Aleister Crowley's Illustrated Goetia

Once again Christopher Hyatt, along with the most able assistance of Lon Milo Duquette and the illustrations of David P. Wilson, has used his magic pen to make magick more accessible and less fearful, which is what needs to be done, in my opinion. In many instances they confirmed what I already believed about ceremonial magick, that it shouldn't be so complicated that few if any can perform it. If you want to try magical evocation, you definitely should have this book. Crowley wrote a book called Magick Without Tears. This is the new Magick Without Tears.

Nifty insight, for those who understand the hierarchies of the sub-conscience.

`What Goetia is - is the releasing of yourself from your won fears and illusions by direct confrontation.' (pg 10) According to tradition, the Goetia is the first book in the <I>Lemegaton</I> attributed to Solomon the King, though likely compiled by a host of authors. Goetic evocation deals with the summoning of the seventy-two lesser spirits and demons. In this edition, based on Crowley's <I>Goetia</I>, DuQuette and Hyatt strip away all unnecessary trappings and cut through most of the `fooltraps' designed to dissuade less astute practitioners. Traditionally, Goetic evocation calls for strict observance of many details, such as the correct ritual hours, lengthy calls, and an inordinate amount of ceremonial trappings. The authors tell the reader what one can safely do away with, and what can be altered as preference dictates. However, there are some items that the authors do believe are required for the successful (and safer) evocation of the Goetic spirits, including a list of `must haves' with detailed explanations and personal anecdotes as to why they are necessary. Noting `that there is absolutely no necessity (nor particular advantage) to blindly conforming with the Conjuration scripts of the ancient texts. The Spirits are no more impressed of you say "thee" and "thine" than they are if you say "you" and "yours".' (pg 45) Goetic spirits `will work for anyone who knows how to use them. This is one of the horrors people attribute to Goetic workings. You "don't have to be respectable" for Goetia to work for you. Unlike other magical workings there is no implication that the operator has to be "good" and "holy" to achieve results. This idea in itself violates our model of "right" and "wrong", "just" and "unjust". In the Goetic world like in the real world the "bad" can and do prosper. Thus our belief in the moral orders of the Universe appears violated by the simple existence of Spirits who will do the bidding of anyone.' (pg 14) Though they will work for anyone, the authors caution that one `must be completely convinced that your demands are absolutely justified. (And don't think we are invoking the great demon "morality" here. An <I>unnecessary</I> motive is an <I>unworthy</I> motive - pure and simple). When you are truly justified in your demands then you have the momentum of the entire universe behind you.' (pg 37) Further cautioning and confirming that `yes, they are dangerous,' DuQuette and Hyatt explain that `while they remain unmastered they can surface unbidden and wreak all havoc modern psychology blames on "things hidden in the subconscious mind".' (pg 24) As well as a few delightfully thrilling personal anecdotes. There are a few changes, namely the elimination of lengthy calls in preference for Thelemic invocations from <I>Liber Samech</I> by Crowley, Enochian calls, etc. As well, `for the convenience of the modern reader' the authors have translated information regarding each of the seventy-two Goetic spirits into modern understanding and Crowleyan associations, and `where obvious, returned certain Spirits to their original gender.' (pg 43) Sketches accompany each of the seventy-two spirits, illustrated by artist-clairvoyant David P. Wilson, a practicing Goetic magickian. `Over a period of 15 years, he has evoked each of the Spirits at least once...But it is very important for you to remember that, because no two people have the same visual-emotional "vocabulary", the images of the Goetic universe will be unique to each of us.' The authors caution the reader not to `think that these sketches are what you <I>must</I> see when evoking any particular Spirit,' instead explaining that `they are intended to serve only as springboards to your imagination.' (pg 72) Though with such a short section on sex magick, I don't know that it really deserves the `Sexual Evocation' subtitle as there are really only a few pages on it at the rear of the text. Aimed at those actually interested in actually practicing magick rather than simply reading about it, it gives unambiguous description of what tools are required and the methods of evocation and, briefly, of sexual invocation, cutting through the superfluous and get right to what is necessary. An excellent introduction to Goetic magick as Crowley practiced it.

Very sinister!

