Exploring the Sefer ha-Razim
The Sefer ha-Razim is an exquisite and delightful (though sometimes depressing and evil-minded) late-antique book of magic.
Primary Sources
The Goal of the Wise (Ghayat al-Hakim)
Maslama al-Majriti presents a revolutionary perspective on the occult, arguing that magic is not a shortcut for the superstitious, but the ultimate synthesis of mathematics, physics, and metaphysics. The text centers on the concept of the 'Universal Man,' positing that the human body is a microcosm
Picatrix (Ghāyat al-Ḥakīm)
The Picatrix (Ghāyat al-Ḥakīm) is a monumental synthesis of occult wisdom, merging Hellenistic Neoplatonism with Indian, Nabataean, and Egyptian magical traditions. Attributed to the scholar al-Majriti, it argues that magic is not mere superstition but the highest form of science, requiring mastery
The Goal of the Wise
The Picatrix (Ghayat al-Hakim) is a foundational pillar of the Western esoteric tradition, uniting astronomy, medicine, and alchemy into a singular, practical science of the soul and world. Pseudo-Maslama presents a world where human fate is surgically determined by planetary 'winds' and where the p
The Goal of the Wise
Commissioned by Emperor Frederick II, this work rejects the armchair science of the ancients. It argues that physical reality, not classical texts, dictates the truth about avian anatomy and behavior. The author explains how to master the wild instincts of raptors through precise, observed technique
Reg.lat.1300
Reg.lat.1300 presents a cosmic manual where every planetary movement and elemental substance holds a specific magical virtue. The text argues that the material world is a decaying reflection of eternal celestial causes, and only through strict ritual purity can a practitioner bridge this gap. Reader
Reg.lat.1300
This manuscript acts as a technical manual for those seeking to bridge the divide between the celestial spheres and the terrestrial world. It frames magic as a rigorous science where the practitioner aligns their will with planetary configurations and divine names. By synthesizing herbal, lapidary,
Philosophical and Literary Miscellany
Vat.gr.2181 is a multi-layered interrogation of the Greek soul, weaving together the technical precision of poetic metrics with the subversive chaos of Old Comedy. Through the works of Aristophanes and the reflections of Porphyry, the manuscript explores the corrupting influence of money on the poli
Plotinus, Enneads I-VI; Porphyry, Vita Plotini
This collection, organized by Porphyry, serves as a direct guide for anyone seeking to understand the soul's origin and ultimate return to the One. Plotinus treats philosophy not as an academic exercise, but as a practical path toward enlightenment. He argues that the physical world is merely a shad
On the Mysteries
In this masterwork of Neoplatonic synthesis, Marsilio Ficino navigates the treacherous waters between Epicurean indulgence and Stoic austerity. He argues that the human soul is not merely a passenger in the body, but an indivisible spark capable of transforming physical sensation into intellectual '
On the Mysteries of the Egyptians
This work defends traditional religious practice against the skepticism of philosophers like Porphyry. Iamblichus asserts that the gods are not swayed by human emotions, but rather that rituals align the human soul with a pre-existing divine order. He defines the universe as a singular, living organ
The Goal of the Wise
Picatrix: The Goal of the Wise is a monumental compendium of ancient occult wisdom, translated into Latin for the court of King Alfonso. It boldly asserts that magic is not mere superstition but a divine science—a 'veiler' of the practitioner's will that channels the influence of the planets and the
De Abstinentia ab Esu Animalium Libri Quatuor
This work documents a philosophical stand against the consumption of living creatures. Porphyry argues that meat eating is a departure from natural law and a source of moral corruption. He treats the soul as a prisoner of bodily indulgence, suggesting that a simple diet is the only key to true freed
On the Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians
Edited and translated by the Renaissance visionary Marsilio Ficino, 'Mysteries of Egypt' brings together the most influential voices of late antiquity—Iamblichus, Porphyry, and Proclus—alongside the mystical revelations of Hermes Trismegistus. The text argues that divine knowledge is not a product o
The Divine Pymander, Asclepius, and On the Mysteries
This monumental synthesis of Hermetic and Neoplatonic thought offers a radical roadmap for the soul’s ascent from the sensory 'multitude' to the intellectual 'One.' By weaving together the revelations of Hermes Trismegistus with the rigorous defenses of Iamblichus and the metaphysical depth of Procl
Pymander. Asclepius. On the Mysteries of the Egyptians. On Plato's Alcibiades, on the Soul and the Daemon. On Sacrifice.
