The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin, The Mage — As Delivered By Abraham The Jew Unto His Son Lamech — As A Grimoire of The 15th Century

I must first reject opinions that this book isn't for the beginner. I wish that I had such useful instruction when I began. Abramelin, through the wise scholarship of Abraham of Wertzburg, sets down the ground rules for the pious scholar who wishes to learn true magic(k) and not be drawn into the traps of the unrighteous.... The translation is not without its errors, though. For instance, Mathers translates what I believe was "creator" as "architect of the universe," a cleary masonic term. Also, although the day was divided into two 12-hour increments since Egyptian times, the term "o'clock" could not have been a proper term in the 1460's. Most of the book is obvioulsy trasnlated from old French, and not Hebrew as Mathers claims (for marketing reasons). I must disagree with Crowley, however, who blamed his initial lack of success with this book on its translator. Abraham insists on periods of prayer, meditation, and yes, celibacy before attempting any feat-- a regiment the undisciplined Crowley could clearly not stick to. The scholar who wishes to learn and practice magic-- not false concepts of astrology, numerology, and the tricks of charlatans-- should read and study this as their first real instruction. This is truly the one book that any magus cannot live without.

This book covers almost exclusively the practice of magicthrough the use of acrostics, but also includes rites for otherpurposes. It is a translation by S.L. MacGregor Mathers, one of the most important practicants of the modern era. I would recommend it to any serious student of magic and the occult. It is not very useful in regards to ritual magicks, but as a work on Judeo-Christian magic it is excellent. This edition in particular is very nicely done.