I found this to be a quick, interesting read. The author's experience in Goetic workings was worth the price of the book. However, if you're interested in the traditional Goetia working get the Mathers translation. This is kind of a modernized, simple version which may affect the belief in the working (and thus the results.) Your mileage may vary. I'm still not sure why it's called "Sexual Evocation." Because there was only a very short section of the book that gave no working approach to this, mostly just fluff.

Another informative, well written from these authors. Always a pleasure to read. Informed and thought provoking. Thank you.

Interesting reference.

In response to a previous review in 2004, I'd like to make the following comments. I can appreciate the Reviewer's concerns, but the following observations may help clear these up. Lon's account of his evocation of Orobas in this book, as he states in his My Life with the Spirits, is a les detailed version. The only apparent anomaly is that in My Life with the Spirits, he states that Mad Bob had already been in Guatemala, whereas in this earlier book he refers to Mad Bob's return to Guatemala as "off to begin his Guatemala adventure". But in effect he would be beginning the next part of his overall Guatemala adventure. Next, as to the sigils being different from those in the Mathers/Crowley edition of the Goetia, the authors of this book took these sigils from an original source manuscript, as stated in the book. Thus they are more accurate. Although widely used, the Mathers/Crowley sigils were redrawn, and neatened up for publication. Mitch Henson did a similar tidy up job on all of the sigils in the first four books of the Lemegeton of his edition, as he states therein. Another source for authentic sigils, including those for the other books of the Lemegeton is Joseph Peterson's The Lesser Key of Solomon. And lastly, the similar appearance of many of the Spirits in the Goetia, may be due to their place and time of origin, which culture and lands they originated in. Many are derived gods from Deities from ancient cultures, and the farther back you go either in time or state of civilization, the less human or humanoid supernatural entities become. Lastly, an additional observation. In the second edition of this book, which has a black cover, there appears as a frontispiece, a drawing of Lucifuge Rofocale. This was absent from the first edition which had a blue cover. For some reason, this drawing of the Prime Minister of Hell was added, which originally appeared in Christopher Hyatt and S. Json Black's Pacts with the Devil. Lucifuge Rofocale has nothing to do with the Goetia or any of the Books of the Lemegeton. But rather appears as the central character in the Grimoire of Pope Honorius, a version of which appears in the previously mentioned Pacts with the Devil, which I can thoroughly recommend, as did another reviewer. Hope all this helps.

This book really opened the door for me to ceremonial magic. The introduction and commentary on this text was extremely eye opening for me. Especially as this book describes how to work this system of magic in a practical and stripped down manner making the work easily accessible to the modern practitioner. I am also quite fond of the illustrations. They definitely serve to feed the imagination.

Este libro describe la forma de evocar los 72 espíritus del Goetia, de una manera sencilla y por lo tanto moderna, los elementos básicos continúan: círculo, triángulo, vara, sigil del espíritu pentagrama de Salomón etc... La manera de operar esta basada en las invocaciones de Aleister Crowley y en las teorías , experiencias y opiniones de los autores. Bueno para experimentar una evocación goetica en tu apartamento, con resultados que van desde espectaculares fenómenos psíquicos, a discretos , o mediocres. Este libro no ofrece garantías de éxito al 100 por 100, no obstante algún efecto se obtendrá muy bueno, regular o singular de acuerdo al talento del Mago. Valioso libro por las experiencias contadas por los autores del mismo en sus intentos rituales con la magia goetica. El lector debe tener en cuenta que el sistema operativo retratado en este libro se acerca más a una manifestación astral que a una verdadera evocación física. El libro esta profusamente ilustrado con imágenes y sigilos de cada uno de los demonios. El estilo de escritura de los autores es ameno y atractivo

Me gusto esta versión de Goetia excepto por las ilustraciones de los demonios, sinceramente me dio risa porque parecen garabatos o caricaturas que un niño dibujo. Aun así, las historias y consejos que da Lon Milo Duquete son geniales y valen la pena como en cada libro de su autoria.

The best book of Goetia i ever read. Milo just can make a very complex system understandable and practical, simplified and very effective.

I bought this book because using Wicca candle magick is not real magick. Wicca was a made up religion and misses the most important aspects of magick. The Goetia is a great book of magick but NOT FOR THE INEPT! Unless you are simply reading IF YOU HAVE NEVER WITNESSED A EVOCATION OF THE GOETIA THEN YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED FOR THE MAGICK INSIDE.