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Ciencias ocultas, hechicería y magia: Una historia ilustrada
La creencia en alguna forma de magia ha acompañado a la humanidad a lo largo de toda su historia. De hecho, en un mundo cada vez más racional y cientifista, la idea de que el conocimiento oculto o arcano puede dar acceso a otra realidad oculta está más arraigada y extendida que nunca. Este libro es una historia vívida y fascinante de lo críptico, lo místico y lo sobrenatural, que se inicia con las primeras evidencias de pensamiento mágico en la oscura penumbra de una cueva paleolítica y finaliza en la intensa luz de la era digital contemporánea y su renovado interés por el paganismo.
Con centenares de imágenes recabadas de fuentes raras y excepcionales, exploraciones en profundidad de ideas y tendencias interculturales, y perfiles de figuras clave de la historia de la magia.
Con centenares de imágenes recabadas de fuentes raras y excepcionales, exploraciones en profundidad de ideas y tendencias interculturales, y perfiles de figuras clave de la historia de la magia.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 18, 2019
163 people are currently reading
3346 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
April 25, 2021
It was all going so well until the author called Harry's invisibility cloak one of the "HORCRUXES" ...
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Lauren is OUT.
February 8, 2020
This book is pretty to look at, but absolutely not worth the $39.95 list price. It's a decent coffee table book to flip through, but the information contained within is basic trivia about witchcraft and the occult, and dubious trivia at that, given that the text is riddled with errors. There are the copyediting mistakes such as missed periods, but then there are the straight up wrong facts like when they reference Harry Potter and get a critical plot point wrong in confusing the horcruxes with the deathly hallows, which is *such* a critical plot point that it's the literal title of the book they were referencing.
These errors are nothing when compared to the fact that the book participates in appropriation, marginalization, erasure, and fetishization all at once when it comes it its portrayal of magical systems outside of Europe. There are nine chapters in the book, the first dedicated to 'Ancient Magic' -- Mesopotamia, China, Egypt, the Old Testament. Of the remaining eight there is a chapter on Greek & Roman Magic, a Chapter on Northern Magic [Celtic, Norse, Germanic], Medieval [Europe] Magic, Renaissance [Europe] Magic, Enlightenment [Europe] Magic, The Magic Revival [in Europe and the United States], Modern Magic [in Britain and the United States]. The ONLY chapter that dives into other cultures is chapter six, "World of Magic" where 45 out of the 400 pages of mostly pictures (remember, this is a coffee-table book) we get the categories "Shamanism" "Native American Magic" "Voodoo and Hoodoo" "Latin American Magic" "Magic in Africa" (the entire continent gets a whole 7 pages!) "Magic in South East Asia" "Far Eastern Magic" "Magical Creatures." Truly this book insults the culture of anyone who isn't invested in exclusively Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Nordic, and British traditions. Moreover, using Shamanism as a blanket term is very controversial under the best of circumstances, but the author of this book thought that not only was it a good idea, but cites as reason for doing so Mircea Eliade, who even a cursory Wikipedia scroll will show was while *technically* not a Nazi still unmistakably a fascist, and besides that a dubious authority and not an anthropologist, but a historian that had many people question the legitimacy of his research.
My thoughts on Eliade aside, that doesn't even get in to how patronizing this book is toward modern occultists and magical practitioners, and the insult it pays to pagans and polytheists is so egregious I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
Would that I could give it zero stars, excepting the very pretty artwork.
These errors are nothing when compared to the fact that the book participates in appropriation, marginalization, erasure, and fetishization all at once when it comes it its portrayal of magical systems outside of Europe. There are nine chapters in the book, the first dedicated to 'Ancient Magic' -- Mesopotamia, China, Egypt, the Old Testament. Of the remaining eight there is a chapter on Greek & Roman Magic, a Chapter on Northern Magic [Celtic, Norse, Germanic], Medieval [Europe] Magic, Renaissance [Europe] Magic, Enlightenment [Europe] Magic, The Magic Revival [in Europe and the United States], Modern Magic [in Britain and the United States]. The ONLY chapter that dives into other cultures is chapter six, "World of Magic" where 45 out of the 400 pages of mostly pictures (remember, this is a coffee-table book) we get the categories "Shamanism" "Native American Magic" "Voodoo and Hoodoo" "Latin American Magic" "Magic in Africa" (the entire continent gets a whole 7 pages!) "Magic in South East Asia" "Far Eastern Magic" "Magical Creatures." Truly this book insults the culture of anyone who isn't invested in exclusively Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Nordic, and British traditions. Moreover, using Shamanism as a blanket term is very controversial under the best of circumstances, but the author of this book thought that not only was it a good idea, but cites as reason for doing so Mircea Eliade, who even a cursory Wikipedia scroll will show was while *technically* not a Nazi still unmistakably a fascist, and besides that a dubious authority and not an anthropologist, but a historian that had many people question the legitimacy of his research.
