The Western Gate

Binding the Devil ~ Bibliomancers Publication

Spell Bound ~ Bibliomancers Publication

Debauched ~ Grim Roar and SSC Productions

At the time of the early 70’s, when Hammer films were more brazen with images of semi clad vamps and witches, with parallel productions such as The Virgin Witch, Witchcraft ’70, a time when films on the occult and the ‘craft’ indulged in the lewd and crude. Magazines appeared to satisfy the demand for ‘this sort of stuff’ such as Witchcraft, little more than a soft porn publication from Gresham publications which littered the pages with ‘saucy’ goings on at covens, images of bound females and nude ceremonies.

A strange time post 60’s liberation, a knee jerk to re-empower the emasculated male pride and display females as objects of titillation and fantasy. It was a time when pinching a woman’s bottom would be expected to result in the young lady turning around with little more than a cheeky squeaky response of saying “oooh,saucy”.
You’d think that in these post millennial woke and spoke, diversity aware times those days and memories would have been discarded to the embarrassment dustbin. Not so. There is a growing and huge interest in this era of blatant and “harmless” exploitation. Magazines such as Witchcraft command three figure sums when each issues appears on Ebay or second hand markets.
Debauched satisfies the curious, perverted and fetishists with a large compilation of such material from the catalogues of titles such as ‘Witches and Bitches, Satanic Sex Stories, et al. Produced from the same publishing house that created the Satanic Mojo Comics. It’s not safe for work, it shouldn’t be left on the coffee table when the Jehovah’s witnesses come rapping on the door, or perhaps it should. Described as Vol.1, though there has to date been no follow up it is filled with nudity, lurid sexual rituals and everything else in between. Of course, self styled Voice of the Satanic movement Anton LaVey is pictured throughout, usually with dagger in hand provocatively threatening nubile and buxom wenches spread on the altar.

It’s the 70’s and most of the females are unshaven down there, which was perhaps the only saving grace when it was a time that lusting minds didn’t expect women to look like pre-pubescent girls. It’s trash, its pulp, it’s garbage, but its an historical feast for the eyes and senses, it doesn’t satisfy the apologists and at times and often raises the question why the occult community weren’t up in arms over this despoiling and libellous depiction of their lifestyle, It wouldn’t happen if they were Nuns for instance… oh, hang on, actually ….
It’s a book that we shouldn’t enjoy, we shouldn’t promote or applaud, but damn, it’s interesting, fascinating and yes, sexy. A large book and still available at select bookstores though it is already climbing in price somewhat on the second hand market.

In the wake of this celebration and on the back of its success and interest come two books in similar vein (vain).

First Came Spellbound ~ ~ Exploring Witchcraft and the occult through vintage paperbacks. It is a small compendium of covers of, again, early 70’s, paperback books, many of the books on display were written by well known practitioners, Sybil leek, Maxine Sanders et al. This collection far less lurid than those offered by Debauched, however the titillation does creep in particularly when covers are shown from mercenary writers who sought only to capitalise on the growing interest and sure enough, the odd breast and cover reminiscent of 70’s Parade of Pops vinyl albums appear. It is a collection that entices the viewer, there’s no writing just the cover artworks, to seek out these books. The original books, themselves, again, have began to escalate in price but can be found better at junk markets and boot fairs.
Binding The Devil~ Satanism and Witchcraft reflected in 20th century tomes is the follow up, again by comparison to Debauched is much less explicit, the usual type of artwork as seen on many a heavy rock album cover, scenes borrowed from the often derided Satanic Rites of Dracula and reminiscent of every photograph of LaVey holding a dagger or sword and of course semi clad females holding the chalice or goblet, what can this imagery possibly indicate !
Both of these books to buyers in the U.K. are currently available at Treadwell’s bookstore, but they do sell out quickly. They are limited import publications and expensive for what they are as a result, in fact both the small books come in at much the same price as the larger and wieldier Debauched which is stacked with the magazine articles to which the photographs refer and though more explicit, in fact bordering on a pornographic publication is the better bargain on offer. However as a compendium they both are handy resource material to delve into eBay and Abe books searching for them, but bring a hefty wallet.
As a social conversation piece what can we garner from the interest in what is essentially ‘witchcraft’ exploitation. Is it some attempt to take away the power that many females in the craft, self empowered and confident have? Is it harmless and historical.
For my own personal feelings I am neither concerned nor do I actually care , if you can laugh at the objectification, and hope all the ignorant continue to view the ‘craft’ as some quirky and perverted indulgence for naturists, nutcases and eccentrics then for my mind that’s good, yes, I actively hope the vast majority of people view the occult and witchcraft as depicted. When this world, this path we inhabit becomes popular, the money men, the churches, organisations will seek to control and dictate its path. Of course, for us wayfarers, we will still do as we please.
As a statement regarding feminism, it is no good to promote equality, for a start we are not equal. The patriarchy has failed, as it will continue to fail, for thousands of years. It is the case to fight for a matriarchy, nothing less. It’s not about hating men, it’s about patting us on the head and telling us to go and read sordid magazines and have a punch up in the park whilst women, mothers, daughters, sisters, wives can organize and sort the whole system that requires constant love, attention and compassion in order to continue which in itself is a statement that depicts us men as incapable. We men cant do it, history teaches us that, all religion shows us that.
In life we can be filled with strife, angst and anxiety, we can protest and bemoan and knock on doors until someone answers and also we can enjoy the pleasures. Laughter is the best medicine, especially at our own expense. Now, shall I watch the 1973 Black Magic Rites or listen to the laughable Barbara the Gray Witch L.P…..