The Magician's Companion: A Practical and Encyclopedic Guide to Magical and Religious Symbolism (Llewellyn's Sourcebook Series)

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Summary: The Multi-task Book!
Review: If you're interested in meditation, the occult, or symbolic systems in general, pick up this compendium of useful information. It includes charts and articles summarizing different symbolic structures used in magical and mystical traditions from around the world, from Tantric Buddhism and Hebrew Qabalah to Sufism and Hopi shamanic traditions, and much, much more, from overviews of alchemy to occult alphabets. In addition to all this, there is also an excellent recommended course of study in the book, directing students of magick to some of the best titles for further information on the systems in the book, as well as applying them in one's practical work.

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Summary: The Best Guide to Magickal Symbolism I've seen Yet
Review: If you're interested in meditation, the occult, or symbolic systems in general, pick up this compendium of useful information. It includes charts and articles summarizing different symbolic structures used in magical and mystical traditions from around the world, from Tantric Buddhism and Hebrew Qabalah to Sufism and Hopi shamanic traditions, and much, much more, from overviews of alchemy to occult alphabets. In addition to all this, there is also an excellent recommended course of study in the book, directing students of magick to some of the best titles for further information on the systems in the book, as well as applying them in one's practical work.

Rating:
Summary: good intro, many errors
Review: It was a good starting place to different topics, but I found many typographical errors within the symbol systems. Runes are transposed, as are elemental symbols. However, he has correct attributions elsewhere. This book would be wonderful in a second, edited edition, but as it stands now could add confusion to the beginner.

Rating:
Summary: Top Notch Resource
Review: Mr.Whitcomb has done an excellent job of putting together a resource you will use over and over again. The book is oversized, so you can write your own notes in the margins. Not a day goes by that I don't pick up this book and look up the correspondences of a planet, or information on one of the 28 Lunar Mansions of Chinese Astrology. No kidding, this book is fantastic and you will definitely get a lot of usage out of it. Yes, there are a couple of errors in these almost 600 pages -- but what book of this type doesn't have an error or two? Finding them will help you grow and learn, so it might be that Mr.Whitcomb has done you a favor. But, as I said, there are only a couple -- don't wear yourself out trying to find them. ENJOY !!!

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Summary: A perfect resource for the Magician!
Review: Need a Magickal alphabet? It's here! Looking for a hexagramor geomantic sign? Look no further! Ok, enough of the cliche c**p.Let's get down to business. This book really does have all the essentials for the experienced magician. If you need to find a Magickal symbol or need to translate one to it's meaning, this book will probably have it. It's extensive and easy to use, and pretty inexpensive for how much information it contains. It's more than worth the time and cash.

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Summary: "As Above, So Below"
Review: The author's knowlege is truly encyclopedic and extremely impressive. This thick tome is the equivalent of a doctorate in metaphysics. That is because it is not merely a reference work (though it is probably the best single volume reference on symbolism and correspondence), but it is truly intended to be a self study course. In the "How to Use this Book" section he makes it clear that he is a serious practitioner with a first-hand knowlege of what such studies take (i.e. Meditation, Intense Intellectual Study, Centering, and Grounding.) The reading list for further study is both first rate, and surprisingly eclectic (varied, and not what you'd ordinariy expect.)
You can find all of this information in other sources such as the hermetic, cabalistic, and alchemical source works, but it will take you years. Whitcomb has sumarised everything in amazingly clear tables, lists, and diagrams without trivialising anything. He even shows the cross correspondenses between various systems and cultures (Egyptian, Greek, Tibetan, Native American, Hebrew, Chinese, etc.)
My only criticism is that there is not a leather bound hard cover edition for my permanent library- I know I'll have my own copy custom bound at the first opportunity.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best references on Magick
Review: The book covers a wide variety occult names, symbols, diagrams, alphabets, etc. The book contains both western occult and also eastern occult symbols. This is great book to be kept for reference especially if you are studying magick. Consider this an encyclopedia of the occult. I find this book very useful when you need to look up certain things.

Rating:
Summary: Great resource for the seriouss practitioner
Review: The first several chapters of this book seemed something of a waste of space to me. While information like the generic "models of reality" may be great for beginners, by and large, this book distinguishes itself as a quick reference book for a more experienced magician. I would have rather seen more info presented about specific traditions and schools such as wicca, alchemy, kabala, spiritism, etc. and a more complete dictionary of magical symbols used by these variouss traditions. That said, this is a great book, giving the practitioner or potential practitioner an over-view of the entire occult world while freeing up space on one's bookshelf for works addressing one's specific field of interest. I highly recommend it to everyone involved in paganism, heathenism, witchcraft, or the occult.

Rating:
Summary: Great resource for the seriouss practitioner
Review: The first several chapters of this book seemed something of a waste of space to me. While information like the generic "models of reality" may be great for beginners, by and large, this book distinguishes itself as a quick reference book for a more experienced magician. I would have rather seen more info presented about specific traditions and schools such as wicca, alchemy, kabala, spiritism, etc. and a more complete dictionary of magical symbols used by these variouss traditions. That said, this is a great book, giving the practitioner or potential practitioner an over-view of the entire occult world while freeing up space on one's bookshelf for works addressing one's specific field of interest. I highly recommend it to everyone involved in paganism, heathenism, witchcraft, or the occult.

Rating:
Summary: One of best refs on magick
Review: This book given a good background on many tradions of magick and does have some good refences and runes and alphabets later is book are nice for quick ref. I say for the buck i would buy this book for fact it covers the laws of magick and in fact pagans and cermoinal magicans can use it.