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The Secret Lore of Magic: Books of the Sorcerers
AMERICAN ENGLISH EDITION .
First published in 1957, The Secret Lore of Magic contains within it a series of major source-books of magical arts. Many of them translated into English for the first time, these works are annotated and fully illustrated. The book’s title in itself signalled the fact that the bulk of material in this bibliographical study had never been published openly before. Together with Oriental Magic which appeared in the preceding year, it provided a complete survey of fundamental magical literature, and thus a comprehensive reference system for psychologists, ethnologists and others interested in the rise and development of human beliefs. Both books also introduced the general reader to dependable information about what was a shadowy and confusing subject.
First published in 1957, The Secret Lore of Magic contains within it a series of major source-books of magical arts. Many of them translated into English for the first time, these works are annotated and fully illustrated. The book’s title in itself signalled the fact that the bulk of material in this bibliographical study had never been published openly before. Together with Oriental Magic which appeared in the preceding year, it provided a complete survey of fundamental magical literature, and thus a comprehensive reference system for psychologists, ethnologists and others interested in the rise and development of human beliefs. Both books also introduced the general reader to dependable information about what was a shadowy and confusing subject.
Unknown Binding
First published March 1, 1970
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About the author
Idries Shah
222 books422 followersIdries Shah (Persian: ادریس شاه), also known as Idris Shah, né Sayed Idries el-Hashimi (Arabic: سيد إدريس هاشمي), was an author and teacher in the Sufi tradition who wrote over three dozen critically acclaimed books on topics ranging from psychology and spirituality to travelogues and culture studies.
Born in India, the descendant of a family of Afghan nobles, Shah grew up mainly in England. His early writings centred on magic and witchcraft. In 1960 he established a publishing house, Octagon Press, producing translations of Sufi classics as well as titles of his own. His most seminal work was The Sufis, which appeared in 1964 and was well received internationally. In 1965, Shah founded the Institute for Cultural Research, a London-based educational charity devoted to the study of human behaviour and culture. A similar organisation, the Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge (ISHK), exists in the United States, under the directorship of Stanford University psychology professor Robert Ornstein, whom Shah appointed as his deputy in the U.S.
In his writings, Shah presented Sufism as a universal form of wisdom that predated Islam. Emphasising that Sufism was not static but always adapted itself to the current time, place and people, he framed his teaching in Western psychological terms. Shah made extensive use of traditional teaching stories and parables, texts that contained multiple layers of meaning designed to trigger insight and self-reflection in the reader. He is perhaps best known for his collections of humorous Mulla Nasrudin stories.
Shah was at times criticised by orientalists who questioned his credentials and background. His role in the controversy surrounding a new translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, published by his friend Robert Graves and his older brother Omar Ali-Shah, came in for particular scrutiny. However, he also had many notable defenders, chief among them the novelist Doris Lessing. Shah came to be recognised as a spokesman for Sufism in the West and lectured as a visiting professor at a number of Western universities. His works have played a significant part in presenting Sufism as a secular, individualistic form of spiritual wisdom.
Idries Shah's books on Sufism achieved considerable critical acclaim. He was the subject of a BBC documentary ("One Pair of Eyes") in 1969, and two of his works (The Way of the Sufi and Reflections) were chosen as "Outstanding Book of the Year" by the BBC's "The Critics" programme. Among other honours, Shah won six first prizes at the UNESCO World Book Year in 1973, and the Islamic scholar James Kritzeck, commenting on Shah's Tales of the Dervishes, said that it was "beautifully translated".
The reception of Shah's movement was also marked by much controversy. Some orientalists were hostile, in part because Shah presented classical Sufi writings as tools for self-development to be used by contemporary people, rather than as objects of historical study. L. P. Elwell-Sutton from Edinburgh University, Shah's fiercest critic, described his books as "trivial", replete with errors of fact, slovenly and inaccurate translations and even misspellings of Oriental names and words – "a muddle of platitudes, irrelevancies and plain mumbo-jumbo", adding for good measure that Shah had "a remarkable opinion of his own importance". Expressing amusement and amazement at the "sycophantic manner" of Shah's interlocutors in a BBC radio interview, Elwell-Sutton concluded that some Western intellectuals were "so desperate to find answers to the questions that baffle them, that, confronted with wisdom from 'the mysterious East,' they abandon their critical faculties and submit to brainwashing of the crudest kind". To Elwell-Sutton, Shah's Sufism belonged to the realm of "Pseudo-Sufism", "centred not on God but on man."
