Customer Reviews

Secrets of the Magickal Grimoires: The Classical Texts of Magick Deciphered

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Leitch has written what is probably the best book on practical application of the classic grimoires produced to date. The book does assume a basic familiarity with the texts themselves. You should have read the Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon, and the Abra-Melin work to be able to best understand this book's ideas, but I think even someone who hadn't could make their way along with what is provided.

The first 125 pages or so are worth the entire book, even if one never means to take up grimoire magic. The history and development of the grimoires is a thread in Neopaganism, in Rosicrusianism and in the work of Golden Dawn-style magical orders. Leitch's analysis of the devlopment of spirit-art in Europe - the sorcerer as urban shaman - is done very well. The chapter on the work of the priest in magic fills in holes that often gape in modern magical theory. Anyone involved in trying to build working modern magical forms out of the wisdom of previous millenia will profit from these sections.

The practical sections do a fine job of turning the notebook arrangement of the grimoire's instructions into workable magical rites. The author sets the grimoires inside their context of religious devotion, personal discipline and trance-skills (he finds solid medieval evidence for the conscious use of consciousness-alteration) and cosmology. Again, the book might have benefitted on a practical level from appending it's own 'grimoire', but the author repeatedly makes the point that every magician must functionally create their own version of the work.

A fine read for anyone interested in the traditional practice of magic.
Ian

Every so often a book turn up that fits the "must have" category for students of magick. Secrets of the Magickal Grimoirs is one of them, in a class with Regardie's The Golden Dawn, Craig's Modern Magick, and Crowley's Magick in Theory and Practice. "Secrets" trumps all three on "academic defensability", in that it keeps no secrets - very extensive source materials are accurately cited in the footnotes.

This is not the usual re-hash of widely published materials, with original fantasy and speculation added - Secrets is the result of a major research project supported by a small community of serious occult scholars working to improve their understanding of Mideval magick. Secrets of the Magickal Grimoirs presents the current "state of the art" in these studies in plain language, organized so that a complete beginner will learn everything necessary to understand the more technical chapters. Obscure language is kept to a minimum and new terms are explained clearly. "Secrets" is one of those rare books that is equally useful whether your interest is purely academic, or 100% practical.

If you are interested in the historical origins, early social context, and development of magick as we know it today, you will find it here. If you are interested in the working principles of magick which bridge theory to practice, that's here as well: Leitch wastes no time arguing whether or not the magick might actally work, he goes directly to how and why it works, from both psychological, meatphysical, theological, and nuts-and-bolts practical perspectives.

But most importantly, Secrets of the Magickal Grimoirs is the only "operators manual" for actually using such classics as the Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon, the Legemeton, etc. "Secrets" provides an accurate historical context for understanding where these works came from, explains their obscure terminology, and unravels their riddles by supplying the missing links - everything the original users were expected to "already know". Before "Secrets", most working magicians could mine the old grimiors for useful material to incoroprate in their own work. After "Secrets", most working magicians can actually use the old grimoirs as their authors intended.

Secrets of the Magickal Grimiors is fully supported by an active online mailing list and archive. The Solomonic list community provides a friendly venue for discussion and questions on any topic related to "Solomonic magick", and many of the participants are working magicians who are actually using the material. Visit check Yahoo! Groups for the word "solomonic", and you're in.

My only criticism of this book, is that it does not include the actual grimoirs. But if you are reading this review, that should be no problem: They are in the public domain and can be downloaded from online archives (including the files section of the Solomonic list pages).

If this book is not on your shelf, fill the gap! Even if you never make practical use of the how-to material, this book is certain to expand your understanding of the meaning, and context, of real magick in both the Mideval and the modern world.

