Aleister Crowley on the Hidden in Plain Sight podcast with WR. (Jan. 2022)

The Magicians follows Quentin Coldwater, a brilliant but miserable high school student who is secretly preoccupied with a series of fantasy novels about a magical land called Fillory. Quentin is unexpectedly admitted to Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, where he receives a rigorous education in modern sorcery. However, he soon discovers that magic does not bring him the happiness and adventure he dreamed of. After graduation, Quentin and his friends make a stunning discovery that Fillory is real, but it turns out to be much darker and more dangerous than imagined. The novel explores themes of growing up, the complexities of human emotions, and the true cost of power.

The Satanic Bible, written by Anton Szandor LaVey, is the central text of LaVeyan Satanism. Published in 1969, the book does not advocate the worship of Satan as a supernatural entity but rather uses 'Satan' as a symbol of humanistic values such as self-assertion, rebellion against unjust authority, and the celebration of human nature and carnal desires. The book is divided into two main sections: the first half expounds upon LaVey's philosophical views, while the second half describes rituals and recitations. It critiques traditional Christianity and other religions for promoting guilt and hypocrisy, instead promoting a lifestyle based on common sense and the acceptance of natural human desires.