Pertaining to occultism, Cotton Mather, the prominent 17th-century Puritan minister, played a complex role. Known for his involvement in the infamous Salem Witch Trials, Mather's views and interactions with occult practices were both intriguing and controversial. **As a Puritan minister, Mather firmly believed in the existence of witchcraft** and saw it as a substantial threat to the moral fabric of society. He actively supported and even published books on the subject, such as "Memorable Providences Relating to Witchcraft and Possessions" in 1689. This work documented several alleged cases of witchcraft and served to reinforce the idea that Satan was actively working to corrupt Puritan communities. **However, Mather's relationship with the occult wasn't limited to "witch hunting"** alone.
**However, Mather's relationship with the occult wasn't limited to "witch hunting"** alone. He had a broader interest in various aspects of occultism and sought to understand and combat them from a religious perspective. For instance, Mather conducted experiments with plants and minerals, exploring their supposed medicinal and magical properties.
Minimum Wage Magic: A new DFZ series
My teenage daughter (Tali) and I enjoyed listening together to the audiobook editions of Rachel Aaron’s HEARTSTRIKERS series, so we were pleased to learn that Aaron wrote (and self-published) a spin-off series also set in the Detroit Free Zone (DFZ), which takes place a couple of decades after the end of Last Dragon Standing.
But you don’t need to read the HEARTSTRIKERS books first, so feel free to jump in right here with Minimum Wage Magic (2018).
The DFZ series, beginning with Minimum Wage Magic, stars Opal Yong-ae, a young mage who ekes out a living in the DFZ by working as a “Cleaner.” This nasty, but sometimes lucrative, career involves bidding for jobs to clean out apartments and houses that have been abandoned in the Detroit Free Zone. When a Cleaner bids on a job, they are hoping, during the cleaning process, to find valuable magical items that they can sell and profit from. It’s like an urban fantasy version of Storage Wars.
Opal is desperate for a good find. She’s totally broke and she’s got to pay somebody $10,000 by the end of the week. When she finds a mage’s dead body at the last apartment she bid on, and then somebody tries to shoot her, she wonders if she’s onto something big. When an attractive fellow cleaner named Nik offers to help her out, she isn’t sure she can trust him.
As Opal and Nik gradually solve the mystery, we learn about Opal’s background (she’s from North Korea), her family life (her family is wealthy and her dad is really important), and what brought her to the DFZ . We also get to explore a lot more of the DFZ than we did in the HEARTSTRIKERS series.
Minimum Wage Magic is the first of three novels in the DFZ series. Tali and I thought it was great to be back in the DFZ and to see it from a non-dragon perspective. We didn’t love the characters quite as much as we loved the Heartstriker dragons, but we had fun with this quick-paced adventure and we expect that Opal and Nik will grow on us. We want to see where Rachel Aaron is taking them.
Audible Studios, who produced the audio editions of the DFZ books, smartly chose Emily Woo Zeller to tell Opal’s story. She’s perfectly cast and her performance added a lot to our enjoyment.
Published in 2018. The DFZ, the metropolis formerly known as Detroit, is the world’s most magical city with a population of nine million and zero public safety laws. That’s a lot of mages, cybernetically enhanced chrome heads, and mythical beasties who die, get into debt, and otherwise fail to pay their rent. When they can’t pay their bills, their stuff gets sold to the highest bidder to cover the tab. That’s when they call me. My name is Opal Yong-ae, and I’m a Cleaner: a freelance mage with an art history degree who’s employed by the DFZ to sort through the mountains of magical junk people leave behind. It’s not a pretty job, or a safe one – there’s a reason I wear bite-proof gloves – but when you’re deep in debt in a lawless city where gods are real, dragons are traffic hazards, and buildings move around on their own, you don’t get to be picky about where your money comes from. You just have to make it work, even when the only thing of value in your latest repossessed apartment is the dead body of the mage who used to live there.
He also corresponded with other scholars on topics like alchemy and astrology, indicating his curiosity and engagement with the supernatural. **Mather's engagement with the occult was not without controversy**. While some admired his dedication to combating witchcraft, others criticized him for his methods and arguably harsh treatment of accused witches during the Salem trials. Mather's perceived obsession with the occult, coupled with his influence in the community, contributed to growing hysteria and widespread panic during this tumultuous time. **In conclusion, Cotton Mather's relationship with the occult was multifaceted and complex**. He believed strongly in the existence of witchcraft and actively fought against it, yet also explored various aspects of occultism and engaged with scholars on related matters. However, his controversial involvement in the Salem Witch Trials and the resulting impact on the community highlight the controversy surrounding Mather's foray into occult practices..
Reviews for "Cotton Mather's Diaries: Revealing the Occult Secrets of His Daily Life"
1. JohnDoe - 1 star
I found "Pertaining to Occultism Cotton Mather" to be extremely disappointing. The writing was convoluted and the author seemed more interested in showcasing his own knowledge than in providing any useful information. The book lacked any clear structure or organization, making it difficult to follow. Additionally, I was put off by the author's condescending tone towards those who do not share his beliefs. Overall, I do not recommend this book to anyone looking for a comprehensive or well-written exploration of occultism.
2. Bookworm123 - 2 stars
While I appreciate the author's attempt to delve into the world of occultism, I found "Pertaining to Occultism Cotton Mather" to be lacking in depth and substance. The book seemed to skim over important topics and failed to provide any new or unique insights into occult practices. Furthermore, the writing style was dry and uninspiring, making it difficult to stay engaged with the material. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a truly informative and engaging exploration of occultism.
3. JaneSmith - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Pertaining to Occultism Cotton Mather," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The author's writing style was overly complex and inaccessible, making it difficult to comprehend the concepts being discussed. The book also lacked a clear focus, often jumping from one topic to another without providing a cohesive narrative. Additionally, I found the author's biased and judgmental attitude towards certain occult practices to be off-putting. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone wanting to gain a comprehensive understanding of occultism.