that one day there will be a follow-up.

Left wanting more, 28 Aug 2003
I really loved this book. Taisha Abelar like Carlos Castandeda before her seems to be irritatingly mental from start to finish and one wonders why she was chosen. That said, her teachers are wonderful and humerous and I found I could not put the book down but was left feeling like I had just enjoyed the starters only to find the chef had not done the course in cooking mains and puddings. Very frustrating to find there was no follow up....


A clear and insightful account of the apprenticeship ., 01 Mar 2000
For a person who has been reading and following Carlos Castanedas accounts of his apprenticeship it is refreshing and joyful to read an account that corroborates his accounts. I was deeply moved and inspired by Taisha`s experiences as she was taught how to manipulate her perception. I feel it provoked a fundamental change in myself and lead me to re-order my life. One can truly achieve remarkable things with the philosophical basis of what Taisha and Carlos describes. What is best about Taisha`s account for me is the clarity and readability of her writing. Sometimes Carlos Castaneda`s writing of the dialogues can be hard going and repetitive. All in all Sorcerers Crossing is a very worthwhile read indeed.

HELIONS Recommendation, 24 Dec 1998
HELIONS - this is a book we keep in our library and recommend it to all who are interested in energy and psychical work. The book gets off to a difficult start, but perserverence makes it most worthwhile in the end.

Mindfreak: Revelations of a Dissapointed Reviewer!, 26 Jan 2008
Waited for this on pre-order with excitement only to be let down by the book content: no I was not expecting a book of secrets either!

Much hype surrounds Criss Angel and his Rock/Blaine mix style of extraordinary illusions, unfortunately the book does not really carry this feel; instead the pages are constantly scattered with comments of self praise, suffering and the almost constant need to state how dangerous or difficult a particular situation was for him.

The overall feeling is that the "secret revelations from the master of surreality" is book that demonstrates many insecurities in the life of the artist and the love for his family , to be honest not a lot else I'm afraid.

The last section of the book provides the reader opportunities to learn a few magic tricks. A few words of warning, if you are buying this book to learn Criss Angel's secrets or to be able to perform like him with the tricks revealed in the book you will be more than dissapointed. The tricks demonstrated require minimal skill and are aimed at early beginners in conjuring, most of the secrets are already widely known and easily available within the many conjuring and magic books available, at less cost.

If you are just buying the book for the addition to your library on magic or like a book that you can walk away from then return to at a later date then I'm sure you will gain some enjoyment.

Mindfreak Book!, 03 Aug 2007
Great must for any Criss Angel fan, i was hooked from page one, well worth the wait for it to come on the market.
Book starts with Angel talking about life and magic followed by Angel teaching many great tricks!!
Well worth the money!!

Slaying those sacred cows with style !, 01 Apr 2008
The long awaited autobiography of Maxine Sanders does not pull any punches! Until now the only available works were the difficult to obtain Maxine: Witch Queen or the almost impossibly elusive Ecstatic Mother. The influence of Maxine Sanders on the development of the Wiccan tradition has long been overshadowed by Alex Sanders and others, when in fact Maxine has more claim to being the "first lady of Wicca" than any other high priestess in the history of the modern Craft movement.

This book reflects Maxine's character. It is not an easy read, and it certainly slays a herd of sacred cows! Nevertheless, shining through the humour and sadness found in equal measure, is a sense of the inspiration which flows through Maxine and has inspired so many people into the Wiccan path. As can be seen from the accounts of her life with Alex, if he was the mind, she was the heart. Maxine was the pre-eminent priestess during the decades when Wicca went from being a small elite club to being a global spirituality.

So what stands out in Maxine's tale of her magickal life and the people who have populated it? Her early life and the influence of her family in shaping Maxine's future are well documented. However it is when she reaches the influence of Alex and how the two of them interacted that things quickly become more revealing (happily this is from chapter 3 onwards!). Maxine is very honest about how her shyness was almost painfully clear during her early exposure to the media. What is more surprising is her revelation that Sharon Tate was initiated into Wicca during the filming of `Eye of the Devil'.

It would be too easy to recount lots of fascinating details from this book, presented from a unique perspective from the point of view of the development of Wiccan and modern paganism. However it is more appropriate to look at what the book says about Maxine. Here is a woman of courage, who has been to hell and back many times, and is still around to tell the tale. Not only that but she has grown strong in the fires of testing which she has been repeatedly exposed to through her life. Maxine is also very honest, admitting her own mistakes and failings in a way that many people would find difficult to.

