Step into the world of an 18th century magician Ebenezer Sibly was an astrologer, an herbalist, a physician, and a magician. A copyist of grimoires, his library and manuscripts formed the basis for Frances Barrett's "The Magus". "The Station of Man in the Universe" collects Sibly's writings on how the magical universe is structured, what the nature of demons and angels are, what happens after death, and what the varieties of magic are, that are contained in his work "A New Complete Illustrated Guide to the Celestial Science of Astrology". Together, the essays provide a glimpse into the worldview of a magician who practiced Solomonic magic in the grimoire tradition of the late 18th century, before the Theosophical Society and the Golden Dawn.
In 1665 an anonymous treatise was added to a book skeptical of witchcraft. That book, "The Discoverie of Witchcraft", compiled by Reginald Scot and published in 1584, defended those accused of witchcraft. It also included so many examples of rituals and charms that it became popular with magical practitioners themselves. Although the"Discoverie" has since been reprinted several times, the anonymous material has not been available for over a hundred years. This material features a combination of ceremonial magic, Paracelsian thought, pagan folk rituals, and spirits from John Dee's "A True & Faithful Relation", all mixed into a synthetic whole. "The Magitians Discovered" Volume I is an analysis of who the authors of the anonymous material were, what their worldview was, and what their motivations may have been in assembling and inserting the anonymous material.
Robert Cross Smith (1795-1832) was an astrologer, magician, and geomancer. Smith founded the periodicals, “The Straggling Astrologer” and “The Familiar Astrologer”, which published magical material as well as astrological advice. The magical material dealt with topics as varied as alchemy, charms, the virtues of herbs and stones, invoking spirits into crystals, evoking demons, evoking spirits into circles, necromancy, invoking the fairy king Oberion, writings about fairies, geomancy, palmistry, physiognomy, divination by the “Wheel of Pythagoras”, and Behmenist Theosophy. “A Sorcerous Anthology” collects these writings, plus several pieces from Smith’s other publications, and presents them for the first time in one place. Certain of the writings have not been in print since the 1840s, and none have been presented without the other content of the magazines. Divided into four parts, “A Sorcerous Anthology” contains sections on Divination, Low Magic, and High Magic, as well as selections on the history of astrology and the powers of the planets, Smith’s original introductions to the publications, and an obituary and horoscope for Smith written by fellow astrologer “Zadkiel”.
“History of Genii and Familiar Spirits”, first published in 1705, presentsahistoryofcommunicationwiththepersonal Genius and Familiar Spirits that draws on sources as diverse as Neo-Platonism, Renaissance occultism, Greco-Roman history, and cross-cultural comparisons with the Sami people and Native Americans. Beaumont presents examples of contact with spirits through visions, dreams, aparitions, and magic, stretching from Socrates to his own day. John Beaumont, (c.1650-1731), was a physician, antiquarian, mystic, geologist, and fellow of the Royal Society.
Hermetic Behmenists reproduces the writings of Dionysius Andreas Freher and Francis Lee, two exceptional commentators on Jacob Boehme’s philosophy. The texts contained in this book were originally published in 1854, in an edition of 500, given away to friends, and sent to university libraries by their editor, Christopher Walton. They were never sold in stores. Walton was an English Behmenist and devotee of William Law, and the texts were assembled as part of a research project that was never completed, “Notes and Materials Towards an Adequate Biography of William Law”. Unfortunately, Walton presented the texts haphazardly, without table of contents, in microscopic type, with footnotes going up to one hundred pages in length, that in turn contained other texts. This edition of the writings aims to put the writings of Freher and Lee in a more accessible, and readable format. Besides Walton’s book, only fragments of Freher’s writings have been published. A great quantity of writings have been preserved in manuscript form. Freher was referred to as “Second to Boehme” in his capacity as a commentator on Boehme’s philosophy, making the inaccessibility of his works an unfortunate loss.
• Explores the schools of Solomonic magic around the world and works such as The Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon the King and The Hygromancy of Solomon • Examines Solomon’s magical possessions, including his famous ring that gave him command over animals, weather, demons, genies, and djinns, as well as his amulets, remedies, exorcisms, and charms • Looks at the extensive presence of Solomon in folklore around the world, including in Armenia, Malaysia, Russia, Bulgaria, Morocco, India, and Egypt Looking at the Solomonic magical tradition and Solomon’s profound influence on esoteric traditions around the world, Claude Lecouteux reveals King Solomon not only as one of the great kings of prehistory but also as the ancient world’s foremost magician and magus. Examining the primary sources on Solomon, such as the Bible, the Koran, and the writings of Flavius Josephus, the author explores Solomon’s judgments, his explorations, his literary and scientific works (including an herbal), and his constructions beyond the eponymous temple, such as the copper city in Andalus built by the djinns and the baths of Sulayman. He also looks at Solomon’s magical possessions, such as his famous ring and the Philosopher’s Stone. The author examines the supernatural powers granted to Solomon by his ring, which he received from the angel Gabriel, including command over animals, weather, and demons, and explores in detail Solomon’s power over genies and djinns. Following the esoteric threads hidden within the primary sources on Solomon, Lecouteux reveals the work of Solomon the Magician, exploring his amulets, remedies, exorcisms, charms, and his influence on Arab and Western magic. Providing illustrations of sigils, talismans, and other magic symbols related to Solomon, the author examines the schools of Solomonic Folkloremagic and works such as The Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon the King and The Hygromancy of Solomon. He then looks at the extensive presence of Solomon in folklore worldwide, including in Armenia, Israel, Malaysia, Eastern Europe, Russia, Morocco, India, Mongolia, and among the Abyssinians of Ethiopia and the Copts in Egypt. He also looks at Solomon’s role within the Bulgarian tradition from which the Cathars derived. Painting an in-depth portrait of Solomon the Magician-King, Lecouteux reveals how this legendary magus left a deep impression upon the occult, magical traditions, and philosophies of the ancient world that can still be felt to this day.
The experience of modernization -- the dizzying social changes that swept millions of people into the capitalist world -- and modernism in art, literature and architecture are brilliantly integrated in this account.
This book features the greatest minds of magic assembled in one place! Compiled by two of the leading figures in the magick community, this new hardcover title in Llewellyn's Complete Book series includes more than 650 pages of fascinating insights into the history and contemporary practice of ritual magick. With contributions from dozens of top authors, this book brings the practices, theories, and historical understanding of magick into the 21stcentury, including in-depth chapters on: Foundations of Western Magick • Qabalah • Demonology & Spirit Evocation • Alchemy • Planetary Magick • Enochian Magick & Mysticism • The Magick of Abra-Melin • The Golden Dawn • Thelema & Aleister Crowley • Polytheistic Ceremonial Magic • Magician's Tables • The Future of Ceremonial Magick
Works in the Museum's collection that embody the Renaissance interest in classical learning, fame, and beautiful objects are illustrated and discussed in this resource and will help educators introduce the richness and diversity of Renaissance art to their students. Primary source texts explore the great cities and powerful personalities of the age. By studying gesture and narrative, students can work as Renaissance artists did when they created paintings and drawings. Learning about perspective, students explore the era's interest in science and mathematics. Through projects based on poetic forms of the time, students write about their responses to art. The activities and lesson plans are designed for a variety of classroom needs and can be adapted to a specific curriculum as well as used for independent study. The resource also includes a bibliography and glossary.
