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Hermetic Magic: The Postmodern Magical Papyrus of Abaris
Edited and introduced by Stephen Fared Flowers, Ph.D. This book opens the gate to the use of the authentic Hermetic formulas concealed in the magical papyri of Egypt. Students can use this information as a basis for developing and enacting their own magical systems.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 1995
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295 people want to read
About the author
Stephen E. Flowers
53 books109 followersAmerican Runologist and proponent of occultism and Germanic mysticism.
Flowers is an advocate of "Esoteric Runology" or "Odinism", an occultist version of Germanic Neopaganism
Flowers has graduated in Germanic and Celtic philology.
Flowers is an advocate of "Esoteric Runology" or "Odinism", an occultist version of Germanic Neopaganism
Flowers has graduated in Germanic and Celtic philology.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 5, 2009
Very down to Earth tome, describing the cosmology believed in by the "Hermetics" in the first half of the book, followed by a very decent translation of the Hermetic papyri of Abaris, which contain a compendium of spells and rituals from this key Western school.
I really cannot find fault with this book. It is engaging, readable and not even slightly boring. It goes into a wealth of detail explaining the belief system (theory) as well as the details for performing the rituals (practice). The only bone I have to pick with the author is that he left out some of the papyri because they required ingredients of an, um, slightly unsavory nature. Luckily, there is another book which has full translations of all of them, The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation Including the Demotic Spells Texts. It does not have the detailed theory/cosmology that Flowers's book has, though, so you're going to need both.
I really cannot find fault with this book. It is engaging, readable and not even slightly boring. It goes into a wealth of detail explaining the belief system (theory) as well as the details for performing the rituals (practice). The only bone I have to pick with the author is that he left out some of the papyri because they required ingredients of an, um, slightly unsavory nature. Luckily, there is another book which has full translations of all of them, The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation Including the Demotic Spells Texts. It does not have the detailed theory/cosmology that Flowers's book has, though, so you're going to need both.
May 22, 2017
Having read this book, I am now a Hermetic Mage.
Not really. But I have to give Dr. Flowers some respect for borrowing his format from Anton LaVey. The first of his four parts, “A History of Hermetic Magic”, makes the reader feel he is doing the smart thing by participating in a respectable tradition with deep, historical roots. Flowers mentions Greeks, Egyptians, and Jews, making the case that one can remain within the Judeo-Christian tradition while dabbling in Hermetic Magic.
Like LaVey, Flowers’ Part II, “Theory”, is basically a series of essays about his own studies. They reveal something about the universal nature of human myth and magic, which is basically that thought forms have an energy that can be used to manipulate reality. But, Flowers and LaVey both claim, calling upon Typhon and/or Satan is really just a psychological way of addressing one’s own psychic power. The various gods and goddesses of different traditions are really just interchangeable masks worn by the final, true reality (whatever that may be). Part III, Praxis, reviews the tools a willing magician might use to stimulate his own imagination, and reinforces the lessons of the previous two sections.
Then we get to part four, where we learn what rituals we must participate in to become a real magician. LaVey’s “Satanic Bible” was shocking to me because, up until part four, it had not gone into much detail about the need to wear black robes and defile the Eucharist with friends. “Hermetic Magic” is different because it is less group oriented, it is mostly about staying up all night singing ancient formula that must be pronounced exactly correct, and visualizing the god Mithras descending to you on a cloud. I was a little taken aback by all the talk of inviting Mithras to dinner and becoming his servant, because the prior sections had made it sound like Mithras was one of several gods who would be serving you. I could not see any way to synthesize what Flowers was teaching with any kind of Abrahamic spirituality.
Then there were the elements of Gnosticism that he just got wrong. I’m only noting this because I’ve read enough books to know a little about the Gnostics, but praying to the archons is not good advice. In the index, he even refers to IAO as another name for Yahweh, rather than a subordinate of the demiurge (which, to be clear, might be Yahweh). Any discussion of actual gnosis, or the philosophy of the Greeks, Egyptians, or Hebrews, gets brushed aside so we can talk about symbolism. In short, while it is fun for me to learn things, I am not interested enough to actually perform any of the complicated rituals in this book. Nor do I recommend them to anyone.
Not really. But I have to give Dr. Flowers some respect for borrowing his format from Anton LaVey. The first of his four parts, “A History of Hermetic Magic”, makes the reader feel he is doing the smart thing by participating in a respectable tradition with deep, historical roots. Flowers mentions Greeks, Egyptians, and Jews, making the case that one can remain within the Judeo-Christian tradition while dabbling in Hermetic Magic.
Like LaVey, Flowers’ Part II, “Theory”, is basically a series of essays about his own studies. They reveal something about the universal nature of human myth and magic, which is basically that thought forms have an energy that can be used to manipulate reality. But, Flowers and LaVey both claim, calling upon Typhon and/or Satan is really just a psychological way of addressing one’s own psychic power. The various gods and goddesses of different traditions are really just interchangeable masks worn by the final, true reality (whatever that may be). Part III, Praxis, reviews the tools a willing magician might use to stimulate his own imagination, and reinforces the lessons of the previous two sections.
Then we get to part four, where we learn what rituals we must participate in to become a real magician. LaVey’s “Satanic Bible” was shocking to me because, up until part four, it had not gone into much detail about the need to wear black robes and defile the Eucharist with friends. “Hermetic Magic” is different because it is less group oriented, it is mostly about staying up all night singing ancient formula that must be pronounced exactly correct, and visualizing the god Mithras descending to you on a cloud. I was a little taken aback by all the talk of inviting Mithras to dinner and becoming his servant, because the prior sections had made it sound like Mithras was one of several gods who would be serving you. I could not see any way to synthesize what Flowers was teaching with any kind of Abrahamic spirituality.
Then there were the elements of Gnosticism that he just got wrong. I’m only noting this because I’ve read enough books to know a little about the Gnostics, but praying to the archons is not good advice. In the index, he even refers to IAO as another name for Yahweh, rather than a subordinate of the demiurge (which, to be clear, might be Yahweh). Any discussion of actual gnosis, or the philosophy of the Greeks, Egyptians, or Hebrews, gets brushed aside so we can talk about symbolism. In short, while it is fun for me to learn things, I am not interested enough to actually perform any of the complicated rituals in this book. Nor do I recommend them to anyone.
November 28, 2021
What a fascinating, comprehensive guide – albeit cast from a postmodern appreciation – of the ancient Greco-Egyptian magical approach. Much to ponder here, and much inspiration, too. Well worth the read for anyone curious about Hermetic magic.
November 14, 2021
One of the best present day books on magic in theory and practice
February 17, 2022
I read this for research and it was everything I needed and more.
October 3, 2016
A fascinating and well researched study into Hermetic/Khemetic magical ritual. The theory is studied and explained in immense detail before the presentation of essential and powerful workings. The reader who grasps this book has grasped a full comprehension of the root of all Western magical systems. This is one of the keys to occult power.
February 16, 2015
Reading this in small sections so that I can "digest" it as fully as possible. It's spurring my Work... and a desire to learn Ancient Greek. :-)
December 4, 2012
Stephen Edred Flowers is one of those most notable writers on the subject of Magik and Occultism around. This book really gives a good understanding of the background and history of Magik.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews