The History of Magic 2 Volume Set - Set Ennemoser, Joseph

This two-volume set is a dense, scholarly exploration that demands patience and a specific academic interest. It is not suited for casual readers seeking practical spells or quick occult tips; rather, it requires an appetite for historical analysis and psychological theory. While Ennemoser’s perspective as a pioneering scientist offers unique insights into the roots of mesmerism, the text may feel dry or overly technical to those expecting mystical revelation. However, for historians of ideas and serious students of esotericism who wish to trace the scientific justification of magic, it remains an indispensable, albeit demanding, primary source.

Readers with a deep interest in the intersection of psychology and occult history will find immense value here. Ennemoser, writing as both physician and scholar, offers a rare window into how early thinkers viewed magic not merely as superstition, but as a complex phenomenon rooted in the human mind and physical well-being. It is essential for those seeking to understand the intellectual lineage of therapeutic suggestion and the historical evolution of mystical thought. If you are fascinated by how science once attempted to explain spirit, this monumental set provides the rigorous, yet esoteric, context needed to appreciate the deep interplay between mental states and magical practice.

Mind-Body Interplay

Ennemoser, a doctor, was keenly interested in how our thoughts and emotions manifest physically. This work explores historical theories and practices, from ancient healing rituals to early mesmerism, that recognized the profound, often overlooked, link between psychological states and bodily health, anticipating later psychoanalytic concepts.

Early Psychic Science

The author meticulously documents the historical development of practices like magnetism and hypnosis, not as mere parlor tricks, but as serious investigative avenues into altered states of consciousness and their potential applications. He positions these phenomena within a scientific framework, challenging the strict materialist views prevalent in his era.

Evolution of Esotericism

Far from a simple chronicle, this collection traces the philosophical underpinnings and practical manifestations of magical traditions across various cultures and epochs. Ennemoser examines how these beliefs have shaped human understanding of the universe and our place within it, highlighting magic's enduring role in intellectual history.

“The history of magic, far from being a mere collection of superstitions, reveals itself as a persistent human endeavor to comprehend and manipulate the hidden forces of existence, often predating what we now term 'science'.”

“It is within the obscure annals of ancient healing and magnetic phenomena that we discern the faint, yet undeniable, stirrings of what would later become our understanding of the psyche's profound influence over the corporeal form.”

📖 From the series “Cambridge Library Collection - Spiritualism and Esoteric Kno”

✍️ More books by this author Ennemoser, Joseph; , Howitt, Mary

🏛 Books from this publisher Cambridge University Press