Jock Brocas On Spiritual Life

Friday 11 October 2024

The Vital Role of Psychological Evaluation in Paranormal Investigations

Clarion Call for All Involved in the Mysterious Field of Paranormal Investigations

In the fascinating world of paranormal investigations, the stakes are high, ranging from haunted locations to cases alleging demonic possession. However, one often overlooked but critical aspect of these investigations, is the necessity for comprehensive psychological evaluations. Why are these assessments so vital?

In a timely podcast episode, Investigating Demonic Cases: Paranormal Psychological Evaluation, host Jock Brocas underscores the importance of psychological evaluations, noting that he personally receives about four to five new cases every month. Although a significant majority—over 95%—are not serious, the small percentage that may involve something more sinister requires utmost caution.

The Thin Between Psychiatric Illness and Demonic Influence is Easily Blurred

Jock Brocas, a professional medium and spirit interventionist, emphasizes the importance of psychological evaluations to distinguish mental health issues from genuine paranormal occurrences. A clarion call for all involved in this mysterious field to adopt practices rooted in professionalism, ethics, and multidisciplinary cooperation.

“There's a very gray area between psychosis, mental psychosis, psychiatric illness and demonic possession/obsession. There is basically a pattern. There's an intelligence. And some of this pattern and... intelligence actually comes through looking at a potential case which is out of the realms of science and...psychology and psychiatry. And a lot of people that are claiming that they are having a psychiatric illness, do actually suffer from... some spirit obsession or spirit oppression, not necessarily demonic, by the way.” Jock Brocas

While the necessity for a professional psychological evaluation when assessing paranormal claims speaks for itself, Brocas explains that individuals often refuse these evaluations, firmly believing they do not need them. This refusal complicates matters because the line between psychiatric illness and demonic influence is thin and easily blurred.

“One of the things that stops people in their tracks is when you start to say, this case actually needs psychological evaluation, we need to bring in a psychiatrist or a psychologist and they need to be able to evaluate that person. Nine times out of ten, most of these people will say they don't need an evaluation and they don't want an evaluation and they're not interested in having that done because they know.

Unfortunately, that's where things get a little bit gray because there are so many people out there claiming that they have a haunting... a demonic possession or an obsession, and do not have the history to back it up, and they do not have the phenomena to back it up. And they think that just a little imbalance in the mind or negative thoughts or bad things is completely oppressive and demonic. And it's not.” Jock Brocas

The Allure and Misconception Around Demonic Cases

A common trend among people who contact Brocas, is an almost eager conviction that they are experiencing demonic oppression, obsession, or possession. This excitement can be problematic and reveals a significant misunderstanding of the complexities involved. Paranormal professionals, including mediums and parapsychologists, must address these cases cautiously, ensuring that they don’t contribute to unnecessary fear or misinformation.

“There is a pattern to diabolical possession. There is an intelligence. This is also the same in obsession and oppression, before even you get to possession. So be very careful, don't jump on the bandwagon. Make sure that you have all your bases covered that you actually go through, that you have a relationship with a professional, with a psychologist, with a psychiatrist, someone that you can rely on that can actually help you to evaluate that case. It's important that this is evaluated professionally.” Jock Brocas

Occult illiterate, mainstream mental health professionals who dismiss the paranormal world as nonsense, will be of no help to spirit interventionists, mediums and others who are called upon to assist troubled souls. Experiencing mental imbalances because of innocent, ignorant tinkerings with spiritual realms, is more common than many people realise. Basic occult education and holistic health pathways should be taught in universities and medical schools but that is unlikely to happen any time soon. In the meantime, taking heed of the reality of paranormal and potential interferences is highly recommended when assessing mental/emotional imbalances.

Patterns of Alleged Demonic Activity Symptoms

Several patterns can manifest in cases involving alleged demonic activity and often overlap with various psychiatric conditions, such as psychosis. Brocas notes that some symptoms attributed to demonic influence might actually stem from psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

However, there is an intelligence that drives genuine paranormal cases, making them distinguishable from psychiatric conditions but identifying this intelligence requires more than intuition; it needs evidence and professional validation.

