The Black Arts

Rating:
Summary: Review of Cavendish's Black Arts
Review: Cavedish presents a good overview of occultism in general and this is an excellent text for beginners. The Black Arts is in much the same vein as Bonewits' Real Magic, without being caustic. The material is somewhat dated, though the scholarship, insofar as a brief overview goes, is superlative. If nothing else, this book has superb aesthetic appeal on one's bookshelf to convey that sinister magician feel we all love.

Rating:
Summary: Lukewarm
Review: Cavendish's book is interesting insofar as it comes from an unusual perspective for those writing about the so-called Black Arts. His Christian bias is obvious, and nearly all examples he gives are shown through a Christian filter, but--unlike so many others--he isn't preachy. He doesn't condemn or support any of the practices within the book--this isn't a how-to guide or a religious tract, after all--despite his constant returns to the subejct of devil- or demon-worship. The quality of writing is fair and stays reasonably engaging throughout. The chief failing of this book--aside from the bias and emphasis on demon-worship--is his attempt to cover so much material in so little space. The chapter on the Kabbalah is particularly confused and rushed. He brushes past a great number of important details and doesn't always elaborate on his own discussions enough for the reader to pick up on the key details necessary for understanding.

Rating:
Summary: History of the Dark Arts told in an entertaining fashion.
Review: From it's early origins to Thelma and Crowley's Golden Dawn involvement this book is a nice introduction book to the historical aspect of occult studies. This book will hold little value to practicing occultist as it doesn't contain any spell information. I'm a bit disappointed in it's low star ratings from what seem to be from junior occultists. While I don't want to turn this into a review of the reviewers, realize this book isn't a spell book or grimore. Most of the occult studies focused on have western origins, so don't look for much detail of religions reaching the far east. The information builds off of itself and is compiled in a comprehensive manner, so it's better if you accept the book as a whole and don't just waste your time looking up the chapter on alchemy. Reading the whole work shows how the arts relate to each other. This is a pretty good work in my opinion. I was hestitating on giving it 4 stars instead of 3, but the more I think of it the extra star seems deserved.

Rating:
Summary: Exelent introduction book for magik.
Review: I loved this book. It gave me the understanding to go on reading more advanced books from authors like A E Waite, Crowley and Carrol. It is definatly a good first book to pick up. The language is easy and he explains most things really good.

Rating:
Summary: As the old cliche' goes, "Very Interesting."
Review: I'm surprised that this book is still in print and in high demand. I remember reading this book in hardback in 1974, right after watching the movie Crowhaven Farm. At the age of 14, I did not understand what the author was saying. Now that I am older, I will say that this book has filled in the gaps of my esoteric research.



Rating:
Summary: hmmmm interesting
Review: Overall the ONLY thing that this book has going for it is an entertaining writing style. Besides that it was severely lacking, at best. If one were able to overlook the misrepresented, and often incorrect, information in this book, it would still be noticed that much of the subject matter is not traditionally even considered a black or dark art. Among them such things as the kabbalah (which teaches, among other things, a practical reverence for god), numerology, and the tarot (which in fact has some basis in the kabbalah).

If you want to delve into the "black arts", for anything other than social bravado, your money would be better spent on such texts as the lamegaton or the black pullet. While these are not nearly as egotistically gratifying, they provide much more accuracy, and authenticity.

Aside from the pursuit of the "black arts", be sure and study some magical philosophy and theory, otherwise it will be impossible to attain any reasonable amount of success. My personal suggestions would be the work of Peter Carroll, Aleister Crowley, and The Principia Discordia.

Rating:
Summary: Black and Spleen
Review: Richard Cavendish's work is by far the most impressive piece of art on the black arts. Black Magick has always been an issue of dispute since most ancient manuscripts and spells were destroyed and only a few surfaced. Different writers imposed fake black magic and ruined most of the sacricy of this essential tool. However, The Black Arts is a book that shows real black magick at its best. It's packed with original, ancient spells wich evidently are not a work of fiction and are valuable to any person with a dark mentality.

Go ahead, treat yourself!

Rating:
Summary: Although the black arts is older then raising hell
Review: The Black Arts by Richard Cavendish takes off where Raising Hell left off and offers an even more comprehensive approach to the occult arts and their practitioners, even going so far as to offer simple incantations and applications of the arts themselves. It is a pretty dense read and written with a much more scholarly tone, and as indicated, is much more comprehensive in its approach to the categorization that was present in the other book. Although the black arts is older then raising hell, it serves as a much better reference and starting point for those seriously looking to darken their soul and start dabbling in the occult arts. This book is not for the weak of spirit, beware, you may find yourselves turned over to the dark side and found plaything of demons.

Rating:
Summary: A must-have for all who wish to pursue the Left Hand Path!
Review: This book is one of the most useful and facinating reads I've experienced. Well worth the full cover price; this book explores numerology, the origins of Satan, traditional devil-worship as envisioned by frightened christians, necromancy, and curses by the dozen!

Also includes love spells, charms, and stories of 18th & 19th century Black Mass ceremonies. Highly Recommended!

Rating:
Summary: The Black Arts
Review: This book isn't the worst book i've ever read and may be somewhat amusing. However, it is far from the best !

You might also be thinking with a name like The BlaCK arts
that there is something practical in it but that department is pretty much void.