Firechild is a wonderful book that is very difficult to put down. It will give you a completely different view of the development of Wicca, and many of the people within it. As such it is a very important book for everyone interested in the history of modern paganism (whichever tradition) and of course everyone whose work, beliefs and practices have been inspired, in one way or another, by Maxine - which quite possibly includes all of us.(Only those suffering from extreme arrogance or who prefer to bury their head in the sand, will tell themselves differently)

The Craft book that everyone should read, 19 Jan 2008
This (along with 'Triumph of the Moon' by Ronald Hutton) is the Craft book that everyone should read - in this age of dilettantes, it is instructive to find out just how hard working, disciplined, driven and sometimes ruthless these people were. Alex Sanders runs like a magical thread through the book, encompassing all the highs and the pitfalls that someone on the Path can encompass - a real Magician and medium with a breathtaking capacity for healing and generosity coupled with an equally dark magical past and destructive egoism.

Running along her day to day life as a Witch, Maxine had a foot in another, more formally ritualised Occultic world - the Egyptian Mysteries - a fabulously wealthy but deeply serious organisation led by a man who Maxine makes clear was as important a part of her life as Alex.

Joyous celebration with wild nature is coupled with a dark sixties undertow giving a new light on the Tate/Manson/Process connections that should be of interest to counter culture historians.

Recommended!


A Magical Journey Through Time, 14 Jan 2008
Professor Ronald Hutton's statement [on www.amazon.co.uk ] that "[t]his is one of the most important books ever published on modern paganism" is easily corroborated, even by the uninitiated: as disclosed at page two, the copyright of this very well written and highly readable book is jointly held by Mandrake (one of the leading Publishers in the subject area) and the author herself, Maxine Sanders.

We believe it is rare for a reputable Publisher (such as Mandrake) to share copyright except when the material is considered of great significance to the subject area and competition for the publishing rights is keen.

That should be enough to compel anyone with a genuine interest and natural curiosity to schedule the space to curl up with this great book - an amazing story of one very gifted person's journey through life that, for her, is not remotely over.

This autobiography is clearly not a memoir and Maxine Sanders is definitely no wilting lilly.

The trials and tribulations, the joy and sadness, the pain and elation are all courageously and objectively shared with wit, humour and valuable insights on the human condition.

It was both a genuine pleasure and real privilege for us to read this book.

Unlike Professor Ronald Hutton, whose valued opinion appears to yield out of Maxine Sanders' role as a teacher, ours is from direct experience as clients of Maxine Sanders over some thirteen years - more than enough time for even the most naïve to figure out the "real thing".

Over the years, we have consulted Maxine on a wide range of business as well as personal matters. In our experience, her timely and valued insights - oddly enough in the range of probability, never wrong, which is amazing by any reasonable standard and a huge credit to her Craft - would not have surfaced through any other medium, in every sense of that word on this or any other plane.

Tom and Laura, London.

FireChild by Maxine Sanders., 10 Dec 2007
This long awaited book by Maxine does not disappoint! An extremely open and honest account of her life,before, during and after her marriage to Alex Sanders. She tells of her joys and sorrows of being a teacher of The Mysteries and High Priestess of The Temple of The Mother.Funny, moveing and challenging throughout, a MUST read for anyone interested in the Craft and the history of the Alexandrian Tradition.
Thank you, Maxine.

Privileged to read a preview, 19 Nov 2007
This is a fascinating book. Whether you were part of the group in the sixties and seventies, know Maxine from her recent talks or are simply interested in the roots of Modern witchcraft I guarantee you will learn something new. Written with candour and warmth every chapter reveals something new about Maxine, the times and the craft. I enjoyed this book immensely - as a great read and story itself as well having real depth. What a welcome departure from the previous books written about Alex and Maxine. Can't recommend it highly enough.

A fraud, however charming, 20 Aug 1999
A book that purports to be a true story should tell the truth. In this version of the story, poor Sadako pops off before finishing a thousand cranes. In reality, she did over 1300 and still died. I think that's a much more moving story and points out there is no panacea for the horror of atomic weapons. You can see some of the cranes in the A-bomb museum in Hiroshima.

the most greatest book I ever read!!!, 08 Jun 1999
Its a tearful but enjoyble book!It has a wounderful beggining,middle,and end. It tells factual things like about the atom bomb and how it hit Heroshima in world war two and the determanation of a young girl trying to get out of cancer and the goal she dearly want to make a thousand paper cranes so that the gods would give her the power and hope that she would need to get out of cancer! It is a wonderful book you should read it!!

This is the saddest book I've ever read., 04 May 1999
The story made me think about life and illness and my family. This was a true story.

The touching story of one girl's battle with cancer., 17 Apr 1999
Readers from the very young to the very old will be moved by Sakako's battle with leukemia. Her story reminds us of why we must work towards peace. It is a story of hope.

