Austin Spare, where to begin?

[leonknox]

Having only encountered the magick of Austin Spare in Mr Grant and a few other occultists writings I'm curious as to what book would be the most highly recommended to begin a serious inquiry into Spare's magical techniques and work? Should I start with the Phil Baker biography that is referenced throughout Spare's Wikipedia entry?

Thanks.

[Nalyd Khezr Bey]

I've not read the biography you mentioned so cannot comment on it any further than saying that it sounds like it might be a very nice book.

My recommendation would be to start with Spare's own The Book of Pleasure where he lays out the basic foundation of his magical philosophy and work your way from there. Giving more than a passing examination of his artwork is also recommended as I personally think that the real heart of it is there. 

Here are some supplements to that if you can acquire them:

Borough Satyr: The Life and Art of Austin Osman Spare edited by Robert Ansell - This is a beautiful volume published by Fulgur that contains full colour pictures of Spare's artwork as well as excellent essays about the man himself, his philosophy and his art written by individuals who knew him.

Austin Spare: An Introduction to His Life and Writings by Sunny Shah - A small pamphlet that gives a brief bio of Spare and then outlines the basic points in his major written works. I've often wondered if Sunny Shah is another alias for Lionel Snell, aka Ramsey Dukes, because a lot of this little booklet sometimes reads like a revised version of his writings on Spare. See Exploring Spare's Magic and his own introduction to The Book of Pleasure Spare Parts. There is even a chapter in Shah's booklet titled "Spare Parts. (Does anyone on these forums know who Sunny Shah is?)

Some Perspectives on the Philosophy of The Book of Pleasure by Gavin W. Semple - Another pamphlet that gives some analysis and interpretation to The Book of Pleasure just as the title implies.

Zos Speaks! and Images and Oracles of Austin Osman Spare both by Kenneth Grant - These are both beautiful volumes published by Fulgur as well. Some critics think that Grant embellished too much in his interpretations of Spare's ideas as well his time with him. However, though I think Grant perhaps personally applied Spare's philosophy in a more expansive way, I also think that everything that he said about Spare sits in accordance with what Spare himself wrote. The letters section in Zos Speaks! makes that clear.

[leonknox]

Nalyd Khezr Bey,
Thanks so much, don't think I could have received a better answer than that. I will begin my Spare studies likely soon starting with the Book of Pleasure and am still going to try and get a hold of Baker's Biography, then work my way down your list once I can find those works and have the time. Thanks again.

Leon

[Michael Staley]

Yes, I agree with Nalyd concerning an introduction to Spare.

Concerning Phil's biography, in my opinion it gives a good introduction to his life and work. I have issues with some aspects of it, which were raised in a review posted on LAShTAL.com and subsequently published in the last issue of Starfire. I also think that Michaelangelo in a Teacup by Frank Letchford, the final volume in the three-volume series From the Inferno to Zos, is a good memoir by someone who knew Spare from the late 1930s until his death in 1956.

There were also two monographs by William Wallace - The Early Works of Austin Osman Spare and The Later Works of Austin Osman Spare, both published by the Catalpa Press, in 1987 and 1989 respectively - which are worth reading.

Spare's books The Book of Pleasure and The Focus of Life can be difficult to read due to his often obscure style of writing, but are well worth persevering with. The late writings by Spare in Zos Speaks! are in my opinion much easier to understand. Steffi Grant's Introduction to this book is superb, an extremely evocative account of London at that time (late 1940s, early 1950s) and their meetings with Spare. And of course the book is jam-packed with great artwork by Spare.

My own entry into Spare's work was through his artwork. Poring over his written work came later for me. Some of his artwork is superb for its depection of mystical awareness.

Finally, there are several Facebook pages devoted to Spare. My favourite is "Austin Osman Spare and the Zos-Kia Cultus", a closed group which posts some fine examples of his artwork.

Good luck. A love of Spare transformed my life.

[leonknox]

Thank you so much for the reply.

Very interested in Zos Speaks... looks like there is a plethora of material that I will need to be getting my hands on. Will definitely find the review of the Baker biography on Lashtal and give it a read before ordering.

