Carnal Alchemy: Sado-Magical Techniques for Pleasure, Pain, and Self-Transformation

I owned the first print copy & I loved it's concise, readable approach to understanding the transformative power of "Sado-Magic:. It is an obvious fact that whether he is writing as Stephen E. Flowers or S.Edred Thorsson, the author does justice to all of his works...& then some. But with the new illustrations, Flowers accomplishes one goal that the book was always meant to do but couldn't when it was rather blandly illustrated in it's first printing & that is to bring back the dark, antiquated aesthectic inherent in any type of ritualized BDSM practice. But one thing that I must emphasize above all else with this order is the seller's near Magical speed in sending it! I felt like I closed my eyes after ordering and it was there! I don't remember where the seller is located or how many days it was but if it was over two I would be shocked! It's condition is slightly worn (as in some permanently doggy eared pages-no big deal) but for me, that only adds to it's noir charm. So bottomline is thta I would buy this book again for it's own sake, but I would definetly buy from this seller-and will be buying from this seller again. :)

Another thoughtful and useful book from Flowers/Thorsson. My only quibble is that the book focuses exclusively on heterosexual coupling and does not address same sex sex magick. Perhaps Flowers thought this was outside of his experience, but it would be interesting to have a commentator as thoughtful and learned as Flowers broaden the analysis in this way.

The psychological and magical reality behind practices of bondage and flagelation in the arousal, sustainence, and direction of the body's subtle energies for magical and psychic purposes. Dr. Flowers and his wife write from experience and scholarship.Carl Llewellyn Weschcke

One of the newest trends in the magical world is the practice of sado-magic or BDSM practices in magical operations. In theory it works rather well, for magic to be successful you must visualize you goal, raise the energy and direct it then let your spell go. Sexual and BDSM practices are just one way.Of course BDSM is nothing really new. Ancient cultures had flogging rites both to purify the soul and raise energy levels . The Greek in their rites to Dionysus and Artwmis are two prime examples. The native Americans practiced piercing and suspension in order to achieve trances . Various Christian orders also practiced flagellation . Most recently it was brought into updated practice by Gerald Gardner and Alesister Crowley .The author himself belonged to the Order of Triskellion. The order's main purpose was to bring BDSM practices into magical and mainstream acceptability. They have since folded and Robert North has opened up the New Flesh Palladium.BDSM has extensive history in both Japan and Europe. Flogging or caning is sometimes called the English Vice. In Europe some famous people involved at various periods of time would include Marquise De Sade, Leon Sacher Masocher, Robert North and William Seabrook.Marquise De Sade was a libertine who believed in developing his imagination. He was also into non consensual torture. Masocher who had a bad experience with an aunt discovered his love for pain. He was also into contracts and agreement. Seabrook practiced bondage and suspension techniques aimed at achieving the trance state. He wrote books about the Middle East and witchcraft.The book next covers the two types of universes. The subjective is like our dream world and the objective is the physical universe. You can manipulate the objective in order to alter the subjective or manipulate the subjective in order to alter the subjective.To those experienced in BDSM and magic the safety techniques and the creating of a sacred space will not be ground shaking but to the newbie may well be revolutionary .Would have been nice to have a few sample rituals to serve as a guideline included. I wonder what deities beside Artemis and Dionysus work well with flagellation and bondage . Perhaps the book could be extended and this information included.

I loved this book.It was an amazing read that summarized the history of Sex Magick. Thank you Stephen and Crystal Flowers!

My wife is an atheist with no interest in magic or the occult- but after applying the knowledge here, things are getting Wyrd! A couple of months back I convinced her to test the possibility of magic and the metaphysical. Explaining how she would make a better magician than me(my Mrs. Izard!) was a good start! I needed something magical to do with her that would not get too deep too fast. Being of middle age, we were already trying to add a little spice to our love life. The teachings in this book have been a big help. I won't say what we do in our magic love nest- but the energy generated has to be experienced to be understood- kind of like staying up all night on Mahashivratri! My wife's smile has a younger woman's glow to it. Best of all, I've convinced her to make an open-minded study of my favorite book on all things spiritual/metaphysical/ magical- MindStar by Michael Aquino. All that and more Wyrdness to come for the dirt cheap price of sixteen bucks!

I suggest this book to anyone who is into BDSM or magik. It's very intriguing. Unfortunately, it is out of print.. so grab your copy before it completely disappears!

A difficult book to review - on one hand it promises so much and comes so close, yet like a great scene leaves you yearning for more. On the other, it points off to so much literature that it will keep one reading for quite a while.So I'm both pleased and disappointed.

Adorei

brilliant resource

Gives an unabashed perspective on the rise of bdsm, as well as striking to the heart of it's appeal. I learnt a lot from this book, highly recommend!

Flowers is an exceptional author and scholar. The field is not for all however. The base around the initiatory experience and energy channelling around the BDSM acts is an acquired taste, even for those in the left-hand path. The similarities to some forms of Tantric rites are noteworthy and there is a value here for those open to and interested in the application of BDSM to magical aims.