Equinox Books

The Equinox Vol. VII, No. 1: Not very interesting, nor worthy to follow in the series of the Equinox Vol. I, Vol. III. Vol. IV, or even Motta's Vol. V. Contains nothing new by Crowley, and is of little use, or interest to anyone. Completely spurious and unauthorized. Avoid. Avoid. A waste of your time and money.

Please do not (as I did) confuse this single volume (Vol VII) compiled in 1992 with the 10-volume set Aleister Crowley published from 1909 to 1913 as have the other reviews on this page. Some of the descriptions can be misleading if not carefully read.

Also do not confuse it with the original "Red Equinox" published in 1992 which is Vol 1 (No.s 1-10) and Vol III (the "Blue Equinox", Vol. III, No. 1) eleven books published in seven volumes and bound in red leather. This is a different book all together.

This "Red Equinox" ("Volume VII, No. 1") was edited by Ray Eales & Vance Borland and published by Silver Star in Tampa, FL, in 1992. It contains the following chapters:

Editorial
Praemonstrance
Liber VII (Liber Liberi vel Lapidis Lazuli)
Liber DCL vel DE FONS AQUAE VITAE
Map of the Coins of the Ge Yuan (by Marcelo Motta)
Liber CCXXXI Visions by S.T.S. (circa 1978-1980)
Liber Cheth vel VALLVM ABIEGNI (from Equinox Vol 1, No. VI)
Liber Tzaddi (from Equinox Vol 1, No. VI)
Liber LXI
Postcards To Probationers (from Equinox Vol 1, No. II)
Yaweh is Egyption for Moon (David Bersson, 1990)
Liber Thisharb (from Equinox Vol 1, No. VII)
Magick and Film (by Ray Eales)
Antecedents of Thelema ("found in a rough typescript with annotations in AC's hand")
The Journey and the Waiting (by Ray Eales)

If this is what you are interested in, you might appreciate this book. I had all of the material published before 1992 (i.e., the AC material) in other books and compilations.

This is "an Equinox" but not "THE Equinox". See www.the-equinox.org for the complete listing of the content of Equinox Volumes I and III.

Caveat emptor!

After looking everywhere for this massive work, I finally break down and buy the (used) two volume set here on Amazon. Needless to say, it is a real trip! Ranging from everything between the heavy, sober case studies, "scientific journals" and mystical treatise; to lighter reading in short stories, novels and flat out hysterical poetry! Of course, you can find everything that is in this work on-line (including the illustrations) for free, I just chose not to partake in the perpetual exploitation of genius - not that it is "wrong" to print out the whole work or save it onto your computer, I will leave that moral arguement to those who think they care. It is all a matter of personal choice. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.

The review titled "This May Not Be the 'Equinox' You are Thinking Of.." does not apply to this edition. That review seems to refer to one of the later Motta Equinox editions. I believe this is a reprint of earlier volumes edited by AC during his lifetime.

That being said, as of 27 March 2006 e.v. Weiser has "no publish date" for either this set or the Blue Equinox.

This is THE set if you want to study Magick (which stems from meditation, yoga, using one's will). It helps the student a lot, especially in volumes 5 and 8 where he teaches Gematria and gives out lengthy examples as oppossed to 777. Definetely the longest read he has made, the 10 volume 1992 Weiser set is the one to look for. I had the 2 book set, and the spine of the book was unstable, and it just wasn't the same. With this, the text is nice and big, so it makes it so much easier on the eyes (which already hurt from meditating LOL). Watch out for the 1992 edition, only 750 of them were made and they are now precious jewelstones in the modern Magickians' life of study.
93 93/93


Frater 227

I enjoyed the recipes, crafts, and spells found throughout the book. My only wish is that it had included more recipes and rituals.

I am so loving this book. It has wonderful ideas of ways to celebrate the coming of fall... which is my favorite season, and the authors too! LOL There are many projects to do, stories, recipes... it is fabulous! Great addition to any home, but especially a pagan home.

Heather mama of 5

Another great work by Ellen! This is one of the installments of Llewellyn's sabbat series, not all of which are created equal. However, this installment by Dugan is a jewel. She provides many ways to celebrate the holiday and season with your family. Great recipes and simple rituals let you honor the Equinox in a simple effective way. I always look forward to fall, and all the cozy days ahead and lovely Autumn weather. This book helps you make the most of those times.

Each Llewellen book has a cool introduction about the history of the holiday. I recommend all the sabbat books in this series - - they have a lot more information than in any individual sabbat book. Also good is Mabon: Celebrating the Autumn Equinox - these are two different book & both have new information.

Wow! Another absolute WOW! Ellen Dugan had done it again. If you are a fan of this witty and wonderfully charming author, "Autumn Equinox: The Enchantment of Mabon" is a must have for your Craft collection. Inofrmation, ideas, spells, recipes, traditions...it's all in this easy,accessible, 208 page package.
As a practicing Wiccan for 7 years, I thought that I had always had a handle on the Sabbats. You know...cast a cirlce there, whip out the athame here, say your stuff and move right along, right? Sure...for a beginner. I've always wanted to move on to the history, the ideas and the knowledge behind these absolutley fascinating holidays. What better way to learn than from one of Llewellyn's hottest up-and-coming authors with my favorite Wiccan holiday of the year?
As always, Mrs. Dugan breaks it down clear and simple, beginning with her own personal stories of this bewitching time of the season, continuing with the mythological backbones to autumn through the tales of Persephone, Demeter,Elen, Pomona, Dionysus, the Green Man and Herene the Hunter. However, Ellen only does this after humoursly deciphering the meaning of the word "maize" (you have to read and find out for yourself now, won't you?). And just what else would this Garden Witch include as a chapter in her book? You guessed it! A chapter completley dedicated to "The Garden in Autumn: Fall Flower and Foliage Fascinations"--with an included Cold Hardiness Zone Map to easily pick out whether an Oakleaf Hydrangea or a Sweet Autumn Clematis would be better to plant in your backyard.
All I have to say is that with spell after spell, charm after charm, tid-bit after tid-bit, you come to wonder how the Autumn Equinox became known as the "forgotten sabbat" as Mrs. Dugan dutifully points out. I mean this season deals out the most recognizable changes of any other Sabbat. Just look at the leaves in your own neighborhood! If you want to come and fully experience such a wonderful holiday and time of year, I strongly suggest for you to pick up this fabulous book, get readin' and prepare to experience Mabon in a whole new "changed" way.

