The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

A skillfully translated 15th-century French grimoire detailing the 'Sacred Magic' received by Abraham the Jew. This text offers a rare, authentic look into medieval occult practices, guiding the reader through rigorous spiritual preparation, angelic evocation, and the mastery of profound magical powers.

Summary up to 500 words

Translated by Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers from a unique manuscript held in the Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, *The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage* presents a comprehensive system of occult instruction divided into three distinct books. The work is attributed to Abraham the Jew, who addresses his son Lamech, recounting his travels and magical achievements while warning against false practices. The text emphasizes that true magic is a divine gift received from the ancient mage Abra-Melin, intended for the honor of God and the benefit of humanity rather than mere curiosity. The First Book serves as an autobiography and advisory guide. Abraham details his life experiences and the marvelous works he accomplished, establishing the ethical framework for the student. He warns against insolence toward spirits, noting that an overbearing operator invites obsession and downfall. The text stresses the absolute necessity of courtesy, even toward evil spirits, and mandates that spirits be licensed to depart after operations to prevent possession. It also describes the rigorous preparation required, including fasting, purity, and the consecration of the oratory and bed-chamber to ward off evil. The Second Book outlines the complete procedure for obtaining magical powers. It details the convocation of good spirits to ward off evil and explains the hierarchy of the spirit world, comprising four superior princes—Lucifer, Leviathan, Satan, and Belial—and eight sub-princes, including Astaroth, Magoth, Asmodeus, and Beelzebub. The text provides extensive lists of spirit names with etymological roots, offering a comprehensive guide for summoning entities. It explains the use of specific symbols, seals, and pentacles, distinguishing between divine symbols and erroneous, corrupted ones used ignorantly. The operations depend heavily on these symbols and the planetary hours, though the author advises against rigid adherence to astrological errors. The Third Book applies the acquired powers to achieve diverse results. It covers healing maladies, prophecy, transforming animals, controlling elements, accessing treasures, and rendering oneself invisible. The text includes instructions for retaining familiar spirits, whether bound or free, and for performing chemical labours and metallurgical operations. It concludes with extensive appendices listing spirit names and their origins, serving as an essential reference for the serious student of the occult who seeks to understand the higher principles of the Qabalah and the nature of the soul.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/samuel-liddell-macgregor-mathers_sacred-magic-of-abramelin-the-mage.epub

Local file path

data/epubs/url-37611c680a6cbb90.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-02 14:21 UTC

Categories

• Religion
• Philosophy