A Multi-disciplinary Approach Prevents Misdiagnosis of Mental Health Conditions

The importance of psychological evaluations lies in their ability to provide a clear, clinical perspective on the individual’s mental health. Collaborating with psychiatrists and psychologists is a valuable multi-disciplinary approach because it ensures any paranormal investigation is grounded in reality, thereby preventing the misdiagnosis of mental health conditions.

“You want to be able to identify if there is psychiatric or psychological illness there. Is there a pattern of psychological illness in the family? Is there a pattern of psychosis that's developing here? As a medium, you're not going to be able to give those answers but you can bring in a professional that can. As professionals ourselves in mediumship, we can talk to people and get the background and intelligence, give them advice and things. But when it comes to something that's serious or maybe needs looked at deeper, you really do need a professional.” Jock Brocas

Brocas collaborates with the Wisconsin Paranormal Society, illustrating how effective teamwork and network-building with medical professionals can enhance the credibility and outcomes of paranormal investigations.

When investigating paranormal claims, building trust with the affected individuals and their families is paramount. This approach mandates a professional demeanor and a commitment to ethical standards. Professionals should never hastily diagnose a situation as demonic without thorough evaluation, including psychological assessments.

Cutting Through the Noise: The Myths and Realities of Possession

On the topic of misinformation proliferated by some religious entities and media that sensationalize demonic possession, Brocas contends that many individuals who believe they are possessed are, in reality, experiencing psychological or emotional turmoil.

Certain religious narratives and sensationalist media presentations fuel misconceptions about possession, often advocating for extreme views without substantial evidence, contributing to the public’s misunderstanding.

“I'm blaming religion... some of these evangelical type people that will say that there are so many demons inside of you. There's no proof in this and there's no evidence to the contrary. So anybody who thinks that they are actually oppressed, would have to go through a series of tests and a series of studies to be able to have a professional identify if that person seriously is being influenced by a demonic being or a spirit being or is being oppressed in some way.

There is a need for anybody that is seriously claiming that they're possessed, or the family is claiming they're possessed, to have a psychological evaluation, not just of them, but also the family. So if you're a professional and...you have people who come to you and say that they are actually demonically possessed, and you start to kind of believe it, and you go down the realms of checking everything and... you don't have any professional psychological testing or evaluations done, then you're kind of doing yourself a disservice. And you're doing them a disservice because 99% of cases are actually explainable. There's very, very little out there that is seriously a diabolical possession and people who think they are, normally aren't.” Jock Brocas

Avoiding the Pitfalls: Responsible Paranormal Investigation

Avoid the pitfalls of rushed or unsubstantiated conclusions by approaching each case with an open mind, rigorous methodology, and a willingness to seek professional psychological insights.

Ethical responsibility is a cornerstone of credible paranormal investigation. Even if a case appears to fit the criteria for demonic possession, investigators should ensure that it undergoes comprehensive evaluation. This approach not only protects the individuals involved but also upholds the integrity of the investigative field.

Stay Informed and Engaged with Deadly Departed Podcasts

For those interested in delving deeper, the Deadly Departed podcast is a rich resource of knowledge and case studies which aim to shed light on these intriguing and complex phenomena. The perfect place to engage with the community by posing questions and sharing experiences to foster a more informed and respectful dialogue about the paranormal.

The ongoing journey to understand the paranormal is filled with both challenges and revelations. Psychological evaluations serve as a crucial tool in this quest, bridging the gap between mental health and supernatural phenomena. By embracing a rigorous, ethical approach to investigations, we ensure that our work contributes meaningfully to both fields.

Stay tuned and stay curious. The more we learn, the greater our ability to navigate the shadowy intersections of the seen and the unseen.

