Books for Prep | |
 - Keys of SolomonThis book is exactly what I was looking for, it helped myself as well as friends and family make light of some questions we had regarding biblical passages. Also it helped with the understanding of Solomon and his life and why he wrote this book. Thanks. Rating:  - most important of the grimoiresMathers' translation of the Key of Solomon, taken from a variety of older manuscripts, is no longer definitive, in that additional manuscripts and papers have been found that were unavailable to Mathers, but this does not invalidate the present work. For the researcher or enthusiast of this type of material, the present edition is an excellent volume to have and use. R A Gilbert's introduction is a valuable addition, going into both the importance of the Key to students and members of Mathers' Golden Dawn, and also the course of Mathers' research which finally resulted in this book (and some similar translations such as Abramelin or the Goetia). The introduction definitely helps place the work in context. Mathers' translation itself dealt not merely with transcribing the work into English, but comparing the various MSS which never overlapped completely, and extensive work on redrawing and explicating the many sigils and pentacles, many of which had been mangled over the centuries. As such, although Mathers clearly attempted to be complete and accurate, the final result has a good deal of his own work in it where the original would have been ambiguous. The work itself is many things, but it is certainly not of Solomonic authorship. The first book offers instructions as to proper prayers and invocations as well as times, archangels to address and for what favor, and in general how to avoid errors. The pentacles for the planets in various positions are also presented in a series of plates. The second book deals with specific procedures, conduct and cleansing, weapons and implements, and other proper magickal deportment. Some of the formulae and procedures seem, um, odd, the procedures arcane and needlessly involved, the timing and preparations nearly impossible to meet - in other word, readers of this type of material will love it. Mathers did omit a very few items by his own admission, and he warns strenuously against the practice of black magic, which he hated, especially as a footnote where a chapter concerns the use of blood. Considering that Mathers obviously felt most of the balance of the book's content was uplifting and a worthy use of magic, this seems to make clear that the division between black and white magic is not so simple to define. Nonetheless, this edition is of tremendous value both in content and in presentation. Those interested in the Golden Dawn, in Kabbalah, or in grimoires generally, should have this book on their book shelves. Rating: - USEFULUseful. but um the petagarm for the planet can be use. but the hour to me are wrong i use the agipapa sytem on the magical housr of the planet give result just be careful please with the spritia both angels, gods,goddess and demons Rating:  - No images on Kindle editionI was sad to see that this Kindle edition is missing all the figures, seals, and sigils. No tables, nothing. There are other books of the occult that translate very well into the Kindle. I've converted free PDF's of the Ars Paulina (for example) that retained the seals and it looked great. This Kindle version is limited. It's good for a word search. The page formating is also very off. Chapters starting on the bottom half or a previous page. etc. Rating: - Great Guide for TalismansThis is a wonderful guide if you are interested in getting any of the Talismans, or learning about them. I really *not* into spells of any kind, so the parts that address that I intentionally overlooked. If you are a student of Kaballah (as I am) you can find much here - but it's super in-depth, no light reading here at all. I'm personally fascinated by King Solomon - if you are, this book won't disappoint you. In association with Amazon.com | |