My thoughts on Eliade aside, that doesn't even get in to how patronizing this book is toward modern occultists and magical practitioners, and the insult it pays to pagans and polytheists is so egregious I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
Would that I could give it zero stars, excepting the very pretty artwork.
February 10, 2017
Doesn't go very in-depth on many things, but mentions a lot. Lots of great pictures.
Quotes:
Western Esotericism's six key concepts:
Correspondences: the idea that there are sympathetic bonds within the universe, as seen in the notion of macrocosm—microcosm, or the Hermetic saying 'As above, so below'
Living Nature: that all of nature is part of a conscious order, and that everything shares a life force
Imagination and Mediations: that rituals, symbolic images and intermediary spirits can connect different worlds and levels of reality
Experience of Transmutation: that esoteric practice can transform the individual, principally in the sense of a spiritual transformation
Practice of Concordance: that all religions, beliefs, etc. stem form a single, original principle, and that understanding this principle will bring the various belief systems into closer alignment
Transmission: that occult knowledge is transmitted from master to adept, often by means of a process of initiation.
Hecate's equivalent in the Roman pantheon was the goddess Trivia, the goddess of crossroads, ghosts, and witchcraft. The name 'Trivia' means 'three roads'.
Abracadabra is thought to be Aramaic in origin, it has been translated as 'I create as I speak'.
In Japanese culture, one finds the concept of kotodama, or 'word spirit'—the idea that mystical powers reside in words and names.
Finding and keeping the perfect partner is a universal human concern.
Some love spells can be shockingly unsentimental, such as this one from the Greek Magical Papyri: 'remain in her heart and burn her guts, her breast, her liver, her breath, her bones, her marrow, until she comes to me.'
Necromancy is communication with the dead in order to predict the future.
Scholomance, said to be located deep in the Transylvanian Alps, in what is now central Romania, was believed to be the Devil's own school for black magic. According to legend, every tenth scholar there was kept by the Devil as payment.
The most famous of Norse mythic objects was the cursed ring known as Andvaranaut. Capable of making gold, the ring was guarded by the dwarf Fafnir, who turned himself into a dragon for the purpose. Later, Fafnir was killed by Sigurd, who, after drinking the dragon's blood, was able to understand the speech of birds [the song of nature that is].
It is said that Arthur many only be in hibernation at magical Avalon.
In the early Middle Ages, accusations of witchcraft were more likely to be made against men than against women.
'As above, so below' is the fundamental tenet of Hermeticism. It is also the rational basis for much of the magic that seeks to influence human affairs through interaction with a higher plane. The idea of an interrelated microcosm (man) and macrocosm (universe) goes back to the concept of the 'Great Chain of Being', derived from Plato and fully developed by the Neoplatonists of the third to the sixth century AD. Simply put, the Great Chain concept states that everything is interconnected, from God on high down to the inanimate objects, with humankind somewhere in the middle. This interconnectedness is essential to the intellectual underpinning of much magic, since if man is a smaller-scale replica of, or somehow linked to, the universe, then there should be naturally repeating patterns and sympathies between the two. Well established by the twelfth century—and, of course reinforcing the hierarchical structure of society at the time—the concept of humankind having a fixed place in the universe was challenged in the Renaissance, when such figures as the Italian nobleman and philosopher Giovanni Pico della Mirandola suggested that humans might elevate themselves above the angels into a mystical union with God.
Witches' ointment was a hallucinogenic substance that was believed to help witches fly.
The satori is a monkey with mind-reading abilities.
More than a century after the Italian's death, Aleister Crowley would claim that he was a reincarnation of Alessandro Cagliostro.
Stage magician Robert Houdin was sent by Louis-Napoleon Bonaparter to North Africa to demonstrate that French magic was more powerful than the traditional Marabout sorcery. He succeeded.
Abramelin oil is used in ceremonial or ritual magic, the recipe having been taken from a medieval grimoire known as The book of Abramelin the Mage. Based on a recipe for holy anointing oil, Abramelin contains a mixture of myrrh, calamus, cinnamon, and olive oil. Aleister Crowly had his own recipe fro the substance, which is still used in the Thelema religion for anointing the heads of magicians.
Leila Waddell—magician and Crowley's muse
The Morning of the Magicians (1960)
Quotes:
Western Esotericism's six key concepts:
Correspondences: the idea that there are sympathetic bonds within the universe, as seen in the notion of macrocosm—microcosm, or the Hermetic saying 'As above, so below'
Living Nature: that all of nature is part of a conscious order, and that everything shares a life force
Imagination and Mediations: that rituals, symbolic images and intermediary spirits can connect different worlds and levels of reality
Experience of Transmutation: that esoteric practice can transform the individual, principally in the sense of a spiritual transformation
Practice of Concordance: that all religions, beliefs, etc. stem form a single, original principle, and that understanding this principle will bring the various belief systems into closer alignment
Transmission: that occult knowledge is transmitted from master to adept, often by means of a process of initiation.
