About the Book
A seven volume set of magical treatises, presented in this Collected Works, unabridged, consisting of:
Vol. I - Liber Noctis (A Handbook of the Sorcerous Arte) Liber Noctis explores the attitudes, training and preparation required for success in ritual, and, as the title suggests, does not shy away from the 'darker' aspects of magic. Practical, experiential, lucid and non-judgmental, this book lays the groundwork for the successful study and practice of sorcery in the modern world.
Vol. II - Ars Salomonis (Being of that Hidden Arte of Solomon the King) Ars Salomonis is a practical manual for working with the talismanic figures found in the Key of Solomon, the most significant of all grimoires. Including two methods for empowering and activating the planetary pentacles, the author makes this vital work safely accessible to beginners. It is an ideal entranceway into the grimoire tradition.
Vol. III - Ars Geomantica (Being an account and rendition of the Arte of Geomantic Divination and Magic) Ars Geomantica explores the medieval system of Geomancy, one of the simplest and most practical of the divinatory arts. The inclusion of detailed instructions on the creation of geomantic staves, elemental fluid condensers, and talismanic construction and consecration make this work a superb introduction to the extensive assortment of magical and divinatory principles.
Vol. IV - Ars Theurgia Goetia (Being an account and rendition of the arte and praxis of the conjuration of some of the spirits of Solomon) Ars Theurgia Goetia presents a precise and practical guide to working with the spirits of this neglected text from the Solomonic grimoire cycle, the Theurgia-Goetia, giving the full seals of the spirits for the first time. The complete ritual sequence of preparation, conjuration, and license to depart is lucidly demonstrated, making this work suitable for both the beginner and the experienced practitioner.
Vol. V - Otz Chim (The Tree of Life) Otz Chim is a practical exploration of the magic of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, the glyph that concentrates the essence of magic and mysticism within the Western Mystery Tradition. This book focuses on lesser-known aspects such as the angels associated with the paths, their seals, and invocations and includes the previously unavailable Massa Aborum Vitae.
Vol. VI - Ars Speculum (Being an instruction on the arte of using mirrors and shewstones in magic) Ars Speculum is a concise and practical work on the use of mirrors and shewstones in magic. In it the author explores skrying and working with the four elements of air, fire, water and earth - both with elemental condensers and different elemental creatures. Other techniques include contacting other levels of being, the conjuration of spirits, binding and ligature, and healing and protection.
Vol. VII - Liber Terriblis (Being an instruction on the seventy-two spirits of the Goetia) Liber Terribilis is a practical study of how to work with the seventy-two spirits of the infamous seventeenth-century Grimoire, the Goetia. It also explores the vital and often neglected use of the seventy-two binding angels of the Great Name of God, the Schemhamphorasch.
This volume will be of value to all levels of students and practitioners of the grimoire traditions, being based upon the work of a small group of occultists who have explored it in practice.
About the Author :
Gary St Michael Nottingham first came across alchemy when he was fifteen through reading the popular early 1970's occult magazine 'Man, Myth & Magic.' This encouraged him to find out further about the arte and to study Israel Regardie's 'The Philosopher's Stone'; this in turn led to the works of Hollandus, Paracelsus and eventually Junius. However, it was his involvement with a group of alchemical practitioners that opened many of the doors for him and much that he had learnt finally began to make sense. Subsequently he has taught and written extensively on the alchemical arte, running several one-day workshops and weekends on practical laboratory alchemy. His other areas of occult study are astrology, grimoires, and the Kabbalah, all of which are expressed as part of his alchemical work.Gary is the author of the seven-volume Foundations of Practical Sorcery, and its companion volumes Ars Alchemica, Ars Angelorum and Liber Sigillum. He lives in the Welsh March where he has organised the Ludlow Esoteric Conference, the Grimoire Gathering and the Welsh Occult Conference.
Review :
A traditional modern day grimoire. No psychologisation of magic, no New Age fluff, and down to Earth.Mr Nottingham's "Foundations of Practical Sorcery" is essentially the author's personal grimoire, organised and adapted for publication as a complete introduction suitable for both the novice and matured magical practitioner with preference for the Western Mystery Tradition within a dominant Kabbalistic framework making reference to cunningman folk wisdom and herblore, geomancy, and spirit conjurations.
The first text, 'Liber Noctis', sets the foundation for Mr Nottingham's approach to (good ole') English 'practical sorcery'. In a brief, yet concise and pragmatic fashion, Mr Nottingham introduces the aspiring sorcerer to a fully operational magical working space. He then introduces banishing and invoking pentagram rites influenced heavily by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn's assimilation of the Kabbalah, grimoiric materials, and Enochiana, and his own preference for English folklore and herblore, Latin ceremonial vernacular, and the Theban script as his linguistic methods for appropriating the nature and objectives of his rites. Mr Nottingham also demonstrates his esoteric fluency in elemental magic infused with highly effective formulas of traditional folklore and herblore, geomancy, and the use of magical mirrors. In particular, I found his emphasis on the interrelationship of sorcery and Luna, and the applicability of magical fluids tremendously insightful and effective.
Mr Nottingham espouses the applications of Western esoteric astrological sympathies and correspondences in his system of traditional planetary magic, along with the construction and use of talismans to attract and effectuate planetary forces and entities throughout each volume. Mirrors and shewstones in magical practice are important tools for practical sorcery, which Mr Nottingham does tremendous job in convincing the aspiring sorcerer to work with herbs, aromas, and fluid condensers. As expected taking into consideration his flair with elemental magic, geomantic divination and sigils form a significant part of his system of practical sorcery.
An insightful and practical modern-day grimoire for those seeking something more hands-on and less theosophic that I highly recommend. - Damon Zacharias Lycourinos, Amazon reviewer
