Product Description

Written in the Renaissance, Dee’s Books shed light on our struggle to reconcile contemporary conflicts: tradition vs. reform, science vs. magic, Christian vs. pagan.

Discovered in a hidden compartment of an old chest long after his death, the secret writings of John Dee, one of the leading scientists and occultists of Elizabethan England, record in minute detail his research into the occult. Dee concealed his treatises on the nature of humandkind’s contact with angelic realms and languages throughout his life, and they were nearly lost forever. In his brief biography of John Dee, Joseph Peterson calls him a "true Renaissance man," detailing his work in astronomy, mathematics, navigation, the arts, astrology, and the occult sciences. He was even thought to be the model for Shakespeare’s Prospero.

All this was preparation for Dee’s main achievement: five books, revealed and transcribed between March 1582 and May 1583, bringing to light mysteries and truths that scholars and adepts have been struggling to understand and use ever since. These books detail his system for communicating with the angels, and reveal that the angels were interested in and involved with the exploration and colonization of the New World, and in heralding in a new age or new world order. While Dee’s influence was certainly felt in his lifetime, his popularity has grown tremendously since. His system was used and adapted by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and subsequently by Aleister Crowley.

This new edition of John Dee’s Five Books of Mystery is by far the most accessible and complete published to date. Peterson has translated Latin terms and added copious footnotes, putting the instructions and references into context for the modern reader.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #171043 in Books
• Published on: 2003-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

About the Author
Joseph Peterson has translated many esoteric and religious sourceworks.He contributed to Scriptures of the World’s Religions. Peterson is an active member of the American Academy of Religion and the Society for Biblical Literature. He lives in Kasson, Minnesota.

Customer Reviews

The story behind this book, well known in English History: hanky-panky.
John Dee, the man who invented the phrase 'The British Empire' had a pretty wife who was much younger than he.

A much younger man, whose name I forget, helped him to write these books, then told him that the spirits-whom he had consulted- were suggesting that it would be a good idea if he slept with Dee's wife.

Dee was taken in, and the man had his evil way with her.

You should not take Dee's books unduly seriously.

They are a con on many levels.
Dee, after all, aimed to gain money and influence through them, as much as his helper planned to sleep with his wife.)

Enochiana straight from the source
Kudos to Joseph H. Peterson, not only for this exceptional book, but to his service to the Occult community with his scholarly treatment of the classical literature that is the backbone of the Western Magickal Tradition.

Here Peterson compiles Dr. John Dee's "Mysteriorum Libri Quinque" from the original notes and documents written(and hidden - you could be burned at the stake for stuff like this back then!) by Dee himself, preserved in the British Museum. It adds much detail to Dee's politics, science, and his occult activities with seer Edward Kelly, especially during the years 1581-1583, widely considered the peak of Dee's career. That being said, I will caution casual readers that the archaic English used throughout the books can be abit taxing to read, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Peterson also translates many Latin passages, and includes copious notes and references.

If you are at all interested in Enochian, or 'Angel Magick', you will be very happy with this purchase. I would recommend this edition over Casaubons' "A True & Faithful Relation..." for readablility and accuracy. A "must-have" addition to the serious occultists' library.

Very well done
If you are interested in John Dee, "behind the scenes" of Enochian, Medieval/Renaissance philosophy or occult matters, this is a must have.

The editor did a great job of making the texts readable and clear in the layout. The footnotes (including explanatory, reference, and translation of the Latin parts) are extremely useful to the understanding of the text and related texts that Dee had access to.

The introductory information written by the editor is short and straightforward, and also fairly objective.

The book contains the 5 Books of Mystery that were found after Dee's death. These books provide a clear insight into the goings on around the Skrying done by Dee and Kelly; they are a journal or set of lab notes on what went on at each session detailing what was seen in the crystal as well as how the "angels" taught them to render the Sigilum Dei, the tables, and a few other things.

Whether you believe Dee actually talked with angels or not, this is a great insight into an Elizabethan Mage's project. A must have for anyone interested in such subject matter for whatever reasons.