Hmn, I do not know what all the previous discouraging comments about this book were about, I must say this was an excellent work. Aaron does an awesome job of presenting firstly the history *behind* the grimoires. The reader passes through mankinds magical history as Aaron enlightens the reader on such things as the shaman's spiritual initiation, mankind's relationship to the gods and spirits, the development of the familar spirit and of gods, the preisthood, devotions, astrology, sacrifices, the magical/spiritual use of mind altering substances, and by who and why the grimoires developed as they did.Truly the list goes on and on....and that is just the theory section!! At the end of the theory section one comes away with impression you have just been taught not only about mankinds magical development but a little about mankind itself.


The practical section details tools, prayers, preparations and eveything needed to begin the sacred and powerful art of evocation. This is not your typical re-hash of Golden Dawn material or self created system, this, my friends is grimoire magic as it was done "back in the day". The information on the magical books, their history and their creation is invaluable as well as something which should be brought back in a big way in magic. He then goes into something rarely discussed in a in-depth manner and that is **HOW** spirits communicate with man. This, to me proves he walks the walk as everything he says here is spot on to my own experience and something Johnny-come-lately's need to know.

It was amazing, really, how many times I had an "ah-ha" or "duh"/head-slap experience while reading this book. Ideas or thoughts that had been floating around my head recently as well as things which happened to me in the past made this book, for me, especially great.

This is a book every newcomer,initiate and advanced student should read. I do not practice as exactly as he points out in the book, and their are some areas I part ways with him at however this is done with a respectful diference and through a few years of the work I have done to do it, the way I do it. I will however, add that I will be adding many aspects of this book into my personal work.

If you want a book that teaches you how to do it the "real way" as they did it orignally, get this book! If you want armchair theory and to impress your occult friends with amazing facts they may not even know, get this book! I usually devour a book in a few hours to a day, this book took me three days to finish because of all the information. Heck, I'll most likely read it again!


Hmn, it really makes me wonder if that review by Thabion below had some, alterior motive......

Our author is one deeply conversant with the most arcane mysteries and the most minute demands made by these highly symbolic and powerfully charged rituals. He has served his apprenticeship, and dared to cross the bounds separating the known world from the world of eldritch powers. He speaks as one who knows, not merely as one who has a theoretical interest in his subject matter. The seeker after such power, who would interrogate the angels and call the demons to account; he must soil his hands, he must dig out the precious truths. Spadework is all. Preparation, scrupulous preparation is the sine qua non, neither deviating to the left nor to the right; adding in nothing, leaving nothing out.
I take for my guide such a person; better one who has trodden the wine press than a host of dilettantes who have pontificated upon proper treading technique from afar, or called a committee to investigate and report back sometime, with jargon-laden illegibilities replete with footnotes. The only sure guide is the one who has made the existential decision to know, to dare, to perform, and to keep silence thereafter. His few words are pearls of great price, for which a man should sell all.
That is this book. Deciphering a grimoire, the fancifully named magical grammar, is not a task for the faint hearted. Our author has roundly succeeded.
This first task is done. Now must come those who will advance this Great Work even further. Similar souls who know no fear, and who, once they have put their hands to the plow, will not look back. If you are such a one, then these Secrets of the Magickal Grimoires await.

Medieval and renaissance magic has always been a fascination of mine, but also a source of the greatest frustration. I think for me the toughest issue has been understanding the material in the older tomes enough to come up with a coherent system in which to use the material. That is why I was so excited to find this book! I'm still plowing through it, however, I was so pleased with what I have read so far, that I had to write this review!

One of the burning questions that always arose for me was how the authors of the older tomes came up with the material, and how the culture of the day influenced their magick. I always thought if I were to truly understand medieval magick and how its done, I must try to place myself within medieval magician's shoes and see the magick from their point of view. Lo and behold, this is exactly what Leitch attempts to do in the first part of the book! He gives an enlightening view of the history and evolution surrounding the magick, which has given me a much better understanding the of material itself.

