📕 Grimoires −29%

The Greater Key of Solomon: The Grimoire of Solomon

✍️ Mathers, Samuel
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$8.51 $12.00 Save $3.49 (29%)
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This seminal grimoire offers a window into Solomonic magic, meticulously compiled by S.L. MacGregor Mathers from various medieval manuscripts. It presents a fascinating blend of reverent invocation and potent, sometimes unsettling, ritual practices. Within its two books, practitioners will discover methods for summoning spirits, crafting protective talismans and pentacles, and undertaking diverse magical "experiments," from recovering lost items to achieving invisibility. The text also delves into Kabbalistic concepts and even details the creation of a magic carpet, all while emphasizing the practitioner's vital need for purity to safely navigate its powerful workings.

📕
Grimoires
🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2016 📖 130 pages 🌐 en 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781539028000
Fun Fact
This edition of *The Greater Key* is an absolutely essential acquisition for any serious student of ceremonial magic, offering unparalleled insight into historical Solomonic practice. It excels at presenting the rigorous, detailed rituals and ethical demands of ancient grimoire tradition. However, those seeking a simplified or modern approach to magic, or who are unprepared for the strictures of ritual purity, may find it challenging. It remains a definitive and foundational text in the canon of Western esotericism.
📚 This Book in Collections

📝 Description: The Greater Key of Solomon: The Grimoire of Solomon

One of the most renowned of all grimoires, the Greater Key of Solomon is a translated compilation of Solomonic magic taken from seven different manuscripts ranging from the 15th to 17th centuries. Compiled by Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers at the end of the 1800s, its content is partially diabolical, partially god-fearing, and completely magickal. Through the rites listed within the text, which is broken into two books, the master, or operator, is said to be capable of calling forth a number of demonic spirits and securing various powers and abilities- partly through conjuring, partly through the use of pentacles and talismans. Additional "experiments" in invisibility, restoring lost property, and more, are also listed. It contains an interesting passage regarding crafting a magic carpet, and several spiritual texts related to Kabbalah. The mage is warned repeatedly by Mathers and by Solomon (within the context of the work itself) to remain chaste and pure, for otherwise is to invoke the wrath of the entire cosmos. Fully Illustrated. This item is Not Returnable

💎 Expert review

“
💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
This compilation is a significant artifact for those studying the lineage of Western occultism, offering a direct line to medieval manuscript traditions. However, it is not suitable for casual readers or those seeking easy, self-help style spirituality. The content involves complex ritual instructions and potentially unsettling spirit commands that require serious study and ethical consideration. Readers expecting modern interpretations or psychological metaphors may find the literal approach jarring. It demands respect for its historical context and the rigorous purity standards it emphasizes. While essential for collectors and advanced practitioners, it lacks accessibility for beginners. The text is dense with archaic language and specific technical requirements that can overwhelm the uninitiated. It remains a powerful, albeit difficult, primary source for understanding the mechanics of classical grimoire magic.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a deep, authentic dive into the mechanics of classical Western magic will find this volume indispensable. It is ideal for serious practitioners or historians interested in the operational details of Solomonic rites. The book offers a unique window into how medieval authors conceptualized spiritual authority and purity. Those fascinated by the intersection of Kabbalah and ritual power will appreciate the meticulous compilation by Mathers. It provides practical methods for protection and spirit command, making it a vital resource for understanding the roots of modern ceremonial magic. If you desire to explore the unsettling yet potent aspects of historical grimoires without modern dilution, this text delivers the raw, unfiltered experience of ancient magical experiments and invocations.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5
★★★★★
If you're a serious student of ceremonial magic, a practitioner interested in historical grimoires, or someone seeking to understand the foundational texts of Western esotericism, this work is essential. It's for those prepared to engage with rigorous ritual and profound spiritual concepts.

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
E
Esoterica Books editorial team

This compilation is a significant artifact for those studying the lineage of Western occultism, offering a direct line to medieval manuscript traditions. However, it is not suitable for casual readers or those seeking easy, self-help style spirituality. The content involves complex ritual instructions and potentially unsettling spirit commands that require serious study and ethical consideration. Readers expecting modern interpretations or psychological metaphors may find the literal approach jarring. It demands respect for its historical context and the rigorous purity standards it emphasizes. While essential for collectors and advanced practitioners, it lacks accessibility for beginners. The text is dense with archaic language and specific technical requirements that can overwhelm the uninitiated. It remains a powerful, albeit difficult, primary source for understanding the mechanics of classical grimoire magic.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While foundational, the *Greater Key* outlines complex and demanding rituals. It is generally recommended for those with prior experience in esoteric studies or a mentor, given its emphasis on precise execution and the potential spiritual risks involved.
The text details various spiritual entities, including both benevolent intelligences associated with planetary spheres and more challenging, often termed "demonic," entities. The focus is on their conjuration and binding for specific magical purposes.

