The Complete Introduction to Magic

All three volumes of the occult classic available together as a deluxe boxed set for the first time. In 1927 Julius Evola and other leading Italian esotericists formed the mysterious UR group. The purpose of this group was to study and practice ancient rituals from the mystery traditions of the world, both East and West, in order to attain a state of superhuman consciousness and power to allow them to act magically on the world. They produced a monthly journal containing techniques for spiritual realization, accounts of personal experiences, translations of ancient texts, and original essays on the occult. Many years later, in 1971, Evola gathered these essays into three volumes. Volume I collects rites, practices, and magical knowledge, including instructions for creating an etheric double, speaking words of power, using fragrances, interacting with entities, and creating a “magical chain.” It also includes translations of rare texts such as the Tibetan teachings of the Thunderbolt Diamond Path, the Mithraic mystery cult’s “Grand Papyrus of Paris,” and the Greco-Egyptian magical text De Mysteriis. Volume II shares authentic initiatic wisdom and a rigorous selection of initiatory exercises, including instructions for creating the diaphanous body of the Opus magicum, and establishing initiatic consciousness after death. It also offers studies of mystery traditions throughout history. Volume III, more than the others, bears the personal stamp of Julius Evola. It explores esoteric practices for individual development, handed down from a primordial tradition and discernable in alchemy, Hermetism, religious doctrines, Tantra, Taoism, Buddhism, Vedanta, and the pagan mysteries of the West. Available together as a deluxe boxed set for the first time in English, these volumes present the steps necessary to purify the soul with the light of knowledge and the fire of dedication, as well as allowing the reader to be liberated from conventional dogmas—religious, political, scientific, and psychological—and see with the clearer eye of realisation.

Table of Contents:
BOOK I Editor’s Note ix Foreword: Julius Evola and the UR Group by Renato Del Ponte Introduction PART I I.1 PIETRO NEGRI • Sub Specie Interioritatis I.2 LEO • Barriers I.3 ABRAXA • Knowledge of the Waters I.4 LUCE • Opus Magicum: Concentration and Silence I.5 EA • The Nature of Initiatic Knowledge PART II II.1 The Path of Awakening according to Gustav Meyrink II.2 LUCE • Opus Magicum: Fire II.3 ABRAXA • Three Ways II.4 LEO • Attitudes II.5 Commentaries on the Opus Magicum PART III III.1 LEO • First Steps toward the Experience of the “Subtle Body” III.2 Knowledge as Liberation III.3 ABRAXA • The Hermetic Caduceus and the Mirror III.4 LUCE • Opus Magicum: The “Words of Power” and the Characters of Beings III.5 PIETRO NEGRI • Knowledge of the Symbol PART IV IV.1 Apathanatismos: Mithraic Ritual of the Great Magical Papyrus of Paris PART V V.1 Summary V.2 ABRAXA • Instructions for the “Awareness of Breath” V.3 OSO • Notes on the Logos V.4 AROM • First Experiences V.5 EA • The Problem of Immortality PART VI VI.1 LEO • Beyond the Threshold of Sleep VI.2 EA • On the Magical View of Life VI.3 ABRAXA • The Second Preparation of the Hermetic Caduceus VI.4 IAGLA • Experiences: The Law of Beings VI.5 The Path of Realization according to Buddha VI.6 Various Commentaries PART VII VII.1 LUCE • Instructions for Ceremonial Magic VII.2 EA • The Doctrine of the “Immortal Body” VII.3 De Pharmaco Catholico PART