Post by MatCult on Jun 16, 2014 6:04:21 GMT -5
I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of this book from Courtney Dayton last week. I spent a very enjoyable few hours reading and digesting the material over the weekend and this review represents my initial reactions. I've not had time to extensively test the systems in the field, but I did have the opportunity to give a couple of readings yesterday applying Courtney's "AD&D" approach. Please read my review with these provisos in mind.
Onwards...
The title: Two Thoughts by Courtney Dayton
The link: www.mevproshop.com/two-thoughts.html
The price: $37.00
The blurb: If you are one of the people who loved C. Dayton's innovative "Roses on a Stage" and "Yes/No+", I think you're really going to appreciate the Pro Shop re-release of "Two Thoughts". Originally released privately to a select few in 2011, the newly-updated and expanded "Two Thoughts" highlights the unique and creative approach to the process of presenting readings we've come to expect from the mind of C. Dayton.
Contained within the 54 pages of "Two Thoughts", you'll find two complete systems that can be used separately or together: "AD&D QA: Question Answering with Platonic Solids" and "Sortilicious: A System of Sortilege".
The review: What we have here are two very well thought out systems for providing readings. But scratch beneath the surface and we find these two systems also form a comprehensive and well-written introduction to casting oracles.
Scattering ashes, dominoes, runes, bones or stones is one of the earliest approaches to scrying or fortune telling. And yet, in a world of palms, auras and tarot, it is also one of the most under-explored and under-exploited approaches. So this is a timely publication in many ways.
Both the systems described by Courtney are accessible and adaptable. Novice readers will find "AD&D" immediately within their grasp and capable of growing with their own abilities. More experienced scryers will immediately see how they can apply what they already know and practice to these new systems. The frameworks provide "plug and play" components and ideas that can be popped in and out - used in conjunction with other oracles or swapped out for preferred approaches.
"Sortilicious" in many ways represents the 'coming of age' of "AD&D". It is deep, powerful and pumped up by atmosphere and ritual. And that is an important point about the systems in this book. Courtney clearly understands the importance of ritual and the dramatic role it can play in enhancing a reading experience.
There is a lot to like in these pages and a lot of food for thought. Both systems provide a rich vein of imagery for the reader to mine as he explores ideas with his subject. And that is surely all we can ask from any oracle.
The AD&D readings I gave yesterday flowed nicely and garnered happy reactions from my subjects - which is no mean feat for the first run-out with a new system. It obviously helped that I already had meanings in mind for numbers, colours and elements - but these are things that are easily acquired by any student and they are really all you need to start working the system.
Bottom line: I have found things in the book that I will be using. I have found other things that have made me think hard about my own reading practices. And that makes it well worth a purchase. $37 represents very good value IMHO.
Onwards...
The title: Two Thoughts by Courtney Dayton
The link: www.mevproshop.com/two-thoughts.html
The price: $37.00
The blurb: If you are one of the people who loved C. Dayton's innovative "Roses on a Stage" and "Yes/No+", I think you're really going to appreciate the Pro Shop re-release of "Two Thoughts". Originally released privately to a select few in 2011, the newly-updated and expanded "Two Thoughts" highlights the unique and creative approach to the process of presenting readings we've come to expect from the mind of C. Dayton.
Contained within the 54 pages of "Two Thoughts", you'll find two complete systems that can be used separately or together: "AD&D QA: Question Answering with Platonic Solids" and "Sortilicious: A System of Sortilege".
The review: What we have here are two very well thought out systems for providing readings. But scratch beneath the surface and we find these two systems also form a comprehensive and well-written introduction to casting oracles.
Scattering ashes, dominoes, runes, bones or stones is one of the earliest approaches to scrying or fortune telling. And yet, in a world of palms, auras and tarot, it is also one of the most under-explored and under-exploited approaches. So this is a timely publication in many ways.
Both the systems described by Courtney are accessible and adaptable. Novice readers will find "AD&D" immediately within their grasp and capable of growing with their own abilities. More experienced scryers will immediately see how they can apply what they already know and practice to these new systems. The frameworks provide "plug and play" components and ideas that can be popped in and out - used in conjunction with other oracles or swapped out for preferred approaches.
"Sortilicious" in many ways represents the 'coming of age' of "AD&D". It is deep, powerful and pumped up by atmosphere and ritual. And that is an important point about the systems in this book. Courtney clearly understands the importance of ritual and the dramatic role it can play in enhancing a reading experience.
There is a lot to like in these pages and a lot of food for thought. Both systems provide a rich vein of imagery for the reader to mine as he explores ideas with his subject. And that is surely all we can ask from any oracle.
The AD&D readings I gave yesterday flowed nicely and garnered happy reactions from my subjects - which is no mean feat for the first run-out with a new system. It obviously helped that I already had meanings in mind for numbers, colours and elements - but these are things that are easily acquired by any student and they are really all you need to start working the system.
Bottom line: I have found things in the book that I will be using. I have found other things that have made me think hard about my own reading practices. And that makes it well worth a purchase. $37 represents very good value IMHO.