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The History of Magic 2 Volume Set - Set — Ceremonial Magic

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The History of Magic 2 Volume Set - Set

Name: The History of Magic 2 Volume Set - Set
Price: 119.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781108025638

✍️ Joseph Ennemoser, Mary Howitt

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A historical analysis of magic by a Tyrolean doctor linking it to early psychology.

Ennemoser bridges medicine and mysticism by treating magic as a psychological subject. He uses his background in hypnosis to explain how past societies perceived magical forces. This perspective shifts the focus from supernatural reality to human perception and health. The book serves as a historical record of these intellectual shifts, documenting how scientific minds of the 19th century categorized occult practices. It remains a primary source for understanding the transition from mystical belief to clinical observation in Western thought.

Key Themes

Magnetism Hypnosis Magick Studies

Literary Context

Ennemoser lived from 1787 to 1854, a period when scientific inquiry began challenging traditional religious explanations for mental and physical ailments. His work reflects the tension between emerging psychological theories and established occult traditions in Europe.

Ennemoser, Joseph; , Howitt, Mary

📚 all books by this author (2) →

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Carl Jung · Mircea Eliade · Gustav Fechner · The Golden Dawn

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Ceremonial Magic

🏛 Cambridge University Press 📅 2011 📖 1028 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781108025638

Fun Fact

Ennemoser's two-volume *History of Magic* is a tour de force, offering an unparalleled historical survey from a uniquely informed perspective. It excels in bridging early scientific inquiry with esoteric traditions, revealing psychology's overlooked mystical roots. While those seeking practical spells will be disappointed, serious scholars and curious minds interested in the evolution of thought will find this a foundational text. It remains an essential work for understanding the long dialogue between science, spirit, and the human condition.

📝 Description: The History of Magic 2 Volume Set - Set

Joseph Ennemoser, a Tyrolean doctor and scientist known for his work with magnetism and hypnosis, provides a comprehensive examination of magical practices in this two-volume set. His approach reflects an early interest in psychology and the link between mental states and physical well-being, positioning him as a precursor to Freudian thought. The text investigates how historical figures understood supernatural phenomena through the lens of emerging scientific inquiry. The work covers political science history and theory alongside magick studies, offering readers a structured view of occult traditions. It draws on sources that connect mind, body, and spirit, analyzing the theoretical frameworks used in previous eras. The volumes are organized to trace the development of these ideas, moving from ancient beliefs to more modern interpretations influenced by medical science. This structure allows for a clear understanding of how magic was viewed as both a spiritual practice and a psychological phenomenon. This set suits scholars of political history and those studying the roots of parapsychology. It may not appeal to readers seeking practical spellcasting guides or purely religious texts, as it focuses on historical analysis and theoretical connections rather than ritual instruction. The physical format consists of 1028 pages bound in paperback, weighing approximately 1.34 kilograms. It is published by Cambridge University Press and carries the ISBN 9781108025638.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

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.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

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.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

This definitive two-volume set is essential for readers fascinated by the historical origins of psychology, the early scientific explorations of occult phenomena, or the complex interplay between medical science, philosophy, and mystical traditions. Discover the intellectual lineage of modern…

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

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.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, this is not a practical grimoire. Instead, it provides a scholarly, historical, and philosophical examination of magical beliefs and practices across different eras and cultures, viewed through a scientific and psychological lens.

As a trained physician and scientist, Ennemoser approached topics often dismissed as superstition with a critical yet open mind. He was a pioneer in advocating for the profound connection between the human mind and physical health, predating much of modern psychology.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

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.

📜 Historical context

Emerging from the intellectual ferment of the 19th century, Ennemoser's work stands as a pivotal text that bridged the Enlightenment's scientific rationalism with a burgeoning interest in the unseen forces of the mind. His investigations into magnetism and psychic phenomena predated Freud by decades, positioning him as a critical figure in the pre-history of psychoanalysis and modern psychological thought, rooted in a broader esoteric tradition.

📚 Glossary

Mesmerism
Tyrolean
Psychoanalysis

📔 Questions to reflect on

Considering Ennemoser's era, how might his scientific background have both aided and hindered his investigations into "magic"?
Where do you see modern echoes of Ennemoser's mind-body connection theories in contemporary holistic health or psychological practices?
How does understanding the historical context of practices like mesmerism change your perception of their legitimacy or impact?