Hecate's equivalent in the Roman pantheon was the goddess Trivia, the goddess of crossroads, ghosts, and witchcraft. The name 'Trivia' means 'three roads'.
Abracadabra is thought to be Aramaic in origin, it has been translated as 'I create as I speak'.
In Japanese culture, one finds the concept of kotodama, or 'word spirit'—the idea that mystical powers reside in words and names.
Finding and keeping the perfect partner is a universal human concern.
Some love spells can be shockingly unsentimental, such as this one from the Greek Magical Papyri: 'remain in her heart and burn her guts, her breast, her liver, her breath, her bones, her marrow, until she comes to me.'
Necromancy is communication with the dead in order to predict the future.
Scholomance, said to be located deep in the Transylvanian Alps, in what is now central Romania, was believed to be the Devil's own school for black magic. According to legend, every tenth scholar there was kept by the Devil as payment.
The most famous of Norse mythic objects was the cursed ring known as Andvaranaut. Capable of making gold, the ring was guarded by the dwarf Fafnir, who turned himself into a dragon for the purpose. Later, Fafnir was killed by Sigurd, who, after drinking the dragon's blood, was able to understand the speech of birds [the song of nature that is].
It is said that Arthur many only be in hibernation at magical Avalon.
In the early Middle Ages, accusations of witchcraft were more likely to be made against men than against women.
'As above, so below' is the fundamental tenet of Hermeticism. It is also the rational basis for much of the magic that seeks to influence human affairs through interaction with a higher plane. The idea of an interrelated microcosm (man) and macrocosm (universe) goes back to the concept of the 'Great Chain of Being', derived from Plato and fully developed by the Neoplatonists of the third to the sixth century AD. Simply put, the Great Chain concept states that everything is interconnected, from God on high down to the inanimate objects, with humankind somewhere in the middle. This interconnectedness is essential to the intellectual underpinning of much magic, since if man is a smaller-scale replica of, or somehow linked to, the universe, then there should be naturally repeating patterns and sympathies between the two. Well established by the twelfth century—and, of course reinforcing the hierarchical structure of society at the time—the concept of humankind having a fixed place in the universe was challenged in the Renaissance, when such figures as the Italian nobleman and philosopher Giovanni Pico della Mirandola suggested that humans might elevate themselves above the angels into a mystical union with God.
Witches' ointment was a hallucinogenic substance that was believed to help witches fly.
The satori is a monkey with mind-reading abilities.
More than a century after the Italian's death, Aleister Crowley would claim that he was a reincarnation of Alessandro Cagliostro.
Stage magician Robert Houdin was sent by Louis-Napoleon Bonaparter to North Africa to demonstrate that French magic was more powerful than the traditional Marabout sorcery. He succeeded.
Abramelin oil is used in ceremonial or ritual magic, the recipe having been taken from a medieval grimoire known as The book of Abramelin the Mage. Based on a recipe for holy anointing oil, Abramelin contains a mixture of myrrh, calamus, cinnamon, and olive oil. Aleister Crowly had his own recipe fro the substance, which is still used in the Thelema religion for anointing the heads of magicians.
Leila Waddell—magician and Crowley's muse
The Morning of the Magicians (1960)
September 28, 2017
What a pretty book! I agree with several others that it's not super in-depth, but it covers a heck of a lot of ground. Beautifully illustrated, it gives you a lot to look at and admire.
April 14, 2021
While this is a really gorgeous book that I initially bought for the art and illustrations, it is a very poor history book.
My main problem is the lack of inclusivity. For example, throughout the book, there are profiles of influential figures. Of the 22 profiles, only 4 are women and exactly 0 are people of color. Further, of those 4 women, 3 are Circe, Hecate, and Morgan le Fey (aka they are goddesses or enchantresses from mythology, not real people). That lack of balance alone is really telling about what kind of history you are getting here.
The shortest chapter is the World of Magic chapter, which only gives the most cursory overview of topics like shamanism, hoodoo, and magical practices in Asia, even though a lot of those practices are fundamental for how magic spread in Europe and the US. So that's disappointing. There is no mention at all of the appropriation, marginalization, and other negative effects that European imperialism has had and continues to have on other cultures—especially communities of color—and their religious, spiritual, and magical practices. The perfunctory way that topics are barely covered in this chapter felt especially ill-considered and comes off like erasure.
On top of all that, the writing and editing of the book felt like a complete afterthought as there are errors all over the book, both typos and factual errors. When I find incorrect information multiple times in a book, I just can't trust the book at all anymore because I know there are more errors that I'm not catching. And there is no excuse for that in any kind of nonfiction.
I can appreciate how putting together a visual history like this could pose challenges because the narrative of Imperialist history has been dictated by those in power, aka white men. So paintings and other art tend to show their perspective, rarely giving anything close to the full picture. (It would be interesting to count up how many women artists or artists of color have work featured in the book, but I don't have time for that, and without a doubt, it would be heinous.) But this seems like at least something that should be addressed in the book, instead of completely ignored. There could have been a really interesting book here, but this one is only interested in upholding the status quo, aka white supremacy.
