A comprehensive list of the books that have contributed to my Magickal Life would be many pages long. This is a short list of the books that have inspired my journey, some continuing to be present "go to" resources.
(I know many of these books are now available in Amazon Kindle and online editions. (I admit to knowing nothing about Nook) Perhaps I'm old-fashioned beyond the times - but I still prefer actual, printed books. Thus, the links herein are to the hard-copy editions.)
by Isaac Bonewits
The go-to Primer for every type of Magickian, this was
the first Doctoral Thesis on Magick ever published.
The author was awarded a Ph.D in Thaumaturgy.
by Aleister Crowley
Not just another Tarot deck Instruction Manual,
this is the most brilliant Compendium of Magickal knowledge,
wisdom and teachings ever written.
by Louis Martinie and Sally Ann Glassman
Not just another Tarot book and deck, but an authentic Primer on the Ways and Means of safely learning about and beginning to practice genuine New Orleans Voodoo.
by Lon Milo DuQuette
This is the Prime "translation" into ordinary human language of Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot book and deck. His entirely understandable explanation of the "Major Arcana VIII-XI Switch" is nothing short of brilliant.
Scott Cunningham's Books
Especially his "Greatest Hits" (in my estimation) ...
This book impacted my Magickal life enormously.
His Rite using "ordinary" rocks inspired my loving communication with, and use of rocks in many facets of Magick, including their placement in the four Watchtower quarters, as actual, attuned, physical Element-presences.
Earth, Air Fire & Water
Scott's lovely understanding and recommendations about the Elements really ignited the direction of my Magickal life, lived with the constant mutually-benefical Presence of the Elements in my ordinary daily life, as well as amplifying the power and efficacy of my Magick.
Brightest Blessings Scott, as you dance in the eternal sunshine of Summerland
Aleister Crowley - Edited by Joseph William Marek
Selections from Crowley's Equinox, with elaborate footnotes by Marek. These footnotes make highly accessibly understandable, Crowley's brilliant but often arcane writings on Magick.
by Donald Tyson
The process revealed in this book is absolutely right-on - easy, once you get all the necessary factors as well-explained - with amazing results. I've used Tarot in Magick spells for years - but the procedure Mr. Tyson offers is myt favorite such use.
by Manbo Sally Ann Glassman
Personalizing the information from New Orleans Voodoo Tarot, Manbo Sally introduces certain Loa, in a way that makes them approachable as Spirit Persons, and provides brief but comprehensive information about each Loa's unique Magickal patronage.
by John Michael Greer
This book puts the Magick back into the oft-thought "simplistic" Art of Geomancy. It's detailed, and easy to follow - making Geomancy a viable Magickal practice
by Simon (With all due respect, Tyson's edition fails to interest me)
Despite the still-ongoing controversy, this is an authentic Grimiore.
Contact with The Ancient Ones named in this book - having unique, individual personalities & powers - needs to be very respectful.
By Simon
A simple, highly effective system for humbly requesting Magickal assistance from the Ancient Ones. Though the system is good-to-go itself, I am adding this here because it is also an excellent model-resource for constructing Sigil-centric Spellworks.
The Conjure Workbook Volume I - Working the Root
By Starr Casas
The best basic Course on Conjure in print to date. Mama Starr is the real thing, and her delightful personality shines through in this book, making it a world-class exposition of authentic, Old Time Conjure.
By Starr Casas
The best basic Course on Conjure in print to date. Mama Starr is the real thing, and her delightful personality shines through in this book, making it a world-class exposition of authentic, Old Time Conjure.
Translated by S.L. MacGregor Mathers
Also entitled "The Key to Modern Ceremonial Magic" -
Was essential to the formulations of the Rites and Spells of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. A wealth of Sigils and Pentagrams, several of which I have used since the beginning of my Magickal career.
by Rev. Mother Denise Alvarado
The essential biographical sketch of Marie Laveau, the real person - complete with some of Marie's actual Spells. I highly respect this author.
