The Western Gate

Eye of the Sun
by Kerry Wisner
Troy Publishing

Big fan of Troy Books, they create books predominantly in the genre of ‘traditional witchcraft’, lovely crafted bound books at a fraction of what other publishers charge, unless of course you want to go for the artisan bound deluxe editions.

I have read Kerry Wisner before, he produced a series of three books , known as The Geassa, these followed an approach to ‘Witchcraft’ that was welcome in the genre, in as much as it didnt follow the oft trod Gerald Gardner Path and there’s nothing wrong with that but if that’s the path to wander, then read Gardner first.
I didn’t realize on purchase that Eye of the Sun, which is a pseudo-Egyptian path was also to be the first in a series of three also, but the palm was crossed and the goods were delivered.
There is a growing disquiet regarding the appropriation of other cultures, though in a global sense, I am not sure why this ‘i’m offended’ trend continues, there’s nothing wrong inherently with adopting another cultures means, methods, ideology. The whole western world has adopted a monotheistic religion from the small area of the middle east.
Wisner doesn’t deliver his books with the same heady and yawn-worthy text that so many contemporary writers seem to do. He gets to the point, and describes what needs to be said, nothing more and nothing less without us having the need to grab a dictionary or mountain of reference books.
Eye of The Sun, guides us through a potted history of the Egyptian methods of ritual.
There is a fairly concise list of the Gods and The Goddesses. Many would say that, being as obviously their interest lies within the Egyptian school that they already would have or know of these Gods and Goddesses, however, being that this is a series of Three books, and therefore should be included, I think it is justified even, at the least if it may have been better served as an appendix.
What strikes me most, and pleasing, is the reverence and importance of including Maat within the rituals that Kerry describes.
Many books will deliver the Egyptian methods with the mystery rites of regeneration, the Set-Osiris-Isis legend etc and Maat is often overlooked or seen merely as an afterthought. Here Kerry delivers the rituals that are included after the introduction, background and list of Deities with Maat firmly in the midst, centre and balancing (of course) of the rituals.
He uses the Sothic calendar, that which begins with the visible appearance of Sirius on the horizon (of Egypt). this would be quite a tricky concept to achieve being as the rituals, in Kerry’s own words are modernised etc, then why use the antiquated Sirius, Sothic calendar? esp. without recourse to know the modern variations which would be , again, difficult being as it depends where on the globe you are. However, it is correct and orthodox even to adopt this method. That Sirius arose in the horizon, its pinpoint light illuminating the shaft of the great pyramid and like a clock signalled the beginning of the fertile season, just as Stonehenge would signify the seasons and moons of the wheel of the year by means of long shadows through the gates of the stone clock means it is not only essential to adopt this method but authentic and tribute.
Kerry Wisner delivers to us a welcome addition and resource for all those that wander paths to know themselves, or indeed to rid themselves of the false mask we carry.
I would also recommend his previous three books mentioned, The Gaessa;- The Willow Path, Horns of the Moon and The Art.

Troy Books