I remember reading somewhere (I think it may have been in one of Grant's works not sure) that Spare had some critical things to say on the subject of the ceremonial magick as taught by A.C. Would either you Mr Staley or Nalyd happen to know where Spare wrote or mentioned these things? Just curious about what his actual critique was from his own words.

Thanks once again,
Leon

PS. Mr Staley a few weeks ago I sent a rather long letter addressed to you at [e-mail]. I wasn't sure if you had received it or not or if it was spam blocked. If you had and have not had a chance to reply my due apologies.

[Nalyd Khezr Bey]

Spare's critical words regarding ceremonial magicians can be found in The Book of Pleasure.

EDIT: I didn't have much time when I initially made this post so couldn't provide much more in the way of where exactly to look. I just wanted to add more specifically that Spare's remarks in this regard are found in the first chapter titled "Different Religions and Doctrines as Means to Pleasure, Freedom and Power" and reads as follows:

Others praise ceremonial Magic, and are supposed to suffer much Ecstasy! Our asylums are crowded, the stage is over-run! Is it by symbolizing we become the symbolized? Were I to crown myself King, should I be King? Rather should I be an object of disgust or pity. These Magicians, whose insincerity is their safety, are but the unemployed dandies of the Brothels. Magic is but one's natural ability to attract without asking; ceremony what is unaffected, its doctrine the negation of theirs. I know them well and their creed of learning that teaches the fear of their own light. Vampires, they are as the very lice in attraction. Their practices prove their incapacity, they have no magic to intensify the normal, the joy of a child or healthy person, none to evoke their pleasure or wisdom from themselves. Their methods depending on a morass of the imagination and a chaos of conditions, their knowledge obtained with less decency than the hyena his food, I say they are less free and do not obtain the satisfaction of the meanest among animals. Self condemned in their disgusting fatness, their emptiness of power, without even the magic of personal charm or beauty, they are offensive in their bad taste and mongering for advertisement. The freedom of energy is not obtained by its bondage, great power not by disintegration. Is it not because our energy (or mind stuff) is already over bound and divided, that we are not capable, let alone magical?

You can read the entire book for free HERE sans the illustrations. I also recommend a study of Spare's life to understand the context in which he made those remarks though. The time period for the writing of The Book of Pleasure is given in the book itself as 1909-1913.

[leonknox]

Finally..... got around to reading Book of Pleasure. Been very busy with work and reading other things as of late.

Throughout the first few parts I found it a trudging of a read. Mr. Staley was not kidding by describing the writing style as obscure. My main critique is at times Spare seemed to ramble in a way when trying to get his points across, especially near the beginning of the work. Also his critiques of ceremonial magick within the treatise - well l can't say I agree with the assessments he makes of the practices, he seems to be missing alot of the point of what ritual work is about. However I do understand why he was so very critical, without even knowing his experiences with ceremonial magicians just given the foolishness I have personally encountered with many. They can and do display at times a very embarrassing element among themselves.

What I did find absolutely interesting was first his analysis/reasoning behind the concept of self-love and importance of it. Secondarily, his meditative exercises in the middle of the treatise that were reminiscent of certain yogic practices, and third his sigilization techniques. Which were to me the most practical point of the work. I had known of these from both Mr. Grants brief synopsis of them in his works and Grant Morrison's writings/lectures - but Spares own writings obviously elucidate the application and process much more. When he speaks of focusing upon a sigil during mental exhaustion I think that physical exhaustion under certain circumstance could also lead toward a charging or manifestation of a sigils desires. For instance as a long distance runner, through the rhythm of steps and control of breathing I've noticed I come to a place where my mind is literally turned off after so many miles and everything just goes into an automatic mode without any real thought. By making the conscious effort during this process to turn toward the sigilization techniques seemingly could only be beneficial toward "charging the sigil" so too speak.

I also picked up throughout the work noticeable similarities to higher doctrines of OTO practice but that is a whole different subject. All in all I am glad I finally read some Spare and want to jump into reading Zos Speaks now. Thanks for pointing me in a direction on this.

Leon

[Nalyd Khezr Bey]

You may find my thread dealing with Spare's "death posture" interesting. It's a result of my own frustration with what a lot of Chaos Magicians seem to misunderstand and/or misrepresent regarding this practice. You can read it HERE.

