ART MAGIC, WITH ANNOTATION AND NOTES BY MARC DEMAREST by LA Holmes-Boyle

ART MAGIC

EMMA HARDINGE BRITTEN

ANNOTATED AND REFERENCED BY MARC DEMAREST

Reviewed by

Reverend L.A. Holmes-Boyle Ph.D. in Therapeutic Counselling

Knowledge brings an awareness, and the Occult Book: Art Magic, written in the 1876, is full to the brim, handing us a plentiful portion of many different influences and garnished by Marc Demarest, the author, whose references and annotations allows the modern day initiate to seek further Truth; all the while bringing us into a debate as to whether or not Emma Hardinge Britten did in fact write Art Magic—His own suppositions becoming ours. In reading, the book, one almost senses, we are sitting in Marc’s living room on a cozy couch chatting away in a harmonious conversation, and with a coffee in hand. We realize that Theosophy was based on ancient knowledge and various influences. Emma Hardinge Britten may have been a Guardian of Light over Art Magic or maybe was its author…yours to decide? As we read through this great body of Occult Knowledge, insights unfold, whether one is a neophyte upon the occult pathway or for many years the seeker.

Initiates take on “a body of work” to advance the cause of enlightenment, the outcome: Art Magic, the Occult 18th Century book. Their time was a different era. Furthermore, in this day and age—are we neglecting to jump in, advancing Occultism—the ancient wisdom? Marc Demarest didn’t. He set the bar high—His edited and annotated work of this 18^th Century work: Art Magic in every which way contributes to modern day occultism, enriching us all.

Now, on the more personal note... the side effects of it all…Emma and Helena were on my mind as I was working on the draft, hearing from the spirit side of life. “We would prefer that you use the word initiate versus occult.” While reading “Art Magic”, I held onto the reins of the many threads that Marc Demarest spun while keeping myself receptive, open, and objective. And, a good job, I was doing—until Joe Fulton’s words in an email spun me around, “I have this feeling that you would have been perfectly at home with H.P.B. and Emma Britten sitting around a table telling stories and trying to figure out, “What to do next?” His words: “What to do next?” was cathartic and erupted from the depth of my soul an unexpected sobbing. The Law: Like-attract-Like, found me—The BOOK, having the bubble I was in burst, and bringing me out of the shock I was apparently in, for I had been on “automatic” trying to be the peacemaker between Spiritualism and Theosophy. You see, I am an Ordained Spiritualist Minister, an occultist, and alchemist at heart. I know very well what Emma must have been up against working and surviving in the public arena, hiding ones views from opposing camps, Spiritualists and Theosophists— it still exists today. I had kept back manuscripts—Emma allowing us to assume Art Magic was written by another is not far-fetched at all. I would have done the same. Fed up with the diehard of organizations, and the past situations I’ve been in, and still, Joe’s words, “What to do next?’ hit me like a ton of bricks. Unbeknown to him, my mind is in the process of organizing a Society and getting out of the in-between. Upon retiring that evening, I lay there exhausted from battle-fatigue, when the light on the bedside table came on by itself, fully aware Emma was here and making it a more fragile moment; in that, I sensed the after affects I was experiencing had been more likely the same ones Emma herself had been through when in the midst of separation anxiety, and cover- ups. I have been thrown out of a Spiritualist Church, by the die-hard, for not towing with their dogma and then demeaned by a Theosophist when visiting Helena’s headquarters in England—I had to shut my mouth after the first ten minutes through the door. I saw Helena’s books over the receptionist’s desk and became excited wanting to converse about them; ignored and directed to go over to a rack where other author’s work was on sale. The man rebutted my polite desire to chat about Helena and more—my maiden name of Holmes made him shiver— it had made Helena back then. Five minutes later, I noticed a winding spiral staircase, intuitively climbing it. “I am not happy with what’s going on here!” was said. It was Helena. A deep sadness overcame me. “What could I do?”

Emma Hardinge Britten brought Marc Demarest’s Book: Art Magic to me, the insights in the debate within the book, his annotations and references, offsetting the emotional side, keeping in mind that I was supposedly well-trained so as not to become so, a longer shelf life needed and keeping away from burnout.

Emma and Helena are kindred spirits in following: “There is no higher religion than Truth,” which at first made “an ideal” then a Society—the original group splintered. And let’s not forget that divine wisdom reaches back before the creation of time— it’s just tapped into. Helena and Emma were not perfect nor am I. They were against a time and in a man’s world, socially, politically, the rules were ever changing. Now meeting up with Emma, as seen through Marc Demarest’s Book, has opened up old wounds. However, I know that Emma and Helena are on the sidelines, in fellowship on the other side, inspiring, “What to do next?” for all who feel as I. I have always thought Helena was her own worst enemy, putting her foot in her mouth on many things, she declared as absolute. A past encounter at the Theosophical Society had the receptionist dictating to me that Helena wrote she would never channel through any medium. She broke the mould with me! Emma must have had to take in deep breaths, sighing, as I have too. Thank you, Marc Demarest, for taking up the cause of what we are all trying to do in lieu of modern day occultism, then pushing the buttons—you’ve pushed mine! I thoroughly enjoyed and have benefited by Marc Demarest’s contribution.

Sincerely,

Reverend L.A. Holmes-Boyle Ph.D.