The Encyclopedia of Magic and Alchemy

385 Pages·2006·10.53 MB·English

by  Rosemary Ellen Guiley

The Encyclopedia of
MAGIC and ALCHEMY
For William G. Fellows
The Encyclopedia of
MAGIC and ALCHEMY
Rosemary Ellen Guiley
FOREWORD BY
Donald Michael Kraig
The Encyclopedia of Magic and Alchemy
Copyright © 2006 by Visionary Living, Inc.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Guiley, Rosemary.
The encyclopedia of magic and alchemy / Rosemary Ellen Guiley.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8160-6048-7 (hc : alk. paper)
1. Magic—Encyclopedias. 2. Alchemy—Encyclopedias. I. Title.
BF1588.G85 2006
133.4’303—dc22 2005027036
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C
ONTENTS
s s
FOREWORD vii
INTRODUCTION xi
ENTRIES A–Z 1
BIBLIOGRAPHY 349
INDEX 355

F
OREWORD
s s
by Donald Michael Kraig
In the 16th century, Pierre Charron, the famous Roman past (much to the chagrin of many scientists, as well as
Catholic philosopher, moralist, preacher, and friend of debunkers and those who have usurped the term skeptic
Michel de Montaigne, wrote, “The true science and the to represent their rationalization for an obsessive need not
true study of man is man.” Poet Alexander Pope repeated just to denounce, but to attempt to silence any who dare
this belief in the 18th century with his better-known to have a philosophy other than their own übermaterial-
statement, “The proper study of mankind is man.” If these ism). They would logically plan out their experiments and
two eminent gentlemen are correct, the study of magic carefully record their results. They would eliminate other
and alchemy should be at the forefront of the investiga- potential causes of their results, repeat experiments, and
tions of all educated persons. share results with others to see if their experiments could
And yet, quite obviously, they are not. In the world be reproduced. The famous mathematician and physi-
of knowledge, magic and alchemy usually lie overlooked cist, Sir Isaac Newton, creator of the famous three laws of
and ignored, discarded and hidden like a polyester “lei- motion studied by students of physics all over the world,
sure suit” we are too embarrassed to admit that we ever wrote more on alchemy than any other subject (more than
purchased and would be even more embarrassed to admit a million words).
that we wore. We are, after all, far too enlightened to have If a person sees a movie or reads a novel about vam-
ever believed in anything so quaint and crackpot. Cer- pires, he or she may think, “That’s scary,” or “That’s fun,”
tainly today only the uneducated, the gullible, and the but they know that it is just a fi ction and not true. How-
cranks would ever waste their time studying such foolish- ever, most of our knowledge of magic and alchemy are not
ness. Magic? Alchemy? Don’t make me laugh. derived from a study of mages and alchemists themselves
The story of magic and alchemy, however, is the story but from those who would denounce them or use them
of humanity. It is fi lled with hope and ecstasy, failure and as little more than a “plot point” in a novel or fi lm. Curi-
despair. It is the greedy and self-centered search for ter- ously, rather than thinking that these interpretations of
restrial power and the spiritual striving for transcendence the subjects are “just a fi ction and not true,” we accept the
and a glimpse of the very person of God. Whether it is the myths and misunderstandings as valid representations. If
seeking of gold to amass personal wealth, the creation of magic and alchemy were individuals, they could sue in
a golem to defend a people against oppression, or a magi- court for libel and slander.
cian of the East meditating to achieve advanced levels of Is it any wonder, then, that most people who come to
spirituality, virtually every aspect of humanity—the same study magic today do so with the false expectation that
ones revealed in the plays of Greece and Shakespeare, the they can use these methods to obtain power quickly and
Bible, the Koran, and the Mahabharata and in the works easily over others or to have a miracle when all other
of Freud and his metaphoric progeny—was exhibited by hopes have failed? And when their brief explorations do
those who studied and practiced these ancient arts and not give them the results that they saw in a fi lm or comic
sciences. book, is it any wonder that they become disappointed
And indeed, sciences they are! The basic technique and turn away? Society has built a massive false image,
of experimental science, commonly called the scientifi c a factual straw man, blithely declaring of the misrepre-
method, was originated by the alchemists of centuries sentation, “This is magic!” And when this false image is
vii
viii The Encyclopedia of Magic and Alchemy
revealed to be nothing but straw, incapable of achieving rabbi or imam? For religions to exist and survive, magic
anything, disenchantment is the inevitable result. must be forbidden or strictly controlled.
I remember, as a youth, receiving a chemistry set for Profane sources such as governments traditionally
my birthday. I tried an experiment from the all-too-brief forbade magic, too, although today they simply mock the
booklet that came with it, and did not experience the science. If you have the power to achieve any goal and the
result that was described in the book. My mother told me, spiritual wisdom to know that you are free to do whatever
“You did something wrong.” Most people who attempt you will, and if at the same time you are responsible for
magic today, with skills based on bad books or silly fi lms, your actions, then governmental threats no longer have
also do not end with the desired results. But their conclu- an effect on you. True magicians are threats to both reli-
sion is not that they did something wrong. Rather, they gions and governments not for what they do but for who
conclude that magic does not work. But what if it does? they are: liberated, responsible, independent people.
What if magic is not the straw man that is assembled by Most of the famous fathers of the science of astron-
the media, supported by many religions, and denounced omy from ages past were actually astrologers. Astronomy
by the materialists to defend their rapidly crumbling, was simply a sideline to help them in their calculations.
thought-limiting paradigm? What if magic and alchemy Similarly, many of the famous scientists of the past were
are real? also alchemists. Already mentioned was Sir Isaac New-
Magic today is studied and practiced by many tens of ton. Other famous alchemists include Roger Bacon, Tycho
thousands of people all over the world. Those who get past Brahe, and the father of toxicology and modern allopathic
