What do you think?
Rate this book
Magic: An Occult Primer: 50 Year Anniversary Edition
David Conway’s An Occult Primer is a seminal work that brought magical training to the every-magician in the early 1970s. Along with the updated texts on philosophy and practical magic this anniversary edition includes redrawn graphics.
An Occult Primer is divided into two sections; “Magical Theory” and “Magical Practice.” Also included is a substantial set of Appendices.
In the “Magical Theory” section David Conway presents a very concise accounting of the philosophy behind magic. Conway begins with an exposé of magic within the confines of natural law, taking the time to meticulously find corollary for the basis of magic. He then takes us into an exposition of the Kabbalah and broader cosmological concerns. Conway drills down into daily practice and further explores the basic training necessary for a magician in this day and age.
The “Magical Practice” section begins with the preparations necessary for the practice of magic. Conway begins this section with several tables of correspondences that will prove helpful to even the advanced magician. He continues with an examination of timing of rituals as well as the place and ritual equipment necessary for rites. Conway then provides master rituals presented for both Kabbalistic and Egyptian approaches. He also presents detail on Astral Project, Talismanic Magic and Prophecy.
An Occult Primer concludes with a deep set of Appendices, presenting detailed magical recipes, and examination of magical alphabets and an extensive Occult Who’s Who.
"Nowadays there are countless books on Magic. This one is different. As different as when it first appeared in 1972. What makes it different is that it tells the reader--expert or beginner, sceptic or believer--what Magic is, why Magic works and, most importantly, how Magic can be worked. Few books do all three, certainly not with so much style, scholarship and humour. This new edition, enlarged and updated by the author, is certain to delight old friends and win over countless new ones. I highly recommend it." —Maxine Sanders
This edition replaces 978-1-881098-37-9
An Occult Primer is divided into two sections; “Magical Theory” and “Magical Practice.” Also included is a substantial set of Appendices.
In the “Magical Theory” section David Conway presents a very concise accounting of the philosophy behind magic. Conway begins with an exposé of magic within the confines of natural law, taking the time to meticulously find corollary for the basis of magic. He then takes us into an exposition of the Kabbalah and broader cosmological concerns. Conway drills down into daily practice and further explores the basic training necessary for a magician in this day and age.
The “Magical Practice” section begins with the preparations necessary for the practice of magic. Conway begins this section with several tables of correspondences that will prove helpful to even the advanced magician. He continues with an examination of timing of rituals as well as the place and ritual equipment necessary for rites. Conway then provides master rituals presented for both Kabbalistic and Egyptian approaches. He also presents detail on Astral Project, Talismanic Magic and Prophecy.
An Occult Primer concludes with a deep set of Appendices, presenting detailed magical recipes, and examination of magical alphabets and an extensive Occult Who’s Who.
"Nowadays there are countless books on Magic. This one is different. As different as when it first appeared in 1972. What makes it different is that it tells the reader--expert or beginner, sceptic or believer--what Magic is, why Magic works and, most importantly, how Magic can be worked. Few books do all three, certainly not with so much style, scholarship and humour. This new edition, enlarged and updated by the author, is certain to delight old friends and win over countless new ones. I highly recommend it." —Maxine Sanders
This edition replaces 978-1-881098-37-9
376 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2022
2 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
David Conway
201 books9 followersDavid Conway is a children's picture book author who has written for Hodder, Random House, Frances Lincoln and Gullane Children's Books. He has been awarded The Peter Pan Silver Star by the Swedish wing of the IBBY and the Parents' Choice Gold Award in the US for Lila and the Secret of Rain. His first picture book The Most Important Gift of All illustrated by Karin Littlewood, was nominated for The Kate Greenaway Medal in 2006.
David's most recent picture book The Great Nursery Rhyme Disaster was chosen as one of the children's books of the year 2008 by Nicolette Jones of The Sunday Times and has been shortlisted for the 2009 Sheffield Children's Book Award. Shine Moon Shine was chosen as one of the top ten picture books of 2008 by The Bookbag.
David's picture books are published in the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Spain (Catalan and Spanish) Columbia, Korea the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, South Africa and Japan. As well as writing David is a stay-at-home father and brings up his two children Bess and Jude and a cat called Bobby. David's wife works in academic publishing.
David's most recent picture book The Great Nursery Rhyme Disaster was chosen as one of the children's books of the year 2008 by Nicolette Jones of The Sunday Times and has been shortlisted for the 2009 Sheffield Children's Book Award. Shine Moon Shine was chosen as one of the top ten picture books of 2008 by The Bookbag.
David's picture books are published in the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Spain (Catalan and Spanish) Columbia, Korea the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, South Africa and Japan. As well as writing David is a stay-at-home father and brings up his two children Bess and Jude and a cat called Bobby. David's wife works in academic publishing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 5, 2023
This is a really solid primer on the essence of occultism and has enough unique rituals and discussions to hold the interest of avid occultists. The one star drop is solely for Conway taking a chapter to discuss some of the racial ideas of older occultists and while he doesn’t endorse white supremacy he does spend more time justifying Blavatsky ‘root race’ ideas than I consider reasonable.
December 16, 2024
This is a great overview and presentation of Magick in a comprehensive, practical, and self-initiatory way rooted in tradition. It is clear, concise, and a great place for the beginner to approach the Western Occult Tradition. It is also useful for more seasoned occult students and practitioners as a fresh presentation and a good reference resource. I'm glad to have added it to my library.
July 4, 2024
Complete garbage meant to placate metaphysical materialists that NO there really ISNT a hierarchy to reality and YES you really can be a braindead atheist that dabbles in self-soothing “psychodrama” but also, uh, yes, there is a spiritual realm but uh, NO, DONT HURT ME, I’M COOL AND MODERN AND HIP!!!
This author is a lamentable walking contradiction who, with one step, tepidly asserts that a scientistic Weltanschauung is in error while with the other step “apologizes” with groveling cowardice about how “awful” all those old “religions” are and how “really, quantum mechanics proves that” blah blah blah. Either empiricism is the LOWEST form of understanding reality which one must transcend intellectually (at a bare minimum) OR all ancient thought and practice up to the present is to be disregarded and you must pigeonhole everything into a materialist cubbyhole.
This is NOT a false dilemma because it’s obvious to me that no other guide on magic or occult practice I’ve encountered thus far has been so pitifully afraid to assert that hyper-materialism is anathema. That and I learned literally nothing new. He cannot even get himself to use the term “microcosm” because that’s too much for his intended audience and his hatred of tradition and the past (which he poorly veils beneath a thin plastic sheet of smarminess) is beneath contempt. Decartes and Freud are given more accolades and space than Plato. Enuff said.
This author is a lamentable walking contradiction who, with one step, tepidly asserts that a scientistic Weltanschauung is in error while with the other step “apologizes” with groveling cowardice about how “awful” all those old “religions” are and how “really, quantum mechanics proves that” blah blah blah. Either empiricism is the LOWEST form of understanding reality which one must transcend intellectually (at a bare minimum) OR all ancient thought and practice up to the present is to be disregarded and you must pigeonhole everything into a materialist cubbyhole.
This is NOT a false dilemma because it’s obvious to me that no other guide on magic or occult practice I’ve encountered thus far has been so pitifully afraid to assert that hyper-materialism is anathema. That and I learned literally nothing new. He cannot even get himself to use the term “microcosm” because that’s too much for his intended audience and his hatred of tradition and the past (which he poorly veils beneath a thin plastic sheet of smarminess) is beneath contempt. Decartes and Freud are given more accolades and space than Plato. Enuff said.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews