085313
London
1972
13×20
meki
317
engleski
7,50 EUR
6,00 EUR
Štedite: 1,50 EUR (20%)
This is a landmark 1957 book that serves as a comprehensive, scholarly survey of rare Western magical source texts, or "grimoires". It provides dependable information on a subject previously shrouded in mystery by translating and annotating primary sources that were difficult to access. The book includes the entire texts of several major "grammars of sorcery," many translated into English for the first time. These rare manuscripts were sourced from university archives and private collections, providing a direct glimpse into historical magical practices. The work reflects the historical division of magic into "black" and "white" categories. It presents the rituals and methods of white magic, such as The Key of Solomon, alongside works considered black magic, like the notorious Grimoire of Honorius the Great. It delves into the practical aspects of historical magic, including instructions for making spells, charms, and talismans, and rituals for raising spirits through the Magical Circle. Reviewers note that the specific ingredients and instructions found within can seem quite unusual or funny to a modern reader (e.g., "lapwing tongue"). Shah's commentary runs through the text, setting the symbols and rituals in a wider cultural and historical context. The book, along with its companion volume Oriental Magic, is considered an important reference for psychologists and ethnologists interested in the evolution of human beliefs and "magical thinking".
