Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy

The Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy must be first by the reader set aside from the triplicate works of Heinrich Agrippa, the famous Three Books of the same, by virtue of its manufacture- generally considered not to have been penned by Agrippa himself but rather by others influenced by his work. Running the gamut from celestial notations to summoning in a sense not normally seen until a century later, this fourth book is no less a genuine grimoire than any of the texts dubiously ascribed to Moses, Solomon, Adam, Hermes, and other major figures within Renaissance magick. Its pages contain a great deal of occult lore, especially with regards to the classification of, and sigils made for, various spiritual entities- both divine and infernal, as well as those natural forces usually classed aside from both of the same.

The Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy must be first by the reader set aside from the triplicate works of Heinrich Agrippa, the famous Three Books of the same, by virtue of its manufacture- generally considered not to have been penned by Agrippa himself but rather by others influenced by his work. Running the gamut from celestial notations to summoning in a sense not normally seen until a century later, this fourth book is no less a genuine grimoire than any of the texts dubiously ascribed to Moses, Solomon, Adam, Hermes, and other major figures within Renaissance magick. Its pages contain a great deal of occult lore, especially with regards to the classification of, and sigils made for, various spiritual entities- both divine and infernal, as well as those natural forces usually classed aside from both of the same.

This book is a milestone in Western magical practice. Often erroneously called a forgery, it is in fact six separate books in one, the first two being by Agrippa (1486-1535). One of them, Of Magical Ceremonies, is Agrippa's clearest step-by-step formulation of how to perform an evocation, much more openly expressed than in his Three Books of Occult Philosophy. In addition there is the key grimoire, Of the Magick of the Ancients by Arbatel, which clearly defines the different types of magic, focusing on the invocation of angels and of the Olympic spirits. The Heptameron by Peter de Abano is a complete, self-contained set of instructions for conjuration of spirits according to the day of the week. Also included is Villinganus' work on the nature of spirits, illusions, prophecies, and miracles, and how they may be used. Two complete geomancies (one by Agrippa) complete the volume, which has been reset in modern type and edited with a commentary by Stephen Skinner.

This book is a milestone in Western magical practice. Often erroneously called a forgery, it is in fact six separate books in one, the first two being by Agrippa (1486-1535). One of them, Of Magical Ceremonies, is Agrippa's clearest step-by-step formulation of how to perform an evocation, much more openly expressed than in his Three Books of Occult Philosophy. In addition there is the key grimoire, Of the Magick of the Ancients by Arbatel, which clearly defines the different types of magic, focusing on the invocation of angels and of the Olympic spirits. The Heptameron by Peter de Abano is a complete, self-contained set of instructions for conjuration of spirits according to the day of the week. Also included is Villinganus' work on the nature of spirits, illusions, prophecies, and miracles, and how they may be used. Two complete geomancies (one by Agrippa) complete the volume, which has been reset in modern type and edited with a commentary by Stephen Skinner.