EarthWise : Bringing together the wisdom of the Earth found in nature, science, mythology and spirituality
Introduction
Who does not relish a spooky, spine-tingling tale at this time of year? Perhaps best set at dusk or even at night, of plumbing deep mysteries into other worlds? Such is the story you will get from The Magical Rites at Cley Hill. It is written by RK Williams. It was published by Liminal Gate Press in 2025.
But this is no mere folk tale or made-up story. This book recounts the actual experiences of a group of people who set out to do deep magical query and investigation of the energies of Cley Hill. The book also introduces the concept of “Meta Magic” as an emerging magical energy and practice in current society. I am reviewing a paperback copy issued in 2025. This review has not been sponsored in any way by the publisher.
Why Cley Hill?
Why Cley Hill? And what is it? Some readers will not be familiar with this location and its allure for this kind of magical seeking. But the book readily provides an explanation for the selection of Cley Hill as well as setting out a vivid physical description that pulls the reader deeply in—as if they were themselves there.
The appearance and atmosphere of Cley Hill is described:“ As we neared Cley Hill, I saw it dark against the grey sky and I could feel it from some distance away. Something about the hill felt –not foreboding, that’s too intense, perhaps a little edgy.” (page 19)
This quote quickly sets the atmosphere of the Cley Hill setting while at the same bringing the reader along on the exploration. You are not simply reading, you are there, waiting to see what will transpire.
Cley Hill is a location in Wiltshire, a hill as the name explains. But there is more to the area than that. The book explains that it “is well known for its UFO phenomena and associated with ‘The Warminster Thing,’ an event that took place in the early 1960’s where people heard mysterious sounds and saw strange light phenomena in the night sky.” (pages 6-7).
Thus, Cley Hill, explained and described in the opening pages of the book, provides the setting for what is to come on delving deep into the magic and mysteries of the place.
Writing Style
The book is written with contributions from several participants in the magical explorations of Cley Hill. It is written in a diary format, with each contributing author providing their own thoughts, impressions, and experiences of the rituals and practices.
This is a unique approach to writing about magical practices and the underlying beliefs that go with them. It provides a sense of immediacy, with the reader feeling like a participant in the mysteries and the explorations. The different points of view offered from the participants also contribute depth and encourages the feeling of reading as participation rather than reading as a distant observer.
Discussion of Meta Magic
Alongside the experiences of the participants at Cley Hill, the book offers a philosophical exploration of a concept it calls Meta Magic. This philosophy is deftly woven throughout the book, raising thought-provoking questions as the participants continue their own explorations of Cley Hill. The book explains, “Meta Magic does not discard everything—but chooses carefully about what to keep from the past and plays with it skilfully, blending it into a new vision for the future.” (page 11).
Thus, the book offers insight into emergent thinking, clearly showing that there is a place for magic in the modern world as more than a quaint folkloric recall.
My Reading Experience
I was not sure what to expect from this book. I was not familiar with Cley Hill before reading the book and so entered into digesting the book with an open mind. Although presented in a diary format, the book is full of information. It explains history, the philosophy and tradition behind practices and rituals, and puts forth challenging questions of the role and place of magic in the present day.
Indeed, there was so much information in the book—both from the experiences recounted in the diary entries and in the explanations of magic—that I found the best experience in reading the book was to digest a bit at a time. For me, this was not going to be a casual cover-to-cover in one go sort of read. Instead, after reading several pages, I would put the book down to reflect upon and digest what I had read. The book is rich with insight and knowledge.
There are detailed discussions of different magical practices, their intent, their history and their potential effects and consequences. The information is presented at a level that someone just curious and starting to learn about magic can absorb the information. At the same time, the rich presentation, filled with knowledge, history, and philosophical wondering, offers much of interest for an experienced magic practitioner.
Conclusion
This book is a stand-out must read for anyone interested in the area of Cley Hill itself, in considering the development and place of magic across time and into modern society, and in magic practices and rituals themselves. Thus, it has a multi-layered offering and is a book that can serve as a reference for learning, observation and reflection. The diary style of the book enhances the delivery of complex information in a way that feels personal and accessible rather than dry and lecture-like. It is a read I highly recommend.