Xenofact is happy to recommend various publications, pamphlets, and blogs that you should read. If Xenofact recommends it, it is probably worth your time.
Must Read
These are life-changing documents Xenofact reccomends.
- The Secret of The Golden Flower (Thomas Cleary) – A definitive translation of a classic Taoist meditation manual, with commentary. If you’re not familiar with Taoist thought you may need to read the commentary, but with a little knowledge it’s invaluable.
- Taoist Meditation (Thomas Cleary) – A collection of smaller Taoist works that pairs very well with The Secret of The Golden Flower. Though some of the guides conflict in advice, together they provide excellent advice on life and meditation.
- Awakening To the Tao (Thomas Cleary) – A translation of two works by Liu I-Ming, a prolific and fascinating 18th century Taoist mystic and apparently pretty level-headed guy. Ties well into the above two books.
- Vitality, Energy, Spirit (Thomas Cleary) – A compendium of Taoist documents over centuries, Cleary identifies critical scriptures and thought to give you a great overview of Taoist practice. Obviously not complete, but a great overall compendium, pairs well with other Taoist documents.
- The Small Things Manifesto (Andrew Roach) – A manifesto on the need for technology and media to be small-up, scalable, and community oriented. Worth rereading multiple times.
- The Society of the Spectacle (Guy Debord) – A scathing incitement of capitalism, media, and the endless need for empty spectacle in culture that will brutally pry open your mind. Debord was a communist/anrcho-commuist, but directs his criticism at communism in practice as well. He takes on all comers, and even the extended rant in the middle (where he goes after communism in practice) is useful, if a bit of a slog.
- The Book of the SubGenius (“Bob” Dobbs) – Is it a parody? A religion? A work of art? All three? A 20th-21st century masterpiece that helps blow the locks off of your mind. Some of it hasn’t aged well since the 80s, but a surprising amount has stayed relevant or become more relevant.
- Magic, Power, Language, Symbol (Patrick Dunn) – A look at magical practice with an emphasis on the use of words and symbols. Useful, practical, and good for the novice or serious practitioner. Also useful as his Postmodern Magic is out of print.
Culture And Media
- Community Media – A handbook for revolutions in DIY TV – Andrew Roach holds forth on how to make your own online TV station. It’s simpler than you think, has been going on longer than you may know, and it’s vitally needed.
Taoism
Taoist philosophical, health and meditative practices are fascinating, and between reformist movements over the centuries, lone authors, and translators like Thomas Clearly, there’s a lot out there to learn from. It’s influenced me a lot, and I’ll be sharing my highly opinionated views on it here.
General
- Original Tao (Harold D. Roth) – An academic and historical analysis of an early Taoist document, Inward Training. This document indicates a pre-Tao Te Ching set of Taoist practices suggesting a larger, more unified history of Taoism. Most of this book is historical, linguistic, and academic analysis so it’s only for people seriously interested in Taoism. However because of it’s depths I’m including it for those with strong interests in Taoism.
Taoist Energetics
- Taoist Yoga (Charles Luk, translating) – This is a translation of an 19th century manual of energetic Taoist yoga. Some of it is clear/detailed and sober advice, some of it is strangely over-detailed and over-complicated. Worth reading if you have an interest in the Microcosmic/Macrocosmic orbits, but you’ll need knowledge from other works to make sense of it all. Also historically interesting from a time where energetics took more prominence. (WARNING: Not for beginners, some of the practices are questionable and conflict with other sources, and might be harmful.).
Magic and Mysticism
- Divine Magic (Patrick Dunn) – Dunn’s take on NeoPlatonic ideas and practices, with a focus on contacting and relating to gods. Accessible done with humor, filled with practical advice, one can adapt his ideas to other mystic practices.
- Transmissions from the Chaos Buddha – An authentic attempt at Discordian Buddhist practice. Worth buying a print copy. Read it online or buy a physical copy.
More To Come
- Taoism
- Magic and Mysticism
- Philosophy