Dispatches from the Abyss: The Importance of Reading, A lot

It becomes more and more evident that we are suffering from a severe lack of education, critical thinking, discernment, nuance, and broad spectrum understanding of history and the humanities, more or less - how the world works or doesn't in some cases. Much of this has transpired since the Bush II era of "No child left behind" and the latter STEM push which has left a glaring gap of knowledge in the humanities. This is not a left, right, or center issues - this is a human issue plaguing America.

I seem to be unable to go a day without offending someone with easily googleable knowledge - FACTS - not hot takes, unpopular opinions, stodgy unchallengeable narratives, and TikTok brain rot. We cannot move forward holding on to a narrative so hard that we neglect any additional facts surrounding the narrative. You'd be surprised how many people get REALLY butthurt and offended by this. The whole story is the story - not just the plot points and chapters YOU LIKE.

Critical thinking is important because it allows for a greater criticism of any topic, even the ones you support and believe in whether those contrasting points are positive, negative, and even neutral. The full story is the story, not the narrative. One cannot just look at a topic and decide they know all they need to know without going deeper and learning the theories, histories, and critiques that come prior.

Sometimes things change over generations with greater cultural shifts in the zeitgeist -- but its important to understand the whys and wherefores of what something meant at that time period and why it has changed or has been misunderstood in its original intent and meaning.

We live in a society of vast consumption and with more access to information than we ever had - even in my own lifetime and yet somehow have become intentionally dumbed down by the signal to noise ratio and the lack of discernment of bullshit entertainment rage bait, hot takes, and general brain rot. I can complain about this until the cows come home, but how do we change it?

I read a lot. 

I read anything I can get my hands on to get a better understanding of the world we live in beyond occult topics, but there is plenty of that in the mix. I listen to a lot of audiobooks while I am working - and those count too! Don't let anyone tell you that they don't count as books read - disabled folks have different needs so lets not diss things as lazy or not counting. 

I like to read a lot so I can give a informed opinions based upon academic research. You have to read actual books for that or view vetted accurate documentaries not just pseudo pop culture fluff.

I will give you an example of how this helped me in my journey into connecting with my ancestral Slavic paganism and with much thanks to the advice from the Polish Folk Witch and my own explorations, I can say without a doubt Natasha Helvin's "Ancestral Slavic Magic: Transcend Family Patterns and Empower Ancestral Connections" was not useful in this process. Helvin's book 'Slavic Witchcraft' helped me initially, but this book should have been titled something else as its just Helvin's attempts to connect Slavic practices to be similar to be Haitian Voodoo. She is an initiated priestess so I cannot slag her for cultural appropriation or dabbling in closed practices as such, but this had so little to do with the promise of ancestral Slavic magic - unless you were like her and drifted from Slavic paganism to Haitian Voodoo. If I wanted to read a book on Haitian Voodoo - I would have done just that. The book was a huge disappointment for anyone wanting to learn more about how to connect with their Slavic ancestral folk magic traditions.

Below I will leave you with the books I read in 2025 to give you a better idea of just how much I read in a years time and the wide array of topics covered. Sometimes I even read problematic books so I can tell you why they are problematic in my own words not just someone elses opinion on the matter. 

1. Three Squabs and Three Sparrows: The Story of Olga of Kiev - Poppy Ayers

2. Ukraine Mythology - Oleksii Bily

3. Ukrainian Traditions: Exploring Heritage and Identity - Oleksii Bily

4. Blackthorn's Protection Magic: A Witch’s Guide to Mental and Physical Self-Defense - Amy Blackthorn

5. Practical Occultism - H.P. Blavatsky

6. Bucklands’s Book of Spirit Communications - Raymond Buckland

7. The Witch in Every Woman: Reawakening the Magical Nature of the Feminine to Heal, Protect, Create, and Empower - Laurie Cabot

8. A Captivating Guide to the Visigoths and Ostrogoths Who Sacked Rome and Played an Essential Role in the Fall of the Western Roman Empire - Captivating History

9. History of Hungary: A Captivating Guide to Hungarian History, Starting from the Roman Empire through the Magyar Tribes, Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Hungarian Revolution to the Present - Captivating History

10. Romanian History: A Captivating Guide to the History of Romania and Vlad the Impaler - Captivating History

11. Holodomor Famine: A Captivating Guide to Understanding the Ukrainian Famine and Its Impact on History - Captivating History

12. The Sack of Rome by the Visigoths in 410 A.D.: The History of the Event that Marked the Final Decline of the Western Roman Empire - Charles River Editors

