Robin Artisson

Meadowsweet's Red Chaplet has always been my favourite work by Robin Artisson, and I bought this book without hesitation. I don't make a habit of reading short stories, but this one got under my skin on first reading years ago, and has remained with me since. Parts of it just demand to be read or sung aloud; it's haunting and sinister like the best fairy tales.

I didn't know what to expect with the novella prequel. I was worried it would take away the charm of the Red Chaplet. But it's just as engrossing. I read it in one sitting. I often find occult or esoteric fiction to be heavy-handed and boring, but I was genuinely enraptured by this novella, and felt very much emotionally involved in the heroine's quest.

As a whole, I'm happy to have purchased this, and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in folkloric witchcraft or gothic horror.… (more)

This book is a tidy grimoire and sourcebook for those interested in pursuing a more traditional witchcraft path. It engages the spirit of the writings of Nigel Jackson and Robert Cochrane and is a fascinating elaboration on the themes of their work.

Artisson describes his book as a tool kit, rather than a recipe book. He gives techniques designed to help you forge relationships with the spirit world, and although his "exemplary sorcerous workings" can be used as written, they are meant to show one possible method of doing things. This is a teaching grimoire, and to make the most of it, you have to apply what has been written to your own practice, rather than just following along.

There is a deeper level to Artisson's writing, an underlying philosophy that holds true throughout his works. All of his further ideas for rites or spells are built up from this foundation of relationships with the spirits, the quest for true knowledge, and the recognition of Old Fate Herself.

Some of the most interesting pieces of information in the book are Artisson's thoughts on the Horned Master of witches. While I wouldn't go so far as to call it in the Luciferian current, the ideas are certainly leaning that way. Several meditations on the subject are included, and they (along with the section on arcane flight) are worth the price of the book by themselves. (Also, the appendices of various sorcerous currents, such as Lunar or Mercurial, are more useful than any correspondence table could ever be.)

To end the book, the author explores the pagan themes in the folktale, The Nixie of the Millpond, and also gives several rather dark rituals for springtime: "I feel real fear now. I am a blasphemous creature of winter evenings long dead, stalking about in fields of gold and white..." The writing is, as always, evocative of the Unseen landscapes. A fascinating book; it's definitely recommended reading.… (more)

This latest book of charms by Artisson is an enthralling read. The aesthetic of the workings is definitely encamped in the realm of Faery, although Luciferian-type currents still shine through in places. This is very much a grimoire in the old style, with minimal explanations for each charm. It's deeply philosophical without being wordy, the prose has a 19th century Britain-vibe, and the few illustrations are engaging. The result is a small tome that feels as though it could have come out of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. It's short, dark, and effective, and should become well-loved by Artisson's fans and new readers alike.… (more)

Artisson's writing style is transparent and overly-simplistic. Normally, this would be a strike against a text, but in the case of "The Flaming Circle," it may be the book's saving grace.

The utter transparency of the writing allows readers to spot Artisson's prejudices, contradictions and self-justifications with amazing ease. Many of his arguments are conflicted and unclear in nature, especially those regarding his personal crusades (e.g. his strict separation of pantheons that were not historically distinct), his rather unfriendly personality (e.g. his justification of manipulation and distrust of others who disagree with him), and his dislike of and fundamental ignorance about Christianity and other (mostly monotheistic) world religions (I was blown away when he argued that Christians, whose whole belief structure centers on the brutal murder of their deity as an act of salvation and rebirth, apparently did not understand the power of darkness and death). At over four hundred pages long, it's hard to believe Artisson could persist in such a lengthy writing project without learning something about his own inconsistencies, but his frequent references to the "limitations of words" belies a basic discomfort with the medium common to many mediocre writers.

Despite its flaws, however, "The Flaming Circle" is incredibly thorough and, for the most part, competently structured. The first half of the book is perhaps the most interesting, detailing Artisson's personal Pagan worldview. Readers with the patience and persistent to wade through repetitive, "fuzzy" language will gain valuable insight into a Pagan perspective on deity, energetic realms and basic ethical values (even those Artisson fails to apply consistently). Personally, I began to lose interest in the second half of the text, which rehashes certain meditation and ritual techniques that can be found in other books that provide clearer explanations. Also, it is difficult to sustain an engaged interest in a book after hundreds of pages of sloppy writing.

All in all, not a book for everyone, and probably not worth its list price. But if you can find a cheaper used copy, and are willing to put the time and effort into reading the text with a critical, thoughtful eye, "The Flaming Circle" can offer up something interesting and worth the effort.… (more)