By S. L. MAC GREGOR MATHERS.
Notice of the "Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal" at Paris.--The Manuscript of the present work known to Bulwer Lytton and Éliphas Lévi.--Similarity between Mejnour's style of instruction of Glyndon in "Zanoni" and that employed by Abra-Melin to Abraham the Jew.--Critical description of the present Manuscript; its style; examples; apparent date.--Abraham the Jew, his era, and occult contemporaries.--His faith and travels.--Abra-Melin.--Place of residence, and family of Abraham the Jew.--Value of this Book to Occult students.--Notable persons with whom Abraham was brought in contact, and for or against whom he worked Magic.--His warnings against the error of changing one's religion, whether Jew, Turk, Christian, or Pagan.--The absolute necessity of unshaken faith in order to produce a Magical effect.--The Author comparatively broad in his views, though unjust to women.--Good advice in other matters given by him.--His counsel of a retired life not borne out by his own history.--White and Black Magic.--Apparent basal definitions of this particular system of Sacred Magic.--Its advantages, especially as regards Abraham's comments on other Professors of Magic he had met.--The employment of a Child-Clairvoyant, necessary or not.--Abraham's intolerance of other Magical systems.--Basis of his system in the Qabalah.--Example of Magical Square of Letters from Third Book, compared with a Pentacle in "Key of Solomon".--General character of these.--Practical Qabalah.--Definitions of the nature of Angels, Elemental Spirits, and Devils, with their differences.--Behaviour toward these, as advocated by Abraham.--Meaning of the word Demon, as distinct
from Devil.--Magic in the "Arabian Nights," compared with recipes in Third Book of this work.--Faust and the effects he is said to have produced.--Magic and the Qabalah derived from Egypt; difference between Egyptian and Chaldean Magic.--Value of a Sacred language and one's mother tongue compared.--Pentacles and Symbols-Evocation by the Magic Circle and Licence to Depart-Abraham's Remarks on Astrology.--Notes to this work.--This Introduction written for Occultists only.
page xv
Appendix A:--Table of Hebrew Letters and English Equivalents
page xli
B:--Cagliostro's use of a Child-Clairvoyant
page xlii
C:--Examples of other forms of Angelic Evocation
page xliii
THE FIRST BOOK.
The Chapters of the First Book have no separate heading of contents given in the text; while those of the Second and Third Books have. I have therefore here placed those of the Chapters of the First Book in parentheses.
PROLOGUE.
(The First Book to be considered as introductory to the two others, which form the actual original Magic as taught by Abra-Melin)
page 3
THE FIRST CHAPTER.
(Abraham's reasons for giving this work as a legacy to his son Lamech)
page 4
THE SECOND CHAPTER.
(His Father Simon had told him somewhat of the Qabalah.--Of the Magic of Rabbin Moses of Mayence, and how greatly inferior this was to the Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin)
page 5
THE THIRD CHAPTER.
(Beginning of the Travels of Abraham the Jew.--His going to Mayence in Vormatia (the district under the rule of Worms) to study under Rabbin Moses, for four years.--He then forms a friendship with a young Bohemian Jew named Samuel.--They resolve to travel together to Constantinople, with the intention of afterwards visiting Palestine.--They begin their journey on February 13th, 1397, pass through Germany, Bohemia, Austria, Hungary, and
[paragraph continues] Greece, arriving at length at Constantinople, where they stop two years, and Samuel dies.--Abraham the Jew then travels into Egypt, where he remains four years, afterwards going into the Holy Land, where he remains a twelvemonth.--He there meets a Christian student of Magic with whom he passes on into the wilds of Arabia; but finding no Adept there, Abraham thinks of returning home)
page 7
THE FOURTH CHAPTER.
(He commences his return journey, travelling by Arabia Deserta and Palestine into Egypt.--Here he lodges with an old Jew named Aaron, in a small town called Arachi, situated on the banks of the Nile.--He tells Aaron of his numerous and fruitless travels in search of some Great Adept in Magic.--Aaron informs him that in the desert, not very far from Arachi, there dwells a very learned and pious Mage called Abra-Melin; and that he will find him a guide to shew him the route thither.--Abraham visits Abra-Melin, and finds in him at length the Great and Wise Magician he has so long sought.--He remains with him and studies under him.--Abra-Melin gives him two Books on Magic to copy, which form the basis of the Second and Third Books of this work.--Abra-Melin implies that this true Sacred Magical Science will only remain among the Jews seventy-two years longer.--At length Abraham quits Abra-Melin, and goes to Constantinople, where he is detained by illness for two months.--He returns home by ship to Trieste, and thence through Dalmatia)
page 10
THE FIFTH CHAPTER.
