The Occult, Magic & Witchcraft: An Exploration of Modern Sorcery

by Charles Olliver

Overview

In this collection of essays, Charles W. Olliver surveys the origins of the occult, considers its relationship to religion and spiritualism, and discusses how we should deal with experiences outside our understanding through the proposed science of metapsychics.

A comprehensive overview of the hidden histories of religion, sorcery, esoterica, and superstition, The Occult, Magic&Witchcraft is a wide-ranging classic work that delves into symbols, divinatory practices, mediumship, Satanism, witchcraft - and even vampires and werewolves. From bizarre beliefs and disturbing rites to the grisly details of various witch trials, Olliver presents everything with a spirit of scientific curiosity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781398824270
Publisher:	Arcturus Publishing
Publication date:	10/01/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Charles W. Olliver was a London-based author writing about the occult in the early decades of the 20th century. His 1928 classic The Handbook of Magic&Witchcraft is considered a classic of literature about sorcery and the Western Magical Tradition. Occult, Magic&Witchcraft is an abridged edition of that seminal work.
Charles W. Olliver was a London-based author writing about the occult in the early decades of the 20th century. His 1928 classic The Handbook of Magic&Witchcraft is considered a classic of literature about sorcery and the Western Magical Tradition. Occult, Magic&Witchcraft is an abridged edition of that seminal work.

Table of Contents

Author's Preface 7

Introduction 9

I Introductory - Brief Historical Survey-Scope of Work 13

II Religious Symbolism - Growth of Human Thought - Evolution of Religious Systems - The Key to Symbolism - Its Universal Character - The Theory of Numbers - Sexual Worship and Black Magic 31

III The Kabala 81

IV Sexual Worship - Its Meaning, Origin, Evolution, and Influence 89

V The Devil-Myth - Its Origin, its Growth 115

VI Sorcery and Witchcraft - Its Pathological Aspect - Its Sexual Aspect - Witch Trials - Similarity of Confessions - Its Legal Aspect - Final Aspect of Sorcery 133

VII The Witches' Sabbat - Similar Ceremonies in Olden Days - Its Religious Origins 161

VIII Pseudo-morphic Phenomena - Vampirism - Lycanthropy - Probable Explanation 175

IX Divination, its Various Forms - Its Analogy with Modern Mediumistic Phenomena - Astrology 189

X Alchemy, its Chemical Aspect - Its Philosophical Aspect - Its Symbolism - Its Origin and Corruption 215

XI White Magic and Initiation - Its Principles - Its Misleading Writings and Ceremonies - Its True Aim 233

XII Some Aspects of Modern Metapsychics - Cryptesthesis - Telekinesis - Ectoplasmia 247

Bibliography 265

Index 283