Kali Kaula: A Manual of Tantric Magick

Starts with a great overview of history in India seeking to stay neutral to opinion and honoring the fact that much was oral tradition we cannot know. Indeed, we are always foreigners looking at history because we cannot experience reality from previous world views. There is a great amount of referring to ancient texts while being realistic, only a small percentage survive and of those a small percentage are available and translated (and translation involves more than syntax, but also world view).Given this wise basis there is every attempt to bring the reader into the mystical magick which the texts imply and which is also carried into the present. There are many places where the reader is asked to engage in practices, as well as to contemplate the meanings that can be found. I enjoy the authors view that it is acceptable for the modern practitioner to invent what works and engage in exploration based upon a deep understanding of what we have to work from. This is not to imply that every crazy thing tried over the ages should be employed by a modern person. One must realize the setting and that rich kings were the one's who got texts copied, therefore the author often seeks to explore the deeper hidden secrets written below the gross and sometimes misleading explanations. A necessary work which transcends the mere scholarly and achieves an insightful and practical view from which the reader may learn and gain life skills.

As a long-time practitioner of Kaula Tantra I THOUGHT I knew a great deal about Tantra, especially of the Kaula Variety. This work is a stunning tour de force in which the author has CLEARLY studied and researched the subject very thoroughly. His work is clear and convincing, and he is the first to say when he doesn't know something completely, or is not an authority on this or that aspect. At the same time, I cannot imagine the depth of effort that was put into this book, and it humbled me as to my actual lack of knowledge on the depth and breadth of the subject. A tedious read in some ways, not because it's complicated or poorly written, but becuase of the massive amount of material that you just want to slow down and digest it. Overall a truly magnificent work that I highly recommend if you are a SERIOUS student of real Tantra and not New Age sex passing itself off as genuine Tantra.

Took a few months to get through this, but wow what a journey. Fries has left no stone unturned in explaining the history, the principals, the mythos, and everything that you didn't think you needed to know about Kali and Eastern religions. I can't stress how important this book is for anyone who is considering becoming, or like me who has been, a Kali devotee. You won't regret the time, the expertise, the humor, and the candor of this book.

I have just begun to read this, and am totally intrigued. It is an excellent overview of this branch of fascinating and startling practices. Not at all dry and pedantic, it pulls no punches in letting you know that this is not necessarily for everybody. There is so much in this book, as I could see just by perusing the table of contents. I recommend it highly for all those interested in hardcore tantra.

I really enjoy the writings of Jan Fries for two major reasons, 1. The length and breadth of his knowledge is impressive and it shows through like a torch in the night in all of his books. And 2. His candor, he does not shy away from stating his own personal feelings as well as being willing, able and honest in diving deep into the "darker" more "chthonic" side of topics.Now Kali Kaula is a wonderful book, especially now a-days for a western and predominately new age audience who has an interest in the subject covered and I share his animosity in that you have to wade through tons of crap before you get to a book that is not some new age fixation on sex and/or westernized interpretations of what actually is taught.I don't have a large knowledge base in tantric traditions, but its subject has always been a big interest of mine as I have been a great lover of Maha Kali, almost all of my adult life. So I initially purchased this book with the hopes that it would deepen my understanding of not only tantra but also Kali Ma, which it did.One of the biggest things that I learned is the term Tantra is really just a place holder, for a vast school of Hindu teachings, Tantra we learn means "texts" (basically), and that there are several school most notably Kriya and Kaula which are what most think of when they think of Tantric Teachings.Fries, goes into great depth of the history of Tantra without becoming to drawn out and the original artwork done by the author are great. I particularly enjoyed the Night Side interpretation of Ganesha, as he sat on the cremation grounds. Particularly as one of his notable characteristics is as a remover of obstacles.Now I can’t sing high praises for this book in totality for two reasons, 1. Jan Fries, albeit a wonderful author, can get pretty dry when he steps away from historical information and into explaining the teachings specifically, as they read much like stereo instructions. Cut and Dry. This can get pretty boring fast as you go from one to the next explanation explaining posture and breath, but I can’t knock him too hard for this because if you read them and apply them, which I have done with many of his works, they do what he says they will. Even though dry, it doesn't leave room for error if you are given instructions without a bunch of filler you have to wade through.The second reason, and quite honestly the only reason why I gave this book four stars rather than the five it deserves, and I do feel a bit petty about this but I will state it anyways, is the book is ungodly expensive, which avalonia publishing is well known for doing. Granted I understand that we are looking at a niche market of a niche market when it comes to Fries writings, and the author should get there well and do in profit for writing such texts. At least give a book that is top quality for the price. Now the book is bound average, the paper is average and the cover is average. But I’m sorry if you expect me to pay over 35 dollars for a soft cover book, and then I expect to get a top quality book. Granted, I have paged through avalonia's hard covered versions of Fries books, and they are really good quality, but 65 + dollars, (*(*&%*(&%&^!!! You have to be kidding, you might as well tack on "University of...." when you put the publisher because you are right up there with college presses. Ok, off my soap box.Overall this is a good book, if Tantra interests you this is a wonderful book to start with, or for that matter base much of your backbone practices on. But keep in mind you are just going to have to tell yourself your paying all that money for the content and not book quality. Granted I will agree, High quality book with s*** for content is certainly worse....Worth a read!

The author is is obviously very well studied. He greatly explains every topic in detail, and really gives the reader a visualization of what he is talking about.

Very interesting. The most thorough scholarly work I have come across in terms of offering translations of tracts from ancient texts in the tantra tradition. Nevertheless, written in a very straightforward style.and eminently practical.

I recommend you read Hostage to the Devil by Malachi Martin before engaging with these practices.

O livro chegou impecável e entrega rápida. Mas o livro em si, para mim não vale o dinheiro. Informação muito superficial, talvez possa ser útil para um iniciante.Obrigada.

amazing book loved it extremely informative and valuable even for the price would recommend to anyone looking for magick !!!

Conosco già il testo, e l'ho comprato proprio per questo.Nota per Amazon: il pacco era perfetto, ed è stato consegnato in poche ore. Non altrettanto perfette le condizioni del libro, dato che la copertina è completamente imbrattata di qualcosa di appiccicoso che sono riuscito a togliere solo in parte.5 stelle al libro, 1 stella ad Amazon. Media 3.

Its is perfect book, I ordered.I like the author that's why I bought this book, I am still studying the book, hopefuly I will get some good practical information from the book.Thank You

This book is excellent! It’s FILLED with information about Tantra and complex concepts are explained in a way that is easy to understand. Although the content of the book deserves five stars, I took a star off for the price. Forty dollars for an avg/slightly below avg quality paperback seems like a borderline price gouge. The content is fantastic, the price is not.