Somewhere deep in the Pacific Northwest’s primeval interior walks self-described magister factotum Andrew Edwards. Seventh-generation Oregonian and man in full, his tastes and doings stretch across the wide horizon of disciplines visible and invisible. His work as a writer—such as the instant cult classic novel King of Dogs, which has drawn comparisons to the likes of Conrad, McCarthy, and London—is hailed by none less than modern-day badlands bard David Milch, creator of the infamous Wild West series Deadwood. Dubbed an “esoteric survivalist” by listeners of his Warhorse podcast, the practicing Orthodox Christian wages what he calls “savage and timeless spiritual war” while weaving screenplays, wrangling guitars, and raising three sons with his wife. We caught him between exploits for a rundown of twenty-five of his favorite things.

Cities:

1 Portland. My birthplace and that of my ancestors since 1846 will rise from the ashes and Oregon will not fall to the horde. Please wait until we clean up to visit.

2 Los Angeles. So too, this place will remake itself once again. Who knows the form or timeline, but the sheer quantity of psychic real-estate suggests continued greatness after a respite.

3 Livingston, Montana isn’t really a city but it’s my favorite mountain place. Best peaches in the world and home to Country Highway, the only extant print newspaper.

4 Astoria, Oregon is again, not exactly a city, but compels a recommendation. Destiny manifested here. Pondering this at the maw of the Pacific is a quasi-mystical experience.

5 Austin, Texas, if only for the BBQ and Joe’s Generic Bar.

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Novels:

1 The Border Trilogy by Cormac McCarthy. Its middle piece, The Crossing, is the substrate out of which arose my own novel King of Dogs. “Books come from other books.” Sublime.

2 The Odyssey, Homer.

3 The film version of LA Confidential is so good it was hard to imagine Ellroy’s novel could be better, but the old dictum holds, it is, and by quite a sight. My vote for best living novelist.

4 Conrad’s Heart of Darkness evinces a unity line-to-line and at the level of the entire vision that is perhaps singular in all of literature. The author here is yoked to his daimon. 5 All The President’s Men is a near-perfect work.

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Exercises:

1 My benchmark for fitness is walking 40 miles in one day over broken terrain with minimal damage. This essential activity opens portals, clears the mind, and conditions the soul.

2 Core work done every day with an emphasis on incorporating the work of the Postural Restoration Institute. Critical to understand at sub-verbal levels that your body is asymmetrical.

3 Breathwork bridges the gap between the physical and psychic planes. Every major religion has a core practice placing the breath into a cycle of six inhalations and exhalations per minute.

4 Body weight; every day is leg day.

5 I recommend taking up the practice of swapping left-and right-handed activities. Try brushing your teeth, eating, writing with the non-dominant side. Heidegger-approved.

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Public Figures:

1 MartyrMade AKA Daryll Cooper is the best podcaster we’ve yet seen.

2 Father Justin Jackson is one of the best American professors (Hillsdale) but is far too humble to seek anything like notoriety. Check his Substack for an exquisite Bible walk-through.

3 David Lynch and I have certain pacts related to the dream realm, Pacific Northwest culture, and the manufacture of various artifacts. No, I will not elaborate.

4 In a just world James Bowery would have a much more prominent place in the public dialogue. I’ve been aided along by his wide-ranging mind. Check his take on the novel, Camp 38.

5 Ted Gioa is a fascinating figure who analyzes everything from religion to finance to social media primarily through a musical filter. Criminally underrated.

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Spirit:

1 At this point the Jesus Prayer has become the main waypoint between the noise of the world (much diminished with effort) and the silence I’m always moving to experience.

2 Orthodoxy. Mysterium tremendum. Divine liturgy. Fire, walk with me.

3 Transcendental meditation. It’s not heretical. It’s easy and it works, and despite protestations otherwise you will not astral project. The CNS is bombarded daily. TM smooths it back out.

4 The Act of Power. You know what it is but will not admit. It beckons. I take this from Castaneda and here too I cannot elaborate.

5 Hunting provides a connection with nature otherwise inaccessible. My preference is for rifles and elk in the mountains alone.