The Book of Ceremonial Magic: Including the Rites and Mysteries of Goetic Theurgy, Sorcery, and Infernal Necromancy

By Arthur Edward Waite

Book Overview

Arthur Edward Waite's classic grimoire of magical studies is presented here complete with the original illustrations, that the reader may understand the symbols, rituals, incantations and alchemy involved.

Writing in the late 19th century, Waite had studiously researched many obscure tenets of magic. Much of this book concerns the obscure occult tomes, which the author condenses and presents to readers in this single volume. Waite's studies uncover a variety of knowledge; there are thousands of spells and rituals that date back to Medieval times and have a theological basis. Many exist to ward off devils, witches or other evil phenomena, while others seek to conjure beneficent spirits.

Another intriguing aspect of ceremonial magic is the ability to form pacts with supernatural beings. These rituals in themselves act to compel supernatural entities to assist a human being; none of them involve offering one's soul. However, many require one or more materials and ingredients to begin - grave dust or a certain plant for instance.

Waite disapproves of those who reprint and sell the older magical grimoires for two principle reasons. Firstly the quality of the English translations is low, often proscribing completely different instructions and requisites for a given ritual than was given in the original source text. Secondly these books make no distinction between 'white' or 'black' magic; such lack of organization makes it difficult for the modern reader to distinguish the practices.

Over 150 symbols, seals, insignia, charts and other illustrations populate this text, each offering insight into how the magician correctly undertakes his tasks. Waite includes many scripts that the performer of magic must read out loud as he attempts to conjure, summon or communicate with forces from other planes of existence.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1789874424
• ISBN13: 9781789874426
• Release Date: January 1898
• Publisher: Pantianos Classics
• Length: 212 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Lots of information, but not always reliable

A.E. Waite (1857-1942) was one of the most important and influential figures in Western occultism. Perhaps best known as the creator of the enormously popular Rider-Waite tarot deck, he was a prolific author and had a leadership role in several occult groups (including the Golden Dawn), some of which he founded.His Book of Ceremonial Magic (first published in London, 1911?) is a revision of his Book of Black Magic and Pacts (Edinburgh, 1898) It contains a treasurehouse of drawings and quotes from rare handbooks of magic, but it does have some shortcomings. Excerpts often are quoted out of context, without representing any one system intact. Translations are not always reliable and mistakes are surprisingly frequent.Although Waite himself practised ritual magic, his treatment of the literature here represented is highly critical. I suspect that Waite deliberately chose passages from the most corrupt manuscripts possible to strengthen his invective. For example, he bases his extracts from the Lemegeton on Sl.2731 which is one of the least accurate manuscripts of that text. Also he uses a text titled True Black Magic (La Vraie Magie Noire) to exemplify techniques from the Key of Solomon method, when other versions are clearly more accurate.This book also suffers from a lack of any form of critical apparatus, bibliography, and index.Waite did us a service by assembling excerpts from a wide selection of magical texts, giving us a fairly good flavor for the genre, but I advise serious researchers and would-be practitioners of ceremonial magic to use it with caution. Those looking for a much more thorough survey of magical literature would do well to consult E.M. Butler's Ritual Magic, and Lynn Thorndike's History of Magic and Experimental Science.

"Ceremonial Magic" Hardcover edition.

The hardcover edition of Waite's "Ceremonial Magic..." is the comprehensive version of what has since been published as an abbreviated volume in paperback form. If you get any, get the hardcover.

I thought it was the best

Okay,what I love about this book is the totally cool magic that everyone wants! I have it I put my friend on a spell with this totally awesome book!