Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
This book describes in detail the practice, theory, and underlying rationale of black magic in all its branches -- the summoning and control of evil spirits, necromancy, psychic attack, Devil worship, witchcraft, the Black Mass, evil charms, and spells -- as well as other branches of occult theory: numerology, astrology, alchemy, the Cabala, and the tarot. Ancient black magicians of the past 150 years and the theories of cabalists, astrologers, and numerologists of the present day are all fully covered in this fascinating book.
"We are all black magicians in our dreams, in our fantasies, perversions, and phobias... In The Black Arts, Richard Cavendish has not only gathered many fascinating facts from the past and from our own time; he has also presented the philosophy of the black magicians and gives many excellent interpretations of their symbols and rites. He has done all this in such a concise and readable style that the reader is hardly aware of how much effort has gone into this work and how original are many of its ideas and interpretations...Works such as Cavendish s are a reminder that we are living in an era of amnesia. We have forgotten those vital truths that man once knew and by whose strength he lived." -- Isaac Bashevis Singer, Book Week"
Synopsis
The Classic Study of the Occult Reintroduced in a 50th Anniversary Edition
The Black Arts is a fascinating and wonderfully readable exploration of the practice, theory, and underlying rationale of magick and occultism in all its branches, including witchcraft, spells, numerology, astrology, alchemy, kabbalah, tarot, charms, and summoning and control of spirits. This edition features a 50th anniversary introduction by historian of alternative spirituality Mitch Horowitz, who frames the book for a new generation of readers.