Description
The Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy. $40.00.
Originally published in 1655, this book is a collection of texts on magic and geomancy. This is the first addition to contain all six books. It contains annotations from an expert in magical practice, set in modern type, and reorganized for easier use.
The magical texts are comprise Part I, and the two geomancy texts comprise Part II.
The book contains:
- Agrippa’s Of Magical Ceremonies, which gives many specific and practical hinsta about invoking spirits, demons, angels, and other “spiritual creatures.”
- De Abano’s Heptameron, which is an important grimoire dating from 1513. It deals with the angels of the seven days of the week.
- The Isagoge by Georg Villinganus is a collection of many references from ecclesiastical and classical authors on the nature of spirits. It is structured around a supposed conversation between the Greek twins Castor and Pollux. This allowed the author to express differing and sometimes controversial viewpoints.
- The Arbatel of Magick, from 1575, is mentioned by John Dee in his Mysteriorum Libri Quinque, and was obviously read by him and Edward Kelley. Notable in the Arbatel is a section on the Olympic spirits, which were an important part of magical practice.
- Of Geomancy, which nobody doubts was written by Agrippa, is a classic of geomancy. Stephen Skinner’s informed notes clarify Agrippa’s instructions and are an invaluable addition.
- Of Astronomical Geomancy by Gerard of Cremona (ca. 1114-1187), who was famous for translating Ptolemy’s Almagest, uses a completely different method to generate the figures than that which is more commonly described by Golden Dawn derived books. It will be of particular interest to readers interested in astrology.
All of these books have had an important influence on the Golden Dawn and other magicians in the English-speaking world.
This is a hardcover copy.
