Product Description

A complete beginner's guide to understanding and harnessing the mysterious forces of nature.

* Provides tools for self-initiation into the ancient and secret traditions of ceremonial magic.

* Explains various divination systems and how to perform ancient rituals that open the doorway to secret and arcane knowledge.

True magic can be defined as the art and science of using little-known or forgotten natural forces in order to achieve changes in consciousness and the physical environment. It concerns a wide body of doctrines and techniques, including the conjuring of spirits and non-human entities; the manufacture and consecration of wands, swords, talismans, and other tools of the magus; ritual divination; and the exploration of universes other than that with which we are familiar. The masters who taught others these ancient arts are gone, but Techniques of High Magic provides the practical and lucid instruction necessary for self-initiation into these secret traditions.

Emphasizing the ordered nature of the universe and the power of will directed by imagination, Francis King and Stephen Skinner introduce the reader to magical practices, rituals, and instruments that have been used for centuries. They explain systems of divination such as the I Ching, the Tarot, and geomancy, as well as techniques of astral projection and elementary alchemy. Their disciplined approach to magical practice includes easy formulas and diagrams that will help the initiate navigate an ancient and potent universe of gods, angels, and spirits--the world of High Magic.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #578789 in Books
• Published on: 2000-02-01
• Released on: 2000-02-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
"After reading this book I must commend the authors on their disciplined approach to magical practice, including easy formulas and diagrams that will help the new initiate navigate the world of high magic."
(Rev. Dr. S. D'Montford, New Dawn, Mar-Apr 2006 )

". . . a 'classic' in its own time."
(Institute for Hermetic Studies, Mar 2006 )

About the Author
A leading authority in the fields of occultism, religion, and magic, Francis King also wrote several works on mysticism and ritual, including Tantra: The Way of Action and Ritual Magic of the Golden Dawn. Stephen Skinner is the author of Geomancy.

Customer Reviews

A Classic for Beginners
"Techniques of High Magic - A Handbook of Divination, Alchemy, and the Evocation of Spirits" has been around for a quarter of a century placing it in the category of a 'classic' in its own time. In an increasingly fickle market where many beginners books come and go, "Techniques of High Magic" has managed to hold its own. While the authors present little material that is original, most of it coming from the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, they do organize it in an easy to understand, orderly, and usable manner. The shortened rituals they present for the consecration of the four principle Elemental Tools alone is worth the price. Chapters on astral projection, divination, the tarot, and evocation round out the text.

My view on this book.
Well...I think it borrows alittle too much from the Golden Dawn traditions, and the consecrating your elemental weapons section is alittle too Judeo-Christian centered for my tastes. However I must say that it still remains one of the classic texts, and a fairly decent introduction for those wishing to practice magic. The tarot and divination sections are excellant, which is primarily why I rate this as high as I do. If you simply wish to be a ritual magician and don't care about differing traditions then go ahead and buy the book. I would suggest however the purchase of additional books, and possibly look up information on the web, to round out the studys.

It is OK
Chapters about the Geomancy are better than Kraig's book. The training methods on the astral travel are quite interesting. Otherwise I suggest to buy Kraig's book.