The Magician's Companion: A Practical and Encyclopedic Guide to Magical and Religious Symbolism (Llewellyn's Sourcebook) [Paperback]

Bill Whitcomb (Author)

Book Description

Series: Llewellyn's Sourcebook | Publication Date: September 8, 2002

The Magician's Companion by Bill Whitcomb is the most complete collection of practical information on magical systems from around the world you can add to your magical techniques.

It begins with a complete introduction to magic, from definitions to a program of study so you can use the many systems described in the book. There are 91 systems described, including:

·The four worlds of the Hopi
·The Hindu Tattwas
·The Chinese Five Elements
·The Chakras
·The eight Chinese trigrams
·The Qabalistic Tree of Life
·Astrology
·The meridians of acupuncture
·Geomantic symbols
·The druid tree alphabet
·The Enochian system
·The Runes
·The color scales
·The hexagrams of the I Ching
·The 72 names of God

There is so much more in this book. You'll also learn the techniques of working with:

·Alchemy
·Magical Alphabets
·Deities from numerous pantheons
·Telesmatic images
·Magic squares and sigils
·Attributions for gems and minerals

This just scratches the surface of what has been acclaimed as one of the greatest research tools ever for magicians of all type.

The magical knowledge of our ancestors comprises an intricate and elegant technology of the mind and imagination. The Magician's Companion makes the ancient systems accessible, understandable, and useful to modern magicians by categorizing and cross-referencing the major magical symbol systems. In fact, as a cross-reference, it is simply beyond compare.

The Magician's Companion is the single source with the most complete information on Eastern and Western magical systems ever published. Students of mysticism, mythology, symbolic art, literature, and even cryptography will find The Magician's Companion of infinite value. This book is a must.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This book is as voluminous as its title, and no matter what type of magic you practice, or even if you just study it, it is an indispensable book with a wealth of useful intelligence on all Eastern and Western forms of magic. Bill Whitcomb also graciously provides contact information for areas that are not covered. Any serious student of magic can appreciate the expense of research time, and this book will help minimize the research, thereby allowing more time for your workings. The Magician's Companion is going to be a well-worn volume on my shelf.

From the Publisher

If you have been involved with the practice of magic for some time, chances are you have lots of books on a variety of subjects: books on Enochian, astrology, the Qabalah, the chakras, the runes, and many more. If you're just starting out in magic, you may feel daunted at the number of books you think you may eventually want to study and buy.

Now you can have the greatest compendium of virtually every major magical system in the world in just one book, The Magician's Companion by Bill Whitcomb. This is the ultimate reference for all magicians. Whether you are a Wiccan, Witch, Thelemite, ceremonial magician, or follow any other tradition, you are going to find that The Magician's Companion is a must.

This book is more than just the leading sourcebook on spiritual systems from around the planet. As the world goes further into the Information Age, it is now more vital than ever to understand the symbols of the shaman, the magician, the mystic, and the alchemist, for in these symbols can be seen the shape of the mind and soul of humanity.

With this understanding comes tolerance and the world of the future. Take the next step toward creating your future by getting The Magician's Companion today.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications; 2nd edition (September 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875428681
• ISBN-13: 978-0875428680
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #65 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Mythology & Folklore
  • #82 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Reference

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "As Above, So Below", October 19, 2002

By 

OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Magician's Companion: A Practical and Encyclopedic Guide to Magical and Religious Symbolism (Llewellyn's Sourcebook) (Paperback)

The author's knowlege is truly encyclopedic and extremely impressive. This thick tome is the equivalent of a doctorate in metaphysics. That is because it is not merely a reference work (though it is probably the best single volume reference on symbolism and correspondence), but it is truly intended to be a self study course. In the "How to Use this Book" section he makes it clear that he is a serious practitioner with a first-hand knowlege of what such studies take (i.e. Meditation, Intense Intellectual Study, Centering, and Grounding.) The reading list for further study is both first rate, and surprisingly eclectic (varied, and not what you'd ordinariy expect.)

You can find all of this information in other sources such as the hermetic, cabalistic, and alchemical source works, but it will take you years. Whitcomb has sumarised everything in amazingly clear tables, lists, and diagrams without trivialising anything. He even shows the cross correspondenses between various systems and cultures (Egyptian, Greek, Tibetan, Native American, Hebrew, Chinese, etc.)

My only criticism is that there is not a leather bound hard cover edition for my permanent library- I know I'll have my own copy custom bound at the first opportunity.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Notch Resource, October 14, 2004

By 

Steven D. Hasting "Neshamah" (Stockbridge, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Magician's Companion: A Practical and Encyclopedic Guide to Magical and Religious Symbolism (Llewellyn's Sourcebook) (Paperback)

Mr.Whitcomb has done an excellent job of putting together a resource you will use over and over again. The book is oversized, so you can write your own notes in the margins. Not a day goes by that I don't pick up this book and look up the correspondences of a planet, or information on one of the 28 Lunar Mansions of Chinese Astrology. No kidding, this book is fantastic and you will definitely get a lot of usage out of it. Yes, there are a couple of errors in these almost 600 pages -- but what book of this type doesn't have an error or two? Finding them will help you grow and learn, so it might be that Mr.Whitcomb has done you a favor. But, as I said, there are only a couple -- don't wear yourself out trying to find them. ENJOY !!!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reference book, February 22, 2000

By 

Diana (Southeast Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Magician's Companion: A Practical and Encyclopedic Guide to Magical and Religious Symbolism (Llewellyn's Sourcebook) (Paperback)

I've found this book to be a really good reference book. Whitcomb includes ethics without preaching and he covers many traditions without appearing scattered. However, this book is not for the fluffy pretend witch or the teenager who thinks this stuff is cool. There are many books for those folks. Instead, this is for those who are serious practitioners. Whitcomb does not tackle this subject tentatively. For example, he includes a bibliography on the ritual use of hallucinogens (albeit with the proper disclaimers). On the down side, I have also found typos and errors. A revised edition is a great idea. But, all in all....a must have reference!