Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon: The Initiated Interpretation of Ceremonial Magic

by S.L. MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley

Book Overview

A complete book of magickal symbols and sigils, by two of the most prominent and influential occultists of all time. The "Lesser Key" contains the magickal sigils (symbols) of the 72 "Goetia", spirits, which can be called upon by the adept to perform actions on the astral plane. An essential work book for anyone interested in this form of ceremonial magick

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1453712968
• ISBN13: 9781453712962
• Release Date: July 2010
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Facsimilie edition.

This book is not the book it advertises to be. I have the original book of the same name, and this looks like a poorly scanned copy of that. The Goetic seals are all listed together in a grid on the first few pages, and are barely legible. The body of the book is decent enough, but you would have to refer to the seals at the beggining of the book - which you'd have to aready know, or get a huge magnifying glass. This version was a disappointment, and there should be a better way to determine what you will receive. Since the authors are the same, I would say investigate the publishers.

The Best Extant Edition

When Samuel Liddel MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley collaborate on a work of such magnitude as the Goetia, you know you're in for something big.Written by an unknown author in a relatively unknown time (but at some point during the Renaissance), Goetia is the first text of a series of five known as "Lemegeton", which some people have suggested was originally the name of a magician.The idea that this books was "translated" is inaccurate, as Mathers simply transcribed the existing English manuscript which can be found in the London museum. No editions in Hebrew or Latin are known to exist.The book contains 72 demons, which were supposedly summoned by Solomon the King (hence the title) into visible appearance, following out the instructions in the text. Aleister Crowley does a masterful job editing the text, and his essay in the beginning of the text describing his theory on the operations of Ceremonial Magick is unusually clear and easy to read. Mathers' transcription of the manuscript makes the whole ensemble just as simple to understand. There is also an insightful introduction written by Hymenaeus Beta, the current Frater Superior of the O.T.O. His description of the climate of the Golden Dawn, and the competitive nature of the two men Mathers and Crowley, makes for an interesting backdrop to the text itself.The sigils are just wonderously drawn, and the reprint of the ritual in the back of the book (which includes the Enochian reading in both the Golden Dawn phonetic pronunciation and the Enochian language itself) is a nice addition. To those who seek Solomonic grimoires, you don't have a better option than this text.

THE Goetic Manual

This is one of those books that make up the required reading of any serious student of the occult. It is must have for anyone's magickal library. Also, the introduction notes about the history of this translation is worth the price of the book alone.

A Must Have for Those Lonely Nights of Re-Runs

Why bother with re-runs, 108 cable channels with nothing good on them and psychic hotlines that wipe out your wallet?Go straight to the source - adopt-a-devil. It is your choice, with or without protective circle. If you use the protective circle, they will deftly affect your mind anyway (they have that in common with advertising). If you choose to go circleless and engage in a little chat time, they may never leave! But then, Taisha Abelar referred to her familiars (allies, as she terms them) as merely friendly pets, little spots of light that would occasionally follow her around. Just visitors from another dimension - the twilight zone. These _are_ twilight zone denizens, as the drawings scrawled by Crowley in his personal copies of this book, and reproduced here, prove. To really get a feel for them, the Duquette Goetia book is highly recommended as well. But be sure to have this one! Besides Crowley's drawings and notes, it is well annotated by an excellent Crowley scholar.MPS: This is not to be confused with black magic. Crowley used the Goetia to attain his HGA, Holy Guardian Angel, and the invocation to the HGA herein contained, and later reproduced in Regardie's groundbreaking popularization, is indispensable. Otherwise known as the "Bornless One."

An important reference for any serious Occult library

"The Goetia, the Lesser Key of Solomen the King" is instrumental in the practice of High Magick. This book gives the demonic order of the other planes. Originally compiled with the help of Alisteir Crowley, the infamous Ritual Magician, and undoubtably used in his ceremonies. This is definitely one of the Occult references to have in your library. It is not a work of fiction but considered by Occultists as a serious magickal work. This book will only be of interest to serious students of Ritual Magick.