How to Become a Mage: A Fin-de-Siecle French Occult Manifesto

by Joséphin Péladan, K.K. Albert (Translator), Jean-Louis de Biasi (Translator)

How to Become a Mage is the first English translation of the enormously influential occultist Joséphin Péladan. This book is a fascinating entry into nineteenth-century French thought, sharing advice on overcoming the pitfalls of status quo society while perfecting one's own soul.

Joséphin Péladan (1858-1918) was a flamboyant personality and controversial media celebrity as well as the author of combative art criticism and a series of novels with occult themes. Péladan also wrote influential non-fiction works on occult topics committed to the belief that the best way for modern Europeans to enter into communion with the guiding intelligences of humanity was through magic and the arts. He played a key role in reviving Rosicrucianism and provided a spiritual and intellectual backdrop to fin-de-siècle French symbolism. His ideas influenced the leading artists of the day, including composers Claude Debussy and Erik Satie and writer Antonin Artaud.

Genres: Occult, Philosophy

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1892

About the author

Joséphin Péladan (28 March 1858, Lyon – 27 June 1918) was a French novelist and Martinist. His father was a journalist who had written on prophecies, and professed a philosophic-occult Catholicism. He established the Salon de la Rose + Croix for painters, writers, and musicians sharing his artistic ideals, the Symbolists in particular.

He sometimes published under the name Le Sâr Mérodack Joséphin Péladan.

Reviews

[Royal Blue Sicarii · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was ok. Péladan explains that to be a Mage, one must be isolated from 19th Century Nightlife, alcohol and sex. Personally for a book that explains being isolated will do the trick, there’s a whole lot written about 19th Century French Politics. Some of his complaints are relevant to the problems of today but for the most part, I can’t really see how this is in any relation to being a Mage. Also, I’m not too fond of Péladan’s views of women, very misogynistic (which is not much of a surprise for the 19th century). I did enjoy his breakdown that the truest of Mages are those of the arts (painters, musicians, sculptors, etc...) and if Beethoven would’ve played in a church, it would be a packed house in spiritual unison. All and all, don’t expect much lessons about becoming enlightened or a Mage. The only thing that’s truly worth the read in this book are The Golden Verses of Pythagoras which can be found on www.sacred-texts.com

[Robert K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent references and ideas, I was using and having a lot of his experiences in a modern sense. He is so timely and easy to move to this date and time. Quite interesting.