The Magus: A Complete System of Occult Philosophy is a comprehensive guide to the world of occultism, written by Francis Barrett. Originally published in 1801, this book covers a wide range of topics related to the occult, including alchemy, astrology, divination, magic, and the Kabbalah. The Magus is divided into three parts, each of which explores a different aspect of occult philosophy. The first part focuses on the history of the occult, tracing its origins back to ancient Egypt and Greece. It also discusses the various ...
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The Magus: A Complete System of Occult Philosophy is a comprehensive guide to the world of occultism, written by Francis Barrett. Originally published in 1801, this book covers a wide range of topics related to the occult, including alchemy, astrology, divination, magic, and the Kabbalah. The Magus is divided into three parts, each of which explores a different aspect of occult philosophy. The first part focuses on the history of the occult, tracing its origins back to ancient Egypt and Greece. It also discusses the various schools of thought that have emerged over the centuries, including Hermeticism, Gnosticism, and Neoplatonism.The second part of the book is devoted to practical instruction in the art of magic. Barrett provides detailed instructions on how to perform various spells and rituals, including the creation of talismans, the invocation of spirits, and the use of divination tools like tarot cards and astrological charts.The third and final part of The Magus is a collection of essays on various topics related to occult philosophy. These essays cover subjects like the nature of the soul, the meaning of symbols, and the relationship between magic and science.Overall, The Magus is a fascinating and comprehensive exploration of the world of occultism. It provides a wealth of information on a wide range of topics, making it an essential resource for anyone interested in the occult.This Is A New Release Of The Original 1801 Edition.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
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"I purchased this book based on subject matter and topic description alone. When reading reviews on this, it described the contents of the book to contain many things I am actively in study of or at least, find very interesting. While subject matter itself is very interesting, this book is intended for a readers with specific interests and quite possibly, a goal. Much of the information falls within commonly accepted and contemporary themes of Hermetic knowledge. Astrology, Qaballah, Magic & Theurgy. Much of the book is devoted to a study of Solomon's Seals, which I find particularly interesting. I have used this book to enrich understanding of planetary talismans as well as the Angelic hierarchy described by Solomon himself. The images and old drawings of the seals and talismans are definitely worth having around, again, if one is aware of these within practice or a interesting body of knowledge.
I wouldn't recommend this book just based on the description of the contents. Someone who is interested in fundamentals of Alchemy, Astrology, Hermetic thought, would do well to start with more specifics books. I thinks this is an excellent reference for one who already has the vocabulary and understanding to decode what Barrett is using. As well, the language and rhetoric is from a different time and a different understanding. It is somewhat difficult, to fully mesh this book in, with contemporary understanding of similar knowledge.