Dover Occult – serie

Acclaimed by Publishers Weekly as "a classic reference, dizzying in its breadth," this volume explores the themes underlying ancient mythology, philosophy, and religion. Hundreds of entries range from esoteric elements of Islamic and Christian history to arcane rituals practiced by Druids, Freemasons, alchemists, and other secret societies. 16 pages of color plates, 100 black-and-white illustrations.

This apocryphal work from the second century B.C. introduced such concepts as fallen angels, resurrection, and last judgment. It exercised a powerful influence on early Christians, particularly the Gnostics. A must for those interested in apocalyptic literature and the origins of Christianity, this edition offers the definitive translation.

Written by a leading authority on Shaktic and Tantric thought, this book is considered the prime document for study and application of Kundalini yoga. It probes the philosophical and mythological nature of Kundalini, the esoteric anatomy associated with it, the study of mantras, the chakras, or psychic centers in the human body, much more.

This extraordinary document, considered one of the most important manuals ever compiled on witchcraft, offers striking insight into the early seventeenth-century mind and society's attempts to cope with the evils it saw manifested in sorcery.A collection of writings by the Ambrosian monk Francesco Maria Guazzo, the Compendium comprehensively and penetratingly describes the entire practice and profession of witchcraft.

Remarkable 16th-century classic attempted to disprove existence of witches. Rich full account of charges against witches, witch trials, practice of the black arts. Excerpts from Inquisition, interviews with convicted witches, discussions of alchemy, astrology, much more. Indispensable primary source on witchcraft. Introduction by Montague Summers. 17 illustrations.

This scholarly exploration of the borderlands between science and fantasy features four complete works by the redoubtable Charle Fort (1874-1932): The Book of the Damned, Lo!, Wild Talents, and New Lands. All concern the bizarre phenomena unexplained by traditional science: flying saucers, telekinesis, sudden showers of fish from the sky, stigmata, poltergeists, and spontaneous combustion.

Around the turn of the century, when Aleister Crowley was working out his system of Magick, the source that he turned to for basics was the system of Abramelin of Egypt. From Abramelin he took his concepts of protections, purifications, evocations, vestments, and dromena down to specific details.This system of Abramelin the Mage is known from a unique fifteenth century manuscript preserved in the Bibliothèque de L'Arsenal in Paris. In it, Abraham of Würzburg, a cabalist and connoisseur of magics, describes a tour that he made of the then civilized world, visiting sorcerers, magicians, and cabalists, estimating their powers and virtues. This quest is in itself as fascinating as the similar tours of Gurdjieff.The high point of Abraham's travels was found in a small town on the banks of the Nile, where he encountered the great magician Abramelin, whose complete system Abraham thereupon sets out in detail. This amounts to a complete course in ceremonial magic (both white and black), which the student can pursue by himself.Abramelin, whose system is based mostly on Hellenistic theurgy of the Iamblichan sort, but with Jewish increments from the Cabala, explains the qualifications needed to become a magician, purifications, and asceticisms to be practiced month by month, studies and activities permitted during this period, selection of place and time for working magic, equipment needed, prayers and formulas, evocation of good and evil spirits, commanding spirits to do one's will, overcoming rebellious spirits, and similar material. Specific instructions are offered to develop such powers as clairvoyance, divining metals and treasures, warding off evil magic, healing illness, levitation, transportation, rendering oneself invisible, creating illusions and glamour, reading minds, placing compulsions, working black magic, and a host of other abilities.We do not guarantee that Abramelin's techniques work, nor that the results are desirable, but we offer this as a genuine medieval course in magic, one of the most important books in the history of occultism. It is of paramount importance to both the historian and the practitioner.

Fascinating, painstakingly researched study of occult beliefs and practices in Celtic Britain. Intriguing discussions include the origins of the Druids, Arthurian cults, the mystery of the Holy Grail, Celtic spells and charms, black magic, the Celtic spirit world — with its populations of banshees, leprechauns, brownies and a host of lesser phantoms — and many other topics.

The most famous compendium of information on the occult and the first comprehensive work of its kind, this volume originally appeared in 1920. Compiled by Lewis Spence, a scholar of occult-related topics, it organizes a truly vast amount of information into 2,500 dictionary-style entries (many of which run to several pages). These entries encompass both familiar terms ("abracadabra," "poltergeist," "spells," "vampire") and more arcane topics ("Martian language," "bottle imps," "magic darts," "tinker's talk"). Numerous profiles of historical figures with ties to the occult include John Dee, Mary Baker Eddy, and Catherine de Medici. An oft-cited resource and a classic of its genre, this remarkable compilation of history and lore offers an essential tool for a fuller understanding of occult subjects. Index.

This comprehensive and well-documented guide to the arcane Jewish tradition of mysticism was written by one of Britain's foremost writers on occult subjects. Waite's extensive and lucid history embraces the literature of the Kabbalah (including the Sepher Yezirah and Zohar and their central ideas), its foremost interpreters, its impact on Christian scholars, and its reputation as "the secret tradition."

This essential reference by the designer of the most widely known Tarot deck contains a detailed description of each card in the popular 78-card Rider-Waite deck. Rich in symbolism and detail, this handy guide also discusses regular and reversed meanings and features 78 black-and-white illustrations of the cards.

A high-ranking Mason offers a fascinating glimpse into the Western world's most secretive society. Hall traces the path followed by initiates to the ancient craft. He also recounts the ethical training required of a Freemason, and profiles the character traits a Mason must "build" within himself.