I recommend reading The Picatrix

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Desecrated
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I recommend reading The Picatrix

Post by Desecrated »

I've just finished with this book and I felt like I'm responsibly to recommend this text.

I got the latest translation of John Michael Greer and Christopher Warnock.

The really good thing about this translation is that it's easy to read. They have done a really good job making the text flow modern and not have that "Ye Olde English" feel that some people tend to add to old magic books.

The text in itself is also surprisingly modern at some points. I was stricken at how contemporary some of the magic seemed, the first book could have been written yesteryear.
It did however expose me to my own flaws. I thought I knew about planetary magic and astrology but I was painfully wrong. This book is a key to some very advanced astrological magic that you won't find on your local bookshelf.

But it takes on a twist near the end of the third book.
I've asked earlier on this forum if there isn't any real books about black magic. Well, this is it. This book goes dark, and I mean Dark.
If you're easily offended, do not read this book.

When I started reading this, I thought it would be just another dusty tome of ancient magic that has no relevance in our modern practice. But I actually think it does. Sure there are some parts that would be very hard to follow and some parts that are probably highly illegal, but the mentality behind it and the philosophy presented in this book is still useful for the modern magician interested in ceremonial magic.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Illustrated-P ... 1312941812

http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/picatrix.html

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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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Oh wow, it's originally Arabian? Now that's gonna be something fun reading especially since there's such little focus from Western POVs about anything even remotely Islamic. I'll definitely give these books a read. Thanks Des.
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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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Thanks for this awesome review!

I skimmed a version of this book in the past, but I never payed it much attention. With your ringing endorsement, I may actually pick up a solid copy.
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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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cyberdemon wrote:Oh wow, it's originally Arabian? Now that's gonna be something fun reading especially since there's such little focus from Western POVs about anything even remotely Islamic. I'll definitely give these books a read. Thanks Des.
It is originally Moorish (arabs living in spain) So there is both arabis elements and european elements in it.
It also mention India and talks about horary astrology but it still describes angels and other Christian themes. (Michael, Raphael so on). Of course islam has these elements as well but it does seem Christian in origin. At least the first book.

The astrology on the other hand is roman OR the translators have deliberately translated it to roman terms. <the zodiac is scorpio, sagittarius and so on.

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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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The joys of searching for books online. I can only find vol I and vol II in PDF. Oh well plenty to read nonetheless. I'll miss out on the blood and guts probably.
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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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Got it! Time to start reading at 2am.
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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

Post by corvidus »

I've considered reading this one, but it always seems to get buried in the pile that is my amazon wish-list....

If I might be able to ask a personal question, what was the most interesting flaw that it revealed to you??

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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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I've just finished speed reading it and honestly this book is beyond me. I'm going to reread it several times now, which is something I rarely ever do with a book. Des is right, this book has pure evil locked inside it. It also has plenty of ceremonial magick not unlike the grimoire by AE Waite.

Ohhh man my brain hurts.
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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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corvidus wrote:
If I might be able to ask a personal question, what was the most interesting flaw that it revealed to you??
There is a whole fucking world of deep advanced astrology that I've never even dreamed about.

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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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cyberdemon wrote:I've just finished speed reading it and honestly this book is beyond me.
Ohhh man my brain hurts.
I'm pretty sure at least some of the book is written in code. I get that nagging feeling in the back of my head that there is something more going on. Because some chapters are so easy to read, and then; some chapters are just *mindfuck*.

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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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Desecrated wrote:
cyberdemon wrote:I've just finished speed reading it and honestly this book is beyond me.
Ohhh man my brain hurts.
I'm pretty sure at least some of the book is written in code. I get that nagging feeling in the back of my head that there is something more going on. Because some chapters are so easy to read, and then; some chapters are just *mindfuck*.

Even books that aren't purposely coded often hide a lot of what they intend to portray. Some things just won't make sense, no matter how hard you try, until you fully understand certain other concepts involved. I imagine this book is of the higher caliber of writing, so I'm sure that a lot of people would have issues with it.

I'm really interested to learn these secrets of advanced Astrology that you mention. I'm sure I have a lot to learn myself in that regard.
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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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Haelos wrote:
Desecrated wrote:
cyberdemon wrote:I've just finished speed reading it and honestly this book is beyond me.
Ohhh man my brain hurts.
I'm pretty sure at least some of the book is written in code. I get that nagging feeling in the back of my head that there is something more going on. Because some chapters are so easy to read, and then; some chapters are just *mindfuck*.

Even books that aren't purposely coded often hide a lot of what they intend to portray. Some things just won't make sense, no matter how hard you try, until you fully understand certain other concepts involved. I imagine this book is of the higher caliber of writing, so I'm sure that a lot of people would have issues with it.