Doris Lessing, one of Shah's greatest defenders,stated in a 1981 interview: "I found Sufism as taught by Idries Shah, which claim
Born in India, the descendant of a family of Afghan nobles, Shah grew up mainly in England. His early writings centred on magic and witchcraft. In 1960 he established a publishing house, Octagon Press, producing translations of Sufi classics as well as titles of his own. His most seminal work was The Sufis, which appeared in 1964 and was well received internationally. In 1965, Shah founded the Institute for Cultural Research, a London-based educational charity devoted to the study of human behaviour and culture. A similar organisation, the Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge (ISHK), exists in the United States, under the directorship of Stanford University psychology professor Robert Ornstein, whom Shah appointed as his deputy in the U.S.
In his writings, Shah presented Sufism as a universal form of wisdom that predated Islam. Emphasising that Sufism was not static but always adapted itself to the current time, place and people, he framed his teaching in Western psychological terms. Shah made extensive use of traditional teaching stories and parables, texts that contained multiple layers of meaning designed to trigger insight and self-reflection in the reader. He is perhaps best known for his collections of humorous Mulla Nasrudin stories.
Shah was at times criticised by orientalists who questioned his credentials and background. His role in the controversy surrounding a new translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, published by his friend Robert Graves and his older brother Omar Ali-Shah, came in for particular scrutiny. However, he also had many notable defenders, chief among them the novelist Doris Lessing. Shah came to be recognised as a spokesman for Sufism in the West and lectured as a visiting professor at a number of Western universities. His works have played a significant part in presenting Sufism as a secular, individualistic form of spiritual wisdom.
Idries Shah's books on Sufism achieved considerable critical acclaim. He was the subject of a BBC documentary ("One Pair of Eyes") in 1969, and two of his works (The Way of the Sufi and Reflections) were chosen as "Outstanding Book of the Year" by the BBC's "The Critics" programme. Among other honours, Shah won six first prizes at the UNESCO World Book Year in 1973, and the Islamic scholar James Kritzeck, commenting on Shah's Tales of the Dervishes, said that it was "beautifully translated".
The reception of Shah's movement was also marked by much controversy. Some orientalists were hostile, in part because Shah presented classical Sufi writings as tools for self-development to be used by contemporary people, rather than as objects of historical study. L. P. Elwell-Sutton from Edinburgh University, Shah's fiercest critic, described his books as "trivial", replete with errors of fact, slovenly and inaccurate translations and even misspellings of Oriental names and words – "a muddle of platitudes, irrelevancies and plain mumbo-jumbo", adding for good measure that Shah had "a remarkable opinion of his own importance". Expressing amusement and amazement at the "sycophantic manner" of Shah's interlocutors in a BBC radio interview, Elwell-Sutton concluded that some Western intellectuals were "so desperate to find answers to the questions that baffle them, that, confronted with wisdom from 'the mysterious East,' they abandon their critical faculties and submit to brainwashing of the crudest kind". To Elwell-Sutton, Shah's Sufism belonged to the realm of "Pseudo-Sufism", "centred not on God but on man."
Doris Lessing, one of Shah's greatest defenders,stated in a 1981 interview: "I found Sufism as taught by Idries Shah, which claim
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 5, 2017
Crazy, entertaining but repetitive, often funny, very original. These were among my first impressions of THE SECRET LORE OF MAGIC. Did Shah derive all his materials (including the drawings) from old manuscripts, or did he invent some of it, I couldn’t help wondering? Perhaps, by taking liberties, he was illustrating an aspect of this literature. Magic is a field where the human imagination runs wild.
