The Hermetic Library Anthology Album - Magick, Music and Ritual 10

The Hermetic Library Anthology Album

Magick, Music and Ritual 10

2014 / Album

Released: Equinox 2014, Sun in Libra, Anno V 0

For full artist profiles and more, please head to Magick, Music and Ritual 10 at the Hermetic Library site.

Magick, Music and Ritual 10, the one and only album release for 2014 from the Anthology Project, is being released around Autumnal Equinox, Sun in Libra, 2014, with 26 tracks and over 2 hours of music by 21 artists, new and returning voices, and some tracks exclusive to the Hermetic Library and this anthology.

The artwork for this issue was created by Terra Bosart and is an interpretation of Atu 0, the Fool, in Tarot. One way of counting years is to use a cycle of Tarot cards. The current year count is Anno V 0 which can be represented by, and thus can be seen as having correspondence to, a combination of both Atu V, the Hierophant, and Atu 0, the Fool.

In addition to the cover, for the first time, this anthology release includes two bonus images. The first is an illustration that accompanies the OrosKhaos track “The Great Descent”. The second image is a visual word play on “Magick Music Ritual” by Craig Conley, who appears on this release as part of the group Esperantoland. These bonus images are part of the download and are intended to offer an additional surface on which to reflect the feelings and thoughts developed by listening and deepened in relationship to this playlist.

Please join the Hermetic Library in promoting these artists who have contributed their work to this benefit anthology album project. Please also spread the word about these anthology albums to people you think may be interested in the work of artists who combine magick, music and ritual.

The best way to add this anthology, as well as previous releases and future Hermetic Library albums, to your personal music collection is through the Patron campaign at Patreon. Patrons receive a gratis download code for a previous anthology release of their choice each year in addition to all the other patronage rewards they may receive. Further, active Patrons also receive an additional gratis download code for every new release as they become available. Patrons in 2014 as of this release will have had the opportunity to receive two full anthology albums from the collection, and more in the future, as well as helping to support the Anthology Project and the work of the library. Consider becoming a Patron today!

Release Notes

The Hermetic Library at Hermetic.com has an overall vision of Archiving, Engaging and Encouraging the living Esoteric Tradition, Hermeticism, and Aleister Crowley’s Thelema. I started the benefit anthology project to help promote newer works in the Esoteric Tradition to the audience of the Hermetic Library and beyond. The anthology project also further raises awareness about the corpus and culture of magick and ritual.

This issue was originally announced as the Winter 2014 album from the Anthology Project, and a call for submissions was posted on Dec 15th, 2013, but was postponed. Ultimately, there were no quarterly releases from the project in 2014. Starting with this year, I am moving to an annual release schedule, and hope the project is able to continue in that fashion. It feels like it has been a long journey to get to this release, compared to the quicker quarterly schedule. However, as I’ve been listening to these tracks and artists, I feel like everything will be worth the wait once you also get a chance to hear these artists. This playlist, like the others before, works well by itself, on repeat, and as a continuation directly from the previous anthology to further develop the entire anthology project as a massive unified playlist. So, you know, check out all of the anthologies as part of the ongoing story in which this release is the newest chapter.

As I worked on the playlist, the two parts developed into before and after split right at the moment of equilibrium, at the Autumnal Equinox. As the playlist approaches the middle, the balance of light diminishes toward equal measure, and after the split the measure of darkness has overcome the light as the sun continues the cycle of seasons.

This release also marks the first time that the anthology has included bonus items in the download package. There are additional images included which are part of the whole, and I'm hoping that this is something that will continue and grow. There's certainly time to speculate what might be included in the next anthology beside all the wonderful music, and lots of possibility!

I encourage you to check out the Hermetic Library at Hermetic.com, if you aren’t already familiar with it, as that’s the reason this project exists and may also offer inspiration to you. The site was started in 1996 and has ever since consistently been an extremely popular resource for students and researchers interested in the Esoteric Tradition. You may also wish to check out other posts at the Hermetic Library blog and the Twitter and Facebook reflections to see how the library engages people in a living Esoteric Tradition.

— John Griogair Bell

Production by John Griogair Bell Cover artwork by Terra Bosart

All songs used with permission. All rights reserved.