(Concerning the various Professors of Magical Art, whom Abraham had found in the course of his travels.--Of Rabbin Moses of Mayence.--Of James a Christian of Argentine, and a juggler of a Black Magician called Antony of Prague in Bohemia, and his fearful end.--Of the Magicians in Austria.--Of the Magicians in Greece.--Of a Magician of Ephiba, near Constantinople, who wrote certain numbers on the ground.--Of the Magicians, Simon, and Rabbin Abraham of Constantinople.--Of the Egyptian Magicians, Horay, Abimech, Alcaon, Orilach, and Abimelec.--Of the Arabian Magicians.--Abra-Melin the only truly Great
[paragraph continues] Adept.--Of a Magician, Joseph of Paris, a Christian who had become converted to the Jewish faith, and whose Magic was after the nature of that of Abra-Melin.--Abraham warns Lamech of the error of renouncing the religion in which a man is brought up)
page 15
THE SIXTH CHAPTER.
(Errors in the Magic of Rabbin Moses.--The Black Magic of Antony the Bohemian of Prague.--The manner of his death.--Of the Austrian Magicians.--Of the young Sorceress of Lintz, with whom he experimented.--Of the Greek Arts of Magic.--Of the many systems of Magical working, and how that of Abra-Melin was the best; because based on the Wisdom of the Qabalah)
page 19
THE SEVENTH CHAPTER.
(Abraham prepares to perform the Operation recommended in this work.--He acquires the knowledge and vision of his Guardian Angel; and of the Symbols of Magic like those of the Third Book)
page 24
THE EIGHTH CHAPTER.
(That he practised Magic with success from 1409 to 1458.--Of the divers persons he healed.--Of the Magical aid he gave to the Emperor Sigismund of Germany; how he lent him a Familiar Spirit; and how he facilitated his marriage.--Of the aid he gave to Count Frederic by making magically an army of 2000 horsemen appear.--How he helped the Bishop of his City.--How he delivered the Count of Varvich (Warwick) from an English prison.--How he aided the flight of Pope John XXIII. from the Council of Constance.--How he forced a person who had stolen from him, while with the Duke of Bavaria, to confess the theft and restore the money.--Of his warnings and prophecies to the Greek Emperor (Constantine Palæologos).How he performed the feat of raising a dead person to life, on two occasions, in Saxonia, and in the Marquisate of Magdeburgh.--How he obtained by Magic, both his marriage and a considerable treasure of money)
page 27
THE NINTH CHAPTER.
(General Advice.--That this Art is founded on the Holy Qabalah.--That all the Signs written in the Third Book are written with the Letters of the Fourth Hierarchy; but that the mysterious words are taken from Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Chaldee, Persian, and Arabic)
page 35
THE TENTH CHAPTER.
(Warning advice against the deceits of the Devil and the Evil Spirits)
page 38
THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER
(General Advice)
page 40
THE TWELFTH CHAPTER.
(Additional advice regarding the communication with the Guardian Angel; and of the use of a Child as Clairvoyant in the Invocation)
page 43
THE SECOND BOOK.
PROLOGUE.
(Concerning the Sacred Magic)
page 49
THE FIRST CHAPTER.
How many, and what, are the classes of Veritable Magic
page 50
THE SECOND CHAPTER.
What we ought to take into consideration before the undertaking of this Operation
page 52
THE THIRD CHAPTER.
Of the Age and Quality of the person who wisheth to undertake this Operation
page 55
THE FOURTH CHAPTER.
That most Books on Magic be false and vain
page 56
THE FIFTH CHAPTER.
That in this Operation it is necessary to make election neither of time, day, nor hour
page 59
THE SIXTH CHAPTER.
Concerning the Planetary Hours, and other Errors of the Astrologers
page 60
THE SEVENTH CHAPTER.
Regarding what it is necessary to accomplish during the first two Moons of the beginning of this Veritable and Sacred Magic
page 64
THE EIGHTH CHAPTER.
Concerning the two second Moons
page 69
THE NINTH CHAPTER.
Concerning the two last Moons which must be thus commenced
page 70
THE TENTH CHAPTER.
