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The Truth About Magic
Magic, the occult, the mystical - is there anything behind those words? If there is, is it anything beyond horror-movie cliches? People the world over have always known and interacted with these hidden forces. But in our culture, there are very few ways to sort out truth from nonsense.
In this book, Richard Smoley, an expert on the occult, delves into the world of mind power, magic, suggestion, and the realms of the unseen. He speaks simply and clearly, in common-sense terms, about these mysterious forces, how they can work for you, and what you need to avoid. This trip through unseen worlds could be most exciting adventure of your life, and possibly the most important, as you learn meditation; the colors of magic; the life force; the astral light; thought power; prophecy; psychic powers; astrology; the Tarot; ghosts, angels, and spirits; life after death; evil; witchcraft and Satanism; Atlantis and lost civilizations; the Last Judgment; the Kingdom of God; healing; reincarnation; the Brotherhood; psychedelics; and spirituality.
In this book, Richard Smoley, an expert on the occult, delves into the world of mind power, magic, suggestion, and the realms of the unseen. He speaks simply and clearly, in common-sense terms, about these mysterious forces, how they can work for you, and what you need to avoid. This trip through unseen worlds could be most exciting adventure of your life, and possibly the most important, as you learn meditation; the colors of magic; the life force; the astral light; thought power; prophecy; psychic powers; astrology; the Tarot; ghosts, angels, and spirits; life after death; evil; witchcraft and Satanism; Atlantis and lost civilizations; the Last Judgment; the Kingdom of God; healing; reincarnation; the Brotherhood; psychedelics; and spirituality.
- GenresNonfiction
Audible Audio
Published April 20, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 7, 2025
Wow, that was exhausting!
I've been following Smoley since he was editor for the lamented GNOSIS magazine, and have heard him speak at the Theosophical Society. An Ivy-League and Oxford educated scholar he brings a fine line of inquiry and belief to the occult and mysticism that refuses to fall into the skeptic's materialist trap, nor the New Ager's credulity. It makes him a great go to if you are interested in things like "how do millions of people in the modern world believe in reincarnation? Why do so many cultures have a psychedelic spirit-medicine culture? Why does the placebo effect often work?"
This is a grand tour of those ideas in a short work--a sweeping look at mystical and magical belief, from the more possible (the role of psychedelics), to the more outlandish (prophecy, demons and spirits) that strives to give an impassioned and honest look at what people have believed, still believe and what may truth may or may not underly those beliefs. Rigid skeptics won't do well with this book, but others should find it of interest.
I've been following Smoley since he was editor for the lamented GNOSIS magazine, and have heard him speak at the Theosophical Society. An Ivy-League and Oxford educated scholar he brings a fine line of inquiry and belief to the occult and mysticism that refuses to fall into the skeptic's materialist trap, nor the New Ager's credulity. It makes him a great go to if you are interested in things like "how do millions of people in the modern world believe in reincarnation? Why do so many cultures have a psychedelic spirit-medicine culture? Why does the placebo effect often work?"
This is a grand tour of those ideas in a short work--a sweeping look at mystical and magical belief, from the more possible (the role of psychedelics), to the more outlandish (prophecy, demons and spirits) that strives to give an impassioned and honest look at what people have believed, still believe and what may truth may or may not underly those beliefs. Rigid skeptics won't do well with this book, but others should find it of interest.
November 15, 2021
There is a ton packed in these 172 pages. It was like Esoteric cliff notes. He went over Thoughts & Knowledge, Mindfulness & Meditation, Types of Magic, Life Force & Astral Light, Prophecies & Psychics, Astrology, New Age, & Tarot, Afterlife, Evil, Witchcraft, Lost Civilizations, Healing, Reincarnation, Psychedelics, and more. Phew!
Overall, this was a decent intro to Esoteric studies from the perspective of someone in the Theosophical Society trying to discover what is beyond the veil. Was there any Truth About Magic? Not really, at least nothing especially unique. Many of his ideas are parallel to Blavatsky, just written in a very modern and succinct way. This book is a good platform to find an interesting topic, then go and find deeper works into those subjects. In general, I enjoyed his restructuring, modernizing, and simplifying some really complex ideas previously written in such a complex and convoluted manner.
I found myself highlighting quite a lot in the book, I suppose that is a good and bad thing. I am completely aligned with some statements, such as "The magical path is summed up in four aphorisms: to know, to will, to dare, and to be silent." and "...you can never give up what’s true. The only things you can give up are illusions."
There are many parallels to modern psychology. I am currently reading Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma which talks about the instinctual, emotional, and rational brain, which coincides with this book "An ancient teaching, which goes back at least as far as Plato, says that we are composed of three elements: the body, the emotions, and the mind." It feels like Esoteric studies are filled with men, at least in my experience, whereas women are more inclined to read self-help psychology. Just noting that, as I find it interesting that the information is getting out there, just with two completely different methods to seemingly two different audiences.