If you are interested in esoteric art, this might be worth perusing for the pictures, but honestly, you can better spend your money and energy elsewhere. If anyone knows of a more expansive and inclusive history of the occult, I'd love to know about it.
My main problem is the lack of inclusivity. For example, throughout the book, there are profiles of influential figures. Of the 22 profiles, only 4 are women and exactly 0 are people of color. Further, of those 4 women, 3 are Circe, Hecate, and Morgan le Fey (aka they are goddesses or enchantresses from mythology, not real people). That lack of balance alone is really telling about what kind of history you are getting here.
The shortest chapter is the World of Magic chapter, which only gives the most cursory overview of topics like shamanism, hoodoo, and magical practices in Asia, even though a lot of those practices are fundamental for how magic spread in Europe and the US. So that's disappointing. There is no mention at all of the appropriation, marginalization, and other negative effects that European imperialism has had and continues to have on other cultures—especially communities of color—and their religious, spiritual, and magical practices. The perfunctory way that topics are barely covered in this chapter felt especially ill-considered and comes off like erasure.
On top of all that, the writing and editing of the book felt like a complete afterthought as there are errors all over the book, both typos and factual errors. When I find incorrect information multiple times in a book, I just can't trust the book at all anymore because I know there are more errors that I'm not catching. And there is no excuse for that in any kind of nonfiction.
I can appreciate how putting together a visual history like this could pose challenges because the narrative of Imperialist history has been dictated by those in power, aka white men. So paintings and other art tend to show their perspective, rarely giving anything close to the full picture. (It would be interesting to count up how many women artists or artists of color have work featured in the book, but I don't have time for that, and without a doubt, it would be heinous.) But this seems like at least something that should be addressed in the book, instead of completely ignored. There could have been a really interesting book here, but this one is only interested in upholding the status quo, aka white supremacy.
If you are interested in esoteric art, this might be worth perusing for the pictures, but honestly, you can better spend your money and energy elsewhere. If anyone knows of a more expansive and inclusive history of the occult, I'd love to know about it.
December 12, 2021
Kitabı pek beğendiğimi söyleyemeyeceğim.
İçindeki anlatımlar fazlasıyla yüzeysel. 400 sayfa büyük boy bir kitap olmasına rağmen içindeki yazıları bir yerde toplasanız 30-40 sayfa bile tutmayabilir. Bu yüzden içindeki bilgilerden ziyade görsellerin ön planda olduğu bir kitap fakat işin problemli olan kısmı, ön planda olan bu görsellerin açıklamalarının da aşırı derecede sığ ve basit olması.
Farazi bir örnek vermem gerekirse, bir sayfanın tümüne iblislere karşı büyü yapan bir adamın bulunduğu, çok eski bir kitaptan alınan bir görsel koyulmuş. Görselin açıklamasına sadece “Ortaçağda bir büyücü, büyü yaparak iblisleri uzak tutuyor.” yazılmış. E onu bizde görüyoruz... Büyücünün elinde tuttuğu ölü yılan ne anlama geliyor? Yere çizilmiş olan çemberdeki rünlerde ne yazıyor? Ritüeli gökyüzünden izleyen melek neden elinde kurukafa tutuyor? vs. vs. vs. gibi detayları açıkla ki nerdeyse tamamı sembolizmden ibaret olan görsellere bir anlam verebilelim ama malesef bundan eser yok...
Kronolojik olarak düzenlendiği için okült, simya ve büyücülük konularının, bulunduğu dönem coğrafyasının sosyo-kültürel durumuna göre zaman içindeki değişimlerini görebileceğimiz, çok kısa ve yüzeysel verilen bilgileri görsellerle eğlenceli hale getiren bir kitap.
Kısmen daha detaylı bilgiler edinmek istiyorsanız başvurmanızı önermem.
İçindeki anlatımlar fazlasıyla yüzeysel. 400 sayfa büyük boy bir kitap olmasına rağmen içindeki yazıları bir yerde toplasanız 30-40 sayfa bile tutmayabilir. Bu yüzden içindeki bilgilerden ziyade görsellerin ön planda olduğu bir kitap fakat işin problemli olan kısmı, ön planda olan bu görsellerin açıklamalarının da aşırı derecede sığ ve basit olması.
Farazi bir örnek vermem gerekirse, bir sayfanın tümüne iblislere karşı büyü yapan bir adamın bulunduğu, çok eski bir kitaptan alınan bir görsel koyulmuş. Görselin açıklamasına sadece “Ortaçağda bir büyücü, büyü yaparak iblisleri uzak tutuyor.” yazılmış. E onu bizde görüyoruz... Büyücünün elinde tuttuğu ölü yılan ne anlama geliyor? Yere çizilmiş olan çemberdeki rünlerde ne yazıyor? Ritüeli gökyüzünden izleyen melek neden elinde kurukafa tutuyor? vs. vs. vs. gibi detayları açıkla ki nerdeyse tamamı sembolizmden ibaret olan görsellere bir anlam verebilelim ama malesef bundan eser yok...
