Customer Reviews

The Picatrix - The Goal of the Wise (Arabic Edition)

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For those who appreciate possessing ornate and rare magical tracts in their original format, this work is a treat. Rosicrucian scholars, Arabists, purveyors of medieval grimoires will be astonished by the care which has gone into the presentation of this work. At the heart of western magic lies the domain of the classical grammars of magic. Western Masters such as Cornellius Agrippa, Peter de Abano (author of the Heptameron), Francis Barrett ( compiler of the Magus) and many more all owe a huge debt to the appearance of the Picatrix - the original Magical Grimoire and a source of concentrated magical power, whose pages Adepts have feared to turn for fear of possession. Great legends surround the ownership of this work. It has been feared, mythologised, revered and been the object of countless questings through the centuries. To own this work is to hold the power of the ancients in the palm of your hand. Many occultists believe the historical Picatrix is the template for Lovecraft's Necronomicon. Certainly this is a work whose talismanic essence provides a gateway for the Elder Powers - whose every detail can provide a valuable focus for meditation and wonder. The original Arabic format of this work provides serious scholars with the opportunity to acquaint themselves with one of the most valuable proto-grimoires in existence. Not for the faint hearted or the intellectually lazy. A work of Serious Essence.

The version I am reviewing appears to be a prior work reprinted in Arabic with Latin footnotes. This is an odd format as Latin is no longer a language used internationally. Printed in 2007 in the USA, English footnotes would have been appreciated.

As to whether or not the Ghayat al Hakim (The Picatrix) books I,II,III,IV are "correct" according to The Shariah and the Quran (I do not feel this is the case) one cannot examine the text or this question in this print. It is my opinion that this question needs to be answered by reading the translated material in English first then comparing it to the guidance of the Quran. As is now standing, all sources I have personally are second hand. I have to wait for my English Translation by Hashem Attallah.

It is a fine edition, hard cover, nicely laid out in a format that appears "lifted" or photographed from a prior source. This is not an Arabic to English Translated version; Although I am an Arabist and do read (beginners) Arabic and write to a very small ability, I cannot state that this book is a fine work or not. There is no note in English in this edition if this is a complete print of the Ghayat al Hakim (The Picatrix) books I,II,III,IV or limited to books I,II and or III and IV.

A complete translation in English does exist in limited published quantities by Hashem Attallah; they are very expensive "collectors quality" with hand numbered copy.

This particular book edited by Steve Ashe is a very pretty and very handsome edition.

For scholars and those whose interest lay upon investment in books, do try Hashem Attallah's version which will appreciate in value as no doubt this first edition will also.

This book is useless unless you can read arabic. I wish they would have noted that more clearly in the description. There's not even any editorial commentary. Save your money. I will have to patiently await the Ouroboros Press translation of volume 2.