Watch the Video

Investigating Demonic Cases: Paranormal Psychological Evaluation

(Run time: 13 mins)

Sunday 6 October 2024

Ghostly ‘White Ladies’ of the British Isles - an enduring paranormal phenomenon

White Lady Waterfall, Lydford Gorge, Devon (Wikimedia Commons)

‘The White Lady’ phenomenon

The phenomenon of ‘The White Lady’, a ghostly apparition of the British Isles, is most associated with Welsh/English wells, streams, lakes, seashores, valleys, at crossroads, churchyards, and beside lonely roads and tracks. Some speculate she might be a vestigial folk memory of pre-Christian water goddesses. Such deities were venerated in Britain well into the Roman period, but others suggest that most are a post-Reformation mix-up with St Mary, to whom many wells were dedicated.

Author Katherine Langrish posits two kinds of appearance; the White Lady, or dynes mewn gwyn, a true spectre, and the ladi wen, a haunting of a specific location associated with violent death. The White Lady is often a sad, white-clad creature who inspires the terror of deep emotional sadness.

White Ladies

In my book ‘Dark Angels’ (US title ‘The Shadow Hunt’) the castle of La Motte Rouge, which shelters below the hill called Devil’s ...

steelthistles.blogspot.com

Wales

Wales, is a land associated with myth, legends and Celtic superstition is heavily linked to them; especially in the north of the country. The White lady of Rhyl is a a regular visitor along the seafront; in nearby Dyserth, another lingers by a roadside pool.

White Lady of Dyserth | Curious Clwyd

www.mythslegendsodditiesnorth-east-wales.co.uk

At Goblins Well, Mold, people passing by would encounter a hooded headless lady in white. In Scenes and Stories Little Known (1861), Margaret Butler Clough tells of a visitation with a white lady motioning to a passer-by that treasure was to be found in the well.

Ffynnon Fair Bryncroes, St Mary's Well (Wikimedia Commons)

By Ffynnon Fair near Aberdaron, the spectre is associated with St Mary, said to have visited the well, riding over the sea on a white horse. Although this spirit once supposedly appeared to a girl, letting her know how the power of the well could grant her dearest wishes. Not exactly Christian.

Country diary: Aberdaron: St Mary's well is one of the most extraordinary holy sites in Britain

Country diary: Aberdaron: The lower of two ancient paths scored across the green southern slope of Trwyn Maen Melyn will lead you there

www.theguardian.com

At Deborah’s Well near Loggerheads, press reports said a White Lady appeared - with her hair on fire.

‘According to his account of the 1980s, local historian, the late Councillor Arthur Smith, writes that during the 6th century, there was an outbreak of cholera in the area. A local girl, by the name of Deborah, was recognised as a white witch, or healing woman, who used plants and herbs gathered from the wild to cure the sick. With no mainstream medicines available at the time, the services of these women were widely called upon. But when things went wrong, as inevitably they sometimes did, these healing women fell under deep suspicion.

At the start of the outbreak, perhaps aware that infected water was the cause of the disease, Deborah is said to have led the villagers up the hill and away from the well, thereby protecting them from infection. A hospital was established here, and villagers were kept safe for a while, but eventually the disease reached them, and people began to die. The blame for this fell upon Deborah, who was now branded as a black witch. The building was set alight, with the inhabitants – including Deborah – still inside. Nobody survived the ravaging flames.’