13. Sarmatians and Scythians: A Captivating Guide to the Barbarians of Iranian Origins and How These Ancient Tribes Fought Against the Roman Empire, Goths, Huns, and Persians - Captivating History

14. The Power of Silence - Carlos Castaneda

15. MEDIEVAL POLAND: From Unification to a Kingdom and then a Commonwealth - J. C. Chouteu, Janvier Chouteu-Chando

16. Abyssal Communion & Rite of Imbibement - S. Connolly

17. Demonic Pacts - S. Connolly

18. Larva: A Book of Transformations - S. Connolly and Ene Pithos

19. Sex, Money, & Power - S. Connolly

20. The Scythians: Nomad Warriors of the Steppe - Barry Cunliffe

21. Poland: The First Thousand Years - Patrice M. Dabrowski

22. From Odessa with Love: Political and Literary Essays from Post-Soviet Ukraine - Vladislav Davidzon

23. 120 days of Sodom - Marquis de Sade

24. Philosophy in the Bedroom - Marquis de Sade

25. Walking with Daemonic Spirits: How to work with Daemonic Spirits and get consistent results - Taylor Ellwood

26. The Hidden Messages in Water - Masaru Emoto

27. Stand with Ukraine: Debunking the Propaganda: Hard-hitting Perspectives from the Resistance - J.D. Everhard, Theo Horesh, Barbara Smith, Bill Weinberg, Linda Mann, Franklin Dmitryev, Carl Mirra, Bill Fletcher, Michael Karadjis, Geof Bard

28. Asmoday Magick: Infernal Magick - Lucifer Faustus

29. Stones and Crystals in Infernal Magick: VOL. 1 - Lucifer Faustus

30. Stones and Crystals in Infernal Magick: VOL. 2 - Lucifer Faustus

31. Apotheosis: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Luciferianism & the Left-Hand Path - Michael W. Ford

32. Sekhem Apep - Michael W. Ford

33. Dream Psychology: Psychoanalysis for Beginners - Sigmund Freud

34. Catechismus Infernalis - The GenDem Group

35. Mysteries of the Dark Moon: The Healing Power of the Dark Goddess - Demetra George

36. A Ukrainian Christmas - Nadiyka Gerbish and Yaroslav Hrytsak

37. Hermetic laws and universal principles: Spiritual laws and alchemy explained - Matthias Gross

38. The Initiates of the Flame: Deluxe Edition - Manly P. Hall
    

39. Lucifer, The Real God (The Masters & Magic Grimoires Book 1) - Mihaly Harborym

40. Unf*ck Your Grief: Using Science to Heal Yourself and Support Others - Faith G. Harper PhD LPC-S ACS ACN
    

41. Ancestral Slavic Magic: Transcend Family Patterns and Empower Ancestral Connections - Natasha Helvin

42. Ancestral Tarot: Uncover Your Past and Chart Your Future - Nancy Hendrickson

43. Don't Call Me Gypsy: A Journey through Czech Romani History and Fairy Tales - Kytka Hilmarova

44. The Seeker's Guide to The Secret Teachings of All Ages: The Authorized Companion to Manly P. Hall's Esoteric Landmark - Mitch Horowitz

45. New World Witchery: A Trove of North American Folk Magic - Cory Thomas Hutcheson

46. The Devils of Loudun: A True Story of Demonic Possession - Aldous Huxley

47. Witches: A Compendium - Judika Illes

48. How to Heal Toxic Thoughts: Simple Tools for Personal Transformation - Sandra Ingerman

49. Speaking with Nature: Awakening to the Deep Wisdom of the Earth - Sandra Ingerman, Llyn Roberts

50. Llewellyn's Complete Book of Lucid Dreaming: A Comprehensive Guide to Promote Creativity, Overcome Sleep Disturbances & Enhance Health and Wellness - Clare R. Johnson PhD

51. Elizabeth Báthory: Vampire, Witch or Serial Killer? - Jane Jude

52. The Chakra System: A Complete Course in Self-Diagnosis and Healing - Anodea Judith

53. Chakra Mantra Magick: Tap into the Magick of Your Chakras: Mantra Magick Series, Volume 4 - Baal Kadmon

54. Seed Mantra Magick: Master the Primordial Sounds of the Universe: Mantra Magick Series, Book 3 - Baal Kadmon

55. The Devil in the Shape of a Woman: Witchcraft in Colonial New England - Carol F. Karlsen

56. NOXAZ: Primal Current - Edgar Kerval, Asenath Mason, Bill Duvendack, Linda Falorio, Humberto Maggi, Abby Helasdottir, Michael Kelly, Sean Woodward

