Ars Speculum: Being an Instruction on the Arte of Using Mirrors and Shewstones in Magic (Foundations of Practical Sorcery) - Softcover

Nottingham, Gary St Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1905297793 ISBN 13: 9781905297795

Publisher: Avalonia, 2015

Synopsis

Ars Speculum is a concise and practical work on the use of mirrors in magic. Mirrors and reflections have always fascinated mankind, and are found throughout folklore, mythology and literature. English alchemist and sorceror Gary Nottingham guides the reader through the development of the clairvoyant faculty to its use for skrying in mirrors as well as crystal shewstones.

The author travels far beyond the art of skrying to explore the diverse range of magical practices using mirrors. These include working with the four elements of air, fire, water and earth, both through elemental condensers and different elemental creatures. Other techniques within this gem of practical magic are contacting other levels of being, the conjuration of spirits, binding and ligature, the appropriate use of herbs use, and creating powerful tools for healing and protection. The construction and consecration of a magic mirror are detailed, along with the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.

Certain spiritual beings particularly associated with mirror magic are included in this primer, specifically the archangel Gabriel and the elemental beings sylphs, salamanders, undines and gnomes. With his lucid and eminently practical style, the author has shone a light ensuring that magical practitioners of any level no longer need to stare 'through a glass darkly'.

About this title

About the Author:

Gary St. M. Nottingham first came across alchemy when he was fifteen through reading the popular early 1970's occult magazine 'Man, Myth & Magic.' This encouraged him to find out further about the arte and to study Israel Regardie's 'The Philosopher's Stone'; this in turn led to the works of Hollandus, Paracelsus and eventually Junius. However, it was his involvement with a group of alchemical practitioners that opened many of the doors for him and much that he had learnt finally began to make sense. Subsequently he has taught and written extensively on the alchemical arte, running several one-day workshops and weekends on practical laboratory alchemy. His other areas of occult study are astrology, grimoires, and the Kabbalah, all of which are expressed as part of his alchemical work.

Review:

The book you have been waiting for.  Well, it was with great interest that I noticed a new book from this excellent author; I had previously purchased a copy of their 'liber noctis' from famous occult book store Atlantis, in London, and I found 'liber noctis' to be an excellent tome filled with useful practical information and absolutely zero wishy washy new age content. So as soon as I saw this book had been published I purchased a copy and it did not disappoint.

This is the book on scrying that you have been waiting for. All of the practical information that is only partially given in other inferior books in one excellent volume. This is a slim book, but that is because the author wisely doesn't pad it out with 10 chapters of filler to achieve a given page count. What you get here is a working system stripped back to what you actually need, all in one book.

Also folks, remember this is a strictly limited edition, so get in whilst there are still copies available; it is sure to become sought after in the future when this author becomes better known in the wider world.
10 out of 10.  - the santa cat, Amazon reviewer

About this edition

• Publisher: Avalonia
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1905297793
• ISBN 13: 9781905297795
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 58