The Witchcraft section is a little flawed. He seems to use Wicca and Witchcraft interchangeably. "Today's witches, or Wiccans..." That is not so. Not all witches adhere to the rules of Wicca, which is a faith or religion like any other. There is a "Wiccan Rede" to follow. Witchcraft is a practice using magick and spellwork. Therefore, Wiccan's may practice witchcraft, but not all those practicing witchcraft are Wiccan as they reject the rules of Wicca. Many witches reject Wicca because some view it as a nature-based form of Christianity. On the other hand, there are Christian witchcraft practitioners. As stated earlier in the book, there is white, black, and grey magic which is performed from varied sources. The conclusion of this chapter though was to inform that all witches are not "evil" as the religious mainstream seems to believe, and that is a true and good overall sentiment.
At the beginning of the book, he mentioned one should be cautious about any religion that says they have all the answers. Then he proceeds to use a lot of bible quotes and references to Christianity. In my experience, Christianity is one of those religions. He states that he isn't using those terms because he believes that it is any better or truer than any other religion, but simply because he is speaking to people in the Western world which was built on Christianity so it is familiar and relatable. I don't know of many Christians that would pick up this book (based on the title and the cover art), so it seems like his intended audience and his actual audience may be quite different. Because of all the bible quotes, it also comes off a little preachy.
There was quite a bit of opinion in there also. I normally don't mind that if it is kept on topic. Blavatsky and many others who speak of these things are notorious for being quite opinionated. However, using terms like "right-wing conspiracy" seems so out of context and small. It was like there was some underlying struggle from the author to keep things in black and white terms, to prove to the reader that he is labeled on the left vs. the right or middle. It is the same as our modern society does, which I personally detest. Headlines are always telling us what or who is left vs right, good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, instead of the vast grey beneath the surface. People aren't all good or all bad.
Overall, this was a decent intro to Esoteric studies from the perspective of someone in the Theosophical Society trying to discover what is beyond the veil. Was there any Truth About Magic? Not really, at least nothing especially unique. Many of his ideas are parallel to Blavatsky, just written in a very modern and succinct way. This book is a good platform to find an interesting topic, then go and find deeper works into those subjects. In general, I enjoyed his restructuring, modernizing, and simplifying some really complex ideas previously written in such a complex and convoluted manner.
I found myself highlighting quite a lot in the book, I suppose that is a good and bad thing. I am completely aligned with some statements, such as "The magical path is summed up in four aphorisms: to know, to will, to dare, and to be silent." and "...you can never give up what’s true. The only things you can give up are illusions."
There are many parallels to modern psychology. I am currently reading Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma which talks about the instinctual, emotional, and rational brain, which coincides with this book "An ancient teaching, which goes back at least as far as Plato, says that we are composed of three elements: the body, the emotions, and the mind." It feels like Esoteric studies are filled with men, at least in my experience, whereas women are more inclined to read self-help psychology. Just noting that, as I find it interesting that the information is getting out there, just with two completely different methods to seemingly two different audiences.
The Witchcraft section is a little flawed. He seems to use Wicca and Witchcraft interchangeably. "Today's witches, or Wiccans..." That is not so. Not all witches adhere to the rules of Wicca, which is a faith or religion like any other. There is a "Wiccan Rede" to follow. Witchcraft is a practice using magick and spellwork. Therefore, Wiccan's may practice witchcraft, but not all those practicing witchcraft are Wiccan as they reject the rules of Wicca. Many witches reject Wicca because some view it as a nature-based form of Christianity. On the other hand, there are Christian witchcraft practitioners. As stated earlier in the book, there is white, black, and grey magic which is performed from varied sources. The conclusion of this chapter though was to inform that all witches are not "evil" as the religious mainstream seems to believe, and that is a true and good overall sentiment.
At the beginning of the book, he mentioned one should be cautious about any religion that says they have all the answers. Then he proceeds to use a lot of bible quotes and references to Christianity. In my experience, Christianity is one of those religions. He states that he isn't using those terms because he believes that it is any better or truer than any other religion, but simply because he is speaking to people in the Western world which was built on Christianity so it is familiar and relatable. I don't know of many Christians that would pick up this book (based on the title and the cover art), so it seems like his intended audience and his actual audience may be quite different. Because of all the bible quotes, it also comes off a little preachy.
There was quite a bit of opinion in there also. I normally don't mind that if it is kept on topic. Blavatsky and many others who speak of these things are notorious for being quite opinionated. However, using terms like "right-wing conspiracy" seems so out of context and small. It was like there was some underlying struggle from the author to keep things in black and white terms, to prove to the reader that he is labeled on the left vs. the right or middle. It is the same as our modern society does, which I personally detest. Headlines are always telling us what or who is left vs right, good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, instead of the vast grey beneath the surface. People aren't all good or all bad.
March 16, 2025
This book was way more interesting than I thought it was going to be.
I really enjoyed the sections on ghosts, dark matter, lost civilizations, the Age of Aquarius, and the theology interspersed throughout.
It doesn't give off "woo-woo" vibes like the name could suggest, and it doesn't focus on magic or come off as a self-help type of guide.
If anyone is curious about theology or this type of stuff, I recommend this book.
I really enjoyed the sections on ghosts, dark matter, lost civilizations, the Age of Aquarius, and the theology interspersed throughout.
It doesn't give off "woo-woo" vibes like the name could suggest, and it doesn't focus on magic or come off as a self-help type of guide.
If anyone is curious about theology or this type of stuff, I recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews