Out of the Shadows An Exploration of Dark Paganism and Magick eBook John J Coughlin
Download As PDF : Out of the Shadows An Exploration of Dark Paganism and Magick eBook John J Coughlin 
So often darkness is associated with evil. Since the term evil has no place in a nature-based religion, we Pagans are forced to look beyond such stereotypes.
But what then is "darkness? Why are so many of us drawn to themes associated with darkness such as death, mystery, wisdom, magic, and the night? These themes and symbols are empowering to many of us because they tap into the deepest reaches of our unconscious.
The goal of this book, which is a culmination of over 16 years of study and practice, is to not only share with you the author’s views on Dark Paganism and spirituality, but to encourage you – if not challenge you – to personalize your own belief system.
While the first part explores the aspects and spirituality of darkness, the second part of this book discusses the nature and practice of magic by exploring the underlying principles at work.
Out of the Shadows An Exploration of Dark Paganism and Magick eBook John J Coughlin
This is one of those books that really makes you think and it may be the best book on dark paganism I've ever read. I didn't agree with all of it, I didn't like everything the author said, and I found some of his message a bit redundant in that he kept emphasizing certain points perhaps a bit too much. But in the end I really liked this book because it challenged me to think and question my own beliefs and ideas about concepts of darkness and related to darkness. At no point does this book ever shy away from tackling really difficult subjects, from sex and sacrifice to demons and death. The author does a good job of defining what he considers dark paganism to be and what he feels "lightside" paganism is and the differences between the two. This is not a workbook or guidebook to practice but rather an exploration of the ideas and culture that shape dark paganism which explain the foundational beliefs and allow a practioner to create their own personal system of practice or modify an existing one. The author does however include a section on practicing magic within a framework of dark paganism, and I found it interesting to see how he felt the different philosophy changed the magical practices. I would have rated it higher except that the section on deities had some pretty glaring errors in the mythology, particularly the Irish; however despite that small segment I think overall the book was very well done and a needed representation of what it is to be a dark pagan.Product details
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Out of the Shadows An Exploration of Dark Paganism and Magick eBook John J Coughlin Reviews
For those of you who have been following/studying for years, there probably isn't much new in here....but this man, Jon J. Coughlin, writes extremely well, is incredibly intelligent, and "says it like it is"! It will be a required reading for all my new students!
All I can say is this book is a must read for ALL Wiccans. Their is a dark side to the light side-and this is what I have been saying all along! I am a Traditional witch, but did find this book very informative. Well written and easy to understand-it is another side of the "fluffies" that they must accept. I would recommend anyone new to their "path" check out this book. Just so they have a better honest perspective of things. Witchcraft and magic are not all about peace,love and light folks! So few books are written about the darker side of paganism and witchcraft, and this one is worth every penny spent. Thanks for a great read for a change!
"Out of the Shadows" was an easy read. I finished it in one afternoon. The content did not drag or oversimplified anything. It left the responsibility to the reader of how to use and digest the info within. Some readers will be a little disappointed in the curt statements and explanations about the Gothic culture, the dark religions, etc., but I think the intent was to get the info out into the open with no apologies intended. Definitely a good read for those who are honestly wanting to explore (not dabble) the 'darkness'. It's like a good snack that should not be eaten like junk food day after day.
John J. Coughlin's `Out of the Shadows An Exploration of Dark Paganism and Magick' is an insightful analysis of that side of spirituality that is for the most part either feared or ignored by the consensus population. Most of us have only fleeting memories of "those things that go bump in the night" that haunted us in our childhood, but few of us would ever acknowledge that inner fascination in the darkness that accompanied our fright.
Author John J. Coughlin's book openly and honestly examines those darkened corners of our room (the mind) shedding understanding and meaning to those areas that have been mistakenly labeled "evil" for lack of a more expansive paradigm.
It's unfortunate that the subject matter explored within will be considered anathema by many thus limiting its reader base to those already involved in dark spirituality. However if you are one of the few who are brave enough to step outside of "the light" long enough to see what you've been blinded to for so long you might discover something about polarity, balance and the big picture that you might find quite useful.
`Out of the Shadows' is intelligent, articulate, informative and enjoyable. Recommended reading for the open-minded.
John Coughlin does a good job introducing concepts of dark Paganism for those new to the subject. Out of the Shadows isn't a spell book or a manual on a specific tradition. Rather, he explains many of the misconceptions regarding this challenging and fulfilling path as well as why some choose to follow it.
He also touches on the subjects of subcultures such as the goth and vampire communities. He does this objectively explaining the pitfalls of taking these lifestyles as well as dark Paganism to extremes.
This would be a helpful book for those interested in the path but who still feel uncomfortable exploring it. Family and friends of dark Pagans would also gain insight into their loved one from this book hopefully opening their minds in the process.
While some of the author's ideas or statements may seem dated it is due to this book and others like it that one can say now that it seems common sense. In 2001 when the revision was made it wasn't common to know most of the things concerning the darker shades of Paganism or the subcultures without being part of them. Ten years later in some areas the culture of exclusivity hasn't changed though I can't fault the author for the lack of welcome some experience. In all the book is well rounded for Wicca whom are tired of 101 style books or authors who still have attachment to dark=evil when that's far from the case. As the author points out, evil is a concept without a place in Paganism and one must embrace the whole rather than overly leaning to one side to the exclusion of the other. Today the author might be called a Grey Witch though this too is a more recent term. All in all, thanks for writing it.
This is one of those books that really makes you think and it may be the best book on dark paganism I've ever read. I didn't agree with all of it, I didn't like everything the author said, and I found some of his message a bit redundant in that he kept emphasizing certain points perhaps a bit too much. But in the end I really liked this book because it challenged me to think and question my own beliefs and ideas about concepts of darkness and related to darkness. At no point does this book ever shy away from tackling really difficult subjects, from sex and sacrifice to demons and death. The author does a good job of defining what he considers dark paganism to be and what he feels "lightside" paganism is and the differences between the two. This is not a workbook or guidebook to practice but rather an exploration of the ideas and culture that shape dark paganism which explain the foundational beliefs and allow a practioner to create their own personal system of practice or modify an existing one. The author does however include a section on practicing magic within a framework of dark paganism, and I found it interesting to see how he felt the different philosophy changed the magical practices. I would have rated it higher except that the section on deities had some pretty glaring errors in the mythology, particularly the Irish; however despite that small segment I think overall the book was very well done and a needed representation of what it is to be a dark pagan.
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