Secrets of the Magickal Grimoires: The Classical Texts of Magick Deciphered

I have two bookcases for my occult books. One has the books that I am going to read and the books I have read already. The other, smaller one is full of two kinds of books as well, what I call reference manuals, like 777, Godwin's, etc. and the other type is what I call the essentials. Amongst those essentials are books that are "how to" but they are so useful that I refer to them often. One of these is Secrets of the Magickal Grimoires by Aaron Leitch. It's full of highlighting and little stars next to certain paragraphs from where I have marked it up for future reference. That is the highest recommendation I give for any book. If you pull it off my shelf and it's chock full of highlights and underlining and little asterisks, then I consider it to be a damn good book.This is not an in depth explanation of any one particular grimoire. It's an in depth explanation of grimoires in general, with a "how to" guide to approaching ANY of them. There is a large amount of detail regarding each of the most famous texts, but that is not its most important feature. "Secrets" claim to fame is its ability to do what the title says: decipher the magickal texts. He breaks down the content (and the context) of the grimoires and helps you see the real meaning behind them. This book is huge and dense. I couldn't read it in one go. I had to read 3 or 4 chapters and then set it down and read something lighter while I digested those concepts I had picked up here. Then, I'd read 3 or 4 more. That means you are going to get your money's worth here. This is not something that you will breeze through and then say "What a rip off!" Instead, you will most likely say "Oh! So, that's what that means!" And you will most likely say that 39 times over the course of reading the book. That is of course, providing you understand what you read and if you don't, it won't be the author's fault because it's written in plain English. Aaron speaks like he wants you to understand, not intentionally over your head, like Crowley. He doesn't dumb it down though, he just BREAKS IT DOWN, so you can really GET IT. It's a great book. Aaron falls in the camp of objective magicians, meaning he doesn't tell you that the entities are just subjective parts of yourself. He believes and practices what he writes, which is that there is such a thing as a being out there, outside of yourself that its name is X and its main functions are Y and Z but it can also do A, G, H, I and R. You'll learn what day and time is best to call upon the various spirits and Angels. You'll learn more than you thought you would from this book. Period. Even advanced practitioners should find this book useful and worth reading.

Extensive knowledge by the author is presented in a form that the casual layman interested in Magick can grasp to enhance his knowledge and practice.

I originally bought this book when it first came out.. I was immediately in wonder and truly captivated.This incredible tome was the first stepping stone that led me through the current life of magic I have lived since.I strongly suggest anyone, everyone who seeks knowledge, seeks ways to get things done to buy this book and read it.. then read it again. I have read and reread this work close to 5 times now... So much that I a few years ago had to buy a second copy (the first was becoming a bit worn)..The Secrets of Magical Grimoires is a diamond you will really and truly treasure forever.

Leitch has written what is probably the best book on practical application of the classic grimoires produced to date. The book does assume a basic familiarity with the texts themselves. You should have read the Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon, and the Abra-Melin work to be able to best understand this book's ideas, but I think even someone who hadn't could make their way along with what is provided.The first 125 pages or so are worth the entire book, even if one never means to take up grimoire magic. The history and development of the grimoires is a thread in Neopaganism, in Rosicrusianism and in the work of Golden Dawn-style magical orders. Leitch's analysis of the devlopment of spirit-art in Europe - the sorcerer as urban shaman - is done very well. The chapter on the work of the priest in magic fills in holes that often gape in modern magical theory. Anyone involved in trying to build working modern magical forms out of the wisdom of previous millenia will profit from these sections.The practical sections do a fine job of turning the notebook arrangement of the grimoire's instructions into workable magical rites. The author sets the grimoires inside their context of religious devotion, personal discipline and trance-skills (he finds solid medieval evidence for the conscious use of consciousness-alteration) and cosmology. Again, the book might have benefitted on a practical level from appending it's own 'grimoire', but the author repeatedly makes the point that every magician must functionally create their own version of the work.A fine read for anyone interested in the traditional practice of magic.Ian

I have over a dozen books that will now be understood thanks to this masterful explanatory tome.The author writes in a way that is easily understood and I can hardly put it down.....Very likely the most important book I own.... I think of it as MY ‘key’ (pardon the pun)!

This is a good detailed exploration of the grimoires of the western tradition. The author takes a fresh look at these traditions and points out the shamanic aspects of the grimoires and points at the shamanic aspects of the biblical old testament stories. He also compares his experiences with santeria etc to the techniques described in the old grimoires and makes frequent reference to Agrippas three books of occult philosophy to illustrate and explain the mindset of the renaissance magicians. There is also a chapter of leary/wilsons 8 circuit theory which he refers to as the text moves forward. The book also makes frequent reference to the magical use of the Psalms/Psalter.Personally, I like the tone of this author and his approach very much which really is a refreshing non-dogmatic look at the grimoires - dispelling some of the modern dogmas which surround or have grown up around these texts (perpetuated often by people who dare not use them or have a modern dogma to back up). Here you will also find some pointers on making the grimoires work for you as the book also has practical tips on how on might go about using these books today if you wished to explore these traditions. It is clear the author has operated the grimoires himself and understands them in depth - unlike other modern authors who just seem to publish what they plundered out of the british/paris/bodlean museum with little practical advice on what the books contain and how they might work for you.Highly recommended for adept and novice alike - The kind of book you'd imagine finding in some arcane university as part of your complex studies as a developing Mage.

Still the master reference work on the grimoires. Aaron Leitch has crafted an excellent coverage of the grimoire traditions, source and practices. Recommended

Excellent products, excellent service! Thank you.

was a bit bigger than i expected being about double the size of a standard book but it looks great and it makes it easier for reading. Was brought as a pressent and i he will be thrilled