I would never ever put chemotherapy poison in my body. It does not cure and it DESTROYS the immune system, so you cannot try anything else less toxic after you realize chemo was a wrong choice.

1. Mutations can be be fixed by enzymes before they cause trouble. There are many enzymes that repair damage DNA in a cell. Some enzymes remove damaged pieces of DNA and fill in the gap with the proper bases, using the opposite strand of DNA as a guide. Other repair enzymes scan the chromosomes for mismatched bases. When a mismatch is discovered, the enzymes remove the wrong base, and replace it with the correct one.

2. Cancer cells replication patterns is controlled by the cyclins. Mitosis has S, G2, M, G1 stages and movement between the stages are controlled by cyclin-dependant Kinases. A cell's progress through the cell cycle is controlled by a group of proteins known as cyclins. For example, cyclin D1 increases as a cell prepares to enter the S stage of mitosis. Only when the right cyclins are at the right level in a cell will it enter the next stage of mitosis. In some cancers cells, it appears that some of the cell cycle genes, both cyclins and th cyclin-dependent kinases, have been mutated. D1 mutations can be found in some cancer cells. Cycline E protein in higher in breast cancer cells. Cycline E may also increase as breast cancers become more aggressive. These changes stimulate the cell to perpetually divide.

3. The mitosis checkpoints fail in cancer cells. The cell continues to divide with gene defects. The checkpoints may allow a cell to resume progress through the cycle even though the damaged remains unrepaired; the cell seems to become accustomed to the damage and sees it as normal. Some scientist think that the checkpoints themselves may have mutated.

4. In normal cells, the cyclins do not act on their own; they are controlled by growth factors, hormones and other growth-stimulating proteins. These proteins are usually manufactured by one type of cell and sent to a different type of cell. They attach to receptors on the cell and send signals inside which, ultimately, control the cyclins and stimulate cell division.

5. When growth factors or other cell stimulants send signals inside the cells, internal molecules must transmit those signals. One of the more commonly mutated oncognese in tumors is call Ras. The Ras protein is part of the signaling pathway which usually leads to cell growth. In some tumors, drugs which can suppress Ras can block the growth of cancer.

6. When a tumor suppressor gene mutates, its ability to prevent uncontrolled growth is turned off. For most tumor suppressors, both tumor suppressor geens in a cell must be damaged in order to promote cancer. Tumor suppressor gene and associated cancers: p53 (Sarcomas, breast cancer), RB (Retinoblastoma), APC (Colon Cancer), DCP4 (Cancer of the pancreas), PTCH (Basal cell carcinoma, skin cancer), BRCA1 & BRCA2 (breast cancer). Cell with mutated genes with an intact p53 can not be repaired, p53 turns on a set of proteins which kill the cell. The process of cell sucide is called apoptosis.

7. As many as 80% of women who inherit mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 will develop breast cancer.

8. The mainstays of cancer therapy is surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Not all cancers can bee effectively with all three.

9. Radiotheraphy basically works by bombarding the cancer with very energetic particles such as x-rays or gamma rays. The energy is absorbed by cells, and can split water moleculs in the cells, producing free radicals. Free radicals are very unstable molecules which have temporarily captured an extra electron. This extra electron give a free radical the ability to combine with any other molecule nearby. The free radicals bounce around in the cell, wreaking havoc as they damage cricical molecules. Scientist believe that the radiation therapy amy trigger apoptsis (cell sucide). The drug CBLB502 is being tested to help delay apoptsis during radiation treatment allowing healthy cells to survive and cancer cells to die.

10. With complex calculations and multiple beams from different directions, radiation can now match even the shape of the tumor. The exciting field of optical Coherence Tomography may someday allow doctors to probe tissue layers interactively and remove cancer by very focused radiation burst.

11. Japan is perfection the heavy-ion treatment system for killing certain cancer. Heavy ions concentrate more destructive energy directly at the tumor. The Tokyo Heavy-Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba, or Himac is the first large accellerator in the world dedicated to cancer treatment. The accelerator cost $300 million to build and $50 million a year to treat 1,000 patients. The device uses 25 megawatts of electrical power, the capacity to supply 8,000 homes. Heavy ions are particularly useful for treating tumors in areas that can be damaged by radiation, such as the eye and spinal cord.

12. Chemicals called radiosensitizers make tumors more sensitive to radiation.

13. Porphyrins are useful molecules in the body. Among their duties, they carry oxygen and iron in the blood. Porphyrins also tend to accumulate in cancer cells and not in normal cells. This characteristic has made them important in phototherapy treatment .Johnathan Sessler built a bigger porphyrin carried by cancer drugs into the cancer cell. The drug was called Texaphyrin. When Texaphyrin is attached to gadolinium, it seems to make free radicals last longer.

14. 5-fluorouracil (5 FU) stops the cell from making the base thymine by blocking the enzyme thymidylate synthase, which makes thymine from uracil. 5-FU inhibits thymidylate synthetase. Cancer cells need to make and repair DNA in order to grow and multiply. 5FU stop cells making and repairing DNA. The taking of 5-FU causes a temporary drop in the number of white blood cells produced by the bone marrow. 5-FU are part of a group of chemotherapy drugs know at anti-metabolites. Anti-metabolites often stop cells making and repairing DNA.

