Laura

Three is my Favorite Number

Daily writing prompt
List three books that have had an impact on you. Why?
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Can you guess why?

Anyways, as I’m sure for most on here, narrowing down to only three books that have been impactful in one’s life will be a bit of a challenge.

I like a ton of different books. I’ll read pretty much anything, especially if it’s horror/mystery or has to do with spirituality, ancient history, mysticism, dreams, deities, esotericism, occult, alchemy, philosophy, astrology, medicine, science fiction, and the likes thereof. If you recommend me something, I’ll most likely read it (eventually!)

Without any extended rambling or yammering, let’s get it on.

“Dream within a Dream,” “Masque of Red Death,” “The Raven,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and the like, I love me some Edgar Allen Poe. Don’t know what else to say besides that, really. I love dark writing. I like some light and happy writing too, but dark goes deep, and people who can pull off the dark arts are truly creative and talented individuals – in my opinion, anyways. It shows a lot about a person’s character when they can go far into their mind and write from the darkness (but not make it into a story of whining or complaining). It’s easy to love the light, as they say. Show me your darkness.

I feel it’s self-explanatory, really. Everyone knows I write a lot about spirituality and the like, so naturally I read lots of different teachings on spirituality and religion (and the universe, and about demonology, frequencies and vibrations, and about consciousness, etc, and all of that).

Hallucinations, dreams, prophecies, visions, second sight – whatever you want to call it. Exploring the depths of our soul and researching our conscious, unconscious, and subconscious mind will always fascinate me.

Ahhh, the Papyri Graecae Magicae. An ancient text. For serious practitioners only. I had my reservations about putting this one, but whatever. Here it is, because I’m an open book (pun intended). If you are so inclined, you can find the archives online. The papyri date back to the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD, and they were discovered in Egypt in the 19th and 20th centuries.

I know I’ve gone over 3 books, haha…which wasn’t planned but I just started and kept going. Oh well, enjoy my chaos. 😆

This one could’ve been first, it could’ve been last. It could be in no particular order, really. It is, what it is. It’s an important book. One that could be referred to over and over again. Theory and practice, invocations, evocations, conjuring, meditation techniques, divination stuff, rituals and the like. Plus, a lot more. You are either into it, or you’re not.

And finally! (Deep breath!)

Last but certainly not least, is a recommendation from ShredBobTed who writes a great story here. He’s been writing some interesting comments on my posts every now and again… I wanna say…over the last few months or so?… about his trip to Hawaii and how he spent some time here in Florida when he was a student at UM, among other interesting facets! (You should post about them in your blog, too lol …since they’re all pretty cool stories). Anyways, he recommended me Under The Volcano by Malcolm Lowry in this post and it’s a great book about an alcoholic who searches for redemption with themes surrounding Dia de los Muertos, so thank you for that! I’m reading it as we speak (err….type), and I am really liking it. 🙂 It explores themes of moral and spiritual decay, as well as the blurring lines of reality and fantasy. How could I not be interested in reading it?

That’s all folks! Was it long enough for you?

I’m off this week, so if I’ve been a bit MIA with some posts/responses/replies/likes, just give me some time. 😊 I very much appreciate you all!

24 comments

  3. I don’t read books regular. I have to be in the right frame of mind to concentration wise. But when I do read, my books can be quite varied. I can’t narrow down to three.
    There is only one book that I could narrow it down to and that’s “On the fence: The Hidden World of the Hard of Hearing,” by Mark Dolsbaugh. I read this book twice some years ago and it came at the right time in my life as I was struggling to come to terms with my hearing loss and the frustrations with it.

    Having heard of Edgar Allen Poe via your blog a little while back, I went to read a little bit more of his work and liked.

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  5. Great post, with 3 familiars and the rest un! I love that you write darkness, and about darkness. “The cave you fear to enter..” and all that. 🙂 Also I love the balances you keep with your explorations, being strong and true to your own sensibilities in a way that’s so grounded an honest. I’ve said that before but it’s worth saying again.

    I’m also in catch-up mode here. Not sure I can do it! lol

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  6. Thanks for the mention, Laura. That’s so wonderful of you. ❤️😜😎That’s quite a list; I haven’t read any of them but Poe and Under the Volcano. I hope you enjoy the one I recommended-it can be very dark, but Lowry also meant it to be funny and soulful. It’s not really life affirming, it’s just too rough for that. Maybe afterlife affirming? I like to take it that way. The second time I read it I followed along with “A Companion to Under the Volcano” by Chris Ackerley and Lawrence J. Clipper, and their guide helped my understanding of the novel; there’s a reference to another piece of literature, or religion, or some sort of symbolism, including a lot of mystical stuff (right up your alley) in nearly every line of that book.

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    • Thanks again for another awesome recommendation. 😊 I do like dark work, but thanks for the warning. Mystical stuff is indeed right up my alley! Thanks again 🙏

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  8. Amazing post, Laura ❤
    Great to see you named these authors and books as the most influential, as all of these are familiar to me, and some influenced me deeply as well (like Regardie, Poe, and Jung).
    The Greek Magical Papyri. Corpus Hermeticum – I deeply admire your thirst for knowledge and resistance, many have failed as you know (I didn't, but still not the easiest reads) 🙂
    Your knowledge is deep and inspiring ❤

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