The Chaos Protocols: Magical Techniques for Navigating the New Economic Reality Paperback – April 8, 2016

As a followup to Gordon's Star.Ships, this book is a second home run. It's both practical and filled to the brim with information that will not only change your magical-spiritual practice, but also how you view the world. Who really thought you could do one without changing the other, right?He begins with an overview of the current economical situation on the planet, primarily with how it affects America. It's a sobering, and quite frankly, frightening vision once you start processing it, but as you read on the fear will (hopefully) abate. Initiation, spirit work, ancestor veneration, and so on- these, historically speaking, recently maligned practices (dealing with the dead, giving offerings, etc.) in the western magical tradition, are reappraised and have their original value revealed once more.Gordon makes it clear that you cannot just whip up prosperity, you have to work for it, not just in the material world, but in the spiritual world as well. To paraphrase from the early pages of the book, the gap between your present state and your first enchantment is greater than the gap between your first enchantment and every one that follows. The works and practices that Gordon lays out are in a sense simple, but very powerful - they have the voices of history whirling within them.Even if you only use a little of this book here and a little there, even if you only end up adding one practice to your life, you will have entered into deeper and richer waters.As a side note, if you haven't read it already, go read Gordon's other book, Star.Ships: A Prehistory of the Spirits, available at the Scarlet Imprint website. While a little denser and more theoretical than practical when compared to The Chaos Protocols, it is just as life-changing.

This is an excellent and important book, and there is much to praise. I will, however, limit myself to a few points.Many important things are achieved by the author in the course of the book, but one of the most vital is to encourage us to reformulate our concept of success away from the model instilled in us from birth (and reinforced throughout our lives) towards a concept which is achievable and healthier. We must disengage ourselves from the old notions and strive towards something new and sustainable, both as individuals and as a society. What that might look like is still uncertain, but we are given some glimpses and possibilities.As well, the author presents a variety of techniques and strategies which the reader may integrate into their personal practice. Some are ancient and some are more recent. He presents in a manner which is clear, uncomplicated, and operable. With a small and uncomplicated degree of preparation, any of them may be easily performed.While some readers may skip or gloss over the first chapter (which concerns the economic realities of our world), it contains a premise from which the rest of the book flows. It explains why one needs to employ an uncompromising magical approach. It may be difficult reading for some, and it will certainly be discomforting. But, it is the "red pill" which reveals the "world as it is", and clearly illustrates why one needs to get on with it. It is as straightforward and unequivocal an explanation as one will find of this complicated and dire matter. It is well-referenced and footnoted; so if one doubts the hard truths, one can seek confirmation from the sources. One may not need the "stiff drink" Mr. White suggests to read through it, but one may certainly want one afterward.

Recommended by a friend, and a topic that’s not remotely my cup of tea - so went in with no expectations. Turned out to be a great book, and somehow made economics and finance interesting via a topic I wasn’t previously interested in. Extremely intelligent takes on the state of the world, a little ahead of their time, and presented in an interesting and captivating way. I think that’s a sign of good writing.

This book is a great read. If you are used to the common understanding of the financial system in the world, as well as other aspects of the world, stand by... This is a very interesting view of the global systems, how they have fallen away from reality... and what reality is for each of us. This book has opinions and facts, so be open minded. A good read on a perspective.

An excellent text examining the ins and outs of how geopolitical struggles at a macro level apply to how we survive from day to day. While this is certainly aimed at a target audience - namely, chaotes who already have the resources to pull themselves out of poverty in the first place - everything written here is essentially for students of Carroll, Hines, and eclectic individuals looking to expand their own access to opportunities both known and unknown. Gordon's blog has been a must-read for a long time, and I was excited to work through this text in about a day.In the future, I would love to see some output along the lines of his Archonology and Whisky Rants in an organized in published form - although I fear he may have already let the cat out of the bag by publishing these immensely readable serial blog posts as free context. Either way, one of my favorite voices on the topic and one who deserves the attention and respect of anyone interested in the esoteric in these materialistic and uncertain times.