Early reviews of Avalonian Aeon

Initial feedback on my latest book, Avalonian Aeon, has been very encouraging. Two early reviews are reproduced here. The first is from my old friend Alex Langstone's Spirit of Albion blog. The second is by Mike Jones from Glastonbury's Oracle.

So, firstly, here's Alex.

'Autobiographies are funny things.

They can be read in one of several ways; the reader may be interested in the author, which is a good starting point, or read from the angle of the subject matter. Mostly, however, they are read because we are all pretty damn nosey about other folk, especially so with the popular interest in the cult of personality - both mainstream and fringe. With this in mind, here is a character who writes from a very interesting and articulate perspective. A 1979 psychedelic neo-hippy, Typhonian Occultist, Osho mystic, counter culture junkie, psychic questing groupie, visionary poet and historian - all these descriptions can apply to Paul Weston, as he seeks out his unique spiritual path amid the chaos, dreams and aspirations of his interesting life. Intriguing possibilities are suggested, including the idea that if you read a certain book at a certain time in your life, strange things may start of happen in your own life. Indeed!

Avalonian Aeon is the much anticipated, long awaited, highly entertaining, interesting and at times very amusing autobiographical account of the psychedelic and mystical adventures of occult author Paul Weston. Paul's spiritual quest starts with the Stonehenge free festival in 1979 and very quickly builds pace as he moves on to Pilton. Synchronicity builds throughout his early adventures with dope and LSD, and the author soon discovers that his life is being maneuvered in a very purposeful and meaningful spiritual direction. Occult books are read as a vortex of psychic energy builds.

This book will very likely give you an information overload, but it is an overload I thoroughly recommend, as you read through the pages, very quickly an understanding of where Paul is coming from emerges, and as we enter part two of the story a significant magickal vibe builds. Different currents and flavours of mystery and mysticism converge on the author with an intensity very peculiar to Mr Weston. At this stage I should probably point out that the author is an old friend and past collaborator of mine, so be warned, the rest of this review may diverge into personal occult nostalgia!

Part two deals with a lot of psychic questing history, contemporary witchcraft, the esoteric work of Robert Coon, the Fellowship of Isis and much paranormal phenomena. The Green Stone Seven Swords story is revisited and updated along with much information, published for the first time, on Andrew Collins surreal and shamanic Glastonbury Zodiac quest. Lots of very intense personal memories are stirred in this section of the book, including my own dream time adventures with the Glastonbury Zodiac quest and other esoteric poetic sequences where the mystery beyond dreams personally manifested.

Paul's poetic words completely sum up the general vibe of much of what was happening around all who were involved with this vastly strange tale in the early 1990s:
She's our mother like the ocean,
she's our lover like the moon.
She is what we've all been missing:
night's dark wisdom returning soon, returning soon,
the Goddess,
the fullness,
of the moon.

Part three sees the author reaffirming his own unique path once more with Crowley, rebirthing, Jose Arguelles, Sai Baba's birthday, strange apparitions, the Goddess of Avalon and Robert Anton Wilson's Cosmic Trigger.

Part four sums up the story so far and dances with Thelema, destiny, Dion Fortune and Egypt. As with the rest of the book, tantalising references are made of other surreal mystical occult adventures which I have no doubt will be revealed in future books. Indeed a promise is made right at the end of the book, stating that the next installment will be entitled Aquarian Phoenix. I await with anticipation, amusement and delight.

I seriously recommend this book to all who are interested in the occult, counter culture, psychic communication, the Great Cosmic Goddess and mysterious paranormal encounters. If you have read Paul's two previous works, Mysterium Artorius and Aleister Crowley and the Aeon of Horus, the theme does indeed continue. If you haven't yet come across these earlier works, check them out!

Paul writes with a balanced, witty and articulated overview of the many wildly outrageous personal adventures he describes in this book, and though the author will not win over the most ardent sceptic, his personal integrity shines through.

If you so desire, play some suitable psychedelic soundtrack (and Paul makes many epic suggestions in his narrative) light up a big fat one and sit back and enjoy a modern tale of acid induced mysticism, Goddess aroused mystery and fusion inspired magick.'


And now, from the Oracle.


Those of us familiar with Paul Weston’s talks in Glastonbury in the late nineties have long been waiting for this account of his occult journeyings during the 1980’s and early 1990’s. I am happy to report that it surpasses all expectations, starting with the early acid fuelled misadventures and developing into the main body of the book featuring epic vistas of psychic questing across the Glastonbury Zodiac and points further afield.

Paul has always been wonderfully perceptive in his exposition of magical and mystical sources and Avalonian Aeon contains insightful studies of John Cowper Powys, Katherine Maltwood, George Gurdjieff and a host of other influences. It seems unlikely that any of these influences could have envisaged the kind of voyage Paul chose to launch upon.

The demented early days rarely allow for boundaries and the purple hazed initiation of Solstice Eve at Stonehenge free festival in 1979 sets up a repeating cycle of especially intense Solstices throughout the eighties - an inspired all nighter up the Tor is particularly memorable, where Sufis, Wiccans and bongo crazies conspire happily together in creating serendipity.

Psychic questing is an unaccountable phenomenon whereby information is psychically received, directions given to specifically described locations leading to the discovery of physical objects such as swords and gems, as well as apported objects, and further information. Paul was working in a group that included Andrew Collins, who has written extensively on the phenomenon, but much of the material in Avalonian Aeon has not been published before.

