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Title: Three Books of Occult Philosophy (Llewellyn's Sourcebook) by Henry Cornelius Agrippa, James Freake, Donald Tyson ISBN: 0-87542-832-0 Publisher: Llewellyn Publications Pub. Date: February, 1994 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $39.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.33 (21 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Both a look into the past and much of it practical use
Comment: I bought this primarily for the first book, but was much impressed with the other two as well, and the supplimentary documents are informative as well, you see a lot of what is commonly practiced today, it's probably true that this was a foundation book, especially the last two books, and the only thing I had trouble with, which is understandable for the time it was written in, is the really, really, long sentances, most the time becoming there own paragraphs, but it doesn't detract from the information itself. :D
Anyway, I did notice a couple actuall problems. The text is printed on each page side by side, like a lot of bibles. In a few places it seems the last few words of the chapter were cut off so the right block wouldn't be longer then the left block.
I assume this was an accedent and still got what he was saying though, so I kept it at 5 stars.
Rating: 5
Summary: The Foundation Book of Western Occultism
Comment: Everyone with even a passing interest in the occult has heard of Agrippa's three books. It has rightfully been called THE sourcebook of western magic (or at least of the Renaissance rediscovery of the Art.). It is recorded that the magus Dr. John Dee always kept a copy open on his desk at Mortlake for ready reference. Even today many of us keep Agrippa's masterpiece out and ready- some for reference, others to merely impress. This edition edited by Donald Tyson is probably the best that has ever been produced. It is clear, clean, and appropriately illustrated. Further, while I usually ignore editor's notes and appendixes in a source work, in this case, they add considerably to the understanding of the work. He even points out errors that have stood for nearly 500 years now.
The basic, uniting principle of this mammoth volume is the Soul of the World. This is the traditional Greek concept (Agrippa was clearly a Neo-Platonist) of an intermediary world-soul that mediates between the One and the material world. This is the basis of all natural magic. This is what interconnects all of Agrippa's vast system of astrology, numerology, alchemy, Kabala, seals, talismans, lists of correspondences, etc. Everything in the cosmos emanates downward from the highest Source. Moreover, hidden currents and vibrations interconnect the lower with the higher in sympathetic union.
As much as I value this classic book, if I wanted a single volume for practical use and reference I would probably choose _The Magician's Companion_ by Bill Whitcomb (another Llewellyn publication.) However, I would still keep this book in my master collection with the rest of the great source works.
Rating: 5
Summary: fascinating, and informative
Comment: Where are the results? Agrippa seems to describe CPR long before it's official "invention"; he was one of the few physicians to cure the plague without succumbing himself; etc. etc.. Remember, Isaac Newton tried to make the philosopher's stone-Albert Einstein believed in things like "the bermuda triangle"-in Agrippa's day, they would have been magicians. This is not some dime-store "spell book". It's a compilation of Agrippa's knowledge (some of it), including the sources from whence it came. There is a small mathematical error in one of the appendices by Tyson (who otherwise does an incredible job as editor). This is not something for idle dabblers. It's a large work and not easy to get through. Oh-there are indeed parts on speaking to angels using the cabala (never tried that), and also those on conjouring ghosts (completely effective, but it requires work). Other than that, there's folklore, a little bit on alchemy and spontaneous generation (both taken seriously in Agrippa's day), and odds and ends that will lead you to wonderful places. Another word about Tyson's editing-he does such a thorough job, that his footnotes on the parts Agrippa draws from the Odyssey are easily more informative than the notes to any current edition of that work I am aware of. And of course-in the book by Mary Shelly, Agrippa's works are Dr. Frankenstein's first exposure to science, and his inspiration for the creation of the monster. Good luck in the lab, Ygor!
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Title: The Magus: A Complete System of Occult Philosophy by Francis Barrett ISBN: 0877289425 Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser Pub. Date: March, 2000 List Price(USD): $17.46 |
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Title: Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy by Henry Cornelius Agrippa ISBN: 1564591700 Publisher: Kessinger Publishing Company Pub. Date: July, 1992 List Price(USD): $22.00 |
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Title: The Key of Solomon The King by S. Liddell Macgregor Mather, S. Liddell MacGregor Mathers ISBN: 1585090220 Publisher: Book Tree Pub. Date: July, 1999 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: The Book of the Sacred Magic by S. MacGregor Mathers ISBN: 0486232115 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 June, 1975 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
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Title: John Dee's Five Books of Mystery: Original Sourcebook of Enochian Magic by John Dee, Joseph H. Peterson, Joe Peterson ISBN: 1578631785 Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser Pub. Date: February, 2003 List Price(USD): $55.00 |
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