57. Daemonologie - King James I

58. Demonology: An Exciting Guide to Demons and Dark Creatures in World Mythology and Religions - Oscar Larsen

59. A History of Eastern Europe - Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, The Great Courses

60. The Horned God of the Witches - Jason Mankey

61. The Book of Mephisto: A Left Hand Path Grimoire of the Faustian Tradition - Asenath Mason

62. Incubus and Succubus Magic - Lisa McGarner

63. The Voice of Asmodeus: Sacred Wisdom and Prayers of the Fire King -  Frater Merovingia
    

64. The Voice of Belial: Primal Wisdom and Prayers of the First Sovereign - Frater Merovingia

65. The Voice of Clauneck: Channeled Wisdom and Prayers for Unstoppable Prosperity - Frater Merovingia

66. The Voice of King Paimon: Sovereign Wisdom and Sacred Communion with the Western King - Frater Merovingia

67. Magnum Opus: Secrets of the Inner Sanctum - Aleister Nacht

68. Petitions to King Paimon: A Book of Prayers & Spellwork - Anne O'Donoghue

69. Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation - Elaine Pagels

70. The Collected Writings of Jack Parsons - Jack Parsons

71. The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine - Serhii Plokhy

72. Theosophy for Beginners: Unlocking the Ancient Wisdom of the Masters, Symbols, and the Path to Spiritual Awakening - The Practical Atlas

73. Baba Vanga: The Controversial Life and Legacy of the Influential Bulgarian Mystic - Charles River Editors

74. The Cossacks: The History and Legacy of the Legendary Slavic Warriors - Charles River Editors

75. The Cossack Hetmanate: The History and Legacy of the Cossacks and Their Autonomous Republic in the Ukraine - Charles River Editors

76. Countess Elizabeth Bathory: The Life and Legacy of History's Most Prolific Female Serial Killer - Charles River Editors

77. The Great Schism: The History and Legacy of the Split Between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches in 1054 - Charles River Editors

78. The History and Folklore of Vampires: The Stories and Legends Behind the Mythical Beings - Charles River Editors

79. The Magyars: The History and Legacy of the Medieval Tribes That Established the Kingdom of Hungary - Charles River Editors

80. The Ostrogoths: The History and Legacy of the Group That Established a Kingdom in Italy After the Collapse of Ancient Rome - Charles River Editors

81. The Slavs and the Slave Trade: The History of Enslaved Slavs Across Eastern Europe and the Islamic World -  Charles River Editors

82. Zelensky: A Biography - Serhii Rudenko

83. The Four Agreements - don Miguel Ruiz

84. Beyond Fear: A Toltec Guide to Freedom and Joy: The Teachings of Don Miguel Ruiz -  Miguel Angel Ruiz

85. The Voice of Knowledge: A Practical Guide to Inner Peace - Don Miguel Ruiz

86. Murder in the Carpathians: Three Erotic Short Stories - Leopold von Sacher-Masoch

87. Venus in Furs - Leopold von Sacher-Masoch

88. Weed Witch: The Essential Guide to Cannabis for Magic and Wellness - Sophie Saint Thomas

89. Goetia Rising: Summoning the Rulers of Hell - Astennu Sever

90. The Art Of Reading People - Spiritwalker Shikata

91. Demoniality - Ludovico Maria Sinistrari, Montague Summers

92. Forbidden Faith: The Secret History of Gnosticism - Richard Smoley

93. The Reconstruction of Nations: Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus 1569-1999 - Timothy Snyder

94. Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist, and Witch of the Woods - Kris Spisak

95. Asmodeus: King of the Daemons - David Thompson

96. Daemons and The Law of Attraction: Modern Methods of Manifestation - David Thompson

97. Honoring Your Ancestors: A Guide to Ancestral Veneration - Mallorie Vaudoise

98. Beliefs of Reality: The Hermetic World: The Search for Meaning - Thomas Van Lake
    

99. Wild Soul Runes: Reawakening the Ancestral Feminine - Lara Veleda Vesta

100. Unlocking The Mysteries of Light Language: Book of 144 Codes - Patricia Walls

101. The Loving Dominant - John Warren, Libby Warren

102. Out of Your Mind - Alan Watts

103. Oscar Wilde's Stories For All Ages: Volume 1 - Oscar Wilde

104. Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World - Mark Williams, Danny Penman