Kronolojik olarak düzenlendiği için okült, simya ve büyücülük konularının, bulunduğu dönem coğrafyasının sosyo-kültürel durumuna göre zaman içindeki değişimlerini görebileceğimiz, çok kısa ve yüzeysel verilen bilgileri görsellerle eğlenceli hale getiren bir kitap.
Kısmen daha detaylı bilgiler edinmek istiyorsanız başvurmanızı önermem.
November 19, 2020
Hace poco me llegó esta maravilla 🤩
Todo lo que tenga que ver con las ciencias ocultas, me genera mucha curiosidad y nada mas verlo fue objeto de deseo.
Te aseguro que es una OBRA DE ARTE, una edición para coleccionistas o fetichistas del tema.
Y por supuesto, es uno de los tesoros de mis estanterías.
La edición del libro salta a la vista que es impecable y está muy cuidada. Es preciosa 💖
Su tamaño y peso puede que te asusten un poco... y sus 400 páginas también 😂
Pero se lee relativamente rápido, porque está escrito de una forma amena y la lectura es muy fácil de seguir.
El autor hace un recorrido cronológico desde sus inicios hasta el día de hoy de la magia, ocultismo y brujería.
Se divide en varias secciones, que son breves y van acompañadas de muchísimo material visual (totalmente ilustrado).
Las fotografías son increíbles, complementan y enriquecen la lectura. Verlo es como hacer un tour guiado sobre la Hª de la brujería y magia.
Descubrí un montón de rituales, nombres, objetos y curiosidades que desconocía, así como datos de alquimia, espiritismo, adivinación, astrología...
Te aseguro que su contenido es brillante. Es un libro-guía que toca muchos temas de las ciencias esotéricas. Pasa por ellos de forma superficial y no profundiza mucho. Pero es ideal como punto de partida y tener una idea general del ocultismo.
Para poder seguir con lecturas mas completas hay libros que ofrecen mucha más información, pero... como contrapartida no suelen tener tanto contenido visual, y al final se vuelve tedioso y denso leerlos.
Lo recomiendo a cualquier persona que tenga interés en las ciencias ocultas. Es una maravilla.
Todo lo que tenga que ver con las ciencias ocultas, me genera mucha curiosidad y nada mas verlo fue objeto de deseo.
Te aseguro que es una OBRA DE ARTE, una edición para coleccionistas o fetichistas del tema.
Y por supuesto, es uno de los tesoros de mis estanterías.
La edición del libro salta a la vista que es impecable y está muy cuidada. Es preciosa 💖
Su tamaño y peso puede que te asusten un poco... y sus 400 páginas también 😂
Pero se lee relativamente rápido, porque está escrito de una forma amena y la lectura es muy fácil de seguir.
El autor hace un recorrido cronológico desde sus inicios hasta el día de hoy de la magia, ocultismo y brujería.
Se divide en varias secciones, que son breves y van acompañadas de muchísimo material visual (totalmente ilustrado).
Las fotografías son increíbles, complementan y enriquecen la lectura. Verlo es como hacer un tour guiado sobre la Hª de la brujería y magia.
Descubrí un montón de rituales, nombres, objetos y curiosidades que desconocía, así como datos de alquimia, espiritismo, adivinación, astrología...
Te aseguro que su contenido es brillante. Es un libro-guía que toca muchos temas de las ciencias esotéricas. Pasa por ellos de forma superficial y no profundiza mucho. Pero es ideal como punto de partida y tener una idea general del ocultismo.
Para poder seguir con lecturas mas completas hay libros que ofrecen mucha más información, pero... como contrapartida no suelen tener tanto contenido visual, y al final se vuelve tedioso y denso leerlos.
Lo recomiendo a cualquier persona que tenga interés en las ciencias ocultas. Es una maravilla.
September 22, 2025
Magian ja ihmisen suhteen kuvaaminen koko ihmiskunnan historian ajalta on kunnianhimoinen tavoite, jonka toteutus väistämättä jää pintaraapaisuksi. Teos oli visuaalisesti näyttävä ja helposti lähestyttävä, sillä samasta aiheesta kerrottiin korkeintaan pari sivua. Teksti ei kuitenkaan ollut erityisen sujuvaa, enkä aina hahmottanut, millä perusteella palstatilaa oli jaeltu. Esimerkiksi koko Afrikka sai vain jonkin verran enemmän sivuja kuin kuningas Arthurin legenda yksin. Ihan hyvä lähtöteos, jos haluaa tutustua magian historiaan, mutta vakuuttavampi lopputulos näin laajalle aiheelle olisi luultavasti vaatinut useamman asiantuntijan kirjoittajaksi.
Read
August 23, 2023Great coffee table book—the selling point is the stunning collection of images for historic witchcraft items and texts/artwork. The writeup is quite basic and has a few notable inaccuracies.
