During the 1970s he was the driving force behind Askin Publishers, producing lovely editions of classic magical works such as Agrippa’s Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy and the Archidoxes of Magic by Paracelsus, several titles by Austin Osman Spare, Aleister Crowley, Dr Donald Laycock (The Enochian Dictionary) and others, all of which are now collector’s items. The first of these was a huge quarter leather edition of the primary source book of Enochian magic, the True & Faithful Relation of what passed between Dr John Dee…and some Spirits. During the 1970s he co-wrote books with Francis King, including the still popular Techniques of High Magic, which has gone through many editions since it was first released. Also with Francis King he wrote Nostradamus. Then he followed this with the best selling Millennium Prophecies.
His interest in Western geomancy spurred him on to create the most complete and classic work in that field Terrestrial Astrology which is soon being reprinted as Geomancy in Theory and Practice.
In 2004 he began publishing Source Works of Ceremonial Magic. The first title was The Practical Angel Magic of Dr. John Dee’s Enochian Tables with co-author David Rankine, opening the doors on real 17th century angel magic in a way never done before. This was followed by The Keys to The Gateway of Magic and then The Goetia of Dr Rudd, a complete 17th century version of the Lemegeton as used by a practising magician. He and David Rankine produced a new edition of three versions of the most famous grimoire, the Key of Solomon as The Veritable Key of Solomon. Most recently they deciphered and translated the Grimoire of St Cyprian, the Clavis Inferni.
In 2006 he published The Complete Magician’s Tables with complete tables of Magic, Kabbalistic, Angelic, Astrologic, Alchemic, Demonic, Geomantic, Grimoire, Gematria, I Ching, Tarot, Pagan Pantheon, Plant, Perfume and Character Correspondences in more than 800 Tables, four times as many tables as Aleister, Crowley’s Liber 777, or any other imitator.
He was responsible for launching and publishing the first full colour magazine on feng shui, Feng Shui For Modern Living, which was distributed in 41 countries with translated editions in German and even in Chinese. At its peak the English edition sold over 121,000 audited copies per month, and Stephen was nominated at the PPA awards as UK ‘Publisher of the Year’ (the UK print media equivalent of the Oscars).
He was educated at Sydney University graduating in English Literature, Geography and Ancient Greek Philosophy. His interests include feng shui, ancient civilisations, geometry, travel, computers, magic and the Middle Ages. He is the author of more than 30 books published worldwide in 20 different languages. His books have had introductions by such diverse people as Colin Wilson, HRH Charles Prince of Wales, and Jimmy Choo shoe designer to the stars.