Levi was to the 19th-century occult revival what Aleister Crowley was to the revival which persisted into the 20th century. This work is the summit of his literary achievement as a writer and popularizer of the Western Hermetic tradition. It is divided into two sections, one on the doctrine, the other on ritual. The end of the book is appended with a firsthand account of Levi’s evocation of Apollonius of Tyana. Each of the two sections has 22 chapters relating to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, the 22 paths of the Tree of Life, and the 22 cards of the Tarot’s major arcana. The first section outlines such concepts as the microcosm in relation to the macrocosm; number symbolism; the Kabbalah; the Great Work; and so on. He methodically covers much of what most people associate with the occult. The second section is more practical in nature with instructions on the use and consecration of pentagrams and talismans, initiations, thaumaturgy—all with the requisite warnings to the imprudent. Those used to the step-by-step instruction available so easily these days might think that Levi’s examples are not as concrete as they might be. His writing style is rich and descriptive, making this one of the classics in the genre of occult literature. MM

Publisher: Weiser
Paperback: 438 pages

There has been much discussion as to actually what alchemy is. Jung wrote about it as a wonderful allegory for the development of the soul and examined the tradition's psychological factors. Some think the alchemical formula of solve et coagula (divide and rejoin) is a metaphor for the creative process. Others think the idea of transformation stems from the transubstantiation that Catholics believe takes place at Mass. All these things could easily be said while ignoring one simple fact—alchemists really did spend hours tinkering with their alembics while attempting the Great Work. This slim volume is an interesting introduction to the practical aspects of alchemy as it is practiced today. Frater Albertus starts with illustrating the manner in which plant materials can be processed alchemically. Through these practical examples he introduces the three elements of alchemy: salt, mercury and sulfur. Other chapters deal with alchemical symbols and history. This book is sure to give pleasure to both the neophyte and the experienced reader of alchemical lore. MM

Publisher: Weiser
Paperback: 124 pages

Every little thing you want to know about the man who called himself “The Beast.” Hardcore fan material with many interesting photographs of his artwork, girlfriends and pals, and rock stars and literary figures who were influenced, touched, destroyed and seduced by Crowley. Plus the greatest selection of photos of the man whom the British yellow press endearingly called “the most evil man alive.” Crowley may not have been the most evil, but he did have a great sex life. Typically, Crowley came from an uptight religious family who were members of the Plymouth Brethren, a strict fundamentalist Christian sect, and what is a poor boy to do but rebel against Victorian England? If the reader of this “scrapbook” wants in-depth information on Crowley's writing and philosophy, they should look elsewhere—this book is not it. What this book does give is a decent overall look at Crowley and his world including, briefly, Yeats, Bowie, Jimmy Page and the greatest fan of them all—Kenneth Anger. TB

Publisher: Weiser
Paperback: 128 pages
Illustrated

“Let us begin by doubting every statement. Let us find a way of subjecting every statement to the test of experiment. Is there any truth at all in the claims of various religions?” Book 4 is actually two books of which Magick in Theory and Practice was to be the concluding part of the trilogy. The first book is a pragmatic, groundbreaking manual of yoga as a physiological aspect of the mind stripped of its cosmic trappings. In the second book, all the paraphernalia of ritual magic (the circle, the altar, the scourge, the dagger, the chain, holy oil, the wand, the cup, the pentacle, the sword, the lamp, and more) are explained in both psychological and mystical terms with Crowley's unmatched candor and wit. SS

Publisher: Weiser
Paperback: 127 pages

This is Crowley's magnum opus. During his honeymoon in Egypt with his first wife, Rose, she turned to him and said, “They are waiting for you.” Never having shown any ability, let alone interest, in the strange phenomena that would lead to such an outburst, Rose piqued her husband's curiosity. She identified an Egyptian stele as representing the source of her inspiration. Whether she was a new wife seeking to impress her husband, a bit daffy, or truly inspired, her revelation led him to write, or rather receive (as he contends it was not his work) The Book of the Law. Most editions of this work include a copy of the hand-written manuscript too, as he wrote “… the letters? Change them not in style or value!” In a fit of what can only be called irony, he ended the book with the injunction, “The study of this Book is forbidden… Those who discuss the contents of this book are to be shunned by all… ,” thereby ensuring the book to be a hot topic of conversation. MM

