The mirror of magic : a history of magic in the western world

A collector’s edition of the classic, illustrated, and comprehensive history of magic and the occult • Written by renowned Surrealist and magic scholar Kurt Seligmann (1900-1962) • Includes all 250 illustrations from the original 1948 edition • Explores magical practices and beliefs from their origins in the ancient world through the heyday of secret societies in the 18th century In the occult classic The Mirror of Magic , renowned Surrealist Kurt Seligmann (1900-1962) draws from his encyclopedic practitioner’s knowledge and extensive antiquarian collection to offer a comprehensive, illustrated history of magic and the occult from Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt through the 18th century. He explores the gods and divinatory arts of the legendary Sumerians and the star-wise Babylonians, including the birth of astrology. He examines the afterlife beliefs of the ancient Egyptians and the dream interpretation practices and oracles of ancient Greece, including the mysteries of Eleusis and the magical philosophy of Plato, Socrates, and other Greeks. He uncovers the origins of Gnosticism and the suppression and banishment of magic by the post-pagan, Christian emperors of Rome. Seligmann reviews the principles of alchemy, sharing famous transmutations and allegorical illustrations of the alchemical process and explores the Hermetica and its remarkable adepts. Investigating the Middle Ages, the author discusses the work of European magicians of the time, including Albertus Magnus, Roger Bacon, Agrippa, Nostradamus, and Pico Della Mirandola. He studies the medieval practices of devil worship, witchcraft, and black magic, as well as the “Cabala” in both its Hebrew and Christian forms. He also examines the art of the Tarot and many lesser known divination techniques. He explores the development of secret societies, including Freemasonry and Rosicrucianism, in the 17th century and the increase in occult publications and magical science in the 18th century. First published in 1948, this history of magic and the occult seeks to “mirror” the magical worldview throughout the ages. Beautifully illustrated with images from the author’s rare library, this collector’s edition features all of the artwork--more than 250 images--from the original 1948 edition. Cover Image Title Page Note from the Publisher on the Collector’s Edition Foreword. The Artist behind the Mirror of Magic By Celia Rabinovitch Preface. The Emancipatory Power of Magic By Gražina Subelyt The Original Text - The Mirror of Magic: A History of Magic in the Western World Dedication & Acknowledgments List of Illustrations Introductory Note MESOPOTAMIA The Forgetful Gods Divinatory Arts The Mystery of Stars and Numbers The Tower of Babel PERSIA Zoroaster Magic About Hail and Nails Casting out the Fly Demon THE HEBREWS Jehovah's Warriors Magic in Holy Writ EGYPT The Sphinx Mortuary Magic Journey to the Underworld The Word Isis GREECE Magic in Philosophical Garb Dreams, Ghosts and Heroes Omens, Oracles and Astrology The Mysteries of Eleusis GNOSTICISM The Way to Blessedness The Gnostic Sects THE ROMAN EMPIRE Magic Under the Roman Emperors Neo-Platonism Julian the Apostate The Ruin of Pagan Magic ALCHEMY Origins of Alchemy Hermes Trismegistus Hermetica The Principles of Alchemy and the Philosophers' Stone Vas Insigne Electionis Hermetic Enigmas The Alkahest Early Attacks on Alchemy Famous Transmutations The Inheritance of the Accursed THE MIDDLE AGES Magical Miscellany in Pre-Arabic Times The Arabs Magicians of the Middle Ages Albertus Magnus Roger Bacon THE DEVIL The Principle of Evil Infernal Helpers Unholy Images WITCHCRAFT Possessions The Sabbath The Devil's Share The Witch The Pursuit of an Ideal The Witch Controversy in English Literature DIABOLIC RITES Black Magic PORTRAITS The Magus Pico della Mirandola Trithemius Agrippa von Nettesheim Paracelsus Nostradamus Guillaume Postel Giambattista della Porta CABALA Christian Cabalists and the Jews Secrets of the Bible Magic of Letters The Book Yetzirah MAGICAL ARTS The Wonder Cave Astrology Divination by Moles Metoposcopy Physiognomy Chiromancy The Tarot Tarot Pips and Trumps The Juggler REFORMERS The Rosicrucians Valentine Andreae Secret Societies The Classical Ideal THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY Revolt Against Reason Vampires Magic Unveiled Masonic Lodges The Count of Saint-Germain Epilogue Conclusion Footnote Endnotes Bibliographic Résumé About the Author About Inner Traditions • Bear & Company Books of Related Interest Copyright & Permissions Index A collector's edition of the classic, illustrated, and comprehensive history of magic and the occult written by renowned Surrealist and magic scholar Kurt Seligmann (1900-1962). Explores magical practices and beliefs from their origins in the ancient world through the heyday of secret societies in the 18th century. In the occult classic The Mirror of Magic, renowned Surrealist Kurt Seligmann (1900-1962) draws from his encyclopedic practitioner's knowledge and extensive antiquarian collection to offer a comprehensive, illustrated history of magic and the occult from Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt through the 18th century. He explores the gods and divinatory arts of the legendary Sumerians and the star-wise Babylonians, including the birth of astrology. He examines the afterlife beliefs of the ancient Egyptians and the dream interpretation practices and oracles of ancient Greece, including the mysteries of Eleusis and the magical philosophy of Plato, Socrates, and other Greeks. He uncovers the origins of Gnosticism and the suppression and banishment of magic by the post-pagan, Christian emperors of Rome. Seligmann reviews the principles of alchemy, sharing famous transmutations and allegorical illustrations of the alchemical process and explores the Hermetica and its remarkable adepts. Investigating the Middle Ages, the author discusses the work of European magicians of the time, including Albertus Magnus, Roger Bacon, Agrippa, Nostradamus, and Pico Della Mirandola. He studies the medieval practices of devil worship, witchcraft, and black magic, as well as the "Cabala" in both its Hebrew and Christian forms. He also examines the art of the Tarot and many lesser known divination techniques. He explores the development of secret societies, including Freemasonry and Rosicrucianism, in the 17th century and the increase in occult publications and magical science in the 18th century. First published in 1948, this history of magic and the occult seeks to "mirror" the magical worldview throughout the ages. Beautifully illustrated with images from the author's rare library, this collector's edition features all of the artwork and more than 250 images from the original 1948 edition