May 21, 2023
Pictures are good, the rest not so much
August 5, 2018
First of all, this book is heavy. And for good reason. Each page is a glossy, gorgeously crafted series of text and illustrations. Aesthetically, this book is absolutely gorgeous. The font is very gothic, the front and back covers are eye-catchingly laid-out, and each and every illustration is rendered in such detail that the only thing reminding you that it's not the real copy is the gloss.
The content of the book is - essentially - a summary of the history of the occult and magic since the beginning of human society. No mean feat. Dell manages to give insight and background to magic from the early humans, to the Middle Ages, to the Renaissance, to today. He does so with a critical eye - one that isn't dismissive of the subject, and one that gives weight to the topic. Whether or not magic is real, this book gives a detailed and respectful look at the history of the magical arts and sciences (and tricksters), with biographical insights to certain individuals. Reading this gives you a really good perspective and understanding on how magic has influenced and developed our society. For example, alchemy developed into the modern science of chemistry. The term "mesmerise" comes from the work of Dr Mesmer, who thought you could act upon individuals "from a distance".
Dell gives each section of history (arranged in chronological order) it's own depth and look. His style of writing is interesting and often mildly dry. But what gives Dell his killer edge in this book, is the sheer amount of detail and research he's done. And not just into western occultism, but also Eastern and native occultism. Dell draws links between the various world and historical cultures and makes it feel like there are similarities and links between their magicks. One could reasonably say, that after reading this book, the history of magic is more a history of humanity's desire to understand and change our environment and others, and the history of our interaction - he points out that western magic is influenced by Arabic scholars, Indian mysticisms, and ancient Druidic beliefs.
The only criticism of this book, is well... This book is really heavy. It makes it difficult to physically read.
Otherwise, I reccomend this book wholeheartedly to anyone interested in the occult or magic, in any shape or form.
The content of the book is - essentially - a summary of the history of the occult and magic since the beginning of human society. No mean feat. Dell manages to give insight and background to magic from the early humans, to the Middle Ages, to the Renaissance, to today. He does so with a critical eye - one that isn't dismissive of the subject, and one that gives weight to the topic. Whether or not magic is real, this book gives a detailed and respectful look at the history of the magical arts and sciences (and tricksters), with biographical insights to certain individuals. Reading this gives you a really good perspective and understanding on how magic has influenced and developed our society. For example, alchemy developed into the modern science of chemistry. The term "mesmerise" comes from the work of Dr Mesmer, who thought you could act upon individuals "from a distance".
Dell gives each section of history (arranged in chronological order) it's own depth and look. His style of writing is interesting and often mildly dry. But what gives Dell his killer edge in this book, is the sheer amount of detail and research he's done. And not just into western occultism, but also Eastern and native occultism. Dell draws links between the various world and historical cultures and makes it feel like there are similarities and links between their magicks. One could reasonably say, that after reading this book, the history of magic is more a history of humanity's desire to understand and change our environment and others, and the history of our interaction - he points out that western magic is influenced by Arabic scholars, Indian mysticisms, and ancient Druidic beliefs.
The only criticism of this book, is well... This book is really heavy. It makes it difficult to physically read.
Otherwise, I reccomend this book wholeheartedly to anyone interested in the occult or magic, in any shape or form.
May 19, 2022
Kitabın kapağına ve kalınlığına aldanıp alanlardanım. Çok wow olduğum bilgiler yok. Gerçekten yüzeysel bırakılmış çoğu konu. Özellikle görsellerin açıklaması hayli komik. Evet burada asası olan bir büyücüyü görüyoruz da bu görsel nereden, hangi müzede, içerdiği sembollerin anlamı ne vs hepsi muamma. Sanki tahmin etme oyunu gibi olmuş :) Ama görsellerin gözelliğine, fonta ve kullanılan kağıda bir sözüm yok. Çerçeveletip asılacak nitelikte güzel resimler var. Detaylı bilgiler edinmek için almanızı önermem. Koleksiyon yapıcam derseniz tamam. 🔮
October 2, 2018
Does what it says on the tin: a gorgeously illustrated overview of magic through the ages. It has also given me a whole list of obscure texts to track down.
February 8, 2021
İçinde daha önce karşılaşmadığım, okumadığım, bilmediğim bir bilgi yoktu açıkçası (bu konulara ilgi duymuş/duyan bir birey olarak) ancak akıcı ve oldukça güzel koleksiyonluk bir kitap.
December 2, 2023
Tietokirjana hyvin pinnallinen katsaus okkultismin ja noituuden historiaan. Komean kirjan paras osuus onkin runsas kuvitus, joka ehkä tässä tapauksessa kertoo enemmän kuin varsinainen teksti.
December 7, 2017
Although 400 pages long, this book goes by all too quickly. I believe the longest section in the entire book was four pages, interspersed with heavy illustrations throughout. The illustrations are what propelled this book from a two star book to a three star - they are beautiful, incredibly detailed, and sourced at the back of the book as well as in footnotes at the bottom of each page. When it says an illustrated history, it means an illustrated history. There are probably more images than there is writing in the book. That isn't necessarily a bad thing.
