Magical Alphabets: The Secrets and Significance of Ancient Scripts Including Runes, Greek, Ogham, Hebrew and Alchemical Alphabets - Softcover

Pennick, Nigel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0877287473 ISBN 13: 9780877287476

Publisher: Weiser Books, 1992

Synopsis

Using the premise that languages and the alphabets that comprise them are metaphorical microcosms of our world, Nigel Pennick demonstrates how various alphabets function as a metaphysical description of reality. Magical alphabets actually enable seekers to experience a transformative process. This inner transformation is one of the main objectives of all esoteric traditions, and it can be accomplished by using any of the alphabet systems described in this book. Pennick's exciting exploration of Western alphabetical systems includes information about the origins of Hebrew and Greek alphabets, Celtic oghams, and medieval and Renaissance magical and alchemical alphabets. His examination uncovers evidence of the widespread use of runes throughout northern and central Europe, as well as the use of letter systems for operative and ceremonial magic. From grid ciphers to numerology to modern uses, this book provides an indepth study of the magic present in a tool we use every day the alphabet.

About this title

About the Author

Nigel Pennick worked in scientific research for fifteen years in Cambridge, with periods at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium and the University of Guelph, Canada. In this time, he published twenty-nine scientific papers that described eight new species of marine algae. He lost his profession in 1985 when the institute was closed during government spending cuts and so he became a full-time writer and lecturer on history and folklore. In parallel with his scientific work at that time, he participated in folk traditions and the scene in Cambridge. In 1975 he founded the Institute of Geomantic Research, which published a journal and many occasional papers on all aspects of geomancy and earth mysteries. From the mid-1980s to the late '90s, he travelled widely and gave lectures and workshops at venues in Ireland, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the United States as well as in Great Britain. He also organized and participated in several spiritual tours of ancient sacred places in England, Wales and Ireland. During this period, he was also writing books on subjects that include the runes, mythology, geomancy, ley lines, labyrinths, Celtic art and landscapes, traditional rites and ceremonies, folk magic and histories of certain underground railways in London. He is also an artist in traditional media and stained glass and has illustrated many of his books. In 2011 he had a one-man show of his Visionary Steeples artwork at Emmanuel Church, Cambridge. Currently, he plays music with The Traditional Music of Cambridgeshire Collective and throughout the year participates in the traditional calendar customs of Cambridgeshire, in 2009 having restored the custom of parading the May Day Garland through Cambridge.

Edition details

• Publisher: Weiser Books
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0877287473
• ISBN 13: 9780877287476
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 254