I'm really interested to learn these secrets of advanced Astrology that you mention. I'm sure I have a lot to learn myself in that regard.
No it's not just that. This book is legit above and beyond anything I've read so far. Even the chocolate syrup infused psychobabble that is Liber AL vel Legis is less complex than this.. thing. There's definitely stuff hidden in it and I plan on trying to figure some of it out. Then there's the segment on human reproduction that reeks of automatic-writing..

Another thing that strikes me is the art-style of all the symbols pictured throughout the book. Is this style characteristic of something that I don't know of? Maybe it has a specific name? I don't know, but either way, they look a lot like the way all the sigils in my beloved Standard Set is pictured. All those dots and lines.

I need to re-read the mass text areas of Picatrix again, first, then I'm going back to the ceremonial magick instructions 'cause I'm definitely going to attempt "invoking" Venus or Moon demons. Speaking of which, maybe it's the association of the Arabians and Islam with the moon which led to there being a huge segment dedicated to just the moon..?
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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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cyberdemon wrote:I need to re-read the mass text areas of Picatrix again, first, then I'm going back to the ceremonial magick instructions 'cause I'm definitely going to attempt "invoking" Venus or Moon demons. Speaking of which, maybe it's the association of the Arabians and Islam with the moon which led to there being a huge segment dedicated to just the moon..?
You could do this very easily anyway, provided you have the knowledge of how to mentally travel to these realms and contact spirits yourself (which you should do anyway, instead of using the entities from grimoires) as well as the knowledge of how to evoke/invoke, which is taught very well by Bardon (not trying to spam his works, but seriously. You guys can do this stuff months ago.)

If, specifically, invocation is something you seek, I recommend you also familiarize yourself with Bardon's Practice of Magical Evocation and Waite's Book of Ceremonial Magic.
Both are absolutely invaluable resources on the matter, and you don't actually need to know any other information to be able to perform these kinds of spells. Bardon for the practice (with a decent potion of good theory) and Waite primarily for theory.
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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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Haelos wrote:You could do this very easily anyway, provided you have the knowledge of how to mentally travel to these realms and contact spirits yourself (which you should do anyway, instead of using the entities from grimoires) as well as the knowledge of how to evoke/invoke, which is taught very well by Bardon (not trying to spam his works, but seriously. You guys can do this stuff months ago.)

If, specifically, invocation is something you seek, I recommend you also familiarize yourself with Bardon's Practice of Magical Evocation and Waite's Book of Ceremonial Magic.
Both are absolutely invaluable resources on the matter, and you don't actually need to know any other information to be able to perform these kinds of spells. Bardon for the practice (with a decent potion of good theory) and Waite primarily for theory.
Haelos I've read both those books already.. Ages ago.. I've been using stuff from Bardon and Waite with generous results for a long time now.

Anyway what I mean when I say I need to re read Picatrix on this topic is because of two things. First is the theory part. I need to properly understand the favourable items and aspects of the general ritual summoning for a specific celestial body. Secondly, I need the Picatrix's instructions for the astrology part. Like it should be obvious that it's probably a really bad idea to invoke lunar energy during a waning/sleeping moon, when it's in the influence of some star adversely affecting the goals of the invocation, etc. and so on. All the good times for such invocations are nicely written down. A bit of chart work and calculating star positioning later I can have an above average opportunity to do something big.

Yeah I know, they're not necessary. But first of all, they are VERY influential, and secondly I've only invoked demon-class entities so far, and not any of the celestial-class entities who normally have specific maintenance and moderation work to do already.




You should read the Picatrix.
I'll lend you an all-volume PDF of one of the older translations if you like.
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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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cyberdemon wrote: You should read the Picatrix.
I'll lend you an all-volume PDF of one of the older translations if you like.
I honestly probably have the same copy. I'll be looking into getting the version Desecrated listed when I have the extra (whatever).

And I guess I see what you mean; You're trying to do one-man "coven" magick.
Yeah, there's a lot that you can get out of that, and I'm not denying it. It's just also as you said: It's not needed.
That was the only point I was trying to make.
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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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Haelos wrote:And I guess I see what you mean; You're trying to do one-man "coven" magick.
Yeah, there's a lot that you can get out of that, and I'm not denying it. It's just also as you said: It's not needed.
That was the only point I was trying to make.
Oh, no, I've a whole coven under me but we've long since gone on vacation.
Nothing's ever really "needed". Sometimes I just want to be stylish.
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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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Desecrated I was following your thread "Is there any real black magick" all this time. It is also very interesting for me, since we all hear these legends about the book that drives you mad as you read it, or only by the sheer looks of it.
So when you say
Desecrated wrote:But it takes on a twist near the end of the third book.
I've asked earlier on this forum if there isn't any real books about black magic. Well, this is it. This book goes dark, and I mean Dark.
If you're easily offended, do not read this book.
can I ask what specifically is Dark in this book? If that's something not to write here please give me details through a pm.

