Le Livre d'Or (The Book of Gold) is a unique 17th century French magical work comprising numerous amulets, charms, prayers, spells and sigils for working with the Biblical Book of the Psalms of King David. Written in a simple style akin to a medieval Book of Secrets combined with magical practices from the ancient world, Le Livre d'Or brings together practices which have their roots in major works from the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Cairo Genizah, to the Greek Magical Papyri and Sepher Shimmush Tehillim (Magical Use of the Psalms). Now translated into English for the first time, this exceptional text demonstrates the significance of the Psalms as a unifying and vital thread throughout the development of Western magic. From Sweden to Syria, Britain to the Baltic, the use of appropriate Psalms has spread as a significant part of popular folk and religious magic, and Le Livre d'Or is an inimitable example of the transmission of divine power through the written and spoken word. Le Livre d'Or was originally bound as part of Lansdowne MS 1202 with a 17th century French copy of the most important of grimoires, the Key of Solomon. The extensive commentary by David Rankine and Paul Harry Barron emphasises the place of the Psalms within the Grimoire tradition, detailing their extensive apotropaic, amuletic and coercive uses in works such as the Book of Abramelin, the Key of Solomon and the Goetia. The editors also illustrate how the magic of the Psalms has underlain and cross-fertilised numerous traditions over the last two thousand years, from Hellenic magicians, early Christians and Jews of the ancient world to practitioners of the medieval Grimoires and Renaissance Cunning-folk. Whether it was for benevolent or malefic results, Le Livre d'Or provided the appropriate Psalm verses and relevant techniques. This previously ignored work is an outstanding example of eminently practical magic which not only draws on such major works as the Heptameron and the Steganographia, but also many of the divine names found in the Kabbalah. From Saints to spirits, characters to Creeds, Le Livre d'Or shines forth as a significant and reclaimed chapter in the Western Esoteric Traditions.
David Rankine is an author, esoteric researcher and Qabalist who lives and works on the Welsh borders with his wife, the author Sorita d'Este and their son. David has been writing and contributing articles to a variety of publications, and has given lectures, workshops and presentations since the early 1980's.
His personal passions include the Qabalah, Medieval and Renaissance Magick (particularly the Grimoires), and Greco-Egyptian Magic. Since 2003 he has been working with occult legend Stephen Skinner, co-writing and producing the highly acclaimed Sourceworks of Ceremonial Magic series. These books make available for the first time previously unpublished manuscripts and Grimoires of great significance to the development of modern magick. He is a member of Societas Magica and ESSWE (European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism).
David has also contributed to a number of anthologies, journals and magazines over the years. These include essays in Hekate: Keys to the Crossroads (2006), Horns of Power (2008) and Howlings (2008); as well as numerous articles in esoteric publications such as The Watkins Review, Skoob Occult Review, Nuit-Isis, Celtic Dawn, Chaos International, Witchcraft & Wicca, Pagan Dawn, Talking Stick, Vitriol, Evohe! and Dragon's Brew. In fact, David was the editor of Evohe! (1986-88) and Dragon's Brew (1991-96).
During the period 2002-04 he contributed around 300 articles to the Enhancing Your Mind Body Spirit international part-work magazine produced by D'Agostini. His contributions to this very successful worldwide publication included articles and entire sections on Crystals, Healing, Chakras, Qabalah, Shamanism, Ancient Egyptian Magick, Alchemy and Angels.
Since the early 1980s David has facilitated many dozens of workshops and public ceremonies throughout the UK, since 2001 often with Sorita. He has also given lectures and presentations throughout the UK and Europe on his work and the subjects he is passionate about - including the Grimoire Tradition, Angelic Magic, Egyptian and Celtic Mythology and spirituality.
David has appeared on many television and radio programs over the years. His work and interviews with him have featured in numerous publications including TIME OUT, The Guardian, The Sunday Times, Alternative London and many others. More recently he was interviewed for That's Wierd on Glastonbury Radio about the Qabalah (1 hour program, syndicated worldwide) and BBC Radio London on the Tarot and Dr Rudd's Goetia. He has also featured on television programs on Channel 5, ITV, BBC and Sky.
For recent interviews with David, see:
http://www.thelemacoasttocoast.com/archives/52 - discussion of Goetia, Qabalah and the grimoires with John Crow
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/witchtalk/va/2009/10/25/the-method-of-science-the-aim-of-religion-a-conve - discussion of use of the voice in magick, the grimoires, and a wghole host of other topics in a wide ranging interview with Karagan
