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Rating: 
Summary: Primal Chaos?
Review: Although I enjoyed his first work Condensed Chaos more, this work is an important read because Hine's examines topics such as group work and ritual practice from a very practical and experienced perspective. There is also an interesting chapter on the justification of working with the Cthulhu Mythos.
Rating: 
Summary: W.T.F.?
Review: I CAN'T BELIEVE ANYONE WOULD OR COULD EQUATE THE CREATION OF THE PANTHEON OF SUMERIAN DEITIES WITH ANYONE BUT THE SUMERIANS! HOW COULD ANYONE BUT THE ENGLISH HAVE THE GAUL TO ASSERT THE BELEIF THAT LOVECRAFT ACTUALLY INVENTED KUTULU HIMSELF! THIS COULD BE VERY MISLEADING TO THOSE WHO WERE NOT AWARE OF THE SUMERIAN AND BABYLONIAN MYTHOLOGY.
Rating: 
Summary: 3 good books in one
Review: I found this a superb introduction to practical magic - the sort of book to lend to interested, doubting or downright skeptical friends. Phil so obviously writes from experience that he wins immediate respect. He maintains that respect by writing intelligently, without posturing and with a light touch of humour.The book is divided in 4 parts. The first is an outline of chaos magic that could easily stand on its own under the title `Prime Chaos' rather than the given title `Chaos is Everywhere'. This provides a clear summary of principles with practical advice and instructions. Definitely one to lend to intelligent friends who want a grasp of the principles, but it is also a highly practical book for an experienced magician because it encourages open-ended experimentation rather presenting step by step instructions like a dedicated `beginner's guide'. Part 2 is about ritual. Again this could well stand on its own as the core of a general book on magical ritual. The theortical background, the discussion of elements and equipment, and the examples given would all be useful for the sort of pagan or occultist who would run a mile from the title `chaos magic'. In part 3 the scope is even wider as it addresses group dynamics. Although there is an attempt to focus on the specific problems of a magical group, I felt that the general advice was so sound and so obviously based on experience that once again it could easily be the basis for a third booklet with advice on running any sort of group. Part 4 is really an appendix, looking more closely at two contrasting examples of chaos work - Liber Nice is about the hilarious Erisian current and Liber Nasty addresses the Cthulhu mythos. Between them they illustrate the breadth of possibilities in chaos working and the scope for causing offence via both iconoclasm and `evil'. This book does a good job of directing chaos into mainstream culture, not just because it is so clearly sane and perceptive. Phil says that for him magic is about "learning to experience your world in different ways"; he describes the point where "one ceases to believe in magic as something `separate' to (sic) the rest of one's familiar world. rather the world is becoming magical." To me this is the real place of magic in the 21st century: we live in a shrinking world of limited resources, and the future lies with those who can re-experience and sanctify what is around them rather than rely on new conquests and further exploitation of resources to satisfy the need for growth and novelty. In a similar vein Phil questions the desirability of mastering the skills of dream control, when the great joy of dreams lies in their very unpredictability and wierdness. In a very important section `The power of discrimination' he challenges those who believe that chaos magic demands a complete lack of judgement or values. "It is the process of moving beyond merely accepting other peoples' models and theories, by doing your own research/magical work." It is this strong grounding in practical work in place of dogma that informs the whole book. "The statement `nothing is true, everything is permitted' can be a slogan of upreme pesimism and cynicism. It can also be a clarion call to life as William S Burroughs put it, as art, play, or make-believe. Aleister Crowley is himself a paradigmatic example of the extremes implied by such a stance." I like what Phil goes on to say about Crowley - some chaoists used to feel the need to define their independence from any tradition by rubbishing the man, but Phil gives him his due. In another section Phil gives sample rituals including a delightful invocation of the spirit of Harpo Marx. Indeed there is so much in this book that I heartily agree with, that I will go out of my way to question one section. Under ritual magic Phil strongly emphasises the importance of debriefing after a ritual in order to learn from experience and avoid self-delusion. While accepting his logic here, I am also aware that after a ritual I often sense that something has been set in motion that needs to be left to work free from conscious examination - rather like a work of art not needing to be spoilt by untimely analysis, or Austin Spare's advice on forgetting a sigil once charged. I found the discussion of Cthulhu magic in the last section especially interesting. Both because it challeges stereotyped notions of good and evil but also because it reflects the need to go beyond magic (or science) as control and towards the rediscovery of awe in the face of overwhelming forces. Again we find that clear prose tends to defuse glamour and all that poetic imagery can do is to hint at possibilities of direct experience. Once again we are invited to do magic rather than read about it. What does that mean for a book on magic? As suggested, this is really 3 books in one - it could be extended and edited slightly to provide first an introduction to chaos magic, secondly a handbook for ritualists and thirdly a general guide for group leaders. Or else the book's real value might lie not in the text itself but in the author's experience it contains. A future generation of magicians could read Prime Chaos and be inspired by it. They could pass on what they find to benefit others even when the book is long forgotten and all that remains of Phil Hine is a statue cast in solid platinum atop a hundred foot high marble pillar in the middle of Trafalgar Square.
