Magical Libraries: What Occultists Read

Abstract

This book has been concerned so far with the traditions, individuals, and to some extent the literature that were influential in shaping the revolutionary form of British occultism emerging at the end of the nineteenth century. The examination of textual sources, however, has so far been restricted to those produced by late-Victorian occultists. We must now turn our attention to what informed the creative process behind these primary sources. An investigation into the history of magic in any period would be incomplete without considering the texts that enlightened the individuals involved. Ceremonial magic had long been an elitist branch of magic and one requiring literacy. It is rare to find a magician, in history or fiction, without an accompanying magical book. Books had long been deemed crucial to the transmission of occult knowledge and the Victorian period was no exception. In fact, the Golden Dawn’s institutionalization of magical learning ensured that the written word’s place of importance was enshrined. We have seen which rituals and texts occultists used in their actual magical practice; what remains is an examination of the written sources these adepts used to inform and construct this unique brand of magic.