VIII VIII.1 ABRAXA • Magical Operations with “Two Vessels”—Reduplication VIII.2 Tibetan Initiatic Teachings: The “Void” and the “Diamond-Thunderbolt” VIII.3 ARVO • On the Counter-Initiation VIII.4 LUCE • Opus Magicum: Perfumes PART IX IX.1 ARVO • Conscious Thought—Relaxation—Silence IX.2 EA • Considerations on Magic and Its Powers IX.3 ABRAXA • Magic of the Image IX.4 PIETRO NEGRI • An Italian Alchemical Text on Lead Tablets PART X X.1 LUCE • Opus Magicum: Chains X.2 LEO • The Attitude toward Initiatic Teaching X.3 EA • Freedom, Precognition, and the Relativity of Time X.4 Commentary on the Opus Magicum PART XI XI.1 IAGLA • Serpentine Wisdom XI.2 LUCE • Invocations XI.3 Excerpts from De Mysteriis XI.4 The Message of the Polar Star XI.5 SIRIUS • Mist and Symbols XI.6 EA • On the General Doctrine of Mantras PART XII XII.1 ALBA • De Naturae Sensu XII.2 LEO • Aphorisms XII.3 PIETRO NEGRI • Adventures and Misadventures in Magic XII.4 Various Commentaries BOOK II Foreword: The “Magical” Gruppo di UR in Its Historical and Esoteric Context by Hans Thomas Hakl Introduction to the Second Volume PART I I.1 PYTHAGORAS • The Golden Verses I.2 ARVO AND EA • The Esoteric Doctrine of the “Centers” in a Christian Mystic I.3 ABRAXA • Ritual Magic PART II II.1 Instructions for Magical Chains Individual Instructions for Preparation First Instructions for the Chain Instructions for a Later Phase II.2 IAGLA • Subterranean Logic II.3 PIETRO NEGRI • On the Western Tradition 1. Devaluation of the Pagan Tradition 2. East, West, and Christianity 3. The Initiatic Tradition in the West 4. The Roman Tradition 5. Roman Initiatic Wisdom 6. The Legend of Saturnus 7. Etymology of Saturn 8. Addenda 9. Agricultural Symbolism in Rome PART III III.1 HAVISMAT • Tradition and Realization III.2 OSO • A Solar Will III.3 PIETRO NEGRI • The Secret Language of the Fedeli d’Amore III.4 ABRAXA • Solutions of Rhythm and Liberation III.5 LUCE • Opus Magicum: The Diaphanous Body PART IV IV.1 ARVO • Vitalizing the “Signs” and “Grips” IV.2 EA • Initiatic Consciousness beyond the Grave IV.3 Various Commentaries The Magic, The Master, The Song PART V V.1 IAGLA • On the “Corrosive Waters” V.2 ARVO • Ethnology and the “Perils of the Soul” V.3 On the Art of the Hermetic Philosophers V.4 Various Commentaries Desire in Magic — Meaning of the Ritual —Feeling and Realization — Anticipations of Physical Alchemy —On Shamanic Initiation PART VI VI.1 Experiences: The “Double” and Solar Consciousness VI.2 EA • On the Metaphysics of Pain and Illness VI.3 LEO • Notes for the Animation of the “Centers” VI.4 ARVO • Kirillov and Initiation PART VII VII.1 HAVISMAT • Notes on Ascesis and on Anti-Europe VII.2 MILAREPA • Excerpts from the Life of Milarepa The Demon of the Snows —The Song of Joy — The Song of the Essence of Things VII.3 ARVO • The Magic of Effigies PART VIII VIII.1 EA • Esotericism and Morality VIII.2 NILIUS • Medicine and Poison VIII.3 Turba Philosophorum: The Assembly of the Wise VIII.4 Various Commentaries Corporealizing Consciousness —On “Mortification” — On Power PART IX IX.1 ABRAXA • The Magic of Creation IX.2 PIETRO NEGRI • On the Opposition Contingent on Spiritual Development IX.3 Some Effects of Magical Discipline: The “Dissociation of the Mixed” PART X X.1 The Contrast between Positive Science and Magic: Positions and Solutions X.2 ABRAXA • The Magic of Conjunctions X.3 OTAKAR BŘEZINA • Perspectives X.4 Various Commentaries Prodigies and Former Times — Sexual Magic PART XI XI.1 BRENO • Notes on Occult Morphology and