Currently, I am reading the 2nd part of the book which focuses on practical application. Finally, I can go to ONE reference book for information and instructions! Of course, I will still use the old tomes for cross referencing, but this book makes practicing the magick soo much easier! I especially like the magickal timing instructions, which I have already used for other personal work with much success! I cant wait to finish the book and start evoking!

The long wait is over! I just got my copy from Amazon, and can't wait to tell you why you'll want to order one, too.

We tend today to think of religion, magic and science as three mutually antagonistic strains of thought, but that's not how they began. Each grew from a single impulse, indeed as a single enterprise: the fundamental need of human beings to figure out how the universe works, and make use of that understanding to better their lives. In particular, the authors of the classical "grimoires," from ancient until comparatively recent times, would scarcely have recognized such a distinction; the divine, the human, the cosmos itself, formed for them a single system, and "wisdom" meant learning how that system works, and applying that learning to inward and outward change. And let's face it, without "magicians" like (seminal mathematician) John Dee, and (astrologer and alchemist) Sir Isaac Newton, modern science would never have come to be.

In brief, then: whether you're a scientist who wants a better understanding of the roots of science, a religionist willing to approach the divine in a rational way, or a practicing "magician" who wants a better knowledge of his forebears, you're going to want this extraordinary book.

My own orientation is "magical" -- begun nearly thirty years ago on a Christian path, and for many years now a Thelemite -- so I'll finish with the value of this text for those undertaking the magical adventure. Aaron Leitch is an accomplished practitioner of Western Ceremonial within the Golden Dawn tradition, but he's so much more than that, and there's something here for everyone who cares about "Magick" (as it's usually spelled today, to distinguish the Great Work from parlor tricks): strong coverage of everything from primitive shamanic practice in multiple cultures to the modern insights of the likes of Robert Anton Wilson (e.g., a cogent explanation of the "eight-circuit model"), and everything inbetween. But the book's greatest strength lies in its coverage of the classical grimoires, so often neglected (or just unknown!) today -- not as dry academic exercise, but as living texts for both spiritual development and practical change. A very partial list of topics covered:

Brief survey of twenty-two of the classical grimoires themselves (from the Picatrix forward, and including all the major "Solomonic" texts), available noplace else that I've seen; discussions of ecstatic insight, from the shamanic through Biblical Prophets and Merkavah mysticism, down to the present day; the aforementioned modern stuff (semantics, metaprogramming, and the like)...and most of all, the long practical section which makes up the bulk of the book -- magical tools, angels, planetary spirits and hours, astrological dignities, you name it...all with an orientation to practical use. (And I'm not kidding, that was only a very partial list!)

My one warning: forget the notion of "grimoires" you got from the Saturday Matinee school of magic -- if you're looking for evile pacts wif de debbil, you'll probably want to look elsewhere (and indeed some louts may be offended by the constant Judeo-Christian element that runs through grimoiric magic, itself often composed by Christian clerics, of course). In fact, make it two warnings: this is not light reading -- though even then, it's easily worth the price if you just keep it on your shelf as a reference work, and use it at need.

In short, the serious student will want this book, period. 'Nuff said.

-- A.J. Rose
author of the Consciousness Cycle novels, and The C.'.G.'. Student Handbook: Mysticism, Magick, Thelema

Legends of King Solomon and his command of Angels and "unclean spirits" were popular in medieval Roman Catholic Europe. In time, this generated a "Solomonic" tradition among European mystics. These people were among the first to record aspects of their magickal traditions in book form- which we today refer to as "Grimoires" (textbooks). Included in this genre are such titles as The Key of Solomon the King, The Lemegeton or Lesser Key of Solomon, Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosphy, Barret's The Magus, The Grand Grimoire and many others.

