Murray Langham: Mystic, Magician or Witch.

The pre Solstice Summer Sun found us at Treadwells Bookshop, for an interview & book signing by Murray Langham, with his recent book Mystic, Magician or Witch: Teachings from an Alexandrian Priest.

What makes Craft so fascinating, along with its Rites are is its people, those who work its Rituals & engage in its culture. None more so than Murray Langham, one of those whom has done so from an early age & tells of his life echoed in the title of his book.

So what title should Murray have?... A Witch? Certainly so. Murray left his native New Zealand to follow the call of Magick that lead him to England's shores, specifically to London of the early 70's.

Murray, upon Treadwells fabulous orange settee, interviewed by the shops proprietor Christina Oakley Harrington regaled of his time in the Craft, initially with The London Coven at Clarincade Gardens. That house under the tutelage of Alex & Maxine Sanders, then soley Maxine with the Coven in an open household steeped in the arcane arts, where seekers desiring help or spiritual guidance in the nascent days of Alexandrian Wicca flocked.

Murray visited & worked with Alex Sanders, then at Bexhill in Sussex. The cottage there thrummed with power. Alex channelling Spirits, working ceremonial Rites & Circling the Craft.

Murray spoke of Alex with fondness, of Alex's generosity with Craft, Magick & of his hospitality cooking for all who came to his door. That generosity reciprocated with gifts for the work Alex did on the magickal planes to aid them.

Murrays book is lavishly illustrated in colour, a few photographs of Alex & Maxine, hitherto (by us at least unseen) amongst many others show of more earthly matters. In one Alex ascending, not to the higher realms, but upon a ladder to fix the roof!!

The other title of Magician is evident in Murrays work. The Alexandrian Craft walks, nearly hand in hand with that of the Magician. Murray relates of his time with such Occult luminaries as Ernest Butler, Israel Regardie (with whom he enjoyed a Long Island Iced Tea or two) & a host of esoteric societies. He has worked the Arte, tweaking a few Rites of the Magician which are shown in his book, in doing so making them easier to apprehend efficaciously for the practitioner.

A Mystic? I think the act of a life seeking, understanding the world and the underlying numinous within & without is that of following a mystical path of unending enquiry. Magick is found in the present, the here & now, which is something that Murray advocates. Life is truly that magick.

Murrays life has, amongst much more been saturated in the Magickal Arte. It was great to hear him say that Craft underpinned it all. It was fabulous to meet Murray and his wife who radiated joy, warmth & appreciation of life.

Truly he is one that takes all three of the books names of Mystic, Magician & Witch!!!!