15. Cancer carrying Fas-L receptors connect with T cell Fas receptor and the T-cell commits suicide. Cancer cells have antigen blockers on their receptors and do not bind with the T-cell and the cancer cell and T-cell survive. Cancer cell with the Fas gen have fas receptors that bind with Cancers with Fas-L receptors and the cancer cell dies.

This book "covers" 103 substances and treatments for cancer. In that sense, it was "comprehensive" 12 years ago. However, it appears to be written primarily for the researcher, rather than for the cancer patient. All the references are to studies, almost all of which would be "gibberish" to the average cancer patient.

Although it has had many printings since it was first published in 1992, it appears that Dr. Moss has done very little updating of the text. For example, there is no reference to even one Internet web site. With all their shortcomings (product hype, etc.), these web sites are now essential tools for the cancer patient to learn about their options and resources (doctors, clinics, substances, etc.) for treatment.

Use this book as you would a dictionary. It may be wiser to look for it in the library, rather than to buy it.

This is the premier book for people looking for solutions. Helped me make mine.

5-Stars. I don't own this book, but I borrowed it and read it three times, and took notes. I am a mechanical engineer who started studying Alternative Medicine 11 years ago. This book will impress all readers who have the following charactersitics; A logical mind, some basic science background, and a "show me the proof" philosophy. Dr. Ralph Moss's book supplies all the Cancer fighting natural medicines/techniques, with exact, honest proof on its success in humans and animal subjects.

I consider this book, although slightly old (1992), the first book to read on natural cancer therapy, for all interested readers.

I found this book really wordy and confusing. The images are not numbered and do not have full refrenced captions, which makes finding infomation on a particualar image very difficult. Also, the chapters are in chronological order, yet several images and some information is not in the chapter of the correct time period. This would be fine if those images from a time period other than what the chapter covers were being compared to images from the time period, but they are not ever that i noticed.

I slowly worked my way through this book over that last year and learned quite a lot from it. From the contents of Neolithic villiages to the slow evolution on Cuniform script from it's origional pictograms. I was fascinated by the Assyrian's system of empire. A system that kept things in tact so well that the subsequent empires of the Babylonians, Medes, Persions, and Greeks were able to conquer vast swaths of the world in releativly short time spans.

I kind of a technically minded person so it's easy for me to forget that this is a "Cultural Atlas". The book is filled with full-color pictures of ancient art ranging from every-day pottery to artifacts from the greatest temples and palaces of their times.

I'm a born-again Christian and one reason I got this book to try to get a glimpse of what cultures influenced the ancient Hebrews of the Old Testament and to see what evidence actually exists of the Hebrew monarchy besides the bible and temple ruins (Answer - not a lot). Roaf does give the Hebrews an honorable mention and often mentions how archaeologists use passages from the Old Testament as a cross-refernce to literature and records from neighboring cultures.

I gave the book 5 stars but it does have it's flaws. Many of the figures have a baffling lack of legend and captions to allow a better understanding of what, when, and where one is looking at. Sometimes one has to look real hard at the map figures to understand exactly what part of Mesopotamia one is looking at as there is no indication of scale or landmarks.

The figures were only a minor nuisance. Get this book for the great array of photographs and easy read.

This atlas covers the historical development of the ancient Near East (with an emphasis on ancient Mesopotamia) from Paleolithic times to the conquest of the Persian empire by Alexander the Great. Michael Roaf does an excellent job of illustrating the book with color photos of artifacts, stone inscriptions, and maps that reinforce the discussion in the text. At appropriate points in the book, special features are included that focus on specific archaelogical sites around the Middle East as well as on significant cultural and scientific developments that occurred.

The main part of the book is 223 pages long, of which approximately half is devoted to photos, maps, and features. However, this is not simply a picture book; the atlas also includes a historical narrative that I found to be quite engaging and accessible for a general reader like myself. Additionally, besides being a good introduction to ancient Mesopotamia, this atlas provides a wealth of archaelogical data that may serve as a good reference for those who are undergoing more advanced reading. Examples of such data include the layout of existing ruins, geographical distributions of archaelogical finds, and a gazetteer that provides the coordinates of ancient sites in the Middle East.

On the negative side, I found that the index often provided faulty page references to subjects and a few typos can be found throughout the text. Nevetheless, these blemishes do not take away from the book's main goal of providing an illustrated introduction to ancient Mesopotamia for the general reader.

I understand that Checkmark Books (who published this atlas in 1990) has recently published a new book entitled "The Historical Atlas of Ancient Mesopotamia" by Norman Hunt. I have not seen this more recent book nor have I read any reviews about it, but potential buyers may wish to inquire about it before purchasing the 1990 atlas.

In any event, I think that "The Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East" would be a valuable addition to the library of anyone who is interested in ancient history. I know that this book will be in my collection for a long time to come.

This is an incredibly informative read with hundreds of beautiful photographs throughout. Its very factual and seems current with its research. Roaf does not waste time on speculation - he simply states the facts as they have been uncovered and leaves it up to the reader to infer meaning and implication. I read this as a text for a college course and found it loaded with info (overwhelming at times). But it having a professor explain the hows and whys was crucial.

I was re-reading the above book and saw the comments of 'Susanna', who faulted the book because of a lack of information associated with the pictures shown. He/she is entirely wrong -- and in addition no one else commented in this (supposed) fault.
Each photo I saw (all) not only gave a good description, but, contrary to many similar type books, indicates from where each item was/is to be found. This is a definite 'plus'.

This is an incorrect and inaccurate criticism.

I bought this for my nephew as a gift and liked it so much, I bought one for myself.