This seminal volume brings together the core texts of the Hermetic and Neoplatonic traditions, asserting a unified lineage of 'ancient theology' (Prisca Theologia) that flows from Hermes Trismegistus to Plato. Readers will encounter bold claims about the human condition: that we are 'twofold' beings
On the Mysteries of the Egyptians - Pimander - Asclepius
This volume serves as a primary manual for understanding the mechanics of theurgy and the nature of the soul. It moves beyond simple philosophy to outline how ritual acts as a bridge between the mortal realm and the intelligible world. The authors argue that the soul is not a prisoner of the body bu
On Abstinence from Animal Food
In this seminal Neoplatonist treatise, Porphyry argues that the consumption of meat is a spiritual anchor that binds the human soul to material distraction. By refuting the anthropocentric claims of the Stoics and Epicureans, he posits that animals possess reason, sensation, and a share in the 'comm
Reg.lat.1344
Reg.lat.1344 is a profound synthesis of Renaissance occultism and radical theology, featuring the works of luminaries like Johannes Trithemius and the legendary Paracelsus. The text makes the bold claim that secret messages can be transmitted across the world via spirit intermediaries and that the '
On the Mysteries (De Mysteriis)
This volume presents the definitive Neoplatonic defense of ritual as a tool for spiritual transformation. It shifts the focus from mere intellectual debate to the practical application of sacred symbols. Iamblichus posits that man exists as a unique bridge between the material and the eternal. The t
The Book of Raziel (Sepher Raziel)
The Book of Raziel functions as a bridge between the celestial hierarchies and the practitioner on earth. It argues that physical reality is a reflection of immutable heavens governed by specific angelic powers. The text insists that true magical authority requires moral discipline, secret knowledge
On the Mysteries of the Egyptians
‘On the Mysteries’ stands as a monumental defense of sacred action over mere intellectual speculation, primarily centered on Iamblichus’s high-stakes rebuttal to Porphyry’s skepticism. The text presents a staggering ontological map of the universe, populating the cosmos with an intricate hierarchy o
Life of Pythagoras and Sentences on the Intelligibles
Porphyry’s 'Life of Pythagoras and Sentences on the Intelligibles' offers a rare window into the ancient quest for spiritual deification through intellect and discipline. By blending a hagiography of Pythagoras—complete with his rejection of the 'impure' Cylon and his cryptic dietary bans—with a rig
Reg.lat.1344
Reg.lat.1344 is a profound synthesis of esoteric science and Christian orthodoxy, weaving together the once-forbidden arts of steganography, astrological magic, and alchemy. This manuscript challenges the boundary between the sacred and the occult, presenting a world where spirits of the air serve a
The Book of the Angel Raziel
The Book of the Angel Raziel is a cornerstone of mystical literature, claiming to be the foundational source of all esoteric knowledge transmitted through the biblical patriarchs. It posits a universe where the Hebrew alphabet serves as the literal DNA of creation, linking the anatomy of the human s
On Abstinence from Animal Food
In 'On Abstinence from Animal Food,' Porphyry delivers a scathing critique of human gluttony, arguing that the consumption of meat is a 'nail' that binds the soul to the material body and prevents divine communion. Rejecting the anthropocentric views of the Stoics and Epicureans, Porphyry synthesize
On the Mysteries (Thomas Taylor trans.)
In this foundational work of Neoplatonic thought, Iamblichus (writing as the Egyptian priest Abammon) offers a powerful rebuttal to the idea that religion is merely a human invention or a series of emotional delusions. By framing divine knowledge as an innate, eternal part of the soul's essence that
Iamblichus On the Mysteries
Iamblichus 'On the Mysteries' is a monumental work of Neoplatonic philosophy that shifts the spiritual search from mere intellectual speculation to the experiential power of theurgy. Writing as the Egyptian priest Abammon, Iamblichus responds to the skepticism of Porphyry, arguing that the divine ca
Select Works of Porphyry
Select Works of Porphyry offers a rigorous and poetic manual for spiritual transcendence that remains strikingly relevant today. Porphyry presents a radical defense of 'ethical vegetarianism,' arguing that the slaughter of animals is historically and spiritually linked to human warfare and moral dec
Three Short Works (including Life of Pythagoras)
This volume, meticulously edited by the legendary August Nauck, preserves the surviving fragments of Porphyry’s most personal and provocative works. At its core, the text challenges the foundations of ancient Greek religion, replacing blood-soaked sacrifices with a philosophy of internal purity and
Demotic Magical Papyrus of London and Leiden
The Demotic Magical Papyrus of London and Leiden represents a landmark in Egyptology, serving as the latest known manuscript written in the Demotic script. Editors Griffith and Thompson argue that while its contents of magic and medicine are inherently fascinating, the text’s true value lies in its
Demotic Magical Papyrus of London and Leiden, Vol. 3
This third volume of Griffith and Thompson’s seminal work serves as the ultimate philological grimoire, providing the essential linguistic framework for interpreting one of history’s most significant magical texts. It doesn't just translate; it decodes the 'Voces Magicae'—magical words of power—and
Hekate-Selene-Artemis and Related Deities in the Greek Magical Papyri and Curse Tablets
In this masterful analysis of the Greek Magical Papyri and ancient curse tablets, Theodor Hopfner challenges the blurred lines between Hekate, Selene, and Artemis to expose a goddess of primal, terrifying power. Hopfner’s Hekate is a 'dead woman among the dead,' a bacchic force who rages among buria
The Headless God
This study shifts the focus from abstract academic theories back to the primary source material of the magical papyri. Preisendanz argues that the headless figure is not a solar deity but a product of ancient anxieties regarding death and cosmic order. He systematically dismantles earlier scholarly
Greek Magical Papyri (Papyri Graecae Magicae)
Karl Preisendanz’s monumental edition of the Greek Magical Papyri offers an unfiltered gaze into the 'working library' of the ancient magician. Far from mere superstition, these texts present a sophisticated theurgy where practitioners employ 'voces magicae,' animal sacrifice, and solar liturgies to
Papyri Graecae Magicae (Complete)
The 'Papyri Graecae Magicae' offers an unparalleled window into the 'lived religion' of late antiquity, presenting a gritty, practical manual of sorcery far removed from abstract philosophy. This collection assembles a dizzying array of rituals—ranging from the high theurgy of self-deification to th
The Eighth Book of Moses
The Eighth Book of Moses is a masterpiece of Greco-Egyptian syncretism, blending Hebrew tradition with Hermetic ritual to present a unique vision of divine creation and human empowerment. At its heart lies a startling cosmogony: a deity whose laughter creates light, water, and the soul itself. The t
The Bornless One (Headless Rite)
The Bornless One (Headless Rite) offers an essential investigation into the evolution of ritual magic, moving from 2nd-century Egyptian syncretism to the high occultism of the Golden Dawn and the A∴A∴. Editor Jon Lange presents a unique perspective that dismantles common myths, specifically clarifyi