Synopses & Reviews
This lavishly produced, full-color lexicon of occult imagery draws from the traditions of Alchemy, Astrology, Tarot, Kabbalah, Magic, Tantric Sexuality, and Visionary Art. A provocative chapter on Initiation traces the Western Mysteries from the earliest surviving artwork to that of the present day. Chosen for their intrinsic beauty and powerful symbolism, the illustrations in this book span thousands of years and include images from Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt, as well as later works by great artists and occultists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Hieronymous Bosch, Raymond Lull, Robert Fludd, and Manly P. Hall. All 22 paintings of the medieval alchemical masterpiece Splendor Solis are published here in color for the first time, as are the Tree of Life in the Four Worlds and the Eye of the Mysteries by modern occultist Harry Smith. The exquisite illustrations are accompanied by a lively and thought-pprovoking text on the variousaspects of the Wisdom teachings from which they derive. This book provides an excellent introduction to the timeless and hidden dimensions of occult practice, while stimulating the imagination and the quest for intuitive knowledge. An extensive bibliography of classical occult works complements this unique collection.
Review
Gorgeous four-color artwork makes this book a work of art in itself, and astrologists, kabbalists, tarot readers, and great art appreciators will want this book for the color plates alone. And happily, there is much more. The raison d'etre of occultism is presented with a flow and integrity that I have not seen before, and reading the text is richly satisfying. (New Age Retailer)
Review
A large-sized lavishly produced, full-color volume. The learning is vast, the writing erudite, the introductions valuable into the various sorts of metaphysical knowledge. Written and produced with great discernment. (The Book Reader)
About the Author
James Wasserman, a longtime student and practitioner of the occult sciences, has authored and edited various articles and books on Western Esotericism.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Astrology and Cosmology
Kabbalah and the Tree of Life
Initiation
Magic and the Gods
Sexuality
Alchemy
Tarot
Symbolist and Visionary Art
Bibliography and Selected Reading List
Acknowledgements