While the book treats each subject very shortly, it does treat a vast array of subjects. Although every section is fleeting, it is more than enough to pique the imagination and make you want more. For a more thorough view of the histories this delves into The Secret History of All Ages is the best bet, but this is a nice (and less daunting) introduction.
While the book treats each subject very shortly, it does treat a vast array of subjects. Although every section is fleeting, it is more than enough to pique the imagination and make you want more. For a more thorough view of the histories this delves into The Secret History of All Ages is the best bet, but this is a nice (and less daunting) introduction.
January 4, 2017
I skimmed this book to determine if I wanted to buy a copy. There is some very interesting information that could lead to deeper research. It is written a little simplistically despite the size of the book which is the only downside I could see. But, again, it could lead to deeper research and it does have fascinating illustrations, so I will likely be adding a copy to my collection.
July 11, 2020
Populaarteaduslik entsüklopeedia, kus uhuu-ajalugu läbi kapatakse. Väga huvitav lugemine, ehkki kõike puudutatakse vaid riivamisi. Silmaringi aga laiendab. Eriti suur väärtus on ohtratel ja selgitustega illustratsioonidel (panen mõne näite kommentaaridesse), raamatu lõpus on ka põhjalik indeks nende päritolu ja autorluse kohta.
PS: raamat on ülevaade ajaloost muistsest Mesopotaamiast kuni tänapäeva popkultuurini ning hinnanguid ei anna.
PS: raamat on ülevaade ajaloost muistsest Mesopotaamiast kuni tänapäeva popkultuurini ning hinnanguid ei anna.
July 23, 2022
A coffee table book about the occult, witchcraft and magic - more pictures than text, but very lovely illustrations. The text was somewhat basic and superficial. If you see interesting subjects mentioned you'll have to look up more information elsewhere.
June 10, 2018
Loved the illustrations. Very interesting but a lot to take in.
April 29, 2024
This was a really great and informative book about the history of witchcraft and the origins of other spiritual/occult practices
September 20, 2021
The pics were really really nice & that’s the point. Words were a bit empty & also so western-centric bleh.
August 22, 2024
Remarkable read , very informative ,Only complaint is not enough detail where I wish the Author would have added more to some of the historical subjects but overall a pleasure to read .
September 11, 2021
4.5 estrellas
Un trabajo bellísimo y bastante amplio sobre el tema, si bien cae mucho más en la categoría de referencia y pudo haber incluido más texto.
Un trabajo bellísimo y bastante amplio sobre el tema, si bien cae mucho más en la categoría de referencia y pudo haber incluido más texto.
October 18, 2021
No le doy un 5 porque no cita la autoría de las imágenes que pone (no todas) y resulta algo frustrante en ese aspecto. Lo demás, es un libro precioso, de una calidad de imagen y diseño muy bonitas. Hace un repaso de la concepción de la magia y las prácticas ocultas a lo largo de la historia.
August 29, 2021
An excellent book to have on your shelf if you are interested in any of the titled subjects. Do not expect to learn anything, though. Like all of Christopher Dell's books, 'Occult, Witchcraft and Magic: An Illustrated History' is more a well-edited art collection than any informative study. The author rarely goes into more detail than common knowledge, and I certainly did not learn anything new. Dell does touch upon every area of magic, however, if briefly. There are sections on ancient Greek magic, eastern occultism, and contemporary witchcraft.
Unfortunately, having read the author's other books, this is definitely one of his weakest. Despite the lack of detail, it still contains enormous inaccuracies. Perhaps the most egregious is Dell calling Harry Potter's invisibility cloak a 'Horcrux.' If the author cannot get simple, searchable details like this correct, how can I trust anything else he writes? Even if the book were accurate, however, four pages of sparse detail are not enough to cover the important topics Dell approaches. The author includes a section on the Kami of Shinto. Although there is certainly a comparison to be made, the Kami are hardly magical in the Western sense of the word. Glossing over other cultures' religions is not helpful to readers.
As much as the book was well-edited on the surface, there were also problems with Dell's choice of images. For one, some of the pictures do repeat in the book. The images are what most people are paying the hefty price for, so they should be distinct. I also felt like some of the sections were misplaced. There were parts on Christianity, for example, in the ancient Greek section, and Victorian ideas in the Enlightenment chapter. Of course, there is overlap in history, but I also sense that Dell did not know how to divide his information.
Overall, I would recommend 'Occult, Witchcraft and Magic: An Illustrated History' to anyone interested in the aesthetic side of sorcery. Do not expect too much from this book, and you will not be disappointed. Having had similar thoughts on all of the author's previous books, I cannot see myself picking up anything else he publishes.