Publisher: Weiser
Paperback: 128 pages

Crowley wrote reams of wretched poetry, most of which can be found in the three volumes of his collected works. Turgidly Swinburnian in style, his endlessly tiresome verse and the stamina with which he meted it out is truly amazing. Crowley fancied himself a brilliant poet far beyond the ability of fellow Golden Dawn member Yeats. G.K. Chesterton admired Crowley's skill—and for this slim volume of poetry, the praise is well-deserved and justified. Here Crowley truly exercises the genius he was so absolutely sure he alone possessed. The Book of Lies is a collection of concise poems illustrating points of Crowley's own personal philosophy and his idiosyncratic view of “magick.” He employs a wonderful sense of word play and punning in these verses. Each poem is accompanied by an equally entertaining commentary that sheds light on its meaning. Many of these poems refer to Crowley's system of magick, and it is helpful to have some acquaintance with his other works. MM

Publisher: Weiser
Paperback: 200 pages

In 1944, the Master Therion and his Artist Executant Lady Frieda Harris presented a new version of the Tarot intended to “preserve those essential features of the Tarot which are independent of the periodic changes of the aeon, while bringing up to date those dogmatic and artistic features of the Tarot which have become unintelligible.” It is one of the most beautiful and original of Tarots. The Book of Thoth outlines the structure of the deck and gives detailed and poetic explanation of the brilliant, multitraditional synthesis which comprises the symbolism of each card. Beginning in the 19th century, occultists began to align the Tarot with the Kabbalah. The 22 major arcana are placed on the 22 paths situated between the Sephirath on the Tree of Life. The minor arcana are structured around the sacred syllable Tetragrammaton by numerological contrivance. Crowley utilized this and artfully integrated Egyptian symbolism into his system. DN

Publisher: Weiser
Paperback: 308 pages

Regardie is best-known for his series of very competent books on magick and for his study of Aleister Crowley in The Eye in the Triangle. Suster's biography of Regardie is interesting only in the sections where he discusses Regardie's relationship with Crowley, and this he does while lifting a good deal of material from his previous Crowley biography. Regardie's initial interest in magick faded as he pursued psychology and the works of Wilhelm Reich. Only later did he begin to re-evaluate what he learned from Crowley and then wrote The Eye in the Triangle as a rebuttal to Symonds’ biography. Suster presents a sympathetic portrait of Regardie interspersed with much personal first-hand experience and correspondence. Despite that, this book would probably appeal only to those completists who must have every book relating to Crowley, Regardie or the Golden Dawn et al. MM

Publisher: Weiser
Paperback: 192 pages

A book not so important for what it says, but for who said it and when, The Diary of a Drug Fiend is self-promoting master of the occult Aleister Crowley’s autobiographical descent into the maelstrom of cocaine abuse. Set during the heady days of the 1920s in postwar Europe, it is also the story of a minor English gentleman entering the equivalent of the Haight-Ashbury of the period. Additionally, the novel provides an allegory for the continuing decline of British upper-class mores such as the “stiff upper lip.” Combining the classic sin-and-redemption story with Crowley’s idiosyncratic view of the occult, this novel continues to be a visceral and captivating story, even in comparison to those of successive generations more rife with moral and chemical debauchery. An interesting note: Crowley claims to have dictated the complete book in its current form in three days to his secretary without any editing, giving rise to the question: Just how effective was his self-administered cure for cocaine addiction anyway? MM/ES

Publisher: Weiser
Paperback: 384 pages

Collects the holy books which were dictated to Crowley by the “præternatural intelligence” Aiwass following the epochal revelation of The Book of the Law in Cairo in 1904, ushering in the Age of Horus.

Publisher: Weiser
Paperback: 320 pages