[Babaluma]

The Book of Ugly Ecstasy. I find his magickal viewpoint comes across most strongly in his art, and that one's my fave.

[johns]

Yes, well. We can bang on about AOS and similarities with Yoga etc forever. But, he was a fine artist ( a drawer of pictures) and was able through this medium to see through the veil of illusion occasionally and converse with entities, other realms or whatever you want to call them : Otherness. Now, how does such an intermediary relate his experiences on his return to those who have never ventured there ?? - with difficulty. His written work is not easily understood, without glimpsing, however fleetingly, this 'otherness'. So, this then is the essence of initiation. AOS was and is a Western shaman. Do you want to be a shaman ? - I suggest you concentrate on the many reproductions of his artwork, learn his sigil technique, put pen to paper and destroy it if it is your will and fly with gods. I hope you will return. As for the Alphabet of Desire, well you got me there. Haven't got a clue ! Love is the Law, as always.
+

[N0T 2]

Nov 14, 2015 2:24:44 GMT johns said:

Yes, well. We can bang on about AOS and similarities with Yoga etc forever. 

From the following, one might get the impression that Uncle AOS would not approve of such bangings-on:

The Book of Zos Vel Thanatos 

Section One: 

THE LOGOMACHY OF ZOS

Aphorism 615.
BOLLOCKS to Yoga: 'concentration' on one object is another 'illusion'. I've never managed it for a minute; perhaps morons are more successful.

[Mikhale]

I definitely second the Gavin Semple pamphlet on Book of Pleasure.

"Art contradicts science". AOS

It is hard to create a forgery when the artist signs with ejacula.

Austin has influenced me tremendously. For years I could not understand how Crowley and Spare didn't collaborate further. Then I came across Grant's contribution. Without a doubt, it was the ZoS material missing from my Thelema. The praxis of the ZoS material was expounded upon for me by Grant.

[Raj Don Yasser]

Another great "first"  Spare book might be Two Grimoires. 

[bryan]

Nov 23, 2014 16:58:08 GMT leonknox said:

Having only encountered the magick of Austin Spare in Mr Grant and a few other occultists writings I'm curious as to what book would be the most highly recommended to begin a serious inquiry into Spare's magical techniques and work? Should I start with the Phil Baker biography that is referenced throughout Spare's Wikipedia entry?

Thanks.

[Banyan]

I found Gavin Semple's Zos-Kia was a great introduction to Spare's work, as well as the pamphlet on the Book of Pleasure that someone else mentioned. I'd probably recommend reading Zos Speaks! before diving into The Book of Pleasure, it will give you some context on the man and his work before you start on the more dense writing.

[Michael Staley]

Aug 22, 2021 4:56:47 GMT Banyan said:

I found Gavin Semple's Zos-Kia was a great introduction to Spare's work, as well as the pamphlet on the Book of Pleasure that someone else mentioned. I'd probably recommend reading Zos Speaks! before diving into The Book of Pleasure, it will give you some context on the man and his work before you start on the more dense writing.

I too like Gavin Semple's Zos Kia very much, and a republication from Fulgur would be very welcome. I agree that Zos Speaks! can be helpful in preparation for The Book of Pleasure. However, the latter is such a dense text that only a number of readings and concentrated study are likely to be of real help in plumbing its depths.

The Book of Pleasure was impenetrable to me for many years. Then someone asked me to write an article selecting two or three themes of my own choosing, and looking at it afresh I could see connections with Advaita Vedanta, long a deep interest of mine. Once having made that connection, my understanding of the book was able to expand outwards as it were.

Personally I prefer Spare's late writings as presented in Zos Speaks!. It's clearer, and easier to follow.

[Banyan]

That's a fair point, there's really no substitute for just reading The Book of Pleasure until it eventually clicks. It can be quite context-specific, I remember reading it one evening at home and felt I was really grasping what Spare was saying, then the next day it was impenetrable again. Presumably this has some subconscious basis, which would be very Spare.

I agree, his later writings like the Zoetic Grimoire are much clearer and more enjoyable. Judging from the correspondence even Spare had trouble understanding The Book of Pleasure in his latter years, so possibly he felt he may have over-cooked it in his younger years and decided to make his writing more readable (comparatively).