SUPERNATURAL FLINTSHIRE

Have you ever heard strange noises in the middle of the night? Maybe it was just the windows rattling in the wind, or perhaps it was something more… With its enigmatic castles and rolling hills, Flintshire is known for its cultural heritage and outstanding natural beauty. Yet beneath the surface of this historically rich county, there lies another strange and enigmatic realm. Join me on a journey into the unknown, to explore the ghosts, strange sightings, and otherworldly mysteries that have been reported here, in the ancient county of Flintshire. Deborah’s Well Deborah’s Well can be found by the side of the Cadoleto Gwernaffield road, a simple structure of local stone at the woodland’s edge.Deborah’s story, if true, is a strange and tragic one. According to his accountof the 1980s, local historian, the late Councillor Arthur Smith, writes that duringthe 6th century, there was an outbreak of cholera in the area. Alocal girl, by the name of Deborah, was recognised as a white witch, or healingwoman, who used plants and herbs gathered from the wild to cure the sick. Withno mainstream medicines available at the time, the services of these women werewidely called upon. But when things went wrong, as inevitably they sometimes did,these healing women fell under deep suspicion. At the start of the outbreak, perhaps aware thatinfected water was the cause of the disease, Deborah is said to have led thevillagers up the hill and away from the well, thereby protecting them frominfection. A hospital was established here, and villagers were kept safe for awhile, but eventually the disease reached them, and people began to die. The blame for this fellupon Deborah, who was now branded as a black witch. The building was set alight,with the inhabitants - including Deborah - still inside. Nobody survived the ravagingflames. However, there are some problematic details contained in this story. Cholera was only recognised as an identifiable disease in Britain in the year 1831, and though it is not impossible that cholera was present before this date, it does throw into question such an early association. Perhaps the story relates to the 16th century rather than the 6th, when a real fear of witches and witchcraft pervaded the country. Like most stories of this type, the tale most likely has its roots in a centuries-old oral tradition, which has changed and been elaborated on over the years. However, the name of Deborah is well established in the area: the woodland where the memorial stands bears her name, as does a field across the road, and a nearby lead shaft. Has this story evolved from a tragedy years ago, the truth of which has been lost to time? OS maps from the 18th century have no mention of a well in the area, though there is an indication of one in nearby Cornel, where Deborah is believed to have been born…is this just coincidence? Food for thought, certainly. A further strange tale relating to the site dates from the early 1970s, involving a married couple driving home late one night from Loggerheads. Needing to ‘pay a visit’, the man pulled over near Deborah’s Well, and went off into the woods to answer the call of nature. As she waited for him in the car, his wife was horrified by the sudden appearance of a woman with blazing hair emerging from the woodland. Terrified, she ran to find her husband. On returning to the car, the couple found no trace of the burning woman. So shaken were they by this incident that they reported it to the authorities, and the next day police called at the area to investigate. They found no trace of anything, save the woman’s handbag, dropped in her panic. Golden Ghost of Goblin Hill In 1833, an extraordinary cape of gold was found by workmenworking in a field known as Cae Ellyllon (Field of the Goblins), on theoutskirts of Mold, either when filling in a gravel pit, or when quarrying forstone – the details are uncertain. Dating from the Bronze Age, it was fashionedfrom a single ingot of gold about the size of a golf ball and placed on thebody of someone who had been interred in a stone-lined grave within the burialmound known as Tomen yr Ellyllon (Tumulus of the Goblins). It is considered tobe the finest example of prehistoric gold work in Europe and can be seen ondisplay in the British Museum.There is also a copy in Mold Museum. Before the discovery of the cape however, locals had formany years spoken of a spirit called Brenin yr Allt – King of the Hill – whichwas said to haunt the area. Legend tells that in 1810 a woman was leading herdrunken husband home from a pub in the town, their route taking them throughCae Ellyllon, where the cape was later uncovered, when they encountered anapparition, “clothed in gold which shone like the sun”, towering over the tomen,before disappearing into it. The encounter scared the woman out of her wits,and her husband into sobriety! A detailed report dating from 1830 recounts that one summerevening, a ‘respectable woman’ was riding home when she noticed that some ofthe trees on the opposite side of the road were lit with a strange, glimmeringlight, before she was confronted by “an apparition of unusual size, and clothedwith a suit of golden armour”, which then disappeared into the tomen. Stunned and shaken, the woman immediatelyturned back for Mold to relate her encounter to the Vicar of Mold, ReverendCharles Butler Clough (laterArchdeacon of St. Asaph), who duly recorded what she told him, and had threeother ‘respectable people’ witness the account. He later confirmed that thestory of the golden ghost was well-known locally before the discovery of thecape in 1833, though we should note that its dimensions mean that it could onlyhave been worn by a small woman or a teenager, rather than a warrior of “unusualsize”. So, whether we have tangible evidence of a golden ghost, or evidence ofcollective memory stretching back millennia and preserved as a ghost story,this tale is truly remarkable. Plas Teg An impressive and brooding Grade 1 listed Jacobean mansion located between Mold and Wrexham on the A541, Plas Teg was built in 1610 by Sir John Trevor. It is believed to be one of the most haunted buildings in Wales, with no fewer than 15 unquiet spirits said to wander the house and grounds. One of these is said to be SirJohn’s own daughter, Dorothy, who fell in love with Iorwerth, a local farmer’sson. Her father strongly disapproved of the match however and forbade thecouple from meeting. Heartbroken, Dorothy planned to elope with her love, andburied her jewellery near a well in the grounds of the mansion. On the night ofthe planned elopement, Dorothy went to retrieve her jewellery but tragically slippedand fell down the well, to her death. Her body was not discovered for twomonths, and her jewellery was never found. Over the centuries, there have beennumerous reports of a woman in whitewandering on the A541 – could this be poor Dorothy, looking for her belovedIorwerth? Frightened of being accused of Dorothy’s murder, poor Iorwerth hangedhimself, and his ghost is also said to haunt Plas Teg. Yet more tragedy was to befallthe Trevor family in the mid-18th century. The fifth Sir John Trevordiscovered that his wife was having an affair, and in a fit of jealous rage, heis alleged to have killed her. Later, reputedly riddled by all-consuming guilt,a drunk Sir John drove his carriage at reckless speed towards a tree in thegrounds of Plas Teg, severely injuring himself, and subsequently dying a slowand lingering death. The house has attracted manysupernatural investigators over the years, including the team from thetelevision show, Most Haunted UK, many of whom claim to have seen shadowyfigures, sensed ghostly presences, and heard loud wailing noises. Darkness is its own kingdom While some may dismiss these stories and incidents as mere coincidence or imagination, others believe that they are indisputable evidence of supernatural activity. Whether you are a believer or not, there is no denying that strange things happen in this part of Wales when darkness falls...