I am very happy with the Planispere Deluxe, I know when I buy the best product, you get the best results, So I purchased the deluxe.
It takes a bit of practice along with the enclosed manual, to set up a time and date to view the night sky, otherwise its as simple as A, B, C.
I`m looking forward to purchase a manual showing the locations of the planets for the years 2007 to ?.
Thanking you
Dan

Many many objects available and so simple to use. My only regret is I maybe should have got the smaller version. The print is also quite small, but a good red light cures that. Extremely helpful for the newcomer.

This planisphere is truly remarkable. Yes, after reading the previous review, the red lines connecting the principle stars of the constellations can be somewhat cumbersome to the novice. (But, turn the map around and there on the back of the disk, you have a complete black and white map of the front plotted down to the sixth magnitude intended to be used with red light.) This planisphere is designed for the more experienced observer, but it still can be used by people just learning their way around as well. The revolvable indicator is very useful to plot and assess the location of objects not plotted on the chart relative to your local horizon. If there were to be changes for a second edition planisphere, I would like to see the map extended southward to include the 30 degree north latitude zone, and being a deep sky observer myself, perhaps in addition to the messier catalog, the top 300 objects on the NGC catalog plotted on the map as well. Contrary to other reviews, there is still considerable idle space in many areas of this map, especially the southern half of the map area, for plotting additional deep sky objects. Otherwise, I highly recommend this planisphere for any astronomer's reference library.

This item is constructed of a tough yet flexible plastic that is dew-proof and easy to use in the dark. I love the detail, but others with poor eyesight, when it comes to small print, won't like it. It's a trade-off that is fine with me, because more info greatly outweighs big type for this 20/20 user. ;) The complaint about the constellation lines being red is valid, but I've found that I can still see them under my small red LED lamp, but they are faint. As the earlier complaint points out, there is a black and white copy on the back that you can use with no problem under any color light - just flip it over! Great product. Get this one if you're in the market and you plan to use it outdoors with a telescope or binoculars.

I bought this book (and some others) after my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in March of 2003. Although, we had read a few negative things about using antioxidants with conventional therapies, this book gave us the courage (with solid scientific research of Dr. Moss) to apply antioxidant therapy WITH conventional therapies such as Chemo. I am writing this review to testify that the outcome in our case was nothing short of miracle. After chemo, the pathology report indicated a complete response. Now, my beloved wife is one more statistic showing synergy of conventional therapy with alternative therapy(if you can call antioxidants an alternative). Throughout the book, it shows that Dr. Moss is writing this book to help cancer patients. Use this book towards your goal of optimizing conventional, mainstream, treatments such as chemo and radiation. We have. I wish there was more specific information(in a table format) on how much of each antioxidants have shown to be effective in various cancer treatments. Nonetheless, one can tailor a regimen with guidelines provided in this book.

All cancer patients must co-doctor if they are going to survive. Most cancer doctors will warn against the harmful effects of taking antioxidants with chemotherapy or radiation treatments. This book completely debunks that medical school dogma.

As a cancer patient, you need to arm yourself with factual knowledge. This is one of the books you need to study and share with your doctor. It covers specific combinations of chemotherapy drugs and antioxidant supplements. If you can't agree on what you should take, find another doctor.

It would have been helpful if Dr. Moss had mentioned some of the animal foods which contain high doses of Vitamin A and other antioxidants, but his emphasis is on supplements and "fruits and vegetables." I still recommend you study this book closely BEFORE you agree to a treatment regimen for your cancer.

This book provides concise information regarding nutritional supplements that are effective in fighting cancer. I am battling Colon Cancer. Traditional medicine has its place, but the statistics were not very comforting. I thus have spent a great deal of time researching CAM (complimentary alternative medicines). One is quickly overwhelmed by the volume of (often contradictory) information available via web and books. For this, Dr. Moss is a goldmine. This book allows one to setup an affordable supplement program based on current scientific research, not quackery. I am happy to report that I have done very well with the chemo, and am confident that I will beat this cancer.

I recommend that you visit his website cancerdecisions.com, and consider buying his detailed report for your cancer. He covers all traditional complimentary treatments that are helpful, and has spent great deal of time investigating the offshore clinics. I purchased the Colon Cancer report. It is the best money I have spent since I was diagnosed.

This book is a concise summary of current research on how different antioxidants can help heal and prevent cancer. For each antioxidant, there is also info on how it interacts with "establishment" cancer therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy. It also debunks the widespread myth that taking antioxidants will weaken the effect of chemotherapy.

The one thing lacking in the book is its omission of foods rich in the various nutrients discussed. For example, in the first chapter on vitamin A, Dr. Moss never once mentions any foods where vitamin A is found (like liver, butter, eggs, cod liver oil, etc) and implies that one should take supplements. He also keeps repeating that people should eat lots of brightly colored fruits and vegetables every day to get their lion's share of antioxidants, but he does not inform the reader that many of the antioxidants he discusses are not found in fruits and vegetables, but in animal foods and fats only (vitamin A, for example). Zinc, selenium, CoQ10, and lipoic acid are also concentrated in foods like oysters, organ meats, seafood, and red meat--not fruits and vegetables. Of course, fruits and vegetables are good foods, but for a complete antioxidant picture, one must include organic animal foods as well.

There was also a lack of discussion of various antioxidant compounds that are found in herbs and spices like turmeric, curry, and rosemary and I was disappointed in this. Dr. Moss does mention black and green teas, however.

For a few decades a few scientists, some of them Nobel laureates, have believed that antioxidants may prevent and even help to treat cancer. Some of the ideas and clinical results have been very promising, but have not received the attention they deserve. Even worse, unsubstantiated and even false claims have been bandied about by some of those who claim to know everything about the antioxidants, which makes anyone who touches the subject appear to be disreputable.

Enter Ralph Moss, PhD, formerly of Sloan-Kettering, who has done a first-rate job of going through myriad journals and papers and establishing which ideas about the use of antioxidants are scientifically proven. This book has no less than 460 references to papers on the subject, in other words, every contention of Dr. Moss's is well documented. This certainly isn't a rah-rah book; Moss carefully explains that certain antioxidants are known to worsen certain cancers; this is a field in which carelessness is particularly disasterous.

