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Tree Of Life »

Book cover image of Tree Of Life by Israel Regardie

Authors: Israel Regardie, Asrael Regardie
ISBN-13: 9780877281498, ISBN-10: 0877281491
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser
Date Published: December 1972
Edition: (Non-applicable)

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Author Biography: Israel Regardie

Book Synopsis

Israel Regardie wrote The Tree of Life, a book many consider his magnum opus, in 1932. It has continued to sell for decades. And no wonder. Up until the time this book was published, very little information about true high magic was available to the public.

In this book, Regardie reveals the secrets of real magic. He begins with an explanation of what magic is and, just as importantly, what magic is not. He explains that it is a spiritual study and practice which, along with forms of yoga, forms the two branches of the tree that is mysticism. Magic is not being a medium or a psychic. Then he explains the tools of the magician, what they mean, and how to use them. He explains the techniques of evocation and invocation, skrying, and astral travel. He shows how the Qabalah unites everything. He even gives a description of the secrets of sexual magick. All of this is in a clear, lucid writing style. This book is simply a must for anyone who is, or aspires to be, a real magician.

Although Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero were friends of Regardie and are Senior Adepts of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, what changes could they have made to this classic book? Well, they did change the spelling from British style to American. And they did change his transliterations of Hebrew into the more popular style he used in his later books. But nothing vital was changed or removed. Everything else they added was complementary to the text that was there. And what incredible additions they are! Extensive annotations throughout every chapter; over 100 illustrations; more descriptive contents pages; a glossary, a bibliography and an index. They've even added a biographical note on Regardie and the importance of this book to him and to the occult world.

This book contains some of the finest occult writing that has ever been produced. And with the new material by the Ciceros, it becomes a must-have for any magician!

