The world of magic is one of high imagination. In this wide-ranging historical survey Gareth Knight shows how the higher imagination has been used as an aid to the evolution of consciousness, from the ancient Mystery Religions, through Alchemy, Renaissance Magic, the Rosicrucian Manifestos, Freemasonry and 19th century Magical Fraternities, up to the modern era.

Knight considers magic as a middle ground between science and religion, reconciling them in a technology of the imagination, which properly used, can bring about personal regeneration and spiritual fulfilment. He uses Coleridge's theory of the imagination as a basis for the validity of magic as science and art in its own right. Many systems and structures have come down through the ages slightly shoddy, misrepresented, maligned, misaligned. With this book a deconstruction becomes a recycling of raw material for the purposes of re-ordering and re-configuring – a righted prism, a shored up temple, a foundational re-ballasting.

"It is obvious from the beginning that we have here a work revealing the author's spiritual maturity, a work with a definite message and structure, rather than the piecemeal gathering of snippets of information which often is offered in books with this sort of title, by inferior authors with little occult understanding."
— The Hermetic Journal

ISBN: 978-1-908011-04-6
Copyright: Gareth Knight
Language: English
Pages: 208  
Binding: perfect-bound paperback
Interior print: black & white, 25 illustrations
Dimensions: 15.2cm wide × 22.9cm tall (6 x 9 in)

Published March 31st 2011

£13.99

$21.99

Sangreal Magazine review:

"As a chronicle of the evolution of consciousness and culture in Western Europe this may be compared favorably to Bronowski's Ascent of Man. The chapter on medieval magic, alchemy and the Visions of the Quest is particularly illuminating, covering as it does the Grail and Arthurian legends and the cult of the Virgin Mary."

Amazon customer review by Oakshaman:

"If you would understand the history of true magic, this volume is an excellent overview. When I wrote my own thesis in metaphysics this book was my primary reference, and inspiration. There is nothing of the cheap and sensational here. On the contrary, Knight focuses on the central fact that any magic worthy of the name is a sacred pursuit and draws its effectiveness from the realm of the Divine itself. Do you know the difference between theurgy and mere thaumaturgy? The difference is of profound importance. Knight was one of the first to point out the roots of western magic in the ancient mystery religions and their connection with the hermetic tradition. Then he went on to cover everything from Ficino's theory of natural magic, to Pico's interpretations of the Qabalah and spiritual magic, to the hermetic rediscoveries of Fludd and Dee. He even reveals that Bacon, Kepler and Newton were primarily Theurgists who would have reguarded their findings in natural philosophy ("science") to be among their lesser pursuits and accomplishments. You will even find hints of the "Invisible College" here...."