Lon Milo DuQuette is one of my favorite people in the world. In esoteric circles, he tends to be one of those guys who one either loves or hates; some folks love the way simplifies but not dumb-ifies complex esoteric subjects, others don’t make the distinction and get all grumbly for making that which is occult accessible.

(Yeah, guess which camp I fall into.)

Anyway, I’ve been the fortunate recipient of some first-person Lon wisdom (he once gave me the sweet and lowdown on the Temple of Solomon over a burger and fries in a hotel diner, another time kept a group of Tarotists in stitches with tales of tying up the loose ends of Crowley’s estate), which only makes me love his books even more. I was in a particularly grumpy mood yesterday until stumbling on his latest at B&N; three pages in and I’m cracking up in the aisles.

This one’s a book on divination. It is not to be taken too seriously. But, you see, that’s what’s so wonderful about Lon — he knows that spiritual practice is a serious business, but it also needs that key ingredient: perspective.

Taking oneself too seriously is a great way to get on my bad side.