Ancient Egyptian Divination and Magic (Paperback)

~ (Author) "From the earliest times, magic was developed largely by the Egyptians in relation both to the dead and the living..." (more)
Key Phrases: vessel inquiry, natural ink, magical script, The Leyden Papyrus, Wallis Budge, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In this practical manual, Eleanor Harris takes you step-by-step through ancient Egyptian religions, magical philosophy, techniques of divination, and magical formulae thousands of years old. No previous experience with the subject is necessary--Harris explains the "hows" and "whys" of magical tools, amulets, words of power, divination ceremony, and spells. Advanced practitioners will find especially useful instruction on actual Egyptian magical script as found in the ancient papyri such as The Leyden Papyrus, The Papyrus Ani (the Egyptian Book of the Dead), and other important works. This one book frees you from the tedium of researching the ancient magical papyri and other historical literature--Harris has done all the footwork. Everything you need to start practicing these ancient techniques is here in your hands!

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Red Wheel / Weiser; illustrated edition edition (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578630363
• ISBN-13: 978-1578630363
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #617,080 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent how-to guide, August 4, 2003

By	"rachelforsyte" (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

I have studied Egyptology for 27 years. This is the first and only book that offers a complete how-to guide for the ancient practice of divination and magic. It's not a New Age smo0ke and mirrors book..... the spells and divination information is taken directly from ancient scriptures. The text is footnoted. The author did her research and condensed the information in an easy-to-read how-to guide. I have dozens of more scholarly books and most do not contain the divination information found in this little number. I have referred to this book over and over again. It is easy to read for beginners and offers easy reference for us old-time armchair Egyptologists.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a modern how-to book, February 5, 2003

By	Bob (California) - See all my reviews

I had the opportunity to browse through this book before buying. It is not a book for scholars, but definitely of interest to armchair ancient Egyptian enthusiasts. The author presented some magical spells and instruction that I had never read about previously. I enjoyed reading how oil lamps, mathematics, and easy to make tools were used and could be used today. It was refreshing to read something new rather than the repeated use of amulets most other books offer. The author took spells from various papyrus and condensed them into an instructional how-to format that is geared toward a beginner. Its easy reading for someone learning about ancient Egypt and the magic practiced then. If you want to learn about ancient Egyptian magic and how to practice it today this book is a must.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ancient Egyptian Divination and Magic, December 16, 1999

By A Customer

This book is the best source for instructions of how to practice ancient Egyptian divination and magic that I've ever read. It is excellent. The author provides detailed how to instructions for making authentic ancient Egyptian clothing, amulets, and more. The emphasis is purely on divination and magic, so you may want additional books about religion. I've nearly worn out my copy! I love it! You won't be disappointed.