Secrets of the Magickal Grimoires is an in-depth exploration of Solomonic mysticism- including large portions of all of the above titles (and more), with their methods explained step-by-step all the way. Part I of the book explores the development of mysticsm throughout Western history- from the most ancient shamanic healers, to the witchcraft of the Afro-Cuban faiths, and even the more contemporary efforts of such men as Timothy Leary and John Lilly. The foundational philosophy behind the grimoires is laid out, along with explainations and tips for the modern reader who wishes to practice personal mind-alteration. Part II of the book is an A to Z instruction manual (a grimoire) that can lead the reader through a lifetime's worth of true Solomonic ritual and exploration. Magickal timing, all of the Solomonic ritual Tools, preparations, invocations, consecrations, conjurations, Angelic summoning, and exorcism of spirits are all included with simple explanations and "how-to" instruction.

I hesitated to buy this book for quite some time because I have a very low opinion of the publisher, llewellyn, and the material they publish. (I find llewellyn's books only slightly better than lulu's). After spending a few days reading the author's posts on his Solomonic Yahoo Group, I decided to order it and hope for the best. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that Aaron has herein provided the keys to understanding and working the magick of the classical grimoires. After many, many years of practicing the magick of the grimoires, I have become proficient at making this ancient art work in the modern age; I was pleased to see that in this book Aaron teaches methods that I had come to discover on my own and that I can attest to as valid and effective techniques. The fact that he talks to his readers of methods that I KNOW to be powerful tells me that he knows whereof he speaks.

If you're interested in the magick of the Grimoires, get this book.

I have two bookcases for my occult books. One has the books that I am going to read and the books I have read already. The other, smaller one is full of two kinds of books as well, what I call reference manuals, like 777, Godwin's, etc. and the other type is what I call the essentials. Amongst those essentials are books that are "how to" but they are so useful that I refer to them often. One of these is Secrets of the Magickal Grimoires by Aaron Leitch. It's full of highlighting and little stars next to certain paragraphs from where I have marked it up for future reference. That is the highest recommendation I give for any book. If you pull it off my shelf and it's chock full of highlights and underlining and little asterisks, then I consider it to be a damn good book.

This is not an in depth explanation of any one particular grimoire. It's an in depth explanation of grimoires in general, with a "how to" guide to approaching ANY of them. There is a large amount of detail regarding each of the most famous texts, but that is not its most important feature. "Secrets" claim to fame is its ability to do what the title says: decipher the magickal texts. He breaks down the content (and the context) of the grimoires and helps you see the real meaning behind them. This book is huge and dense. I couldn't read it in one go. I had to read 3 or 4 chapters and then set it down and read something lighter while I digested those concepts I had picked up here. Then, I'd read 3 or 4 more. That means you are going to get your money's worth here. This is not something that you will breeze through and then say "What a rip off!" Instead, you will most likely say "Oh! So, that's what that means!" And you will most likely say that 39 times over the course of reading the book. That is of course, providing you understand what you read and if you don't, it won't be the author's fault because it's written in plain English. Aaron speaks like he wants you to understand, not intentionally over your head, like Crowley. He doesn't dumb it down though, he just BREAKS IT DOWN, so you can really GET IT. It's a great book. Aaron falls in the camp of objective magicians, meaning he doesn't tell you that the entities are just subjective parts of yourself. He believes and practices what he writes, which is that there is such a thing as a being out there, outside of yourself that its name is X and its main functions are Y and Z but it can also do A, G, H, I and R. You'll learn what day and time is best to call upon the various spirits and Angels. You'll learn more than you thought you would from this book. Period. Even advanced practitioners should find this book useful and worth reading.

Aaron Leitch's book is an incredible source book, giving overviews of the historical grimoires such as the Picatrix, the Lemegeton and the Red Dragon. Aaron also covers topics that are generally included in a grimoire, which can give you, the reader, ideas for yours if you have one. A very useful book, it gives me quite the advantage in my research, as most of the information provided is hard to find, and once found, must then be sifted and sorted. Secrets of The Magickal Grimoires is everything that the historical grimoires offer, but condensed and revised for a modern age of reader. If I had five thumbs, they'd all be up.