The Great Wizards of Antiquity


Book Description

A Guided Tour through the Untamed Territories of Magic Book 1 of the Great Wizards of History Trilogy The history of wizardry comes alive with dozens of unique portraits capturing the most remarkable and infamous practitioners of magic and alchemy. Combining up-to-date historical scholarship and his own keen interpretations of primary texts, Guy Ogilvy develops a fascinating saga of magical thought and practice. The story begins with the prehistoric culture of the Lion Man and moves on to Orpheus and the great figures of myth. Discover the unparalleled influence of Pythagoras and the pre-Socratics as they experience the mysterious glories of Apollo's touch. Behold the leading alchemists of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance as they carry forth the surviving wisdom of the ancients, working their unique magic even as powerful social and political forces align against them. Magic is a vital element of history. The Great Wizards of Antiquity weaves together the loose threads of magic to form a comprehensive tapestry, challenging the ideas brought forth by peddlers of the mundane and returning a sense of enchantment to its rightful place in the human spirit. In this book, you will discover the beliefs and teachings of sorcerers, healers, philosophers, alchemists, and mythological figures, including: The Lion Man Animal magic & the modern mind Orpheus Incantations & the magic of music Dionysus Wild rites & the gift of wine Pythagoras Metempsychosis & the wisdom of the cave dwellers Pherekydes Open secrets & the immortality of souls The Pythia The oracle at Delphi & ecstatic prophecy Epimenides Sacred caves & the unknown gods Abaris The golden arrow & the Hyperborean Apollo Zalmoxis Thrace & the Celtic connection Hermotimus Astral travel & the preeminence of psyche Aristeas The form of a raven & the wonders of Apollo Parmenides The man who knows & the nightmare ride to hell Empedocles Bronze sandals & the four elements Zosimos Transmutation & inner purification J?bir ibn ?ayy?n Islamic alchemy & the theory of balance Jan Baptista Van Helmont The stranger & the projecting powder The Comte de Saint-Germain Universal medicine & the elixir of life Paracelsus Legendary cures & the open book of nature James Price The Royal Society & the Philosopher's Stone




The Dark Side of the Enlightenment: Wizards, Alchemists, and Spiritual Seekers in the Age of Reason


Book Description

Describes the darker pursuits that took place during the Age of Reason, including explorations of magic, alchemy, and the occult as well as the dual-role of secret societies including the Freemasons and the Rosicrucians.




Magic and Alchemy


Book Description

The word 'magic' evokes many ideas, from a stage magician performing illusions to the pyrotechnics of witches and wizards depicted in movies and on television. This book covers the history, practices, and philosophies of magic and alchemy in Western history. It also looks at the tools used by magicians and alchemists.




Wizards


Book Description

Neil Gaiman, Eoin Colfer, and many more join this magical brew [that] will enchant young adult readers and their elders as well. (Publishers Weekly) In Wizards, today's master fantasists turn their hands to tales of these magical beings, living in both ancient and modern times, as well as in fantasy realms that never were. Featuring stories by New York Times bestselling authors Neil Gaiman, Eoin Colfer and Garth Nix as well as tales from Kage Baker, Peter S. Beagle, Terry Bisson, Orson Scott Card, Terry Dowling, Andy Duncan, Jeffrey Ford, Elizabeth Hand, Nancy Kress, Tanith Lee, Patricia A. McKillip, Mary Rosenblum, Tad Williams, Gene Wolfe, and Jane Yolen.




Wizards


Book Description

From the wise and mysterious soothsayer with his long grey beard to the deathless necromancer practicing his dark magics in a forgotten dungeon, wizards have captured our imaginations since the earliest days of human storytelling, presenting us with some of our greatest heroes and villains. This book collects the tales of the most interesting, popular, and important spell-casters, including such legendary figures as Merlin, Simon Magus, Zhang Guo Lao, Nicolas Flamel, Dr John Dee, and Johann Georg Faust, and examines their place in history and legend. Written in modern language, each tale captures the drama, the tragedy, and the wonderment that has ensured that these stories have survived the passing centuries.




