S. Jason Black

I'd hardly call this a "guide". I picked it up because Hyatt and Black are notorious for taking a darker approach to magickal topics than most other authors, and I wanted to read their take on Afro-Caribbean magick. Instead of a guide, the book is more of a collection of personal anecdotes and opinions from Hyatt and Black. In many ways it reminded me of Lon Milo DuQuette's My Life With Spirits, though FAR more cynical and not as insightful. Both Hyatt and Black come from the Western show more ceremonial magick school, so they have a somewhat unique and European take on Afro-Carribbean magick. Some of their experiences are interesting; however, they tend to use the book as a platform for spouting their animosity towards Wicca and Christianity. I'm certainly no apologist for either, but clearly Hyatt and Black have an axe to grind. The authors are so busy with their various diatribes that they fail to recognize their own inconsistencies. For example, they continually deride occultists who are members of formalized groups, apparently favoring solo practitioners. Never mind the fact that both Hyatt and Black were members of the O.T.O.

While their humor and wit keep it an amusing read, I became somewhat weary of the negative tone by the end of the book. So far I have yet to learn anything about Afro-Caribbean magick I didn't already know. I've only learned about Hyatt and Black's contempt towards 90% of religious groups and the occult community in general. Sadly, I fear if this book were someone's first introduction to Afro-Caribbean magick they'd probably lose interest or walk away in disgust due to its incessant and puerile attacks. The only thing saving it is S. Jason Black's hilarious wit. show less

Some interesting material but I doubt wisdom of messing too much with a tradition into which you have not been initiated or taught by an insider. Neither Black nor Hyatt appear to respect what Greer calls the raspberry jam principle of magic.

A fascinating look at the history, psychology, and spirituality behind demonology and diabolism, this book also includes a great deal of practical information and the anecdotes of the authors themselves. The practical material in this book is emphatically not for beginners (as I have discovered the hard way), but even for beginners it makes a great ideological introduction to such systems.

Review located at http://lupabitch.wordpress.com/2006/12/18/urban-voodoo-s-jason-black-and-christo...