For answers I turned to Wikipedia. The book was published in 1957. Since 1933 Dennis Wheatley had been writing occult novels with titles like THE DEVIL RIDES OUT and TO THE DEVIL – A DAUGHTER. He had become one of the world’s best selling writers. Sirdar Iqbal Ali Shah, Idries Shah’s father, revealed that the reason why he and his son had published books on the subject of magic and the occult was ‘to forestall a probable popular revival or belief among a significant number of people in this nonsense’. He said that his son researched for several years before publishing his two books on magic. Later Idries Shah told PSYCHOLOGY TODAY that the main purpose of his books on the occult was to provide information. He went on to say that ‘there do seem to be forces …which do not come within customary physics or within the experience of ordinary people.’
Reading the book almost sixty years after it was first published, what struck me was that, although we rarely resort to talismans or indulge in occult rituals, magical thinking is still an acceptable and widespread method of attempting to solve problems. It is as much a part of us as walking upright on two legs, but is as hidden from us as our bones. We use it as a substitute for effort and knowledge, and in the hope that through it we will avoid pain. It determines our decisions about going to war and can affect how we treat illness. It is evident when we use religion to seek power or wealth, or to further our own ambitions. We reinforce it when we switch on our computers and turn to social media, or type ‘curing’ in an Amazon search for books.
Although we are still far from harnessing the power of Solomon’s seventy-two Spirits, the past sixty years have also seen magic being converted into knowledge. We have learned to understand and employ more effectively the power of the placebo and of hypnosis.
Sufi books can be written with a main purpose but be capable, at a different time, of supplying other insights. Iqbal Ali Shah described his son’s two books on magic as important, and I wholeheartedly agree.
For answers I turned to Wikipedia. The book was published in 1957. Since 1933 Dennis Wheatley had been writing occult novels with titles like THE DEVIL RIDES OUT and TO THE DEVIL – A DAUGHTER. He had become one of the world’s best selling writers. Sirdar Iqbal Ali Shah, Idries Shah’s father, revealed that the reason why he and his son had published books on the subject of magic and the occult was ‘to forestall a probable popular revival or belief among a significant number of people in this nonsense’. He said that his son researched for several years before publishing his two books on magic. Later Idries Shah told PSYCHOLOGY TODAY that the main purpose of his books on the occult was to provide information. He went on to say that ‘there do seem to be forces …which do not come within customary physics or within the experience of ordinary people.’
Reading the book almost sixty years after it was first published, what struck me was that, although we rarely resort to talismans or indulge in occult rituals, magical thinking is still an acceptable and widespread method of attempting to solve problems. It is as much a part of us as walking upright on two legs, but is as hidden from us as our bones. We use it as a substitute for effort and knowledge, and in the hope that through it we will avoid pain. It determines our decisions about going to war and can affect how we treat illness. It is evident when we use religion to seek power or wealth, or to further our own ambitions. We reinforce it when we switch on our computers and turn to social media, or type ‘curing’ in an Amazon search for books.
Although we are still far from harnessing the power of Solomon’s seventy-two Spirits, the past sixty years have also seen magic being converted into knowledge. We have learned to understand and employ more effectively the power of the placebo and of hypnosis.
Sufi books can be written with a main purpose but be capable, at a different time, of supplying other insights. Iqbal Ali Shah described his son’s two books on magic as important, and I wholeheartedly agree.
April 7, 2020
For five years author Idries Shah examined obscure manuscripts in a dozen remote regions where magic persists. Originally published in 1957, most of the magical texts in this annotated and fully illustrated classic have never been published before; many in English for the first time. It is a compendium of rare source books of magic, containing spells, charms and directions for creating powerful talismans. Together with Shah’s companion volume, Oriental Magic, it
helps us understand what magic is and isn’t. It encourages us to keep our minds open while avoiding the hocus pocus that surrounds it. It sheds light on human beliefs and what has previously been obscure, confusing & over-inflated. Highly Recommended.
helps us understand what magic is and isn’t. It encourages us to keep our minds open while avoiding the hocus pocus that surrounds it. It sheds light on human beliefs and what has previously been obscure, confusing & over-inflated. Highly Recommended.
