Brian Johnson
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bjohnsonfreelance.bsky.social
Brian Johnson
@bjohnsonfreelance.bsky.social
Literary, nonfiction, and TTRPG editor | Humanities research consultant | Former CRM archaeologist | Translator of grimoires | Scholar of the arcane

https://bjohnsonfreelance.com/
(Quotations from Sachse, _The German Pietists_)
October 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
...by inquiring into the foundation and reasonableness of these notions which, thee knows, will not bear to be searched and examined into; though I handle these fancies with more tenderness with him, than I should with others...because I respect the man."
October 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
It was "...furnished with books containing...Philosophy, Natural Magic, Divinity, nay, even Mystic Divinity; all of which were subjects of our discourse...", though he would go on to say that "When we are upon the topic of astrology, magic, and mystic divinity, I am apt to be a little troublesome...
October 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Writing to Royal Society member and fellow gentleman-botanist Peter Collinson of London in 1743, Pennsylvania farmer and "father of American botany" John Bartram described the library of Germantown clock-maker, astrologer, and doctor Christopher Witt.
October 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
6. "Not Saying He’s a Gold Digger, But …"

Last one! And you can read this one in full: shewstone.com/blog/categor...

This adventure was the inspiration for the book's cover art as well 😁
7/7
Tales of Wizardry — Shewstone Blog — Shewstone Publishing
shewstone.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:44 PM
5. "My Library Was Dukedom Large Enough": John Dee's library has been ransacked.

Among the missing volumes are Dee's personal alchemical notebooks, and he suspects another practitioner is the culprit. But the doctor has more than one rival, and things may be more complicated than they appear. 6/x
October 21, 2025 at 3:38 PM
4. "Inspiration, Perspiration, Transmutation": Production has come to a halt at a metallurgical operation.

An alchemical manufactory funded by Lord Burghley has broken down, and the owner needs to get it running again before word reaches his patron. But who's really behind his transmutation method?
October 20, 2025 at 7:03 PM