Concerning what things a Man may learn and study during these two Moons
page 72
THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER
Concerning the Selection of the Place
page 74
THE TWELFTH CHAPTER.
How one should keep oneself in order to carry out this Operation well
page 77
THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER.
Concerning the Convocation of the Good Spirits
page 81
THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER.
Concerning the Convocation of the Spirits
page 86
THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER.
Concerning what you should demand of the Spirits, who are divided
into three different Troops, and convoked on three separate days
page 92
THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER.
Concerning the sending them away
page 97
THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER.
What we should answer unto the interrogations of the Spirits, and how we should resist their demands
page 98
THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER.
How he who intendeth to operate ought to conduct himself with regard to the Spirits
page 101
THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER.
Description of the Names of the Spirits upon whom we may call to obtain that which we desire
page 104
THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER.
In what manner we ought to carry out the Operations
page 123
THE THIRD BOOK.
PROLOGUE.
(Brief Advice)
page 163
THE FIRST CHAPTER.
How to know all kinds of things Past and Future, which be not however directly opposed to God, and against His Holy Will
page 165
THE SECOND CHAPTER.
How to acquire information, and be enlightened concerning every kind of proposition, and all doubtful sciences
page 172
THE THIRD CHAPTER.
How to cause any Spirit to appear, and take various forms, as of man, of animal, of bird, etc.
page 174
THE FOURTH CHAPTER.
To procure divers Visions
page 175
THE FIFTH CHAPTER.
How one may retain the Familiar Spirits bound or free, in whatsoever form
page 178
THE SIXTH CHAPTER.
How to make manifest mines, and push on all manner of work connected therewith
page 182
THE SEVENTH CHAPTER.
To cause a Spirit to perform all manner of Chemical work and Operations with facility and promptitude, especially as regards Metals
page 184
THE EIGHTH CHAPTER.
To excite Tempests
page 186
THE NINTH CHAPTER.
To transform Animals into Men, and Men into Animals. (Also to transform Animals into Stones)
page 187
THE TENTH CHAPTER.
To prevent all operations of Necromancy and Magic from producing any effect; except the Operations of the Qabalah, and of this Sacred Magic
page 190
THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER.
To cause to be brought to one any kind of book, and whether lost or stolen
page 192
THE TWELFTH CHAPTER.
To know Secrets, and especially those of any person
page 194
THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER.
How to make a Corpse rise from the Dead, and perform all the Operations
which the person would do were he living, and this during the space of seven years, through the means of the Spirit.
page 196
THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER.
The Twelve Symbols for the Twelve Hours of the Day and of the Night, in order to make oneself Invisible to every person.
page 198
THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER.
To cause the Spirits to bring us everything to eat and drink which we may wish, and even everything which we can think of
page 201
THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER.
How to discover and take possession of all kinds of Treasure, provided that it be in no way (Magically) guarded
page 203
THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER.
How to fly in the Air and go wherever one may wish
page 209
THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER.
To heal divers Maladies
page 211
THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER.
For all kinds of Affection and Love
page 214
THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER.
To excite every kind of Hatred, Enmity, Discord, Quarrels, Contests, Combats, tattles, Loss, and Damage
page 220
THE TWENTY-FIRST CHAPTER.
To transform oneself, and take divers shapes and forms
page 223
THE TWENTY-SECOND CHAPTER.
This Chapter is only for working Evil, for with the Signs herein we can cast Spells, and perform every kind of Evil Work. We should not avail ourselves hereof
page 225
THE TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTER.
To demolish Buildings and Castles
page 227
THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER.
To discover Thefts
page 229
THE TWENTY-FIFTH CHAPTER.
To walk and operate in and under water
page 231
THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER.
How to open every kind of lock without a Key, and without noise
page 232
THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER.
How to cause Visions to appear
page 234
THE TWENTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER.
How to obtain as much gold and silver as one may wish, both to be able to provide for the necessaries of life, and to live in opulence
page 243
THE TWENTY-NINTH CHAPTER.
How to cause Armed Men to appear
page 245
THE THIRTIETH CHAPTER.
To make Comedies, Operas, and all kinds of Music and Dances to appear
page 246
CONCLUSION.
Remarks on these Symbols of the foregoing Chapters
page 248
The Order of the First Hierarchy
page 260
The Order of the Second Hierarchy
page 260
The Order of the Third Hierarchy
page 261
THE END.