One of the most intriguing points he raises is that some cancers have been known to remit in response to large doses of CoEnzyme Q 10, a molecule that younger people are able to produce on their own, but which older people must ingest from their diet.

This book is so well researched and written that it ought to be read by anyone with cancer, as one would expect of a book written by the protégé of one of the Nobel laureates who first started thinking about the use of antioxidants to prevent and treat cancer. Albert von Szent-Györgi, one of the brighter Nobel laureates of the last century, mulled all this high up on his intellectual Mount Olympus; Dr. Moss has taken this down to us lesser mortals by putting his thoughts into understandable English and documenting what experimental proof there is for the use of antioxidants in treating cancer.

This is a good work of Aleister Crowley. Some of the essays and elements within have been reprinted in other volumes, but this one is still a good choice. I would recomend it especially for any followers of Crowley or the Golden Dawn; but it is still a good read for anyone just interested in theory.

Review from BLACK PEARL: The Journal of the College of Thelema (Vol. I, No. 1, March, 1997). Copyright 1997, College of Thelema (permission by editor granted Amazon Books to use). COMMENTARIES ON THE HOLY BOOKS & OTHER PAPERS by Aleister Crowley, with H.P. Blavatsky, J.F.C. Fuller & Charles Stansfeld Jones. (Samuel Weiser, Inc., 1996. Hardcover, 382 pp. ISBN 0-87728-888-7. $40.00) Fra. Hymenæus Beta is the preeminent Crowley editor of our time. Although his name does not appear anywhere on this present volume (subtitled The Equinox, Vol. IV, No. 1), his able hand is visible in both the quality handling of the content, and the beautiful form. Primarily, the volume consists of Crowley commentaries to many Class A Documents; but it contains much more. Its main feature is the 'Holy Book' Liber Cordis Cincte Serpente (Liber LXV), with Crowley's extraordinary commentary thereon. In addition to Karl Germer's small 1952 Ontario edition, the commentary had been serialized by Sor. Meral (In the Continuum, I:7-II:1, 1976-1979), and later published by C.O.T. in a single volume (1995). Unfortunately, in the present book the editor did not see fit to maintain the useful format of these three earlier editions wherein the commentary was positioned opposite and facing the corresponding text of Liber LXV. Other, shorter commentaries are included (on Libri B, Liberi, Trigrammaton, Stellæ Rubeæ, A'ash, Tav, and Ararita). Some have been published before; most have not. Their inclusion lends a welcome completeness to the volume. Frater Achad's commentary on Liber A'ash (written by him as an A.'.A.'. assignment, and then annotated by Crowley) will interest many. Also reprinted are documents important in defining the A.'.A.'. training system -- essentially the same set of defining documents appended, in 1993, to C.O.T.'s The Mystical & Magical System of the A.'.A.'. (One Star in Sight, Liber XIII, and Liber CLXXXV -- to which this book adds An Account of A.'.A.'.). These are introduced by a hitherto unpublished Crowley essay titled "Occultism," which includes one unpublished version of the A.'.A.'. Student Examination. A large color plate section includes a color reproduction of Crowley's original illuminated manuscript of Liber Pyramidos. Readers of "John St. John" (in Equinox 1) will recall that, during a magical retirement in late 1908, Crowley adapted the A.'.A.'. Neophyte initiation ceremony into a self-initiation ritual for his use in attaining the 6=5 Grade. This self-initiation ritual is now published. Though known to private collectors for many years, this color manuscript has not been available to most students until now, and we are happy to see it finally in print. However, we must disagree with the editor's labeling it as Liber DCLXXI, since that is the number of the official A.'.A.'. initiation ritual from which it was adapted, Liber ThROA. The one serious embarrassment of the volume is a new paper titled Liber Vesta, which claims to give "the correct designs (with color illustrations)" of the robes for each A.'.A.'. grade. This paper is new, created for the A.'.A.'. lineage served by the individuals who lent it their imprimatur. Except for the Probationer robe, these designs do not at all match those which have come down to us from the A.'.A.'.'s founders. They do not even distantly resemble the many published photographs of A.'.A.'. robes which embellish Crowley's writings. (The correct designs, published in Appendix F of The Mystical & Magical System of the A.'.A.'., 2nd. Ed., will be reprinted with further discussion in a later issue of BLACK PEARL.) Our conclusion, based on the colorful and entertaining appearance of these robes and the fact that the book was released the first week of October, is that Liber Vesta was the special Halloween Supplement. A further criticism concerns the inclusion of Blavatsky's (non-Class A) The Voice of the Silence, with Crowley's commentary. This lengthy piece -- constituting one-third of the entire, expensive volume -- was already included in Equinox III:1 (the "Blue Equinox"), and in Gems. It is readily available. Its inclusion here makes no sense in terms of the present book, the Equinox series overall, or service to the audience, and merely cranked up the size and cost unnecessarily. In fact, about 85% of this book's contents are already in print and accessible (which, however, is not inappropriate for a reference volume). Nonetheless, based, if nothing else, on the full color Pyramidos, and the compendium of commentaries, the book has enough new material, of such excellent virtue, as to win a Three Rose recommendation (|||). -- QUIL

I can tell you what I found out. Prophet Crowley, during his lifetime, was a prolific writer of esoteric subjects. Despite later claims he was a psychopath and junkie, he was really high class especially before he retired in Hastings. The bulk of Crowley's major books were issued seperately as a mammoth tome called The Equinox, a now legendary tome containg among others, this book as its contents. Examples of other issues would be The Book of Thoth itself making up one volume of The Equinox and The Book of Wisdom or Folly also taking up a seperate volume. The Equinox reissued by Weiser as one complete manuel used to be in excess of $1,000. But I got all what I wanted what I considered his major works as seperate reissues affordably priced for someone even making a little more than minimum wage. When I held jobs at a local college, I got Crowley thinking his books were not priced very high especially for someone as famous as him. But this one was expensive by even my lower standards. I did place an order for it online but just weeks after I didn't recieve it, the book was getting harder to find. But I did find a new copy elsewhere. This holds up well even though it is more obscure than even most of his better known works, containing some class A material and some final occult knowledge to the seeker that, while imposing, is worth it.