Unfortunately, having read the author's other books, this is definitely one of his weakest. Despite the lack of detail, it still contains enormous inaccuracies. Perhaps the most egregious is Dell calling Harry Potter's invisibility cloak a 'Horcrux.' If the author cannot get simple, searchable details like this correct, how can I trust anything else he writes? Even if the book were accurate, however, four pages of sparse detail are not enough to cover the important topics Dell approaches. The author includes a section on the Kami of Shinto. Although there is certainly a comparison to be made, the Kami are hardly magical in the Western sense of the word. Glossing over other cultures' religions is not helpful to readers.
As much as the book was well-edited on the surface, there were also problems with Dell's choice of images. For one, some of the pictures do repeat in the book. The images are what most people are paying the hefty price for, so they should be distinct. I also felt like some of the sections were misplaced. There were parts on Christianity, for example, in the ancient Greek section, and Victorian ideas in the Enlightenment chapter. Of course, there is overlap in history, but I also sense that Dell did not know how to divide his information.
Overall, I would recommend 'Occult, Witchcraft and Magic: An Illustrated History' to anyone interested in the aesthetic side of sorcery. Do not expect too much from this book, and you will not be disappointed. Having had similar thoughts on all of the author's previous books, I cannot see myself picking up anything else he publishes.
October 21, 2018
In my more imaginative moments (read: harmlessly delusional) I sometimes think I may be a white witch with powers that have yet to be tapped into and so when I saw this book I instantly fell in love with the cover designed by the brilliant gray318 and “intuited” that simply poring over its pages would somehow transmit to me age-old charms and incantations I could use against the forces of evil that operate in this world. That however was not to be. But I have no intention of joining a covenant of wiccans anytime soon either because I am far too misanthropic to engage in that sort of group activity so will have to look elsewhere to hone my skills. This volume, aside from looking great on a coffee table and being a neat conversation starter, is a nice though rather slight overview of the topic of occultism and some of the personalities who have left their mark on history. With gorgeous and inspiring illustrations throughout (more than 400 of them), as you know Thames & Hudson is more than capable of delivering, I suppose that amply covers the price of the book despite the lack of practical advice for would-be good witches ready to engage in the battle to save the universe from the dark ones. And of course we all know who THEY are.
January 12, 2018
3.5 stars
Very broad but also insightful and a good starting point to find topics of interest that you might want to have a closer look at later on. I liked the many pictures because they allowed me to get a pretty clear idea of the examples Dell discusses in the text and it was really interesting to follow the evolution and changes of magical practices as well as philosophies throughout the ages. It felt a little like taking a guided tour through a museum at exactly the right speed and I found heaps of names, rituals and objects that I recognized from books and movies. I am looking forward to use my new knowledge of all things magical and occult in future readings!
One detail that Dell got mixed up, however: Harry Potter's cloak of invisibility is part of the Deathly Hallows which are completely different from the horcruxes. I suppose it's just a minor research mishap but it did make me question the other references and examples. :/
Very broad but also insightful and a good starting point to find topics of interest that you might want to have a closer look at later on. I liked the many pictures because they allowed me to get a pretty clear idea of the examples Dell discusses in the text and it was really interesting to follow the evolution and changes of magical practices as well as philosophies throughout the ages. It felt a little like taking a guided tour through a museum at exactly the right speed and I found heaps of names, rituals and objects that I recognized from books and movies. I am looking forward to use my new knowledge of all things magical and occult in future readings!
One detail that Dell got mixed up, however: Harry Potter's cloak of invisibility is part of the Deathly Hallows which are completely different from the horcruxes. I suppose it's just a minor research mishap but it did make me question the other references and examples. :/
November 18, 2017
"The Occult, Witchcraft and Magic" is a gorgeous book. This hardcover is loaded with beautiful images and small synopsis on magic and those related to the topic. However, that's all this book is: a beautiful primer to the topic of magic. If you're looking for something charged with a good deal of information about these topics, this is not the book for you, but if you either know this stuff already or just want to have a brief dip into this world, this is unquestionably a beautifully put together book that's worth owning for the artwork alone and also if you need a quick reference and don't have access to non-tainted internet articles. No loony conspiracy theories here, just the facts set next to stellar paintings and photographs, page after page - an easy and fun read, just don't expect a thorough examination of the occult.
December 11, 2021
I was going to write a review of my own, but I'm not sure I can say it better than what Talia Franks has already said.
My overall feeling while reading this book was this: "Why would someone write about the occult, witchcraft, and magic if they don't like the occult, witchcraft, and magic?" His very narrow knowledge and worldview clearly do not make him an expert, as the text of this book proves again and again. A little bit of humility on Mr. Dell's part would have gone a long way.
Two stars for a nice collection of art that might have been difficult to find through Internet searches alone.
My overall feeling while reading this book was this: "Why would someone write about the occult, witchcraft, and magic if they don't like the occult, witchcraft, and magic?" His very narrow knowledge and worldview clearly do not make him an expert, as the text of this book proves again and again. A little bit of humility on Mr. Dell's part would have gone a long way.
Two stars for a nice collection of art that might have been difficult to find through Internet searches alone.
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