Adeptus Extempus
Volumes One and Two
by Joseph William Marek
These books are wonderfully detailed, highly personalized expositions of "The Crowley Curriculum of Magick". I am very honored to have this man's acquaintance, as we have apartments in the same building - so I can truthfully & humbly say that his remarkable knowledge of Master Aleister Crowley's - and other - Ceremonial Magicks far outweigh my own.
by Ray T. Malbrough
This is a most delightful book, crammed-full of spells - from doll works to recipes for incenses, from the simple to more complicated.
Like Denise Alvarado, Ray has some detractors - all of whom communicate a large dose of jealousy, with little real understanding of American folks Magick.
I confidently recommend this book for beginners and most experienced workers, needing a little inspirational kick in the proverbial butt, alike.It's still one of my favorite go-to-books.
by Authors Aleister Crowley, Lon Milo DuQuette and
Christopher S. Hyatt & Illustrator David P. Wilson
A great resource of the various talismans, sigils and pentagrams useful in myriad Magickal Spellworks (not just Necromancy)
by Denise Alvarado
Denise Alvarado has quite a few detractors. I am not one of them.
She is an authentic Voodooianne in the New Orleans sector, and knows her stuff. This is a most excellent book for those who want to safely understand experience Voodoo-associated Magick.
by Arthur E. Waite
(Also entitled "Black Magic") This is a resource of numerous Grimiores. It has a plethora of useful Magickal Seals (again, not just for Necromancy)
by Various Translators
An "old friend of mine" this is a most excellent resource of the sigils (of varied colors) and process for invoking Angels and Archangels. It is the experiences and knowledge gained through working the Magicks in this book that most strongly inspired my interest in Enochian Magick.
by Gerald and Betty Schueler
Now Our of Print - available via Amazon 3rd-Party Sellers & Ebay, this is an excellent Primer to Enochian Magick.
It is admittedly from the Golden Dawn point-of-view - eshewed by "purists." However there is no such "pure" school of Enochian Magick, as it is - by default - largely a matter of interpretation and "filling-in-the-blanks" - due to missing pages of John Dee's original notes. And if the Golden Dawn's system was good enough for Aleister Crowley - the first person known to have penetrated the entire 30 Aethers and interacted with the documented personalities of the four Watchtower Kingdoms - it's good enough for me.
As I am presently deeply involved in exploring this Magick (it's the only sort of Ceremonial Magick of interest to me) I'll refrain from including any other books or materials on the topic untii I can authentically recommend one or some.
by John Scheibel I've found some of the Magickal Tables and Sigils proffered in these books helpful, especially in my Voodoo/Hoodoo Workings.
by Ray T. Malbrough
This book, like his Charms, Spells & Formulas, is packed with sound Hoodoo Magick, using the Psalms and Saints as your advocates. Written in a personable, easy style, it's a good starter for anyone interested in authentic Southen Hoodoo.
translated by Orion Foxwood
An excellent exposition of the history, philosophy and techniques of American Hoodoo (the Magickal system associated with Voodoo).
translated by S. L. Mac Gregor Matthews
I've found his book's numerous Magical (Numeric) Squares to be highly efficacious in my of my Magical Works.
by Paul Huson
This was the first book on the Rites and Magick and Witchcraft I ever owned. It was published long before Buckland's works, and the New Age take-over of "Wicca" with its resulting overload of perverted reflections of the real thing.
My interest in Geomancy was introduced by the subject as it's included in this book, as was my interest and practice of Skrying.
Huson used facets of traditional Ceremonial Magick (not including Golden Dawn's theories and rites, however - tho' he was well aware of the implications of the Book of Enoch), Wicca (especially Gardnerian) and even a little Hoodoo to spice things up ... a tradition of inclusion, which has always prevailed in modern Witchcraft.
He had an obviously strong grasp of the various elements and factors of Magic, and tho' I haven't considered Witchcraft my religion, I continue to re-read the book every-so-often to recapture my original, youthful zeal and sense of adventure in living the Magickal life.
Again, this is just a short list of a few of the books that inform my style of Magick. All of the books listed here are in print, and many are available in Kindle format as well. Some are also available online in pdf form - but please don't download those - support the authors, who have labored in our behalf.
Bledsians,
Merlin Emrys
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* Bledsians is Olde English for "Blessings"