If the quaternary elements of Book Four are the prose of Thelema, then volumes like this are its poetry. The book proves its worth early on by presenting a FULL A.'.A.'. curriculum, then explores deeper mysteries with Liber LXV and a brilliantly commented edition of Blavatsky's Voice of the Silence. Additionally, the book contains several beautiful color plates and a very useful illustration of the Tree of Life (with corrected attributions). My only issue with the book is that much of this information can be obtained elsewhere, especially in online archives, but since when has that ever stopped people like us from buying another Crowley book? ;-) AL II:9

This Volume of the Equinox contains much more than mere Commentaries to the Holy Books, it contains the essence of knowledge that Crowley was capable of, woven into the structure of the Commentaries, making this the companion to every man's life-style. The Commentary for Liber LXV encompasses the means to invoke one's Guardian Angel in the simplist method possible. The Voice of the Silence' Commentary manifests the inherent differences between the Brother of the Right and Left Hand Paths and every other matter of the Crossing of the Abyss, concentrated within the scope of comparatively nothing -- he has extracted the needed material to the smallest possible space. There is knowledge offered in this Volume nowhere else able to be found on the nature of Crowley's Philosophies.

Ralph Moss shows tremendous courage as well as scholarly dedication. His book exposes the cancer industry for its greed and cynicism toward patients. The cancer industry's position on chemotherapy is such a BIG LIE that it is almost impossible not to believe some of it. I have to read this book over and over for it to sink in. Every cancer survivor should read this book.

I compare this book to the "cancer" of Fast Food Nation. Why? Because you understand the why's, how's, and will probably get good and angry by the time you're done. I wouldn't recommend this for anyone going through cancer, or even their family members (would hit a lot of nerves you may not want to touch during times of emotional stress), but when you're loved ones are healthy and you feel like putting up a good fight, this will certainly give you something to go by.

As a health care professional, I try to read books with an open mind, especially those pertaining to my industry. I feel this was a balanced, fair representation of what is going on in our health care industry, especially as relates to cancer. In and of itself, cancer is scary. Combined with the health industry, you want to bury your head.

The "war on cancer" is being lost and this book gives the primary reasons why. The current treatments - mainly chemotherapy and radiation - are largely ineffective and so toxic people often die from their treatment rather than their disease. There's been nothing new from the research community in decades, and the number of cancer victims keeps rising. Ralph W. Moss worked at one of the most prestigious cancer research and treatment facilities in the US - Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York. He quit when that institution deliberately misled the press and public about test results for a promising treatment. That treatment was the much-maligned laetrile (vitamin B-17) that was finally banned by the FDA and its proponents forced underground. Interestingly, Moss reports that Sloan-Kettering's most respected researcher, Kanematsu Sugiura, stood by the efficacy of laetrile until his death.

In The Cancer Industry, Moss shows how institutions like Sloan-Kettering pick and choose what to test and how to test it, and operate with a bias toward those methods that are the favorites of their financial backers, even to the point of disregarding their own researchers, as they did with Dr. Sugiura. The medical staff at Sloan-Kettering had a bias toward chemotherapy, since their Board of Directors included corporate bigwigs whose business interests benefited from chemo profits, which are enormous.

Another promising treatment, hydrazine sulfate, suffered the same fate as laetrile, even though its backers had considerable success with it. Unlike chemo, which generally makes the patient sicker, hydrazine sulfate works by building the patient's strength. It was the result of a logical deduction, arising from the fact that cancer patients often die of "cachexia," a term that literally means "wasting away." Hydrazine sulfate is an anti-cachexia agent. It works with the patient's own resistance to restore health.

What really doomed these two approaches to cancer treatment is that both are natural substances and their use in cancer treatment is part of a nutritional approach. Drug companies cannot patent anything natural or profit from nutritional therapy as they can from chemical substances which they alone control through patents. Laetrile is a naturally-occurring substance found in many foods, including apricots. Hydrazine sulfate is a very cheap substance that is readily available.

Moss also examines in detail the treatment of William Coley (Coley's Toxin) Dr. Lawrence Burton, Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski, Linus Pauling and vitamin C, and Virginia Livingston with her germ theory. All of these people achieved some success, but their methods were rejected by the orthodox cancer establishment.

Moss does not suggest that there is a formal conspiracy to suppress alternate treatments, but he does suggest that the organizations that control the direction of cancer treatment, whether government agencies, private companies, or research and treatment centers, have interlocking personnel and the agendas that matter are those that keep the funds flowing. He also shows that big egos and personal rivalries play a large part.

The cancer establishment has consistently downplayed prevention and ignored evidence that environmental factors or poor nutrition can be a cause or contributing factor in cancer. The big money interests that support the large charities like the American Cancer Society are not likely to approve of programs that suggest their products contribute to cancer. Moss examines the controversy over asbestos as a case study and shows how little interest there was among government or charities to warn the public about known dangers. While the entrenched players in the cancer war do little to inform the public about how to avoid the disease, they go out of their way to scare people about the likelihood that they will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime. Scare tactics bring in donations.

The book is well-researched and full of details (names, dates, test results), but I would have liked more information about the efficacy of screening tests, which is another big money-maker for the medical establishment. Is it really worthwhile to have mammograms and colonoscopies? Moss suggests that the "find it early" philosophy often makes no difference in the ultimate outcome. Given the high price and potential dangers of some of these screening tests, do they really serve the public or only the pocketbooks of those who provide the tests? It seems to me that screening tests are pushed on the public as a substitute for a cure, which these organizations have failed to provide, despite the billions of dollars they have spent since America declared a war on cancer more than 30 years ago.

