Since it has been a while since this has been anywhere near the first page.

I felt like reposing the book list on hermetic magic that Prophecy posted a while ago. It is a great read. Here is a booklist of things that could get you started: The Tree of Life, by Israel Regardie The Art and Meaning of Magic, a collection of papers by Israel Regardie The Kybalion, by Three Adepts The Key of the Mysteries, by Eliphas Levi Transcendental Magic, by Eliphas Levi Higher Worlds, by Rudolph Steiner Corpus Hermetica, by Hermes Trismegistus Studies in Occultism, by Helena Blavatsky Teachings of an Initiate, by Max Heindel Isis Unveiled, by Helena Blavatsky. Apart from these, other books you would do well to read in order to best formulate a complete understanding of hermetic science would be: Magick in Theory and Practice, by Aleister Crowley The Teachings and Work of an Initiate, by Dion Fortune Psychic Self Defense, by Dion Fortune On Animal Magnetism, by Anton Mesmer The Etheric Vision and what it Reveals, by Max Heindel The Rosicrucian Mysteries, by Max Heindel Ancient and Modern Initiation, by Max Heindel The Emerald Tablet, by Hermes Trismegistus (must be read) The Lemegeton of Solomon, by King Solomon The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, all three books, by Abraham the Jew The Equinox, Book 4, by Aleister Crowley This is a somewhat random selection of readings in order from beginning material to more advanced material (particularly Heindel's work), and then ending with a book which contains a large selection of actual events in the field of occultism that is highly informative for any student. After reading these, you should be ready to read, in this order for best understanding: The Great Work, by Joseph Pernety The Three Books of Occult Philosophy, by Heinrich Cornellius Agrippa At this point you will have a practical understanding of the many aspects of hermetic science, and so you should begin to read Initiation into Hermetics, by Franz Bardon. This book is much simpler than the others, and far more profound and practical for the student. However, with the knowledge that has met its fruition through all the previous books you

will be able to read between the lines in this one, know instantly the many implications of all of his statements, see the true uses and value behind all of his exercises, and know by what means the basic principles he provides in this book may be extended. Now this is not to suggest that all of this has to be done for good understanding. Bardon's Initiation into Hermetics can, without harm, be the very first thing you read, and in this way you will have something good to actually practice with and apply while you are working on expanding your necessary theoretical knowledge. However, if approached in this means the entire book should be reread some years later after other learning has occurred, for a more complete understanding of its contents. By the time all of this has been read and understood, you will possess the key to understanding true alchemy, and so you may read the following and understand them well: The Aphorisms of Urbigerus, by Urbigerus the Wise Aurora of the Philosophers, by Paracelsus The Book of Vexations, by Paracelsus The Twelve Keys, by Basil Valentine The Secret Book of Artephius, by Artephius Natural Magic, by John Baptista The Treasure of Treasures, by Paracelsus The Archidoxes, by Paracelsus The Six Keys of Euxodus, by unknown. Somewhere amongst all of this you will want to begin to study the Qaballah, and you may begin this lengthy and exhausting task wherever you desire, but it is necessary for a full understanding of the mechanisms of magic and how they may be applied practically. For this purpose, you should read the following: The Mystical Qabalah, by Dion Fortune (345 pg.) The Secret Wisdom of the Qabalah, by J.F.C. Fuller (92 pg.) Elements of the Qabalah, by Eliphas Levi (25 pg.) Sepher Yetzirah (23 pg.) Sepher Bahir (59 pg.) Kaballah Unveiled, by S.L. MacGregor Matthers (182 pg.) The Zohar (24 volumes) NOTE: I asked Prophecy about this section and he reordered it. I also have the pages numbers next to each because I calculate how long it will take me to complete each book >.> If you ever find yourself with the resources, finances, time and patience to go through all of this, you will no doubt know more about true magic and all of its aspects, theories and applications than nearly anyone you will ever meet, and almost certainly anyone you are likely to meet in person without coming into the high ranks of certain Orders. Regarding the latter, the following are some presently active Orders that are all beneficial and possess high-ranking and effective magicians amongst their ranks:

Servants of the Light (SOL) Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC) The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (HOGD) Societas Rosicrucianis in America (SRIA) Rosicrucian Fellowship Sodalitus Rosae Crucis et Solis Alati Builders of the Adytum End of Prophecy's post. I have read quite a few of the books and it is a great selection and goes in a very fluid order even for those who do not practice diligently enough to understand all the books deeply. If you need one of theses books, I have most of them on my computer. If you enjoy reading, or if you really would like some more background on theory then I would highly suggest this Book List.

Report to moderator Logged