📖 Who should read this

If you're a serious student of ceremonial magic, a practitioner interested in historical grimoires, or someone seeking to understand the foundational texts of Western esotericism, this work is essential. It's for those prepared to engage with rigorous ritual and profound spiritual concepts.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Ancient Solomonic Rituals

This foundational text meticulously outlines the ceremonial practices attributed to King Solomon. It compiles methods and invocations from centuries of tradition, detailing the precise steps, tools, and timings required for potent magical operations. Readers gain insight into historical grimoire structure and the detailed preparation essential for engaging with complex magical systems.

Commanding Spiritual Entities

A core focus of the *Greater Key* is the systematic approach to interacting with and controlling various spiritual beings. From benevolent intelligences to more challenging demonic forces, the grimoire provides specific conjurations and binding rituals. It explores the intricate balance of reverence and authority necessary to compel spirits into service for desired outcomes.

The Adept's Purity

Throughout its pages, the work consistently stresses the paramount importance of the practitioner's moral and physical cleanliness. Mathers, drawing from the original texts, repeatedly warns that a lack of chastity or spiritual purity risks catastrophic consequences, invoking cosmic wrath. This ethical emphasis highlights the profound spiritual responsibility inherent in Solomonic magic.

📜 Historical context

Compiled by S.L. MacGregor Mathers in the late 19th century, this volume represents a pivotal translation of Solomonic magical manuscripts dating from the 15th to 17th centuries. It stands as a cornerstone in the Western esoteric tradition, influencing countless practitioners and secret societies, and remains a primary reference for understanding ceremonial magic's historical development and practical application.

📚 Glossary

Grimoire
Solomonic Magic
Pentacle

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. How might the emphasis on "chastity and purity" in historical magical texts resonate with or diverge from modern ethical considerations in spiritual practice?
  2. Considering the detailed instructions for spirit conjuration, what are the potential psychological and spiritual implications for a practitioner engaging with such rites?
  3. How does the blend of "diabolical" and "god-fearing" elements within this grimoire challenge or confirm your understanding of traditional Western esotericism?

🏛 Books from this publisher Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

All books from this publisher →
Morals and Dogma
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Pike, Albert
Morals and Dogma
$27.99
86
Goetia of Shadows: Illustrated Luciferian Grimoire
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Adam Iniquity, Michael W Ford
Goetia of Shadows: Illustrated Luciferian Grimoire
$14.99
86
Grimorium Verum: The True Grimoire
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Tarl Warwick, Unknown Author
Grimorium Verum: The True Grimoire
$7.52
78
Ars Goetia: Book I of the Lemegeton
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Mathers, Samuel MacGregor
Ars Goetia: Book I of the Lemegeton
$8.47
86
Spellbook and Guide of Ancient Witchcraft: Spells, Charms, Potions and Enchantments for Wiccans
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Books, Shadow
Spellbook and Guide of Ancient Witchcraft: Spells, Charms, Potions and Enchantments for Wiccans
$12.98
81
The Arbatel of Magick: The Magick of the Ancients -19%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Author, Unknown
The Arbatel of Magick: The Magick of the Ancients
$8.08 $10.00
86
The Santa Muerte: The Origins, History, and Secrets of the Mexican Folk Saint
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Vazquez Lozano, Gustavo
The Santa Muerte: The Origins, History, and Secrets of the Mexican Folk Saint
$12.32
78
Metaphysical Anatomy Technique Volume 2: Your Body Is Talking Are You Listening? -51%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Gupta, Sumit
Metaphysical Anatomy Technique Volume 2: Your Body Is Talking Are You Listening?
$19.95 $41.00
78

You might also like

See more →
The Philosophy Of Natural Magic -54%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Agrippa, Henry Cornelius
The Philosophy Of Natural Magic
$9.93 $22.00
92
The Book of Forbidden Knowledge: Black Magic, Superstition, Charms, and Divination -15%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Smith &Co, Johnson
The Book of Forbidden Knowledge: Black Magic, Superstition, Charms, and Divination
$8.47 $10.00
86
Ars Goetia: Book I of the Lemegeton
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Mathers, Samuel MacGregor
Ars Goetia: Book I of the Lemegeton
$8.47
86
Your Invisible Power
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Behrend, Genevieve
Your Invisible Power
$8.63
86
El Misterio de la Energia Psiquica Schellhammer, Eduard
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Schellhammer, Eduard
El Misterio de la Energia Psiquica Schellhammer, Eduard
$8.35
86
El Kybalion Volnie, Alejandro -58%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Alejandro Volnie, Tres Iniciados
El Kybalion Volnie, Alejandro
$8.35 $20.00
86
The Kybalion: A Study of The Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Initiates, Three
The Kybalion: A Study of The Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece
$8.34
86
Aradia: The Gospel of the Witches
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Leland, Charles
Aradia: The Gospel of the Witches
$8.70
86
Corpus Hermeticum: The Divine Pymander -25%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Trismegistus, Hermes
Corpus Hermeticum: The Divine Pymander
$8.93 $12.00
86
The Arbatel of Magick: The Magick of the Ancients -19%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Author, Unknown
The Arbatel of Magick: The Magick of the Ancients
$8.08 $10.00
86

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist