Occult: Decoding The Visual Culture of Mysticism, Magic And Divination

This volume presents philological editions of catalogues and inventories of texts belonging to the corpora of ancient Mesopotamian healing and divination specialists. The editions are complemented by detailed studies that analyse the relations between catalogues, textual sources and the development of serialised compendia, unravelling a complex history of medical text corpora and healing disciplines in 2nd and 1st millennium BCE Mesopotamia.

Playing cards are an everyday object used for gambling and game playing the world over. But the familiar deck of cards conceals hidden meanings that have links to secret societies and the occult. Why are there four suits and why hearts, spades, diamonds, clubs? What is the significance of the picture cards? What is the meaning of the symbolism of the Tarot? We look beneath the surface of the playing card and reveal an intriguing journey from their much disputed roots in China, Persia, and Egypt. And we uncover the secrets of card design, investigating rumored Masonic links and the way the design has changed to mirror the cultures and beliefs of the people who used them through the ages. What emerges is an extraordinary story that reveals the mysteries and meanings of the humble playing card–a history that is intimately entwined with the occult, voodoo, and man's fascination with mystical beliefs.

A fascinating look into the secrets of the supernatural world for curious children obsessed with magic and mystery.

From renowned scholar of the occult and creator of the world-famous Rider Waite Tarot Deck, A E Waite comes a new edition of his landmark book on magic. Featuring the original intricate illustrations, The Book of Ceremonial Magic offers an in-depth exploration of the darker side of grimoire, ceremony, demons and spirits.