Spiritual Corporeality XI.2 ZAM • A Pagan Magical Spell XI.3 ARVO • On the Hyperborean Tradition XI.4 The Golden Flower of the Great One XI.5 Various Commentaries Woman and Initiation — Ex Oriente lux Index Book III Introduction to the Third Volume PART I I.1 Paths of the Western Spirit I.2 ABRAXA • The Cloud and the Stone I.3 BRENO • Modern Initiation and Eastern Initiation I.4 HAVISMAT • The Zone of Shadow I.5 EA • Poetry and Initiatic Realization PART II II.1 EA • Aristocracy and the Initiatic Ideal II.2 BŘEZINA • Canticle of the Fire 5 II.3 ARVO • About an “Arithmetical Oracle” and the Backstage of Consciousness II.4 AROM • Experiences: The Crown of Light II.5 GERHARD DORN • Clavis Philosophiae Chemisticae (The Key of Alchemical Philosophy) Edited by Tikaipôs II.6 Various Commentaries Difficulties of Belief He Who “Saw” the Gods Men and Gods PART III III.1 EA • The Legend of the Grail and the “Mystery” of the Empire III.2 HAVISMAT • The Instant and Eternity III.3 ABRAXA • Communications III.4 PICO DELLA MIRANDOLA • The Dignity of Man III.5 Commentaries PART IV IV.1 APRO • The Cycles of Consciousness IV.2 TAURULUS • Experiences IV.3 EA • What Is “Metaphysical Reality”? IV.4 IAGLA • On the “Law of Beings” IV.5 Various Commentaries PART V V.1 PLOTINUS • Maxims of Pagan Wisdom V.2 LEO • Human Rhythms and Cosmic Rhythms V.3 Experiences of a Chain V.4 EA • On the Limits of Initiatic “Regularity” PART VI VI.1 C. S. NARAYANA SWAMI AIYAR • Transmutation of Man and Metals VI.2 EA • On the Symbolism of the Year VI.3 ABRAXA • The Magic of Victory VI.4 ARVO • The “Origin of Species,” According to Esotericism PART VII VII.1 Various Commentaries More on Survival • On Pacts, Fear, and More VII.2 EA • On the “Sacred” in the Roman Tradition VII.3 Liberation of the Faculties PART VIII VIII.1 Starting Magic, According to Giuliano Kremmerz VIII.2 RUD • First Ascent VIII.3 ABRAXA • Knowledge of the Sacrificial Act VIII.4 Various Commentaries On Sacrifice PART IX IX.1 SIRIO • Noise IX.2 PAUL MASSON-OURSEL • On the Role of Magic in Hindu Speculation IX.3 EA • Esotericism and Christian Mysticism IX.4 GIC • From “The Song of Time and the Seed” IX.5 Metapsychology and Magical Phenomena IX.6 LEO • The “Plumed Serpent” PART X X.1 AGARDA • Remarks on Action in the Passions X.2 SAGITTARIO • Awakening X.3 ARVO • The “Primitives” and Magical Science X.4 AGNOSTUS • Two Hyperborean Symbols X.5 GALLUS • Experiences among the Arabs X.6 Various Commentaries PART XI XI.1 MAXIMUS • Notes on “Detachment” XI.2 The Ascetic, Fire, Rock, Space • From the Milindapañha XI.3 EA • Spiritual Authority and Temporal Power XI.4 About Drugs XI.5 Various Commentaries Seeing Without Wanting to See Ways to the “Void” PART XII XII.1 EKATLOS • The “Great Sign”:On Stage and in the Wings XII.2 EA • Esotericism, the Unconscious, Psychoanalysis XII.3 ANAGARIKA GOVINDA • The Double Mask XII.4 Magical Perspectives, According to Aleister Crowley XII.5 Envoi Index

About the Author :
Julius Evola (1898–1974) is considered one of the foremost authorities on the world’s esoteric traditions. A controversial scholar, philosopher, social thinker, and critic of modern Western civilization, he wrote extensively on Eastern religions, alchemy, sexuality, politics, mythology, and traditionalism, leading to the development of his “magical idealism” doctrine. He published many books, including Revolt Against the Modern World, The Hermetic Tradition, Men Among the Ruins, Eros and the Mysteries of Love, The Doctrine of Awakening, and The Yoga of Power.

