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From: nagasiva@yronwode.com (tyaginator)
Newsgroups: alt.magick,alt.magick.tyagi,alt.pagan.magick,talk.religion.misc,talk.religion.newage,alt.religion.wicca,alt.pagan,alt.gothic
Subject: Studying Magick (was something else; blah blah blah)
Date: 13 Jun 1996 19:51:32 -0700
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[prepare to receive program; probe injected]

kaliyuga
49960613 AA1

STDYREF File Conceive


|>To what extent has magic ever been studied? 

there are several ways to approach that question.  I'll choose a few and
see what I can come up with.  in that magick may occur it is always 
after the fact when we know it best.  in this way we not only have to
always be watchful of the conditions of the experiment but also see to
the results with our imaginative induction and radical criticism.

as it varies with life, it cannot ever be studied.  it can only be
watched for and marvelled at, a beauteous event of cosmic relevance.

Pliny appears to have left us a history, though its exact contents
are for all I know as much of jest or metaphor or poesy than history.
He appears to trace the history of magick back through Judaism to
the Persian Magi, and further to Zoroaster the Mage.  I had thought
this unsubstantiated but have only just begun such an historical
study myself.  the field is awash with charlatans and we always get
where we're going, right on time.

a 'Bible of Theurgy' in Greek was written by Julian the Chaldean and
given commentaries by Iamblichus and Proclus.  I gather it is a magical
classic and may contain quite a bit of previous studies: _The Chaldean
Oracles_.

in 1710 a paper called 'The Perfect and True Preparation of the 
Philosopher's Stone by the Brotherhood of the Golden and Rosy Cross' 
was penned and attributed to Sigmund Richter/Sincerus Renatus.  it
may be that this had quite specific instructions on the elements
of magick.  however, caution, as I've not yet seen it myself. :>

_The Magus_ was compiled in 1801 by Francis Barrett and put into print
works by Agrippa, Paracelsus and Kircher.  I like what I've seen of it.  

Eliphas Levi wrote classics in the field, especially his 'Transcendental
Magic:...'.  his _History of Magic_ has a less vibrant reputation, yet
it is indeed an attempt at presenting the history of magic in some form
of structure.

_Liber ABBA_ (Book Four, 'Magick in Theory and Practice', etc.) is a
classic attempt to analyse the field of magick as a whole and with
style inclusive of many traditions.  OTO recently issued a new 
version of that composite.

Gardner's _Witchcraft Today_ is probably more influential than it
deserves, and yet its place in the history of magick within feminist
and goddess-centered traditions is indisputable (first printed in '50s).

While I don't refer to it very often on the subject, in 1969, _The
Satanic Bible_, by Anton LaVey featured large sections on magic and
its study and principles.  Satanism was 'coming out' and Uncle Anton
did it in style, with important references from his tradition.

Since then there have been a number of books on the history of magick,
its principles and qualities.  Those I have used in my survey of
its history and grimoires recently included:

_The History of Magic_, by E.Levi, transl. by A.E.Waite., 1988.
_The Encyclopedia of Ancient and Forbidden Knowledge_, by Zolar, 
  1970, Nash Publishing.  
_A Fascinating History of Witchcraft, Magic & Occultism_, 
  by W.B.Crow, Wilshire Book Co., 1968.
_The Black Arts_, by Richard Cavendish, Putnam, 1967.
_The History of Magic and the Occult_, by Kurt Seligmann, 
  Harmony/Crown 1975.
_A History of Magic_, by Richard Cavendish, Arkana, 1987.
_The Western Way_, by C/J Matthews, Arkana, 1986.  Vols. 1 and 2.
_The Occult_, by Colin Wilson, Random House, 1971.
_Real Magic_, by Isaac Bonewits, Weiser, 1989.


|>is there stuff like Grimours (sp?) 

yes, there are many grimoires.  I was compiling a list of references
just as you are asking about only recently, in preparation for another
REF file for the alt.magick newsgroup.  we'll see how far I get with
that.  you've encouraged me very much thus far. ;>

the most popular grimoires appear to be the Necronomicon, (I like that
of Giger, personally), the Book of the Law (burn it!  burn it!), the 
Key of Solomon, and the Lemegeton ("Lesser Key of Solomon").  the first 
is legendary, the second over-emphasized, and the third and fourth are 
beautiful, though I hope they would inspire you to something greater.


|>and stuff like that. 

that's enough for now.

[disconnect response probe]


pstuart@aol.com (PStuart) writes:
|Magick has been studied for thousands of years. In the 19th and 20th
|centuries there have even some very good scientific studies. 

Such as (beyond those mentioned)?

nagasiva@yronwode.com
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