turningthestones.com

Beside Flint Mountain’s Pwll-y-Wrach pond, the local White Lady predicted the death of a passing farmer who happened to disturb her ghostly peace, a prognostication which supposedly came true the very next Spring.

In Ogmore, Bridgend, a spirit would wander the area until approached by a daring fellow, who was led to a cauldron filled with gold, hidden within the old tower of Ogmore Castle. She allowed the man to take half the treasure for himself, but the greedy chap later returned later and took the rest. This naturally ired The White Lady, whose fingers turned into claws and attacked the man as he left the castle with his loot. He became extremely ill, but only passed away once he had confessed his greed.

From then on, Y Ladi Wen's Revenge was said to befall any person who carked it before disclosing hidden riches, damned to lie forever in the nearby river.

England

Some English tales of The White Lady hold she may be a victim of murder or a suicide, who died before she could tell anyone the location of a hidden treasure (again).

In 2019, its said that a family camped at the castle of Blenkinsopp in Northumberland. One night the parents were woken by their boy screaming, "The White Lady!" but by the time they got to him, she had vanished. The lad claimed the spectre was very angry, after he refused to accompany her to a box of gold buried in the vaults below and tried to take him with her.

The same events took place the following three evenings...but The White Lady no longer disturbed him, after he understandably began sleeping in his parents’ bed.

A White Lady is seen retracing her steps at Portchester Castle; she was said to have jumped off the the battlements when trying to retrieve her stricken child.

Chillingham Castle, 1718 (Wikimedia Commons)

At appropriately named Chillingham Castle in Northumbria (Britain’s most haunted castle), a footman was startled by the unexpected presence of a lady dressed in white, appearing frail and asking for water. This pale figure is still seen today, the prevailing theory that her longing for water suggests poisoning.