It also seems to me that money is the primary motivator in all things medical in the US. Moss does not say there is a conspiracy and repeats the old mantra that a cure for cancer "would be worth a fortune." But wouldn't a cure ruin a perfectly good business, the cancer business? Moss shows just how many vested interests are involved in cancer, and I doubt any of them want to lose their market.

I'm betting that if we ever have a cure, or even better treatments, that the innovation needed will not come from the bloated and greedy US health care system, but rather from some country that has government-funded health care... somewhere where the incentives are for bringing down the costs by finding a cure for a deadly and expensive scourge. If you continue to believe the claptrap about America having the best medical research, then consider that it was two Australians who discovered that ulcers are caused, not by stress, but by bacteria and can be quickly and cheaply cured. What American drug company would have had the incentive to make such a discovery? Dr. Barry Marshall, one of the Australians whose persistence resulted in the breakthrough, was quoted as follows:

"The idea of stress and things like that was just so entrenched nobody could really believe that it was bacteria. It had to come from some weird place like Perth, Western Australia because I think nobody else would have even considered it."

Precisely the point of this book.

Moss has written a provocative book about how various factions in the cancer industry have become corrupted by the old, familiar struggle for money and power.
One of the more interesting chapters deals with the battle between a brilliant researcher in Houston named Stanislaw Burzynski and the cancer industry establishment. Members of the establishment are portrayed as favoring the use of patentable chemicals or synthetic drugs over any natural methods of treatment , such as that pioneered by Burzynski.
In discussing the cancer establishment Moss explains the make-up and activities of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, The American Cancer Society, The National Cancer Institute and The Food and Drug Administration.
My experience in reading this book has left me with even less trust in the people and organizations responsible for waging this country's war on cancer.

Ralph Moss does an excellent job documenting the fraud and deception that has been going on in healthcare for years. This is a must read for cancer patients and anyone looking to educate themselves about the truth concerning the "business with disease!" Millions of people are dying needlessly due to the war on information going on the this country.

There are a number of alternative healing therapies that work so well and cost so little when compared to conventional treatment, that Organized Medicine, the Food & Drug Administration, and their overlords in the Pharmaceutical Industry (The Big Three) would rather the public not know about them. The reason is obvious: alternative, non-toxic therapies represent a potential loss of billions of dollars to allopathic medicine and drug companies. The Big Three have collectively engaged in a medical collusion for over 70 years to influence legislative bodies at both the federal and state levels. The ultimate objective of which has been, and still is, to produce regulations that encourage the use of drug medicine while simultaneously creating restrictive, controlling mechanisms (licensing, government approval, etc) designed to limit and stifle the availability of non-drug, alternative modalities. If your goal is to empower yourself with life-saving knowledge, "The Cancer Industry" is for you.

Dr. Matthew J. Loop

- Author of "Cracking the Cancer Code"

This, to me is a very good book. The reason I'm calling it dangerous is that while reading it I went out & bought some of the CDs & have since bought another book (the one by Paul TingenMiles Beyond : Electric Explorations of Miles Davis, 1967-1991). I had several live CDs fron this era but hadn't really got into the studio ones until I started reading this book. I must say that I'm quite glad that I did. This helped finally catch up with what Miles was doing. If you have any interest at all in Miles I can't recommend this book enough. It has lots of facts, stories (that sometimes don't agree from person to person) and a very good recording breakdown of the CDs covered. The only thing that I would have liked to see included is more on the many "bootleg" CD that can be found. I don't think anyone picking this up will be sorry that they did.

Well written and well researched book about the last years of Miles Davis. Typically, critics and listeners have downplayed the music of Miles after his comeback in the early 1980's. This book argues that the music of this period was of a high standard and should not be overlooked.

One interesting note - friends and colleagues of Miles Davis have some drastically different views of his retirement years - 1975-1980.

Cole really went all out to get interviews with the band members and other key people in this phase of Miles' life. If you don't like the music of the period covered (1976-1991), this book isn't going to change your mind about the records. But you will still get a great deal of insight about Miles as a person from many voices (I think 31 band members, road crew members, producers, and others). In cases where memories have dimmed and conflicting accounts have been given by different interviewees, Cole puts those quotes together and makes a best guess about what really happened in the instance being discussed. It's extremely thorough writing--Cole also cross references his interview material with published accounts from magazines and other books on Miles. It's worth a look, and isn't a second rate rehash of the other books on the electric Miles period.

The music covering the period 1980-1991 of Miles Davis tour de force career is perhaps the most overlooked and least documented of them all. In his book "The Last Miles", author George Cole meticulously documents this controversial period through countless interviews with the thiry-plus musicians of the period as well as producers, engineers and nearly anyone else who had a hand in the music of this time. Also included are interviews with members of Miles family as well as close friends.

I call it controversial because many critics didn't give Miles the respect he was due and much of the music was just immediately dismissed without further review. Cole writes the book in direct chronological order from recording session to recording session and from the shifting perspectives of the ever changing members of Miles Davis' bands throughout this period. Much insight is given to not only the music that was created and released, i.e., "Tutu", "Amandla" and "Doo Bop", but also all of the wonderful gems that are setting in the Warner Brothers vault mind-numbingly unreleased. Cole also goes in depth about the unreleased materials that are out there from this period available through imports and previously unreleased.

It's quite obvious that Cole is a writer that took his subject matter very seriously and was careful to be accurate with the facts and all quotations. I have read nearly every book written on Miles Davis in various states of his career including his famous autobiography written with Poet/Author Quincy Troupe. It is my opinion as an avid reader and jazz afficianado that Cole's book is the most objective look into this much neglected final phase of Miles brilliant career ever written. Cole gives detailed insight to each band member, the recordings, the tours and even details leading up to Miles' premature death with compassion, objectivity and accuracy.