May 2, 2020
This book provides exact transcriptions (and translations to modern English, where needed) of old and very difficult to find magic books, like The Grimorie of Honorius The Great and the four works of Albertus Magnus. Unlike many popularizations of ancient magic, this material comes from hard-to-access university archives, some material directly transcribed from a handwritten manuscript. Instead of being an altered copy of a copy of a copy of what some original great magician wrote, this book's materials are as close to the original sources as a scholar or devotee of magic can get. The source for each set of content are listed, and to me, those were a wonder to read. How did this author manage to get access to these well-protected archives, how did he open doors to universities and private archives. The feat of researching this original material is, for me, more astounding than the materials themselves. If you study magic and you wish to get close to the original sources for many of the documents floating around, you could do much worse than read this book. It was published at a time (late 1950s/early 60s) when a renewal of interest in magic and also sorts of spiritual or otheworldly practices was occurring. It refutes, updates, and corrects some of the works of magic that were revered in those seeking/searching times. For modern devotees and practitioners of magic, this is a must-read, given the original and very difficult to obtain source material it contains.
For someone like me, who is a fan of this author's other works which seem to be about the acquiring of wisdom and knowledge, often in times and cultures that hate both, the intense amount of work, travel, research, scholastic acumen and, as I mentioned above, almost magical door-opening that went on to bring this information locked up in very private manuscripts to the public eye astounds me. This work, to me, also the feel of an assignment, perhaps like a special sort of PhD thesis that tested far more than just knowledge and scholarly acumen? For one thing, how could such a rational, practical mind, a mind that later produced such very different works, devote itself so expertly and diligently to a subject like this one (historical magic)? But he did, and the work is flawless in its scholarship. When I contrast this prodigious effort in an area that might have been (this is pure speculation on my part) a bit difficult to stomach with the firsthand experiences and secondhand stories I have of myself and others attempting to do the simplest of tasks "for a great cause" and failing miserably due to common human flaws of character, like hating the assignment, feeling it was unfair or a "waste" of one's "real" talents, or just plain unwillingness to accept whatever one was given, I am in awe. This work demonstrates how people ought to be, but aren't.
It also helps to explain what came later: the amazing outpouring of unusual books by this author that have helped so many of us. This man performed his duty (which seems to have primarily been writing) flawlessly and, from what I hear from the things his family publishes about the matter, almost tirelessly, like a machine. His actions and level of industry suggest a person who knew he had a huge amount of very critical and essential work to do in a limited amount of time. So he made the best, the most efficient use of that time that he could while also performing all the usual life responsibilities (raising a family, earning a living) as well as the unusual ones famous people face (like dealing fairly with the problems and time sinks caused by an enormous camp following).
The non-typical ways in which he performed this prodigious writing feat and his other responsibilities seem to cause, from what I have read, a considerable amount of consternation, confusion, and even enmity among many who considered themselves at one time his devoted followers. (You see this, quite clearly, in their writings, their videos, their conversations online, and the other byproducts they leave scattered about, a lot of which, however eloquently communicated, when reduced down to the pure emotional content, say only one thing: "Wah! He didn't give me the type, quality, or quantity of attention I wanted/expected/deserved! He's a Bad, Bad Man!" ) Often this author's behaviors or communications seemed, especially in the few much-publicized (and prized, by the envious or gossip-mongers) so-called "dramas," he was "embroiled" in, perfectly in keeping with the behavior of Sufi mystics, a group the author's books frequently focus on as reliable sources of unusual wisdom and essential information.
For those of us who are performing basic duties of our own (or think we are, as often such endeavors are blind gropings toward what feels most natural and right, toward a vocation or job one must do, and nothing we can be fully certain of) and who also are compelled to take those responsibilities as a sacred trust, Idries Shah's behavior is a profound inspiration. When looking at his efforts, as with this book that seems like it was extremely difficult to research and write, I see how very, very little I actually do (and also how I actively cause harm) in my own, personal vocation. This book, which seems to have so very little to do with what interests or moves me, has taught me some important lessons in areas that have little to do with the outer trapping of magical rites.