Magnificent! It was heartwrenching!, 13 Apr 1999
I think that this story was a wonderful story. I first read it when I was younger, and I really enjoyed it. Sadako has such spirit and life in the story, and her determination to live is very courageous. It made me cry at the end, but I would read it again any time!! I recommend this book to anyone, whether you are looking for a good tearjerker, or just another good book to add to your collection! Please, take the time to read this one! It is well worth it!

It's OK but that's it, 17 Nov 2008
While this book is well written and well constructed I must confess that it didn't hold my attention and I lost interest about half way through.For me the best segments of the book are where David Blaine talks about his influences and gives a brief history about the magicians that inspired him.I don't know if it is because of the negative publicity that he gets,but I did wonder if that is why my interest started to wane.If so that is unfair as this autobiography shouldn't be judged on the personality but on it's readability.Maybe I am shallow but I am giving an honest opinion.

This is by no means the worst autobigraphy I have read but it is one that I woudn't read again.He is a brilliant magic man especially his street magic and that is how he should be remembered.Not a bad book but not one that lingers in the memory.

David Blaine - The Ultimate magic man !!, 07 Mar 2004
This Book is truly wonderful , aswell as showing magic tricks it tells you how he survived in Ice and on a massive pole in new york and this book is Truly spectacular !!!

Will his secrets be yours?, 11 Nov 2003
Very interesting reading about a man who has captivated the public imagination. He is not a god but gives people the impression he is !He knows how to project a certain image. The book gives a lot of interesting background info into magicians etc from the past, and there are a few sections which allow you to emulate some of the tricks he performs. Dissapointingly little inside info revealed I have to say though, in the end. The sections relating his various feats of endurance are worth a read and reveal his status as a mere mortal. Buy it but you'll have to pay other people for the secrets!

A REALLY GREAT BOOK FROM DAVID BLAINE, HE'S THE MAN !!, 12 Oct 2003
I'VE JUST RECEIVED THIS BOOK FROM AMAZON I STARTED READING THIS BOOK AND I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN TILL I READ FROM COVER TO COVER. ITS GOOD TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS STRANGE GUY .GO AND BUY IT HIGHLY RECOMMENED FROM A DAVID BLAINE FAN, GO SEE HIM AT TOWER BRIDGE TO .

A Must-have for all., 02 Oct 2003
David Blaine is certainly a man who will be remembered in history for his illusions and endurance tasks, but love him or loathe him this book is a great read for all ages.

In his book, David covers the history of magic including among others the feats of his inspiration Houdini.Tricks and stories from the past are explained so well the reader can place themselves in the audience.

Stories and incidences from Davids personal life are told in this book, from his own childhood and his early experiences of magic and trickery, to the creation of his "Street Magic" show which I found compelling to read.

David also speaks touchingly of his relationship with his much loved mother, who without a doubt was and still is his most positive and nurturing influence in his life.

For the curious there are card tricks and techniques for you to try out which are explained so simply and easily that my four year old is having fun with them.

The book wouldn't be complete without covering David Blaines feats of endurance. His thoughts and feelings during "Buried Alive", "Vertigo" and "Frozen in Time" are all told giving the reader amazing insight into the illusionists experiences for each feat, as well as explaining the "how's" and "why's" behind them.

The beauty of this book is that it is written as if you are having a conversation with the man himself.
The stories and anecdotes are written with humour that will bring a smile to your face, and to read about the influences and experiences that made the four year old from Brooklyn who saw his first magic trick into the most talked about illusionist brings the reader a little closer to the mysterious stranger himself.

An insight into the life of a great man, 16 Jul 2008
I've been a fan of Harry Houdini for a few years now, but I must admit this is the first book about him I've ever read. Therefore, this may or may not affect how you see my review. I hope it doesn't, because I thought this book was wonderful. The research was thorough, the photographs of Harry and his family were fascinating and it was a joy to read about his childhood and his supposed secret life as a spy.

I felt this book tried to break through the stereotypes of Harry Houdini which still exist in our society today. I do not believe that anyone will ever know everything about this great man, but this book is certainly a brave step.

Lots of interesting stuff here, 28 Sep 2007
I'm not a big fan of biographies, and I'm not particularly interested in magic, so it was a surprise how much I enjoyed this. The 'Houdini was a spy' revelations dragged a bit, and so did the details of his early showbiz career, but his conflict with the spiritualists and fake mediums is really fascinating. Isn't it funny how magicians consistently seem to be the most implacable enemies of new age nonsense?

Spy controversy a distraction from this EXCELLENT biography, 27 Nov 2006
The "Houdini was a spy" aspect of this book - so hyped in the media and debated by magic historians - is a distraction from what should be seen, first and foremost, as a major new Houdini biography loaded with fascinating new facts about the great magician's life and career.

