VS.
Duality and Conflict in Magick, Mythology and Paganism
By Kim Huggens
"Relationship cannot be created without duality: we are divided for love's sake, for the chance of union..."
Vs., edited by Kim Huggens, is a unique collection of twenty-one essays exploring the dynamic and wide-ranging nature of duality in magic, paganism and folklore, from polarity to paradox to opposition to friction to union. The essays by magicians, witches, folklorists, sorcerors, Norse and Vodou practitioners, weave together diverse threads of wisdom, knowledge, experience and inspiration into a tapestry of fallen angels, heroes, gods, goddesses, fairies, lwa, dreams, myths and stories. The significance of the interplay between two disparate or similar powers is explored through the relationship of divine twins, siblings, lovers and enemies in a variety of different pantheons and tales, from Cain and Abel to Lilith and Eve, from Shiva & Shakti to Inanna and Dumuzi, from Perseus and Andromeda to Ares and Hephastus.
The union of divine and mortal is another powerful theme explored in this book, both through the hieros gamos (sacred marriage) and the maryaj (Vodou spirit marriage), where a person weds one of the lwa.
Vs. also explores the theme of self and other, as experienced both in ritual techniques for trance and dreaming, and in social commentaries on the diversity of beliefs within the modern esoteric revival such as Wicca, Sorcery and Neopaganism.
Vs. covers a span of thousands of years, from ancient writings such as those of Plato and Gnosticism to the modern works of twentieth-century magicians such as Austin Osman Spare and Dion Fortune.
From the wisdom of the Emerald Tablet to the tales of the Mabinogion, Vs. challenges you in numerous ways to accept diversity and strive for the union of perfection.
"I am the voice whose sound is manifold and the word whose appearance is multiple." Thunder, Perfect Mind, 3rd century CE
2011, 248 pages. Paperback & Kindle editions available.
ISBN 978-1-905297-36-8
B&W 6.69 x 9.61 in or 244 x 170 mm (Pinched Crown) Perfect Bound on White w/Gloss Lam
Vs. edited by Kim Huggens
THE CONTRIBUTORS
Introduction by Kim Huggens
Cover Art: ‘Polarity’ by Emily Carding
The Tale of the Twins by Trystn M. Branwynn
Gods of Light and Darkness by Michael Howard
Toads and Diamonds by Chrissy Derbyshire
Constellations by Payam Nabarz
Vodou Maryaj by Sophia Fisher
Recognition of the Divine by Ellie Horne
The Divine Human by Rachel Donaldson
A Lantern to the Cave by Guy Gaunt
Sun and Moon by Emily Carding
Sir Gawain And the Green Knight by Katherine Sutherland
The Momentum of Polarity by Gareth Gerrard
Marassa Dossou-Dosa by Kim Huggens
Brothers at Arms by Magin Rose
Riders upon Swift Horses by Karen F. Pierce
The Scorpion & the Bridal Bed by Vikki Bramshaw
Inanna and Ereshkigal by Sophie Nusslé
Are Freyja and Frigga the Same Goddess? by Katie Gerrard
Hidden Children of The Great M/Other by Melissa Harrington
Polarity Magick by Diane M. Champigny
Exoteric Neopaganism by Jon Hanna
Coniunctio by Frater Jonathan Carfax
Of the Nature of the Soul by Plato
Extract from Thunder, Perfect MindKim Huggens is a researcher and author, focusing on the malefic-erotic magic of the Late Antique period, world mythology, Tarot, and Vodou. Kim is the editor of three anthologies published by Avalonia, being From a Drop of Water, Vs. and Memento Mori. She is a Tarot reader of 17 years experience, and co-creator of Sol Invictus: The God Tarot and Pistis Sophia: The Goddess Tarot with Nic Phillips. She is the author of the Llewellyn book, Tarot 101: Mastering the Art of Reading the Cards (June 2010) and also writes articles and papers for various anthologies and journals.
Kim is a Vodou practitioner and Hounsi Lave Tet with Sosyete Gade Nou Leve, and Body Master of the Tamion Camp of the Ordo Templi Orientis.
In her spare time she makes jewellery, sequin flags and spirit dolls, runs Tarot workshops and classes, writes short fiction, and roleplays.