Wizards


Book Description

A spellbinding collection of wizardry! For centuries, people have been mesmerized by the spectacular tales of wizards. In this book, you will uncover the mystery behind these sorcerers with folklore, mythology, and poetry from every tradition in the world. From the legendary Telchines, who were entrusted with the upbringing of Olympian gods to the great, wise Gandalf in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the dazzling stories surrounding these magicians are sure to captivate anyone who has ever dreamed of mastering the arcane arts of wizardry. Whether you're interested in exploring the rich history behind these enchanting figures or want to learn more about their magical abilities, you will gain a better understanding of their impact on civilizations as you accompany these powerful conjurors on their spellbinding journeys. Complete with detailed illustrations, this book reveals the incredible power and age-old wisdom of some of the most extraordinary wizards to ever exist.




Need for Magic


Book Description

Joseph Swope's debut novel, Need for Magic explores the most powerful magic of all, peoples' needs. The beautiful Lilandra masterfully intuits the needs of everyone she meets and of the whole nation of Atani. By promising to meet those needs, she manipulates all she comes across. Even ancient wizards and a skilled Blademasters have needs. As a result, they too are played like puppets by her deft hand. By refusing to conform to the role the Goodfolk of his village assign him, Keven, a maligned bastard stable hand shows he has a deep understanding of his own needs. A travelling wizard who has had hope magically stolen from him sees a chance for hope in Keven. When the travelling duo of Keven and the wizard are violently separated, Keven is thrust into the cult-like nation of Atani. Can a man who has few needs resist someone who controls all needs? Need for Magic is also an academic examination of social psychology. By incorporating the concepts of cults, conformity and obedience, Joseph Swope shows how manipulation of individuals and groups is far too easy and far too dangerous. In fact, there has been no greater power in history than that shown by an individual who is willing to sacrifice for a group. Need for Magic contains a detailed index of the social psychology ideas used by Lilandra to bend a nation to her will.




Alchemy Jones and the Source of Magic


Book Description

Twelve-year-old science genius Zachary Jones resembles an overgrown leprechaun and thinks the worst of his troubles are enduring the teasing from his fellow classmates at Da Vinci's Middle School for Achievers in Salem, Massachusetts. But Zack has no idea he is about to become an unwilling pawn in a dangerous and epic game of magic, deceit, and world domination. After Zack's parents mysteriously disappear, an oddball pair of Irish grandparents who Zack believed to be dead show up with pets in tow even stranger than themselves. Suddenly Zack is propelled into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with ancient and dark forces with one thing in mind to recover a valuable Celtic amulet entrusted to Zack. As the stakes grow more desperate, Zack is introduced to his rich and wondrous magical heritage at Dragonbane. As he embarks on an adventure to save the world, he soon discovers himself in ways he could never have imagined. Alchemy Jones and the Source of Magic is an action-packed fantasy tale that paints a rich and mesmerizing backdrop of a world on the flipside of reality a place populated with wizards, creepy creatures, and luscious landscapes.




Wizards Tarot


Book Description

Step through the doors of Mandrake Academy . . . where you will don the robes of a magical apprentice and learn from your instructor--the tarot. Featuring gorgeous, intricately rendered digital artwork by John J. Blumen, this wonderfully unique tarot deck presents a full course in basic magic while teaching you the timeless art of reading the cards. Progress through the 78-card Rider-Waite-based deck and explore twenty-two enjoyable lessons, as taught by the Empress, professor of herbal magic; the Hierophant, professor of mythology; and other traditional figures who hail from the Major Arcana. --Gain skills in spellcasting, herbalism, runes, astrology, astral travel, shapeshifting, and other essential topics --Practice four schools of elemental magic, represented by the four suits of the Minor Arcana: fire, water, air, and earth For a study guide and more, visit www.WizardsTarot.com




Witchcraft, Magic & Alchemy


Book Description

Prints, drawings, documents, and text illuminate the development of the occult sciences to the nineteenth century