Customer Reviews

The Magical Calendar: A Synthesis of Magial Symbolism from the Seventeenth-Century Renaissance of Medieval Occultism (Magnum Opus Hermetic Sourceworks Series: N)

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This extraordinary document was first published in 1620. It contains tables of correspondences and other materials, especially sigils, which go beyond those in Agrippa's Occult Philosophy. The engraving was executed by the brilliant Johannes Theodorus de Bry who illustrated other important occult works such as those of Robert Fludd. Adam McLean theorized and Carlos Gilley confirmed that the original manuscript on which the printed Magical Calendar was based is British Library manuscript Harley 3420. (Gilley, Carlos, "The rediscovery of the original of Großchedel's Calendarium Naturale Magicum Perpetuum," in Carlos Gilly, Cis van Heertum (ed.) Magia, Alchimia, Scienza Dal '400 al '700. L'influsso di Ermete Trismegisto Centro Di: 2 vols. Firence, 2002, vol. 1 pp. 310-317.) This edition by Adam McLean has the original Latin text and engravings, with parallel English translation. McLean also supplied an 11 page introduction and 35 pages of valuable notes and commentary explaining the diagrams and their provenance. I hope if McLean continues with a third edition he will explore the considerable influence the text had on Western occultism. At least two grimoires -- Abognazar and Janua Magicae Reserata -- depend heavily on the Magical Calendar. In my research on esoterica, I find myself constantly referring to this volume.

McLean provides complete translations of all the plates of the Magical Calendar printed in 1620, which is an occult document that includes portions of the Jewish Kabbala and deals mainly with spellcasting and prophecy. Outside a small section of notes at the end, McLean fails to provide much narrative on various portions, and most parts must be further looked up in other works. The plates are in copier black and white, somewhat low qualoty. The binding is fair.

As a relatively new student to esoteric philosophies and practices, I have found Adam Mclean's work to be extremely well-presented and documented, as far as possible for such material. Discernment of the vast myriad of publications available today requires great discipline and attention in order for seeking to be fruitful, and Adam Mclean's devotion to bring forth little known resources and point out helpful methods for understanding has great value. His work provides a light in the darkness.
As someone just trying to get a grip on philosophical Alchemy and Hermeticism, I cannot thank him enough for his endeavors.

I've spent countless hours staring at versions of the Magical Calendar. To find that the Drs. Carlos Gilly / Cis Van Heertum team has worked on this should assure anyone the best scholarship possible underlies the text. Thank you Joe Petersen for passing on this information on your website. I look forward to getting this book as soon as possible.