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This would be our tenth trip to France together, and Vere and I were really looking forward to it. Our 9:00 a.m. departure from the house was a more lenient one for an 11:30 a.m. domestic flight. We would be flying to Chicago and then changing planes for the long flight to Paris. Read more

From the 5-star review by Lilah Shahkhor: Consider this a warning; “The Santon Sacrifices” is not for the faint of heart. The book is filled with gore and wickedness. Like a cross between Clive Barker, H.P. Lovecraft, and James Ellroy, it delights in creating awful scenes of unspeakable violence against a backdrop of quaint domesticity and piety, peppered with clever investigative and police work, as those affected attempt to make sense of the unimaginable. Read more

This is the third and last day in our series of the Three Days of the Writing of the Book of the Law, which is unto Ra-Hoor Khuit, who is the active and solar force of Ra. So for this menu, bold, robust flavors are needed, and all foods that are red, spicy and fiery. This recipe for Corn Bread with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Chili Honey Butter from “The Thelemic Cookbook” looks very festive with the added sun-dried tomatoes and whole kernels of corn. Honey butter is required, and this one also has an added kick. Read more

For The Second Day of the Writing of the Book of the Law, we concentrate on spring fruits and vegetables that are blue and purple, yellow and orange. Since Hadit relates to the solar plexus, the yellow color will predominate. Also, since Hadit is the counterpart to Nuit, foods that are predominantly fiery will prevail. Of course some balance is always needed, and it will be provided with foods that are cooling. This side dish of Kabocha Squash, Artichoke, and Fennel Sauté has the yellow smoothness of squash, the crunch of roasted fennel, and the natural sweetness of the artichokes in a rich cinnamon butter. Read more

“The Thelemic Cookbook” employs elemental principles for those wishing to incorporate magical correspondences into their ritual meals. The book features specialized menus for each of the Three Days of the Writing of the Book of the Law (celebrated annually on April 8th, 9th & 10th) in honor of the goddess Nuit, and gods Hadit and Ra-Hoor-Khuit. As a special treat for website visitors, another delicious first night recipe for Nuit has just been posted, this one’s for Baked Cauliflower With White Cheddar. Read more

– What of Love? –

What brings on a smile in adoration?
What opens the way to captivation?
What unlocks the path toward toleration?
What produces more for fascination?
Love.
(…) Read more

On the last day of November 1891, a village in southern France is preparing for the Christmas season. Small clay figurines called santons, representing the nativity scene and tradespeople of the village, go on display in the church. But on December 1st, a santon goes missing, then the man represented by that santon is found murdered. The villagers are terrified and the officers are faced with a harrowing task. The clues begin to add up, but not before this quiet and quaint village experiences its worst nightmare since the French Revolution. Read more

“Ms. Chappell takes you through an entire panorama of genres and styles in her 28 stories, but her unique voice binds them all together. Once you finish the book, you feel that you know something of her inner being and wonder how amazing her life must have been to this point, since many of them are based on real people, places or events…” Read more

The third week of our England travelogue has just been posted. For this final leg of the journey we explored London’s National Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, Vagina Museum, and the Museum of Curiosities. We saw The Mouse Trap at St. Martin’s Theater, visited the Leighton House in Kensington, caught the Fragile Beauty exhibit with photographs from the Elton John and David Furnish collection, and ate dinner at the Great British Restaurant where 007 first ordered his martini, “shaken not stirred.” Read more

The second week of our England travelogue through Somerset and Yorkshire has just been posted. For this leg of the journey we explored Coxwold, Byland abbey, Rievaulx abbey, Mount Grace, Fountains abbey, Newburgh priory, the Ryedale Museum, the Witch Museum, York cathedral and gallery, Kirkgate, Helmsley castle (plus Lita’s book signing at Helmsley Bookstore), Jervaulx abbey, Richmond Castle, Easby church and abbey, Kirkham priory, and many more stops along the way. Read more