by Carroll ”Poke” Runyon, M.A. (Author, Illustrator)

Seasonal Rites of Baal and Astarte presents four Neo-Phoenician Solstice and Equinox rituals in complete script form. These outdoor myth-dramas were inspired by ancient texts and have been continuously performed since 1974 by The Church of the Hermetic Sciences and the Order of the Temple of Astarte (O.T.A.) in Southern California. Stage directions, costume designs and commentaries on the archaeological and mythological origins, symbolism and esoteric significance of the rites are all set forth in this fully illustrated, large size, trade-quality paperback book. There are eight full color photos of rituals and costumes, and fifteen line drawings.

The lead article in the text is the first publication of a 17 page paper on the Ordo Templi Astartes presented at an academic conference in Rome by the noted scholar of avant-garde religions Professor Robert S. Ellwood, Jr. of the University of Southern California.

An added feature is Poke Runyon’s modern adaptation of the ancient pre-Biblical epic Aqhat, Son of Daniel. Runyon calls upon his experience as a published novelist and his researches as an anthropologist to make this 20,000 word novelette, Prince Aqhat and the Magick Bow, as exciting as it is informative and inspirational.

Seasonal Rites of Baal and Astarte was originally printed in 1998 in a very limited quantity primarily for Church and Order members. This new 2004 printing finally makes the book available to our many friends outside the intimate circle of our fellowship.

This book will be of special interest to students of Magick, NeoPaganism, Biblical archaeology, esoteric Freemasonry, and occultism.