Picatrix Books I & II: Astrological Magic Paperback – October 2, 2009

The long-awaited coherent English translation of this book of astrological magic is here. The author wanders a bit, but thoroughly covers magical theory and its relationship to astrology in Book I. In Book II, various magical images (faces, decans, and planetary) are given, along with detailed instructions for choosing astrological elections for operations. The Picatrix is a book that will be best appreciated by specialists. Readers will benefit from prior studies in Hellenic, Arabic, and medieval astrology. According to the author, magic can only be successful when the planetary arrangements are favorably linked to the magical operation. The ability to erect suitable election charts is necessary to perform the magical procedures given in this book.This is a very readable modern translation of the Latin translation. The annotations are helpful, and are included as footnotes. There are a number of typos that should have been fixed. The type face used for the fly leaf and headers is exotic, but the page numbers are almost illegible, and some are dropped off the right hand pages.A short glossary covers technical astrological terms (but does "revolution of the nativity" refer to solar returns? More likely to profections.)The bibliography is a bit skimpy for such a complicated historic text. Highly recommended for prior or supplemental reading is: Avraham bin Ezra "The Beginning of Wisdom" (ARHAT Pubns 1998). This book is a perfect supplement for a number of reasons. It gives good coverage of Arabic astrology with comprehensive definitions of planets, signs and houses, as well as correspondences somewhat neglected by the author of the Picatrix. It gives the entire scheme of Al-Biruni's bright and dark degrees (CW and JMG give this reference a question mark in footnote #104 of pg 84). Annotations in "The Beginning of Wisdom" include comparisons of the face images of Agrippa and the Picatrix.Also recommeded is Robert Zoller, "The Arabic Parts in Astrology: Lost Key to Prediction" (Inner Traditions 1980). This book includes an excellent philosophical background, a history of Arabic and medieval astrology, and an extensive compendium of Arabic Parts for constructing petition-based elections. The author of the Picatrix recommends these but does not provide them in the text.Overall, a readable edition of this important text. The Beginning of Wisdom (Translation From Hebrew)The Arabic Parts in Astrology: A Lost Key to Prediction

This is the first ever complete and cogent translation of Books 1 and 2 of Picatrix published in English, translated by experienced traditional astrologers and astrological magicians who understand the technical terms and concepts of pre-modern astrology and able to deliver the depth of Picatrix to a modern English-speaking audience. Prior to this edition it was necessary to be able to read Latin, French, Spanish, or German (or Arabic) to access this work but Chris and John have done an excellent job at the heavy lifting in rendering this difficult text into readable modern English opening it up for the first time to American, Canadian, Australian, South African, Indian and British mainstream audiences among others. Previous attempts in recent years by other editors who published Picatrix in English were frankly horrible. This one however is a winner - it is not perfect and won't win literary prizes for style, but the content itself is very clearly communicated, which is what you are mainly after am I right? I think I am.Background on the Picatrix itself is a Google search away -- I would add that it is the historical prototype of Lovecraft's "Necronomicon" and has a literary cameo in Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose. This work will enrich the studies of and be of interest to amateurs and professionals alike in the fields of astrology, Western occultism, Hermeticists, college and graduate students of Medieval and Renaissance philosophy and history, and the history of Western thought. The book claims to include the religious and spiritual teachings of the Harranian Sabians and therefore may have some relevance to those interested in the history of that group and modern descendents such as the Yezdi (at least Wikipedia says they are related.)Picatrix was source material for Western thinkers like Agrippa von Nettesheim, Guido Bonatti, Marsilio Ficino, Pico della Mirandola, Giordano Bruno, and William Lilly among others. Familiarity with Lilly's Christian Astrology and the astrological concepts therein will serve one well in grasping some parts of this text. The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy will also enrich one's experience of this work as well as classics like Tetrabiblos and Plato's Timaeus.