While the chapter on the Catholic Church's possible past practice of summoning demons was a fascinating one for an agnostic lapsed member to read, overall I found this book pretty hard to get through. I am not naturally interested in magic and, in addition, there were none of those little "rewards" in the content that one comes to expect from Shah's other works. No psychological "sugar rushes" here.
_The Secret Lore of Magic_ took me more months to finish than other book by this author (largely because I kept putting it off). But I am very glad I did finish it. Reading all of Shah's books at least once was a general suggestion that I've taken on as a personal duty that I could accomplish--if I didn't waste too much time futzing about. As my mind would glaze over at the content in this volume (although some of it is surprisingly charming, like a demon who typically demands as his sacrifice or price for providing the magician with amazing secrets and treasures a small piece of bread which he then walks away very contentedly with), I'd start to wonder about the whys and hows of its writing. As you can probably see from the above, that train of thought proved quite useful to me.
For whatever reason you are reading/considering this book, I also hope that you find it, as I did, quite useful.
For someone like me, who is a fan of this author's other works which seem to be about the acquiring of wisdom and knowledge, often in times and cultures that hate both, the intense amount of work, travel, research, scholastic acumen and, as I mentioned above, almost magical door-opening that went on to bring this information locked up in very private manuscripts to the public eye astounds me. This work, to me, also the feel of an assignment, perhaps like a special sort of PhD thesis that tested far more than just knowledge and scholarly acumen? For one thing, how could such a rational, practical mind, a mind that later produced such very different works, devote itself so expertly and diligently to a subject like this one (historical magic)? But he did, and the work is flawless in its scholarship. When I contrast this prodigious effort in an area that might have been (this is pure speculation on my part) a bit difficult to stomach with the firsthand experiences and secondhand stories I have of myself and others attempting to do the simplest of tasks "for a great cause" and failing miserably due to common human flaws of character, like hating the assignment, feeling it was unfair or a "waste" of one's "real" talents, or just plain unwillingness to accept whatever one was given, I am in awe. This work demonstrates how people ought to be, but aren't.
It also helps to explain what came later: the amazing outpouring of unusual books by this author that have helped so many of us. This man performed his duty (which seems to have primarily been writing) flawlessly and, from what I hear from the things his family publishes about the matter, almost tirelessly, like a machine. His actions and level of industry suggest a person who knew he had a huge amount of very critical and essential work to do in a limited amount of time. So he made the best, the most efficient use of that time that he could while also performing all the usual life responsibilities (raising a family, earning a living) as well as the unusual ones famous people face (like dealing fairly with the problems and time sinks caused by an enormous camp following).
The non-typical ways in which he performed this prodigious writing feat and his other responsibilities seem to cause, from what I have read, a considerable amount of consternation, confusion, and even enmity among many who considered themselves at one time his devoted followers. (You see this, quite clearly, in their writings, their videos, their conversations online, and the other byproducts they leave scattered about, a lot of which, however eloquently communicated, when reduced down to the pure emotional content, say only one thing: "Wah! He didn't give me the type, quality, or quantity of attention I wanted/expected/deserved! He's a Bad, Bad Man!" ) Often this author's behaviors or communications seemed, especially in the few much-publicized (and prized, by the envious or gossip-mongers) so-called "dramas," he was "embroiled" in, perfectly in keeping with the behavior of Sufi mystics, a group the author's books frequently focus on as reliable sources of unusual wisdom and essential information.
For those of us who are performing basic duties of our own (or think we are, as often such endeavors are blind gropings toward what feels most natural and right, toward a vocation or job one must do, and nothing we can be fully certain of) and who also are compelled to take those responsibilities as a sacred trust, Idries Shah's behavior is a profound inspiration. When looking at his efforts, as with this book that seems like it was extremely difficult to research and write, I see how very, very little I actually do (and also how I actively cause harm) in my own, personal vocation. This book, which seems to have so very little to do with what interests or moves me, has taught me some important lessons in areas that have little to do with the outer trapping of magical rites.
While the chapter on the Catholic Church's possible past practice of summoning demons was a fascinating one for an agnostic lapsed member to read, overall I found this book pretty hard to get through. I am not naturally interested in magic and, in addition, there were none of those little "rewards" in the content that one comes to expect from Shah's other works. No psychological "sugar rushes" here.