Rating:
Summary: decent read
Review: I've read through this book, not through and through mind you but good enough to get a good general idea about it. Now I have a friend that practices 'chaos magic' and I agree with some of his theorys and find it a fascinating system. The thing that turned me off about this book is Cthulhu, this god was indeed strictly created by H.P. Lovecraft. My friend who happens to believe in Cthulhu is always trying to state that Cthulhu was actually a Sumarian diety but the thing is that; like most Cthulhu fans lacks any substantial research. I've mentioned other Sumarian gods past H.P. Lovecrafts work (such as Sinn) and he doesn't even know what they are. From what I've seen of most chaos magick books is that they try to be anti-dogma yet their beliefs as a whole embraces dogma, like Peter Carol. For instance his belief that everything has an oppisite, this is in essence dogma. If this sounds like I am totaly tearing down the chaos beliefs I appologize... I just question the validity of it's sources.
Rating: 
Summary: good but vague
Review: Phil Hine's second book on Chaos magic, Prime Chaos offers a somewhat vague and rotoscopic view on progressive occult practices. It's almost too vague, and offers little in the way of theoretical foundations for Chaos Magic, other than the requisite "Nothing is true, everything is permitted." Hine ends each ideological explanation for a belief system or ritual with "but that's just what some people believe, you can do it differently." while this does offer a warm and openminded aproach to chaos magic, it underscores one of its frustrating aspects: its hard for newcomers to get a feeling for chaos magic's theoretical foundations and thereby begin the thought process neccesary to branch out and form your own belief system. The book also spends alot of time on technicalities of practice, particulary minor social disparagements that might occur in group practice. So, add another star if you have group experience and would like some warm, experienced advice from Phil(he focuses alot of the book on group practice.) Phil writes in an easy to understand way, with a warmth and understanding that some other Chaos Magicians who are too wrapped up in being snotty and cynical lack. However, this might not be the best introduction to newcomers of chaos magic, particularly occultists who have dabbled in wicca or other contemporary occult practices and have seen most of this stuff before.
Rating:
Summary: Pragmatic Chaos? Absolutely!
Review: Prime Chaos by Phil Hine is one of the most intelligent, pragmatic, and straightforward books on magick that I have read, possibly ever. First, Hine approaches thoughts on magick as one of a very personal perspective, and the importance of the focusing of Will and inspiration, rather than following the dogma of any particular school of magick. He also gives some very useful examples of methods of discovering personal inspiration for correspondences, rituals, etc, rather than saying "Pagans should do this" or "Cabalists should do that" or whatever other by rote teaching most books follow. Make no mistake, this is a very modern approach to magick, unlike many books which profess to be modern, but merely rehash celtic rites, the Golden Dawn, or so forth. The references span ancient mythologies to the more modern icons of comics or rock'n'roll - which is exactly what makes this book appealing to me. Additionally, Chaos magick is one of the only magickal paths that truly trancends gender roles, ignoring completely the old traps of "male" or "female" energy and treating it simply as energy, period. Hine also includes practical advice for things like starting groups, conducting rituals, and steps for building sigils, which chaos magick has popularized. Finally, Hine stresses the importance of not losing touch with the rest of life whilst pursuing magickal knowledge, a consideration I found both charming and realistic. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in magick, especially those looking for alternatives to what is commonly presented as modern magick.
Rating:
Summary: Convicting
Review: Prime Chaos challenges me. This book is on a par with _Visual Magick_ by Jan Fries and _Chaos Ritual_ by Steve Wilson. It is full of ideas, which it communicates eloquently and explores thoroughly.
Rating: 
Summary: Group Chaos
Review: Prime Chaos is the first book I ever read about chaos magic. It serves as a great way to introduce a reader to the ideas and concepts of chaos magic. Despite its relatively small size it contains and highlights all the ideas a chaos mage can play with. This book is geared towards group work and a large section is dedicated to it. As a lone wolf mage you might not find it satisfying and I would suggest "Condensed Chaos" by the same author, Phil Hine. However if you are interested in learning and experiencing magic as a group Prime Chaos will definately be a very valuable assistant with its approach and ideas.
Rating:
Summary: Group Chaos
Review: Prime Chaos is the first book I ever read about chaos magic. It serves as a great way to introduce a reader to the ideas and concepts of chaos magic. Despite its relatively small size it contains and highlights all the ideas a chaos mage can play with. This book is geared towards group work and a large section is dedicated to it. As a lone wolf mage you might not find it satisfying and I would suggest "Condensed Chaos" by the same author, Phil Hine. However if you are interested in learning and experiencing magic as a group Prime Chaos will definately be a very valuable assistant with its approach and ideas.
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