Table of Contents

List of Illustrationsxvii
Introduction to the Third Editionxxiii
Introductionxxxiii
Part 1Preliminaries
Chapter 1Mysticism: Magic and Yoga3
The Chaos of Modern Civilization3
The Destruction of National Organizations3
Negligence to Enter into Communion with Reality4
A Possible Cause of this Disruption7
Traditional Philosophy of Magic7
The Real Nature of Genius8
Its Root is a Spiritual Experience11
Magic as the Key to Creativity14
Yoga and Magic are the Two Branches of Mysticism14
Definitions of Both Systems17
Theurgists are the Light of the World19
Eliphas Levi and the Heavenly Man22
Chapter 2In Defense of the Magical Art27
Attacks against Theurgy27
Their Gross Injustice and Absurdity27
Man is a Child of the Gods, and to Them Must He Aspire for Union29
Magic is Not Psychism29
Has No Relation to Witchcraft31
Does Not Lead to Mediumship31
Bases of the Magical Philosophy32
The Tree of Life of the Qabalists35
Chapter 3The Qabalah39
Necessity for Philosophic Training Prior to Undertaking Practical Work39
Relation of Egyptian Magic and the Qabalah41
The Nature of Number and the Significance of Symbols43
Outline of Magical Theory of the Universe45
Tetragrammaton and the Four Worlds49
Levi's Magical Dogma60
Spiritual Hierarchies in Space61
Theurgy as Conceived by Iamblichus65
Chapter 4The Astral Light71
Definition of Astral Light and its Place in the Magical System71
How it is Conceived by Modern Science72
The Space-time Continuum74
Two Aspects are Observed in that Light77
The Moon and Mana81
Amentet and the Tuat82
The Use of the Divine Astral, and how the World may be Transformed87
Chapter 5Man the Microcosm93
The Age-old Problem of Philosophy93
Is the Universe Objective or Subjective?93
In What Way the Magicians Conceive of the Magical Hierarchies and the Human Constitution95
A Minutum Mundum96
The Mystical Sacrifice of the Ego102
The Ascent of the Ladder of Jacob to the Summit in God110
Chapter 6The Gods115
Union with the Divine is Magical Objective115
Divine is Comprehended under Many Hypostases and Guises116
A Consideration of the Gods of the Egyptians116
Each God Symbol Bears a High Significance116
The Implication of the Animal Masks140
Part 2Theory and Practice
Chapter 7Magical Correspondences, Tools, and Techniques147
A Magician's Equipment of Art147
How This Has Been Misunderstood148
Magic is a Mnemonic Process150
How Every Sense and Power is Used to Create a Spiritual Idea150
Signs and Sigils151
Perfumes153
True Meaning of Magical Circle157
Symbol of Infinite and Human Consciousness157
Names of God159
William Quan Judge159
Circle Restrains Hostile Influences160
The Altar and the Lamp162
Wand163
Wand Symbolizes Will; its Preparation and Consecration164
Cup, Sword, and Pantacle164
Imagination and its Essential Formative Nature167
Fawcett's Hypothesis170
Loyola's Spiritual Exercises172
How to Develop the Imagination for Magical Work173
The Tattvas of the Hindus174
Chapter 8The Training of the Will179
Patanjali and the Will179
What is the Will?179
A Magical Method of Increasing this Power180
The True Significance of Asceticism180
Its Dangers180
A Threefold Vow181
Pranaynma an Excellent Adjuvant189
Objections to Will-Development190
What Causes Success in the Operations of Ceremonial?191
Instances of Gross Failure193
An Example of Imbecility193
Reason Provided by Barrett194
The Answer of the Chaldaean Oracles194
The Mantic Frenzy and Enthusiasm194
Chapter 9The Vibration of God-names and Words of Power201
How does the Mantram Work?201
Various Occult Viewpoints201
Vibration of God-names is Associated with Evocation of Magical Forces, States Blavatsky202
The Power and Value of Sound202
How to Pronounce the Magical Names?205
What Then Happens205
The Secret of Invocation205
Barbarous Names of Evocation207
Examples of South American, Egyptian, and Enochian Words208
Mode of Qabalistic Analysis211
Magician Should Not Permit Meaningless Words to Enter His Sphere211
Technical Employment of the Barbarous Words212
Dancing and Music213
The Knocks213
Necessity and Effect of Circumambulation217
Chapter 10Skrying and Astral Projection221
Essential Task of Magic221
Necessity for Training the Will and Imagination221
Employment in Formation of Body of Light222
Blavatsky's Remark That He Who Travels in the Astral Body at Will an Adept222
Educating the Subtle Body223
Best Method for Traveling on the Astral223
Ritual and Assistance224
Visions225
How to Check Them Scientifically227
Precautionary Measures229
Egyptian Plans of the Astral230
The Magical Pylons231
How Death is Conquered, and Immortality While in the Body Assured238
Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram239
Its Power and Explanation239
Will and Imagination to Form the Star of Fire241
The Dog-Guardian247
Chapter 11The Assumption of Godforms253
The Most Powerful Adjunct to Invocation253
The Key of All Magical Progress253
God-forms253
How this Technique Proceeds255
Danger of Magic255
Egyptian Deities257
Maspero's Triumphant Address258
Invocation of Ra, the Sun-God259
The Results of Fellowship with the Gods259
Iamblichus260
Chapter 12The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage263
Purity Required in Magic263
What This Means263
The Holy Guardian Angel265
When Evocations May Be Undertaken265
For What Special Reasons They May Be Performed265
Genius and the Angel's Mode of Manifestation266
The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage267
A Method of Entering into Communication with the Higher Self267
Full Directions in this Ancient Technique269
The Steps Necessary270
The Vision and the Perfume276
The Invocation of the Holy Guardian Angel279
Chapter 13Grimoires and Magical Evocation291
The Evocation of the Princes of the Evil of the World291
A Rationale of the Rites of Ceremonial Evocation293
Instruction to Bride before the Mystical Marriage293
The Building of the Pyramid295
Nature, the Great Exemplar295
Its Correlation with Modern Psychological Research296
The Magical System of the Key of Solomon the King299
Uniting the Egyptian Method in Practice with the Qabalistic One301
The Goetia308
The Book of the Angel Ratziel314
Why Amateur Visions go Wrong317
Invasion of Field of Consciousness317
The Tracing of Parallels between Yoga and Magic318
How Essentially They are Identical324
How Powers are to be Treated324
Chapter 14Initiation and Group Ritual329
Dramatic Rituals in Egypt, Tibet, and India329
Fundamentals of this Branch of Magical Ceremony330
The Rationale330
Commemoration333
An Osirian Passion-play333
Third Degree of Masonic Fraternity334
Adeptus Minor Ritual of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn334
Fragments of Initiating Ritual in Egyptian Book of the Dead337
Milarepa and Marpa339
Initiation Rituals339
A Splendid Ritual in the Bacchae of Euripides340
Necessity for Personal Work341
Work Requires Patience and Imperturbability341
An Ibis and the Uraeus Serpent343
Chapter 15Theurgy Versus Spiritualism and Black Magic349
Is There a Connection Between Magic and Spiritualism?349
A Great Gulf Between them349
The Will is the Guide of the Theurgist349
Medium is a Negative Instrument349
Magical Theories Concerning Death350
What Happens when Body Dies351
Qliphotic Obsession352
Astral Shells are the Spiritualistic "Spirits"352
Why Mediums Resort to Fraud353
Their Physical Phenomena353
How a Sincere Medium May Utilize the Magical Technique355
What is Black Magic356
Evocation of Tattvic Forces356
Operations of Invisibility and Transformation356
Necromancy and Vanity360
Further Instruction on Astral Technique360
How to Employ Pentagram and Rose-cross Symbols361
Angelic Guardians of the Pylons363
Refining the Body of Light363
Harpocrates Formula363
The Eucharist364
Porphyry on Rising on the Planes365
The Road to Ain Soph366
Chapter 16Alchemy and the Mass of the Holy Ghost369
Intention to Make Clear This Outline of Magic369
An Exception to be Made369
A Secret Method of Working370
The Mass of the Holy Ghost370
It is the Quintessence of all Techniques of Magic370
Tetragrammaton and Alchemical Symbolism371
The Elixir of Life and Talismanic Consecration374
How to Employ This Mass Together with Ceremonial374
Chapter 17Prayers, Hymns, and Invocations381
An Enquiry into Ritual381
The Various Aspects of Ceremonial Invocation381
Its Eight Distinct Phases381
Several Examples of Each Type of Invocation from Egyptian, Qabalistic, Rosicrucian, Gnostic, Greek, Enochian, and Poetic Sources382
Appendix IBooks Recommended for Study421
Appendix IISources For Illustrations423
Glossary433
Bibilography487
Index495

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