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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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RockDemon wrote:Desecrated I was following your thread "Is there any real black magick" all this time. It is also very interesting for me, since we all hear these legends about the book that drives you mad as you read it, or only by the sheer looks of it.
So when you say
Desecrated wrote:But it takes on a twist near the end of the third book.
I've asked earlier on this forum if there isn't any real books about black magic. Well, this is it. This book goes dark, and I mean Dark.
If you're easily offended, do not read this book.
can I ask what specifically is Dark in this book? If that's something not to write here please give me details through a pm.
Animal sacrifice, human sacrifice, how to use dead human parts of the body for spells. Animal brains, tons of blood, binding spells to make women your personal prostitutes and then wipe their memory. Any and every kind of manipulation spell you can think of.
How to use the severed vaginas of wolfs and dogs to make love spells.....

It goes pretty fucking dark.

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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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Desecrated wrote:How to use the severed vaginas of wolfs and dogs to make love spells.....

This.
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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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Desecrated wrote:
Animal sacrifice, human sacrifice, how to use dead human parts of the body for spells. Animal brains, tons of blood, binding spells to make women your personal prostitutes and then wipe their memory. Any and every kind of manipulation spell you can think of.
How to use the severed vaginas of wolfs and dogs to make love spells.....

It goes pretty fucking dark.
Awesome [eg]

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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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cyberdemon wrote:
This.
I should probably point out that this isn't necessary illegal in all countries, But if anybody is reading this and contemplating on it. I would like to raise some objections:

Please be advised that this is simply an example from a text and not a personal recommendation.

1. You do need a special licenses to hunt wolfs, even if you already have a hunting license and a gun license, some countries still have particular laws regarding wolfs.
It is usually not allowed to hunt wolfs since they are endangered in some countries and are therefore only killed because of animal control. This also makes it illegal to buy wolf meat or even stuffed wolf in some countries because of it's endangered status. Please do not try to buy wolf genitalia over the internet without first checking your legal rights to do so.

You also need another license to legally perform euthanasia on dogs (in some countries), although it is legal in the UK to do it yourself, it still has to meet humane standards or you may face accusations of animal cruelty.
And you also need another license to handle animals part or perform Taxidermy. This might also differer from country to country and from animal to animal. Here in sweden you are perfectly fine doing your own butchering of farm animals but the government do not take lightly on those who butcher pets and engendered animals, even for religious reasons.



2. Then there is the whole moral part of the equation. Certain people (myself included) are not comfortable with the idea of killing animals. Even if it is legal in my country to eat animals, I personally do not.
I do not however condone or condemn the act of doing so, but feeding animals parts to an unknown lover might not be appreciated by everyone. Please make sure that your prospective partners agrees to this beforehand.

3. This is also something that people make take offense to, and members might actually report you for talking about this subject on this forum. Members have been banned for less.

4. And it should also be pointed out that using 'death' to attract 'love' can be a very very bad idea from a magic perspective.

5. Forceful love-spells are also not advised If you believe in Karma, law of attraction, wiccan rede, laws of 3, Hermatic Principle of Cause/Effect, The Eleven Satanic Rules or Golden dawn.
This is only practiced within voodoo, black magic and witchcraft. And some individual practitioners of these paradigms will also refuse to work with this kind of magic. Please do not ask members of this forum to perform spells like these for you.


So this post is not in any way a recommendation of using the techniques in the book, but more a recommendation of reading it from a historical perspective and contemplate on the magic describe inside. If nothing else, then to use it as a comparative study.

There is of course still a lot of perfectly fine planetary, astrological and even kabbhalic/Christian magic in this book. But it should also be mentioned that it goes slightly "of the rail" towards the end of book 3.

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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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Hmm I really wonder who practice these type of magick in real? Some secret covens I guess?

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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

Post by cyberdemon »

Back in the day when such grimoires were written, these things were far easier to do mainly because of the lack of all these laws, even if one did these in secret.

Anyway, those who are offended easily shouldn't be on these forums, and if they are, they are required to be tolerant. I guess people have been banned for being offensive, and I see no problem in banning people who are too offended.
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Re: I recommend reading The Picatrix

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RockDemon wrote:Hmm I really wonder who practice these type of magick in real? Some secret covens I guess?
Most Caribbean/African forms of magic are pretty open with animal sacrifices. And some do use human bodyparts, grave robbing and so on.

In traditional witchcraft it's fairly common as well. Although we hear about it as often.


The picatrix in particular I think is fairly uncommon/extreme and probably not practiced by too many people but it certainly reads as a solitary practice. I don't think a lot of it would be easily applied to a coven.

I also fail to see it's practicability in some spells. I think a lot of it is written in code.
I don't see why gazelle brain would be better then deer brain, so I'm wondering if it's actually talking about alchemy and the African part is code for a specific metal/gem found there that wasn't as common in Europe.
It mirrors the Tuba Philosphorum in that it hides alchemy inside of natural philosophy. It pretends to talk about natural things like blood and bile when it's actually talking a bout metals and temperatures.

Maybe.

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