But what of this "spy" thing? Okay. Very quickly - in 1902/3 Houdini sent "reports" from Germany and Russia back to Superintendent Melville of Scotland Yard (who was then head of what could be considered British Intelligence). Does this mean Houdini was a spy, or just a letter writer who felt compelled to report what he was seeing to his friend in London? Authors Bill Kalush and Larry Sloman do make some interesting connections back to America and the shenanigans with Houdini's passport application...but it's all very speculative. For me, this "spy revelation" is just one of many, many new nuggets of information to be found within these fascinating 560 pages...and it's not even the most interesting nugget at that.

I was much more taken with the revelation of Bess Houdini's suicide attempt; a potential third Houdini mistress (Milla Barry); the attack on Houdini's brother in his Harlem home; the Russian Royal family's Rasputian-like fascination with the magician; Montraville M. Wood's involvement in the development of the Milk Can and USD; Lord Northcliff's role in Houdini's aviation career; Houdini's private secret service formed to expose spiritualists (Houdini actually bought a barbershop and trained an agent as a barber so they could communicate incognito); and the very troubling revelation that Margery and Dr. Crandon may have had a hand in the disappearance of several young English boys (freaky stuff this).

I was also thrilled to see Kalush and Sloman incorporate breakthrough information containing in such recent studies as The Man Who Killed Houdini by Don Bell (which rewrites magic history by revealing Houdini suffered not one but TWO stomach punch attacks in his final weeks). And, last but not least, the wealth of never before seen photos contained here are wonderful!

I was surprised to see the inclusion of some stories I've always considered to be apocryphal -- the tale in which Harry, as a boy, frees a convict from a pair of handcuffs is one. But the authors promise that a complete set of source reference notes are forthcoming in a separate volume. (Already some are available online at the Conjuring Arts Research Center website.)

The last major Houdini biography was Ken Silverman's 1996 Houdini!!! The Career of Ehrich Weiss (now out of print). I still consider the Silverman book the most authoritative Houdini biography, as well as the one that seems to best nail his complex character. But Secret Life uncovers many new facts not found in Silverman, and for the layperson it may be the more entertaining and provocative read.

It's been 10 years since Silverman and it was time someone tackled the subject of Houdini again. My congratulations to William Kalush and Larry Sloman for doing so...and succeeding so spectacularly!

Kether on the biog tree of life!, 30 Sep 2003
Having read nine other biographies of A.C. I consider this to be in many regards the best. Sutin has here managed a thorough and fair treatment of the head spinning character that is Crowley, whom we follow up mountains, through deserts, into psychedelic discombobulation and beyond. Sutin has a great style which carries the reader smoothly through A.C.'s incredible life, never relying too much on extracts from the 'Confessions' as others have done. I feel Sutin's dedication to this book was immense; it really is a superb addition to the library dedicated to Crowley, oozing high quality research and sanity.

Warts and all., 07 Jul 2002
Crowley has always been a figure deserving of a good biography but untill now he has only ever been portrayed as a charlatan and a pervert. Sutin has tried to draw up a picture of the man without exaggerating or overdramatising him. He never mocks Crowley's vocation and reports on his rituals and experiments with admirable impartiality, giving more credibility to the man as a whole. Overall, Crowley does not come across as a likeable person; he is arrogant, misogynous, intolerant, xenophobic etc But he is also shown as intelligent and capable and, in some cases, justified in his arrogance. Importantly the book never becomes boring, Sutin does not dwell on the more lurid details nor does he resort to reporting anecdotes or rumours. Some well known stories about the man are notably absent from the book. Probably the main problem about with this biography is the lack of concrete fact about Crowley. A good deal of the information in the book is drawn from Crowley's own autobiography and, as Sutin points out, Crowley is not always to be believed.
Overall the book is an enjoyable read, although those looking for sensational and lurid stories may want to look elsewhere, those with an interest in the magickal philosophy of Crowley, will be glad to see that it is presented with the respect that maybe it deserves.

Taisha Abelar's Spiritual Path, 10 Jan 2008
The Sorcerer's crossing is the story of Taisha Abelar's spiritual development. It's honest funny and moving. I read her book roughly ten years ago and I still remember the book so clearly.
As a practicing Clairvoyant of over twenty years I have recomended this book many times to people who genuinely what to grow and learn toltec ways. Even if your not interested in pursuing the toltec ways this book will take you to another world where anything is posable.

Absolutely Magickal, 10 Apr 2005
This book comes highly recommended to all students of astral projection, psychic work and magick in general. It is a must read, and clearly illustrates the need for mental clarity, need to