_The Secret Lore of Magic_ took me more months to finish than other book by this author (largely because I kept putting it off). But I am very glad I did finish it. Reading all of Shah's books at least once was a general suggestion that I've taken on as a personal duty that I could accomplish--if I didn't waste too much time futzing about. As my mind would glaze over at the content in this volume (although some of it is surprisingly charming, like a demon who typically demands as his sacrifice or price for providing the magician with amazing secrets and treasures a small piece of bread which he then walks away very contentedly with), I'd start to wonder about the whys and hows of its writing. As you can probably see from the above, that train of thought proved quite useful to me.
For whatever reason you are reading/considering this book, I also hope that you find it, as I did, quite useful.
August 21, 2016
When most people hear the word “magic,” they automatically think of the illusions performed by the stage entertainers who bill themselves as magicians. But from time immemorial, a different kind of magic has fascinated – and frightened – millions of people all over the globe: the magic that attempts to harness “supernatural” forces to achieve a desired end. However, so much nonsense has been written about this type of magic that it’s hard to come to grips with it. Author Idries Shah redressed that imbalance with his landmark book THE SECRET LORE OF MAGIC, which draws directly from primary source material: grimoires (books of spells), some of them of great antiquity, that don’t appear to have been derived from other such books. The research he did to write THE SECRET LORE OF MAGIC was no mean feat, as the source material wasn’t easy to hunt down. Shah presents the spells, symbols and incantations exactly as he finds them in the original grimoires, without superimposing his own interpretation – while adding useful background information on the magical beliefs and techniques of the practitioners. As a result, the veil of mystery that had long obscured the subject is pulled aside, giving readers a clear glimpse of just what’s involved. THE SECRET LORE OF MAGIC is a fascinating and well-researched book, which I strongly recommend to anyone who’s at all interested in the subject.
November 7, 2016
Pretty much a cut n paste of several classical manuscripts from Western Occultism. Includes Key of Solomon, material from Albertus etc. While this would be interesting in the 1950's, it's been done better in recent times by numerous authors. Very little original material here (before he started his Sufism focus).
October 22, 2025
Whilst I appreciate the rarity of the original works and trouble seen to decipher them, the content of this book is crap.
I would have enjoyed it way more if the author contributed his own thoughts and interpretations to this, instead of copy pasting niche 'magical' texts.
The rituals are gibberish mixed with abrahamic prayers, practically indistinguishable from eachother, and entirely useless to the average reader.
Terrible, 0 stars.
I would have enjoyed it way more if the author contributed his own thoughts and interpretations to this, instead of copy pasting niche 'magical' texts.
The rituals are gibberish mixed with abrahamic prayers, practically indistinguishable from eachother, and entirely useless to the average reader.
Terrible, 0 stars.
January 14, 2025
Handy reference for those interest in occult and esoteric works.
September 24, 2017
I was not initially attracted to this book as I didn't think I was interested in magic, though I have been reading other books by Idries Shah. A review by Ita on Amazon on 25 August 2016 suggests that magical thinking is not just confined to self confessed magicians but is widespread among us all. That suggested a wider appreciation of the content. Anyway this is an extraordinary collection of very difficult to get hold of manuscripts, issued in a very attractive and readable format. And there are many incidental delights on the way. How could you resist instructions like these: Now go out and buy, without dispute over the price, a new pot of earthenware, which shall have a lid. Return to your house as fast as you can, fill the pot with water from a spring, until it is not quite full. Place the knotted hairs in it, cover it, and place it where neither you nor anyone else can see it, for there is danger in this.
July 8, 2019
Compendious.
November 23, 2013
I enjoyed and learned from this book a long time ago. Very good!
August 9, 2017
Enjoyed it before partner burned it, in 1992!
August 13, 2021
If you want to know the extent of sorcery and magical procedures, together with useful commentary, this is the book. Some of the bedrock upon which the author made himself known.
Want to read
May 15, 2019I think this should have some of Alibeck, among other things.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews