Demy 8vo, bevelled cloth, gilt, price 10s. 6d.
THE MYSTERIES OF MAGIC: A Digest of the Writings of Eliphas Lévi. With Biographical and Critical Essay, by ARTHUR EDWARD WAITE.
The Morning Post says:—“Of the many remarkable men who have gained notoriety by their proficiency, real or imaginary, in the Black Arts, probably none presents a more strange and irreconcilable character than the French magician, Alphonse Louis Constant. Better known under the Jewish pseudonym of Eliphas Lévi Zahed, this enthusiastic student of forbidden art made some stir in France, and even in London, and was frequently consulted by those who were inclined to place some credit in his reputation as a magician. His works on magic are those of an undoubted genius, and divulge a philosophy beautiful in conception if totally opposed to common sense principles. There is so great a fund of learning and of attractive reasoning in these writings that Mr Arthur Waite has published a digest of them for the benefit of English readers. This gentleman has not attempted a literal translation in every case, but has arranged a volume which, while reproducing with sufficient accuracy a great portion of the more interesting works, affords an excellent idea of the scope of entire literary remains of an enthusiast for whom he entertains a profound admiration.
“With regard to the contents of the present volume, there is nothing in it very suggestive of sulphur. No apprehension need be felt if the book be left about the house that the adventurous members of the family circle will commence incantations in mystic robes with the aid of Abracadabra, the Pentagram and incense. In fact, Eliphas over and over again sets his face against amateur attempts at magical practices. The reader may, however, with profit peruse carefully the learned dissertations penned by M. Constant upon the Hermetic art treated as a religion, a philosophy, and a natural science. As a religion, Eliphas holds it to be that of the ancient Magi and the initiates of all ages; as a philosophy its principles are traced in the Alexandrian school, and in the theories of Pythagoras; as a science, he indicates the methods to be ascertained from Paracelsus, Nicholas Flamel, and Raymond Lully. In view of the remarkable exhibitions of mesmeric influence and thought-reading which have recently been given, it is not improbable that the thoughtful reader may find a clue in the writings of this cultured and amiable magician to the secret of many of the manifestations of witchcraft that formerly struck wonder and terror into the hearts of simple folks eager to behold and ready to believe in supernatural powers.”
Fcap. 8vo, cloth, price, including the pack of cards 78 in number, 5s.
FORTUNE-TELLING CARDS.—THE TAROT; Its Occult Signification, Use in Fortune-Telling, and Method of Play, &c. By S. L. MACGREGOR MATHERS.
“The designs of the twenty-one trump cards are extremely singular; in order to give some idea of the manner in which Mr Mather uses them in fortune-telling it is necessary to mention them in detail, together with the general signification which he attaches to each of them. The would-be cartomancer may then draw his own particular conclusions, and he will find considerable latitude for framing them in accordance with his predilections. It should further be mentioned that each of the cards when reversed conveys a meaning the contrary of its primary signification. No. 1 is the Bateleur or Juggler, called also Pagad; the latter designation is adduced by Count de Gebelin in proof of the Oriental origin of Tarots, it being derived from PAG, chief or master, and GAD, fortune. The Juggler symbolizes Will. 2. The High Priestess, or female Pope, represents Science, Wisdom, or Knowledge. 3. The Empress, is the symbol of Action or Initiative. 4. The Emperor, represents Realization or Development. 5. The Hierophant or Pope is the Symbol of Mercy and Beneficence. 6. The Lovers, signify Wise Disposition and Trials surmounted. 7. The Chariot, represents Triumph, Victory over Obstacles. 8. Themis or Justice, symbolizes Equilibrium and Justice. 9. The Hermit, denotes Prudence. 10. The Wheel of Fortune, represents Fortune, good or bad. 11. Fortitude, symbolizes Power or Might. 12. The Hanged Man—a man suspended head downwards by one leg—means Devotion, Self-Sacrifice. 13. Death, signifies Transformation or Change. 14. Temperance, typifies Combination. 15. The Devil, is the image of Fate or Fatality. 16. The Lightning-struck Tower, called also Maison-Dieu, shows Ruin, Disruption. 17. The Star, is the Emblem of Hope. 18. The Moon, symbolises Twilight, Deception, and Error. 19. The Sun, signifies Earthly Happiness. 20. The Last Judgment, means Renewal, Determination of a matter. 21. The Universe, represents Completion and Reward. 0. The Foolish Man, signifies Expiation or Wavering. Separate meanings, with their respective converses, are also attached to each of the other cards in the pack, so that when they have been dealt out and arranged in any of the combinations recommended by the author for purposes of divination, the inquirer has only to use this little volume as a dictionary in order to read his fate.”—Saturday Review.