the aforementioned desire for power over others or for a medicine, Paracelsus.
miracle cure for their problems discover magic’s ultimate Alchemy is even more hidden than magic, but it is alive
secret: As I have written many times, “Magic isn’t some- and thriving today. For years there were classes available
thing you do. Magic is something you are.” Real magic in San Jose, California, for members of the AMORC Rosi-
is not about gaining power over others: it is about gain- crucians. One of those students, Dr. Albert Richard Rie-
ing power over yourself. And you are doing it 24 hours del, took the name “Frater Albertus,” wrote several books
a day, seven days a week. Magic is a way to learn how to on the subject, and actually led a school that taught many
control all of your normal, confl icting desires, thoughts, hundreds of people, including the late Dr. Israel Regardie
and actions and unite them with the power of the uni- (who is described, referred to, and quoted in the body of
verse—some might call it the Will of God—to act like a this book).
thousand people working in harmony to achieve a desired Traditionally there were two basic themes in alchemy.
end. With power like that, who needs to control others? Curiously the most famous is perhaps the least being cur-
Note, however, that this does not occur outside of the rently explored, the conversion of base metals into gold.
real world. This means that magic is not supernatural. With modern advances in science, however, such amazing
With proper training, knowledge, and practice, you could magic may not be so unusual. Already, precious gems that
easily perform magic to improve your fi nances. But this are indistinguishable from natural ones are being created
does not mean, as shown in fi lms and fi ction, that a pile in laboratories. Why not metals? The other direction was
of gold coins would suddenly appear at your feet. That the creation of the universal panacea—the cure for all
would be supernatural, something magic is not. Instead, diseases and the source for the extension of life. Even as
it would harness your own abilities, and that of the uni- you read this, people are working in modern laboratories
verse, to improve your fi nancial situation. Perhaps a rela- to fi nd cures for pharmaceutical companies, as well as in
tive would send you a gift in the mail. Maybe you would alchemical laboratories to create more magical remedies.
receive a raise at work or a better-paying job. In living alchemy, there are three major trends.
Magic is in harmony with the universe. It has its own The fi rst could be called the literal or traditional path.
set of natural rules or laws that are as invariable as the Researchers are literally interpreting classical texts to see
law of gravity. The question is, how do you learn such what they can create. The second is the mystical trend.
harmony? The journey to fi nd a satisfying answer to this People who follow this path see the classical texts as
question eventually leads a student to move practices and metaphoric. The concept of turning base metals to gold is
studies of magic from being mere physical actions com- taken as a metaphor for turning our base and materialistic
bined with memorized data to a quest for something more selves into more spiritual persons. Its formulae include
spiritual, the ultimate quest of all mystics, to unite, if a type of deconstruction of the ancient texts to describe
only for a moment, with the Divine. In the mystical tradi- breathing, meditative, and other practices to achieve the
tions of India, it is taught how to achieve magical pow- spiritual ecstasies usually left to the descriptions of the
ers (siddhis), but that they may get in the way of spiritual mystical philosophers of India and Asia.
advancement. The third trend may be the most controversial. Like
This is, perhaps, one of the keys as to why, when it is the mystical, it reinterprets the ancient alchemical texts,
not mocked, magic is hated and feared. After all, if you but instead of looking at them as metaphors for mystical
have direct communications with the Divine, why would practices, the instructions are seen as codes for sexual
you need an intercessor in the form of priest or prelate, practices that are similar to some of the mysticomagi-
Foreword ix
cal sexual practices of the Indian Tantrics and Chinese mate forms of magic is the ability to have whatever you
Taoists. need before you realize you need it. But there is a secret
Magic and alchemy have evolved in different ways in to this concept. It is not about acquisition. Rather, it is
virtually every culture on this planet. In cultures that about changing yourself so that as you become more and
actively forbade the practices, magic and alchemy fl our- more spiritualized, the need for things or “attachments”
ished, either in hidden grottos or in the back rooms of the becomes less and less. You have all you desire because
wealthy and powerful. Thousands of volumes have been you fi nd happiness, joy, and bliss with what you have.
written on the history and practices of these two sciences. Can you imagine a world where people were fi lled with
happiness, joy, and bliss? How would it be different? Cer-
All are highly incomplete, no matter how complete they
tainly, there would be no wars as there would be no need
may claim to be.
for them. Such a world may not be immediately possible.
That is why the book you have in your hands can be
But can you imagine a world where your life is fi lled with
such a valuable resource. As with any encyclopedic book,
happiness, joy, and bliss? How would your life be differ-
entries, by necessity, are brief. They can only give an over-
ent? Would you like that?
view and a glimpse of a topic as if seen through a glass
Then I invite you to explore that world. In my experi-
darkly. Other books end here, but Ms. Guiley has included
ence, happiness, joy, and bliss are attainable on a personal
resources for further reading after her entries. Because of
basis. From that we can expand to a global consciousness
this design, this should not be “just another book” on the
that can change the world. Take a moment to imagine
subject. Rather, it should be the fi rst resource for discov-
what could be rather than being unhappy with what is. To
ering the essence of magic and alchemy, the beginning
this end I invite you to explore magic and alchemy.
from which you can expand your study to any level of
expertise you desire.
And what is it you desire? There is a tradition in —Donald Michael Kraig
both Tantric and Taoist philosophy that one of the ulti- Author, Modern Magick