The "Running Lady"of Beeford, East Yorkshire appears on the Beeford Straight, a road between the villages of Beeford and Brandesburton. Motorists have reportedly seen her scampering apparition by the road, and anecdotes include a motorcyclist picking up a female hitchhiker there, who shortly after, turned around to find his passenger absent.

Another story recounts a car on the road crashing into a tree, killing 6 people - the result of The white Lady's curse?

An old ballad haunts Okehampton Castle, "My Ladye hath a sable coach, with horses two an four. My Ladye hath a gaunt blood-hound, that goeth before. My Ladye's coach hath nodding plumes, the driver hath no head. My Ladye is an ashen white – as one who is long dead."

She is said to be a noble Howard, of the 17th century, who slew several husbands and children of hers. She is cursed to collect grass blades in the castle ruins until the end of time itself.

The White Lady of Radford in Devon is a young woman who wanted to see her beau living in nearby Oreston, but being forbidden to do so by her family. But one evening, wearing virginal white, she took a boat across a lake to see her boy.

The boat capsized, with The White Lady pulled by her dress under the water - some say the Lady's lover was in the boat with her when it sank. Many have since told of seeing the White Lady sitting beside the lake in her ghostly form, waving at dumfounded witnesses. As a result of this, a street nearby Radford park was named "White Lady Road".

Haunted ruins are being reclaimed by nature in Plymouth park

It is said The White Lady haunts the ruins looking for her lost lover

www.plymouthherald.co.uk

Ghosts and Myths of Radford House & Hooe Lake : HooeLake.org

www.hooelake.org

Ghostly Matilda (also called Margaret) is told to haunt Berry Pomeroy Castle (also in Devon), acting as a harbinger of death to everyone who glimpses her in the dungeon of the St Margaret Tower.

She was said to have been starved to death by her sister in that very dungeon. In 1806, Edward Montague wrote a spooky novel titled The Castle of Berry Pomeroy.

White Lady Stones

There are quite a few ‘White Lady’ stones in England and Wales. The petrified remains of the haunted spirits? Natural phenomena? Or pre-historic erections? You decide.

I guess.

The White Lady of North Ormsby, Lincolnshire (Wikimedia Commons)

A life-sized statue of a woman in a classical style that has been here for hundreds of years, no-one really knows how or why she came to be here, but there are countless folk tales about her. Some say it's Roman, others say 18th century in the Greek style; the site reputedly marks the spot where a woman was once killed whilst out hunting. The valley is rich in history and she stands on the site of a Gilbertine Priory founded in 1184 and close to the deserted medieval village of North Ormsby.

Wilkie Collins The Woman in White

Stephen Arnell’s novel THE GREAT ONE is available on Amazon Kindle now:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-One-Secret-Memoirs-Pompey-ebook/dp/B0BNLTB2G7

Tuesday 1 October 2024

Due to the Hurricane . . .

The chief editor and publisher, Jock Brocas is safe, but cannot be reached at the moment due to hurricane damage. He cannot respond to anyone, but will resume when he is able.

Monday 30 September 2024

Behold the Renaissance: London’s refreshed Warburg Institute re-opens its esoteric library doors

This way to the weird, wonderful and refreshingly unconventional world of Warburg

A mysterious cosmic emblem hangs over the entrance to a building in Bloomsbury, at the heart of London’s university quarter. Depicting concentric circles bound by intertwined arcs, it represents the four elements, seasons and temperaments, as mapped out by Isidore of Seville, a sixth-century bishop and scholar of the ancient world, as well as patron saint of the internet. What lies within is not a masonic lodge, though, or the HQ of the Magic Circle, but the home of one of most important and unusual collections of visual, scientific and occult material in the world. (The Guardian, 25/09/24)

The Warburg Institute, a research institution associated with the University of London and member of the School of Advanced Study, concentrates on cultural history, role of images, the histories of art and science and their particular links with magic, superstition, and popular supernatural lore.

Just the ticket for a Paranormal Daily News reader.

From the Warburg Institute website:

‘Founded in Hamburg at the turn of the twentieth century by historian Aby Warburg (1866-1929), the Institute was established to trace the roots of the Renaissance in ancient civilisations and ended up changing the way we see the world around us.