I would recommend listening to each of the recordings which are broken down cut by cut as you read the book. I found this method of reading the book enjoyable and I listened to some recordings that I've heard a hundred times in a brand new light.
If you don't take my word for it, read some of the reviews that the reputable members of Miles last bands have written at www.thelastmiles.com

From John Scofield, to Kenny Garrett, Adam Holzman, Darryl "The Munch" Jones, Bill Evans and Mike Stern, just to name a few. This is a MUST read for all Miles historians and music lovers alike. Don't hesitate, order this book today!

Not a biography, "The Last Miles" rather concentrates on the music Miles Davis created and recorded in the last decade of his career as one of America's leading jazz musicians. Cole is interested especially in the sources of the music Davis produced in this last period of his prolific and influential career and how each piece was recorded. Such interests are related to Cole's writings as a journalist in the fields of music and technology. The author's keen interest in Davis's place in these fields extends to answering how Davis came up with the titles for each of his recordings. To answer this and other questions, Cole went to musicians who worked with Miles Davis and also the technicians who recorded his pieces. The business of promoting Davis's albums by Columbia and Warner is also covered. A singular look into the last stage of Davis's long, somewhat checkered career gained from varied sources; which at the same time gives a picture of the modern music business.

If you think you might be interested in the OTO and you want to know what the order is about I suggest this is the best place to start. It gives the history and evolution of the Ordo Templi Orientis and several papers explaining its goals for the future as well.
This book also contains many of the important books of Thelema and the OTO. It contains The Book of the Law, Liber Oz (The Rights of Mankind), The Law of Liberty, The Manifesto of the OTO, The Gnostic Mass and many other papers to introduce you to the OTO. Some of the material included also introduces the reader to books of the A.'.A.'. (The Order created by Crowley) because both orders are involved with the Equinox publications.
After reading this book the reader should have a pretty good idea if they want to get more in-depth into the works of Crowley, the OTO, or the A.'.A.'. This book is a good place to start, and scratch the surface of a deep and rich system. Much further study is required to fully understand the system, but after reading this book at least you should know if you want to know more.
The OTO is growing and had many wonderful members. If you like what you read here you might want to contact one of the local OTO branches near you for more suggestions on reading material, or even to become a member. One of the main goals of Thelemites is to find and do your true will (whatever that might happen to be). No one at the OTO is going to make anyone go against their true will (THELEMA means will). One of the other main concepts of Thelemites is AGAPE (Agape means love) and the experience I have had with OTO members have been friendly, loving, and kind. These are of course only my opinions and experiences with Thelema and the OTO and I do not speak for the OTO. Others may have very different opinions that are just as valid. If what you read in The Equinox Volume 3 Number 10 interests you --- you might want to have your own experiences and further develop your own opinions. Personally I don't see any down side to finding your true will and knowing why you are here on this planet. Only you can find out what your true will is, and no one at the OTO is going to try to tell you what your true will is. The OTO can possibly refer you to methods that have helped others find their true will, and there is a good chance that they may work for you as well.

Good volume with lots of OTO and Crowley goodies.
I enjoyed reading it, and it's definitely useful to have in your library.

Especially good as an intro to the OTO and Crowley's work.

Confused by numerous web sites ? Web sites disappear, leaving you even more confused ? If you want to research the (in)famous org, known as the O.T.O. ("Ordo Templi Orientis"), this is the book you need to get started. I once believed the OTO was a lot different than it actually is, due to various factions claiming the name "OTO." However, this book clears everything up and relates the story of the Lawsuit that settled the matter, once and for all. The "Official" OTO, with legal rights to the name, and Tax-exempt status, is explained & explored, in-depth, in "The Equinox : The Review of Scientific Illuminism : The Official Organ of the O.T.O. [ Volume III ] Number 10."

I have been researching occultism, religion, anthropology, etc. for over ten years, and this is the only book I have ever found that gives an adequate, accurate and concise explanation of the OTO, Thelema, & Crowley's Raison d'etre.

Anyone can build a website, but this book contains the Legal information, related to the OTO, Crowley's estate, etc.

The Bonus materials are good reading and make-up for the dryness of some of the technicalities involved in explaining the history of the OTO. This volume contains "The Book of The Law," clarifications about the religion of "Thelema," & Masonic / Templar connections to the organization of the OTO.

Anyone researching religion, occultism, "Secret Societies," Crowley, Thelema, Masonry, Anthropology or Sociology should definitely put this one on their wish list.

This is not the most exciting book you will ever read, but it IS crammed with information, in an easy to ingest format. Also, purchasing this book is like buying several for the price of one!

This is the good Brother Joe, associate of the O.T.O. I can tell you Thelema is easily one of the fastest growing religions in the world, along with Islam. People are getting fed up with Christianity. It has run its course with its mass implementation in the 90s, preceeded by the mass Satan phobia of the 80s.

The O.T.O. numbers over 4,000 members in the U.S. alone, and is active all around the world. Its country of origin, England, is a pretty strong Thelema following. Aleister Crowley is a mainstream celebrity in England, hugely popular.

This book clarifies the O.T.O. and what it is about. Other books on the subject of Thelema have little to do with the O.T.O. itself. The O.T.O. is like the official body of Thelema. Most Thelemites aren't members of the O.T.O. This is not a big deal. Wheras in Christianity if you are not a member of any church it is an issue both ways. Weiser books are a sign of quality. Legal matters of the O.T.O. are covered here as well. Recommended for those Thelemites seriously pursuing the O.T.O. or like me already members wanted to learn more about it.

Possibly the best book I have ever read. Outstanding! The work is one of the most concise and well written treaties on philosophy in the history of human thought. A must read! The the first chapter alone is worth three times the price of the book.