Merlin's Book of Magick and Enchantment

by Nevill Drury

Here is my gift to you--a secret book of wondrous power and spells of enchantment...
Here are the secret formulae for calling the spirits, ensnaring your lover, attracting good fortune and predicting what will come to pass.
Here are the secrets for becoming like the Ancient Ones.

He is the most well-known wizard of all time, a name beloved of all who cherish the stories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Now, through this magnificently illustrated manual, Merlin displays the fruits of his knowledge and power and reveals how you too can become a wizard or witch. Through the wise words of the master, learn about the mystic festivals; the five elements; the Alphabet of Trees, divining with the Oghams, and "candle magick." See how to find something that was lost, make mischief against those who offend, and--most wonderful of all--become invisible and fly in the spirit-vision.

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Witchcraft, Magick, Arthurian, Paganism, Mythology

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Nevill Drury PhD is an independent historical researcher whose specialist interests include modern Western magic, shamanism, transpersonal psychology and visionary art. His most recent publications include The Varieties of Magical Experience (co-authored with Lynne Hume; Praeger, January 2013), Dark Spirits: The Magical Art of Rosaleen Norton and Austin Osman Spare (Salamander, 2012); Stealing Fire from Heaven: the Rise of Modern Western Magic (Oxford University Press 2011); Homage to Pan (Creation Oneiros 2009), The Dictionary of Magic (Watkins 2005) and The New Age: the History of a Movement (Thames & Hudson 2004). He received his Ph.D from the University of Newcastle in 2008 for a dissertation on the visionary art and magical beliefs of Rosaleen Norton (awarded 'Best Humanities Ph.D'. in that year).

Born in England in 1947 but resident in Australia since 1963, Nevill has worked as an international art-book publisher, lecturer and magazine editor and is now a full-time writer. He is the author/co-author/editor of seventy books covering a range of subjects like contemporary art (Images in Contemporary Australian Painting, New Sculpture, Australian Painting Now, Fire and Shadow: Spirituality in Contemporary Australian Art), Aboriginal culture (Wisdom from the Earth), holistic health (The Healing Power, Inner Health) and the magical traditions (Dark Spirits; Stealing Fire from Heaven: Sacred Encounters; Homage to Pan, Inner Visions). He is also the author of a work of mythic fiction, The Shaman's Quest, which was described by Publisher's Weekly as a 'poetic' book that 'could become a classic'. His work has been published in 26 countries and 19 languages.

Reviews

[JD Waggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part the First: Wherein we are given a condensed history of all things Merlinian in a manner of writing such that we understand we are speaking of ye olde magick, which hath no bearing or connection to modern English. Laying out the story of Merline in under 50 pages is a feat to be admired, but is rather dull due to lack of depth.

Part the Second: Wherein we are taught to recognize and understand the mystical aspects of magick that we may ourselves become wizards and witches. The breakdown of the five elements is a lovely resource to have, but if you can figure out how to walk into a tree to obtain your magick name, you hath more belief and patience than I.

Part the Third: In which we are given many spells and a chart containing the Ogham alphabet with correspoding trees, colors and birds. Whatever a wizard may do with this knowledge, the scholar within rejoices at this clear chart and counts the whole book more valuable for its inclusion. The spells themselves are interesting, and if they work, unsettling, but I hath no use for them and may simply photocopy the chart and give the rest away. Others, then, shall carry forth the wisdom of the ages that they might not wither away into their origins of dust.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Literalmente el libro de Merlín. Con todo lo que uno podría querer saber sobre el mago más grande de la historia. Y yo siendo una fiel seguidora de cualquier libro de Merlín, tenía que conseguirlo.

[Shana Fidalgo · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourites! That's why he travels with me everywhere.

[Alexandra Humes · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Gran brought me this book when she was visiting from England. I think I brought it everywhere with me until I finished it, but I reread certain parts over and over again. I read this before I knew anything about the Arthurian cycle, and now it is a favorite fantasy subject of mine. I think this book was a little too old for me when I received it at around ten years old, but I still loved it and remember it fondly.

[Luis Patiño · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo quiero leer

[Luca Parlascini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucaluc

[Nati Ferrino · Rating 5 out of 5]

A este le debo gran parte de mi locura y magia.

[Ambre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED the artwork in this book, so much so that I took pictures of several of them.
As for the book itself, Merlin's history at the beginning was interesting to read, as it's not something that's usually included. Being a green witch, I found the chapters on magic to be interesting and fairly informative, but I'm taking them with a grain of salt until I know more about the author's understanding of the subject matter (as in, did he take them from actual practices or did he just make it all up?).
The only thing that really threw me off was the language usage and some of the fonts in the book.

[Amélie Black Poulain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me enamoré de la presentación, era hermosa... pero me decepcionó un poco lo excesivamente fantasioso que se ponía a la mitad del libro. Probablemente me esperaba otra cosa más... lineal -y más después de leer la primera parte- y principalmente menos espiritual.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit disappointing.