Sent into exile when the Nazis came to power, the Institute was transferred to England in 1933 and became part of the University of London in 1944. It has served, during a turbulent century, as a creative crucible for scholars, curators, artists and all those whose work sits outside traditional academic structures. The Warburg’s unique Library, Archive and Photographic Collection form a holistic, associative engine for exploring the histories of the arts and sciences—linking the textual and the visual, the intellectual and the social, the scientific and the magical.

Building on Aby Warburg’s belief that the memory of the past activates the present, the Warburg examines the movement of culture across barriers - of time, space and discipline -to inspire, inform and connect.’

In 2022, major renovation and redevelopment began on the existing buildings, dubbed the ‘Warburg Renaissance’. £14.5 million later, the new, improved Warburg reopens in early October 2024.

Warburg Renaissance

Discover our new spaces and find out more about the Warburg Renaissance building project

warburg.sas.ac.uk

“It’s a building filled with literal magic,” according to novelist Naomi Alderman (The Power), who has spent long hours writing at the library. “A place to sit amid books that are almost definitely emanating auras of sorcery … One brief stroll through the shelves and I always find some new wyrd inspiration.” (Guardian)

Occult? Try upstairs! Inside the world’s weirdest library, now open to the public

It has folders marked ‘Grasping the victim’s head’ and now – after a £15m revamp and some help from Albert Einstein and the patron saint of the internet – the extraordinary Warburg Institute is letting passersby in to view its ‘books emanating sorcery’

www.theguardian.com

The Warburg Institute

The Warburg Institute is dedicated to the study of global cultural history and the role of images in society. It examines the movement of culture across barriers - of time, space and discipline - to inspire, inform and connect.

warburg.sas.ac.uk

So, if you’re in London this Fall, you have no reason not to pop in and take a peek at the esoteric world of the Warburg Institute. Their website states that the unique collections of the Warburg Library and Photographic Collection are open free of charge to academic researchers. They hope to have all their collections back in the building by mid-October.

The re-opening is particularly timely, considering recent weeks have seen the release of Disney+s Agatha All Along, a Marvel spin-off that concerns the Darkhold, also known as the Book of Sins, the Book of Spells, or the Book of the Damned, with spells containing transcribed dark magic based on ancient engravings carved by the demonic entity known Chthon. A powerful grimoire full of Eldritch magic.

Mystical literature in movies

Fictional books of mystic power/knowledge also feature in Beetlejuice (Handbook for the Recently Deceased), Bedknobs and Broomsticks, (The Spells of Astoroth), The Ninth Gate (The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows), Supernatural ( The Book of the Damned ), and the Evil Dead series of movies (The Necronomicon/Book of Souls). Not forgetting Harry Potter (Book of Spells), although personally I’d like to. A spell of forgetfulness, perhaps? à la Doctor Strange’s in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).

The Château de Puivert (Aude, France), where The Ninth Gate appeared (Wikimedia Commons)

'Real life' tomes

And of course there are many 'real life' tomes that dabble in the occult, including The Grand Grimoire (1521, 1522 or 1421), Book of Shadows (Wicca, 1940s/50s), Sworn Book of Honorius (1347), Calendarium Naturale Magicum Perpetuum (1619), Grand Albert (1493), Petit Albert (1706), Galdrabók (1600), The Magus (1801), de magia veterum (1575), Picatrix (1th century), Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577?), Magical Treatise of Solomon (15th century), and of course the Kabbalah (dates unknown, but first widely publicized in the Middle Ages), as well as many, many others.

These should all be examined with the appropriate caution.

Aleister Crowley's The Book of the Law (1904): ‘Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law’ forms the basis for Crowley's practice of Magick and his Thelema ‘religion’. He used to hang out at (in the basement) - The Atlantis Bookshop, still trading in Museum Street, which I covered in a previous post.

My own, purely academic activities in the area were confined to a thesis at the University of Hull, many years ago.