Mysticism, Alchemy and Magic

Eliphas Lvi was steeped in the Western occult tradition and a master of the Rosicrucian interpretation of the Qabalah, which forms the basis of magic as practiced in the West today. The Key of the Mysteries represents the culmination of Lvi's thoughts and is written with subtle and delicate irony.

As human beings, we live in a world of symbols. From traffic signs to the very letters that comprise these words, symbols are woven into every aspect of daily life. Since prehistoric times humans have used symbolic representation to communicate with each other and with the divine.

The sexual act is possibly the most potent - and pleasurable - gateway to the primordial and the divine. From the Tantric mysteries of Hinduism and Buddhism and the inner alchemy of Taoism, to the sacrament of the bridal chamber in Christianity - and, of course, the traditions of Western Magic and Witchcraft - sex pervades the highest and most secret teachings all over the world.

Herbs have been used for medicine, magic, and ritual for centuries. The ancient arts of herbal alchemy and herbal magick combine the healing and energizing effects of herbs (roots, leaves, flowers, resins, and essential oils) with the cycles of the natural world?the astrological movement of the stars and planets, and the cycles of the earth’s seasons.