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"An English translation, with accompanying introduction, commentary, and notes, of the medieval treatise on astrological magic known as Picatrix, a guide for constructing magical talismans, mixing magical compounds, summoning planetary spirits, and determining astrological conditions"--Provided by publisher.… (more)
I approached this book mainly for the integumentum, the allegory and the exposition of theology that justified the mechanics of the laws of magick contained therein. This was done in order to enjoy the meta-structure of theurgy and compare with various other structures of magic as performing art as in Khemetism or Neoplatonic Theurgy. The book draws on Aristotelean logic extended to phantasmata, the doctrine of similia similibus and analogia entiis, yet the theology is wholly neoplatonic if not for post-Ismaili reasoned monotheistic thought. Omitting most recipes for consecrating and scrying spirits into various substances, morals or ethos aside - a true magician was ready to manipulate the substance of godbody, citing Porphyry, "God does not contradict nature". Although most recipes seem to be outrageously naive and dangerous, supported only by pure faith in the operation, a true Magi, as cited, whom "united microcosm with the macrocosm" in degree of perfection of his soul and intellect and will extending to the Divine may as well turn faeces into gold, or perform weather-inducing miracles, given the right configuration of forces and powers. When the book is stripped of recipes, a solid meta-magickal structure emerges, which may be used for the keen-minded. As a modern practicioner, I never abhorred neither grimoires nor ceremonial techniques from the Middle Ages or the Renaissance - there are a form of a "Glass Bead Game" of ideas (Hermetic Game of Herman Hesse, I beg you read it!) . As for astralistic and astrological knowledge, it is much more defensible than the "recipe" parts. Beware, there are traps in this book everywhere, read with a Baphomet's head (Il-Fihamat, head of the wise), divide, unite, sow and reap what there is to harvest. ( )
I approached this book mainly for the integumentum, the allegory and the exposition of theology that justified the mechanics of the laws of magick contained therein. This was done in order to enjoy the meta-structure of theurgy and compare with various other structures of magic as performing art as in Khemetism or Neoplatonic Theurgy. The book draws on Aristotelean logic extended to phantasmata, the doctrine of similia similibus and analogia entiis, yet the theology is wholly neoplatonic if not for post-Ismaili reasoned monotheistic thought. Omitting most recipes for consecrating and scrying spirits into various substances, morals or ethos aside - a true magician was ready to manipulate the substance of godbody, citing Porphyry, "God does not contradict nature". Although most recipes seem to be outrageously naive and dangerous, supported only by pure faith in the operation, a true Magi, as cited, whom "united microcosm with the macrocosm" in degree of perfection of his soul and intellect and will extending to the Divine may as well turn faeces into gold, or perform weather-inducing miracles, given the right configuration of forces and powers. When the book is stripped of recipes, a solid meta-magickal structure emerges, which may be used for the keen-minded. As a modern practicioner, I never abhorred neither grimoires nor ceremonial techniques from the Middle Ages or the Renaissance - there are a form of a "Glass Bead Game" of ideas (Hermetic Game of Herman Hesse, I beg you read it!) . As for astralistic and astrological knowledge, it is much more defensible than the "recipe" parts. Beware, there are traps in this book everywhere, read with a Baphomet's head (Il-Fihamat, head of the wise), divide, unite, sow and reap what there is to harvest. ( )
"An English translation, with accompanying introduction, commentary, and notes, of the medieval treatise on astrological magic known as Picatrix, a guide for constructing magical talismans, mixing magical compounds, summoning planetary spirits, and determining astrological conditions"--Provided by publisher.
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Book description
Extracts of material on planetary magic, with a few pages on decan images toward the end. Not to be confused with full translations of the Picatrix.
The Picatrix is the most famous grimoire of astrological magic and one of the most important works of medieval and Renaissance magic. With all four books of the Latin Picatrix complete in one volume, translated & annotated by the noted scholars, magicians and astrologers John Michael Greer & Christopher Warnock, Picatrix takes its rightful place as an essential occult text. Picatrix is an encyclopedic work with over 300 pages of Hermetic magical philosophy, ritual, talismanic and natural magic. Greer & Warnock's complete translation is lucid and well annotated. Renaissance Astrology & Adocentyn Press have released the complete Picatrix in a variety of different editions, including the Liber Atratus, Liber Rubeus and Liber Viridis-Green Magic editions. All editions contain the same basic text, but add additional variant passages, either from the Arabic Picatrix or authors cited, but not found in the Latin Picatrix. The Liber Atratus edition adds a passage on poisons from Ibn Washiyya's Book of Poisons. The Liber Atratus is also available in two Kindle editions with the first volume containing Picatrix Books 1 & 2 and the second volume containing Picatrix Books 3 & 4.
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