Hadean Press are publishing a new edition of Steve Savedow’s translation of Liber Umbrarum vel Liber Spiritum or The Book of Shadows or Book of Spirits. The paperback is available on Amazon and pre-orders have opened for the limited hardcover edition. The posted description says:
Liber Umbrarum is a complete six-month system of practice for conjuration of elemental spirits, demons, planetary archangels, and the Holy Guardian Angel. The practice is a synthesis of material from the Abramelin, the Key of Solomon and the Heptameron, with elements from the Arbatel, The Magus and the writings of Eliphas Levi. The structure and composition make this a much more viable and practical method than the Abramelin for communicating with the Holy Guardian Angel in the modern age.
The instructions include preparations for the temple (‘the Oratory’), daily prayers, clothing, and diet, as well as the rules of daily life and specific directions for three groups of two lunar cycles. This all leads to the ritual of initiation or self-consecration, with detailed rules to be observed for the rest of your life. It also includes construction of the magic circle, and preparation of the robe, altar, sword, pentacle, and wand which are to be used during the rituals.
This exciting and beautifully illustrated Italian synthesis of grimoire texts draws attention to the widespread range of magical groups and practices outside of the popularly publicised traditions of modern magic. In so doing it reminds us there is still a wealth of unseen and important material waiting to be brought into the light, of which this is a bright illuminating ray.
Two brief passages from the new introduction by Steve Savedow :
The text is straightforward, with no nonsense, specific and detail oriented practical techniques derivative of the classic medieval instructional works. As stated earlier, it draws mainly from the traditional grimoire texts, being “Book of the Sacred Magic of Abra-melin the Mage” (referred to here as the “Arsenal Manuscript”), “Key of Solomon the King”, and additionally incorporating some aspects from “Heptameron Or Magical Elements of Peter de Abano”, and “Arbatel of Magick”. It is most definitely fully based on the 16th and 17th century magical texts, although apparently also influenced by the later writers who had copied and re-copied it multiple times, putting down the instructions on paper through the generations.
This text dictates a fairly complicated system of high magic, fully outlined and interpreted, beginning with preparatory rituals after beginning the New Moon Rite, which is to be performed monthly during the first 60 minutes after every new moon, for six months immediately following the spring equinox, including daily rites to be performed. The instructions are specifically described, including preparations for the temple called “the Oratory”, daily prayers, clothing and diet, as well as the rules of daily life and specific directions for three groups of two lunar cycles. This all leads to the ritual of initiation or self-consecration, with detailed rules to be observed for the rest of your life. This also includes construction of the magic circle, and preparation of the robe, altar, sword, pentacle and wand which are to be used during the rituals.
https://hadean.press/products/liber-umbrarum-book-of-shadows.
