Describes the darker pursuits that took place during the Age of Reason, including explorations of magic, alchemy, and the occult as well as the dual-role of secret societies including the Freemasons and the Rosicrucians.

A Guided Tour through the Untamed Territories of Magic Book 1 of the Great Wizards of History Trilogy The history of wizardry comes alive with dozens of unique portraits capturing the most remarkable and infamous practitioners of magic and alchemy. Combining up-to-date historical scholarship and his own keen interpretations of primary texts, Guy Ogilvy develops a fascinating saga of magical thought and practice. The story begins with the prehistoric culture of the Lion Man and moves on to Orpheus and the great figures of myth. Discover the unparalleled influence of Pythagoras and the pre-Socratics as they experience the mysterious glories of Apollo's touch. Behold the leading alchemists of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance as they carry forth the surviving wisdom of the ancients, working their unique magic even as powerful social and political forces align against them. Magic is a vital element of history. The Great Wizards of Antiquity weaves together the loose threads of magic to form a comprehensive tapestry, challenging the ideas brought forth by peddlers of the mundane and returning a sense of enchantment to its rightful place in the human spirit. In this book, you will discover the beliefs and teachings of sorcerers, healers, philosophers, alchemists, and mythological figures, including: The Lion Man Animal magic & the modern mind Orpheus Incantations & the magic of music Dionysus Wild rites & the gift of wine Pythagoras Metempsychosis & the wisdom of the cave dwellers Pherekydes Open secrets & the immortality of souls The Pythia The oracle at Delphi & ecstatic prophecy Epimenides Sacred caves & the unknown gods Abaris The golden arrow & the Hyperborean Apollo Zalmoxis Thrace & the Celtic connection Hermotimus Astral travel & the preeminence of psyche Aristeas The form of a raven & the wonders of Apollo Parmenides The man who knows & the nightmare ride to hell Empedocles Bronze sandals & the four elements Zosimos Transmutation & inner purification J?bir ibn ?ayy?n Islamic alchemy & the theory of balance Jan Baptista Van Helmont The stranger & the projecting powder The Comte de Saint-Germain Universal medicine & the elixir of life Paracelsus Legendary cures & the open book of nature James Price The Royal Society & the Philosopher's Stone

A comprehensive illustrated reference guide with more than 400 entries on the subjects of magic and alchemy.

The word 'magic' evokes many ideas, from a stage magician performing illusions to the pyrotechnics of witches and wizards depicted in movies and on television. This book covers the history, practices, and philosophies of magic and alchemy in Western history. It also looks at the tools used by magicians and alchemists.

Since ancient times, the mystical and magical have inspired countless stories of men and women wielding special powers. Among these are wizards, humans with immense magical ability. Related to witches, these beings have been shrouded in their own folktales and fairy stories. Some wizards are said to be good, while others are bad. Today, the most well-known contemporary wizard is Harry Potter, the fictitious hero of J. K. Rowling's imaginative series. This book explores the wonders of wizardry, from ancient times to the present day, and explains how the wizard fits into today's notion of mythology.

Neil Gaiman, Eoin Colfer, and many more join this magical brew [that] will enchant young adult readers and their elders as well. (Publishers Weekly) In Wizards, today's master fantasists turn their hands to tales of these magical beings, living in both ancient and modern times, as well as in fantasy realms that never were. Featuring stories by New York Times bestselling authors Neil Gaiman, Eoin Colfer and Garth Nix as well as tales from Kage Baker, Peter S. Beagle, Terry Bisson, Orson Scott Card, Terry Dowling, Andy Duncan, Jeffrey Ford, Elizabeth Hand, Nancy Kress, Tanith Lee, Patricia A. McKillip, Mary Rosenblum, Tad Williams, Gene Wolfe, and Jane Yolen.

Transform Your Mind and Soul to Find Your Highest Self There's a lot more to alchemy than turning lead into gold. Alchemists are committed to not only the transformation of actual substances with elements but also the transformation of themselves. This beginner's guide teaches you how to refine the baser parts of yourself (such as your fears, doubts, and anger) and take steps to uncover your truest, enlightened self. Know Your History—Learn all about alchemy's roots and basic principles, including its three primary facets: physical, spiritual, and mental. Discover Who You Are—Insightful activities and introspective journaling exercises make alchemy accessible. Expand Your Learning—Explore illustrated vignettes on notable alchemists, like Nicolas Flamel and Christina of Sweden, along with charts on the Ladder of the Planets and their corresponding elemental associations. Bring positive change into your life with the transformative powers of alchemy in this beginner's guide.

This book began with a simple question: when readers such as us encounter the term magic or figures of magicians in early modern texts, dramatic or otherwise, how do we read them? In the twenty-first century we have recourse to an array of genres and vocabulary from magical realism to fantasy fiction that does not, however, work to read a historical figure like John Dee or a fictional one he inspired in Shakespeare's Prospero. Between longings to transcend human limitation and the actual work of producing, translating, and organizing knowledge, figures such as Dee invite us to re-examine our ways of reading magic only as metaphor. If not metaphor then what else? As we parse the term magic, it reveals a rich context of use that connects various aspects of social, cultural, religious, economic, legal and medical lives of the early moderns. Magic makes its presence felt not only as a forms of knowledge but in methods of knowing in the Renaissance. The arc of dramatists and texts that this book draws between Doctor Faustus, The Tempest, The Alchemist and Comus: A Masque at Ludlow Castle offers a sustained examination of the epistemologies of magic in the context of early modern knowledge formation. Please note: Taylor & Francis does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Even as children follow the dots to complete images of basilisks (a treacherous, monstrous mix of dragon, lizard, serpent, rooster, and snake), centaurs, and cauldrons, they'll also find out about the fascinating history of alchemy, arithmancy, and other forms and symbols of enchantment. For every picture, there's background lore and an intriguing "did you know?" fact. From dragons and druids to elves and fairies, and Merlin too, it's a truly captivating compilation.