Hadean Press has announced the publication of the limited edition hardcover version of LIBER UMBRARUM VEL LIBER SPIRITUM, translated by Steve Savedow. 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.
From the original (Italian) publisher’s description :
Taken from an authentically magical secret manuscript of the Rosicrucian School, the Liber Umbrarum or “Book of Shadows” represents the most powerful and mysterious text to have been published on the subject of Ceremonial Magic. Numerous testimonies from experimenters who have put into practice the teachings of the work assure that they have obtained astonishing results … It is spoken of in all the main treatises on Occultism and High Magic as a fabulous text, handed down from master to disciple, until now it has never been published in its full version in this world. For the first time, therefore, an authentic key text of Ceremonial Magic is offered, the true ancient Magic Book, the legendary Magicians’ Manual, of which only a few very rare manuscript copies are known, and in which the suggestive forms of the High Spirits are illustrated in splendid images, describing the formulas for the evocation of the Supreme Planetary Spirits, their Seals, the Magic Circle, the Magic of Fire and important new ceremonies to get in contact with one’s own Superior Spirit (Holy Guardian Angel).
Table of Contents
From “The Magus or Celestial Intelligencer”
New Foreword by Steve Savedow
Memorial Biographical Note On “Caliel” ( Prof. Luigi Petriccione )
Iintroductory note (of the 7th Italian edition) by Pier Luca Pierini
Historical introduction (of the 5th Italian edition) by Pier Luca Pierini
True Divine Grimoire (Verum Grimorium Divinum) – Book of Shadows (Liber Umbrarum)
Ritual Instructions and Practical Use Relating to the Entire Duration of the Rite
New Moon Rite
Daily Rites
Special instructions for the Three Groups of Lunations
Ceremony of Self-Consecration on the Seventh New Moon
Rules to be observed after the Consecration and for the Rest of One’s Life
The Great Operation for Contact with Higher Spirits
Characters and Palindromes for Operations For the Summoning of High Genies
Character Useful Both for the Veil of the Sensitive and For that of the Operator
Palindromes for the Operator’s Veil
The Great Operation for the Acquisition of Power over the Principles of the Elements and the Hostile Elementals
How to deal with the Elementary Spirits
The Nine Rules for the transmission of the Rite to Others
The Familiar Spirits
Appendix
Of the Benefits of Evil or Elemental Spirits
Premise
To the Knights of the Holy Kingdom (Sanctum Regnum)
The Sword
The Art of Commanding Spirits or The Holy Kingdom
Seven-Year Daily Ritual to Attain the Practice of Fire Magic
The Figure of the Cabalistic Magic Circle of Solomon
Execution
Prayer of Request
The Great Magical Invocation
Magical Pentacle
Great Magical Operation Or Rite of Evocation of the Supreme Spirits
For the Summoning of Any Other Angel or Genies
For the Evocation of the Elementary Spirits and the Principles of the Elements
Prayers and Conjurations
Psalm 137
Consecration of the Sword and Magic Wand
Invocation of the Book of Spirits
The Magic Wand
Invocation to Michael and Figure of the Spirit
Invocation to Gabriel and Figure of the Spirit
Invocation to Samael and Figure of the Spirit
Invocation to Raphael and Figure of the Spirit
Invocation to Sachiel and Figure of the Spirit
Invocation to Anael and Figure of the Spirit
Invocation to Cassiel and Figure of the Spirit
Formula of Evocation of the Spirits of the Book – Exorcism of Command