Review :
“The essays of the UR Group constitute the most complete and the highest magical teaching ever set before the public. . . . The ultimate goal is the identification of the individual with the Absolute. This is a powerful and disturbing book, and a classic. One can be quite certain that it will still have readers centuries from now.” “Introduction to Magic, vol. I, should be standard reading for any serious academic or practical student of occultism. . . . Experienced occultists will welcome it as a breath of fresh air and a journey into little discussed territories.” “The collection of essays in Introduction to Magic, vol. I . . . cover the practical, the theoretical, and the unclassifiable, such as the Mithraic Ritual of the Great Magical Papyrus of Paris, the only ritual from the ancient Mysteries to have survived intact.” “The formulas that Evola transmits, and the complex listing of the causes and effects that accompany them, seem to me so important, not only for spiritual life but for the use of all the faculties, that I know of no human condition that they cannot improve, whether in the case of the man of action, of the writer, or simply the person in the toils of life.” “A dazzling and interesting, but very dangerous, author . . .” “One of the most difficult and ambiguous figures in modern esotericism.” “Evola . . . had a clarity of mind and a gift for explaining tremendously difficult concepts in nonacademic language. . . . His descriptions of subtle states and the practices that lead to them are as lucid as these difficult subjects allow.” “Eros and the Mysteries of Love invokes the rich sexual symbolism of religious myths and mysteries throughout history, from the I Ching to the Kabbalah, to illustrate the redemptive power of the sexual act.” “Revolt Against the Modern World is destined to remain an essential work and frame-of-reference for anyone seriously involved in native European spirituality.” “Disgusted by the cruelty and artificiality of communism, scorning the dogmatic, self-centered fascism of his age, Evola looks beyond man-made systems in Men Among the Ruins to the eternal principles in creation and human society. The truth, as he sees it, is so totally at odds with the present way of thinking that it shocks the modern mind. Evola was no politician, trying to make the best of things, but an idealist, uncompromising in the pursuit of the best itself.” “Men Among the Ruins is Julius Evola’s most notorious work: an unsparing indictment of modern society and politics. This book is not a work for complacent, self-satisfied minds . . . it is a shocking and humbling text that will be either loved or hated. Evola’s enemies cannot refute him; they can only ignore him. They do so at their peril.” “In Ride the Tiger Evola shows, unintentionally but with passion, why European Tradition may not be able to match East Asia in riding the tiger in today’s world. It lacks a spirituality for today’s mundane world, tempered by the harsh realism of Daoism and the practical disciplines of Confucianism.” “Those who look to Julius Evola’s work for guidance have often wondered what practices Evola himself used to get in contact with Tradition. The answer lies in Introduction to Magic, which represents the records left behind by the UR Group, the mysterious occult order that was the medium through which Evola first experienced the reality of Tradition and grasped its essence. Many of the themes and concepts which were to recur in Evola’s later work are already present in these documents. The great importance Evola attached to these volumes is attested by the belief of Evola’s biographer that the original manuscripts were the only belongings he took with him when he was forced to flee Rome in 1944. The fact that this work is finally available in its entirety to Anglophone readers, masterfully translated by Joscelyn Godwin, is therefore a great service to genuine spiritual seekers everywhere.” “I am impressed by this fine translation of some of my old mentor Julius Evola’s works. I find that ‘Aristocracy and the Initiatic Ideal’ conveys very well the baron’s own beliefs and sentiments as to what it means today to be a true aristocrat among the ruins. Exceedingly insightful comments, as one would indeed expect. A truly excellent publication.”