A vast mass of Arthurian, Sumerian, Egyptian, Mayan and other historical/mythical sources creates an ever evolving matrix out of which further adventure happens. I cannot remotely give justice to the intensity and richness of the material. The appearance of Trebor the Follet, a Cornish Sprite, might give you a flavour: Trebor offers plenty of useful guidance, but has an unhelpful habit of fusing electrics and bursting plumbing, as one might expect from a sprite.

And then of course, there is the Essex cultural background to deal with. For it is the Company of Essex trooping across the misty Vale of Avalon - hailing from Southend and all points East - very much in the tradition of Cowper Powys, where mystical ecstasies are counter-pointed by foul smells. Quests are deliberated upon in smoky pubs, excessive alcohol consumed and revelatory nights flow into breakfast at Little Chefs. Reaching for the stars and scaring themselves shitless in the process.

This is a superb book, an indispensable addition to the Glastonbury canon, full of inspiration and bound to lead to further synchronicities and connections. The Glastonbury Zodiac is currently gaining much more attention and Avalonian Aeon is an invaluable source book for those interested in exploring its terrestrial esoteric initiations.

The book does of course carry the usual health warning Not for those of a tender disposition but you may have worked that one out for yourselves already. Too much for me to absorb in one week’s reading and I will be reading it in more detail again. But it sent me well doolally for the few days leading up to Solstice Eve 2010, so job done.

Mike Jones

Salute to Jack Parsons on the anniversary of his death.

Jack Parsons as portrayed by Marjorie Cameron.


‘I gather up every spirit that is pure, and weave him into my vesture of flame. I lick up the lives of men, and their souls sparkle from mine eyes. I am the mighty sorceress, the lust of the spirit. And by my dancing I gather for my mother Nuit the heads of all them that are baptized in the waters of life. I am the lust of the spirit that eateth up the soul of man. I have prepared a feast for the adepts, and they that partake thereof shall see God.’

Words of Babalon from Aleister Crowley's The Vision and the Voice that are appropriate to the life of her greatest devotee, Jack Parsons, who died on this date in 1952.

And, of course, further, more grimly prophetic words of Babalon, this time via L Ron Hubbard in the course of the legendary Babalon Working.

‘She is flame of life, power of darkness, she destroys with a glance, she may take the soul. She feeds upon the death of men. Concentrate all force and being in our Lady Babalon. Light a single flame on her altar, saying Flame is our lady, flame her hair. I am flame.’ ‘Dedicate thy soul to her for she shall absorb thee and thou shalt become living flame before she incarnates.’‘For it shall be through you alone and no one else can help in this endeavour. It is lonely, it is awful.’

1966 England World Cup winning team Qabalah

Kether Hurst (3 goal head of the supernal triangle).
Chokmah B Charlton.
Binah J Charlton.
Daath R Hunt (he should have slammed the 2nd Hurst goal-line strike back in and saved us from 44yrs of Choronzonic nonsense).
Chesed Peters.
Geburah Stiles.
Tiphereth Moore.
Netzah Wilson.
Hod Ball.
Yesod Cohen.
Malkuth Banks.


Just don't feel the current team have got their Qabalah sorted out.
Tiphereth figure Beckham was sidelined and Mr Potato Head Rooney may be a world-class player but he makes Gazza look like Gurdjieff.

I'm only going to watch if they get to the semi-finals.

Avalonian Aeon Glastonbury book launch

I am launching my new book in Glastonbury this Sunday 6th at 6.30 in Labyrinth Books in Glastonbury High St.

Anyone who may be in the vicinity and is interested is welcome to attend.

A London event will follow.

The books website should be functional within a week.

From the back cover:

AVALONIAN AEON
is an epic and encyclopaedic exposition of the total Glastonbury experience in the form of an autobiographical tale of magic and mysticism, ecstasy, hilarity, horror, the mystery of destiny, the charisma of landscape.

Against the backdrop of Crowley’s Aeon of Horus, the Thatcher years, and Gulf War, feeding on a diet of drugs and books, the author was pulled via the famous festival into the mystery of Glastonbury with its history and mythology of the Tor, Arthur and the Grail, Joseph of Arimathea, abbey, Chalice Well, and alleged terrestrial zodiac.

Features -
a misspent youth, perplexing outlandish paranormal phenomenon, psychic abilities and manifestations, visions, and artefact retrievals.

Includes
Early days and inspirations behind the Stonehenge and Glastonbury festivals.

Extensive previously unpublished Andrew Collins material providing a unique overview of psychic questing, including the entire story of the seven swords of Meonia and how Glastonbury proved to be a doorway to the mysteries of what may lie beneath the Giza plateau.

Complete survey of work of American visionary Robert Coon relating to Glastonbury, Crowley, global chakra sites, and the Omega Point.

Green Stone, Sirius, Tintagel, Stele of Revealing, witchcraft, Tarot, Qabalah, Rebirthing, Fellowship of Isis, Harmonic Convergence, Synchronicity.

Also starring a further illustrious cast of characters.
Dion Fortune, Geoffrey Ashe, Jose Arguelles, John Cowper Powys, Gurdjieff, John Michell, Leonard Orr, Anthony Roberts, Oliver Reiser, Katherine Maltwood, Frederick Bligh Bond, Graham Phillips, Mary Caine, Robert Anton Wilson, Shirdi Sai Baba, Hank Harrison.

WARNING:
THIS BOOK MAY ALTER YOUR
STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS.


£14.99





From the chapter Aegypt, artwork by Yuri Leitch (also responsible for the cover and other illustrations in the text).