The Christ, Psychotherapy and Magic

The Christ, Psychotherapy and Magic is a Christian priest's appreciation of occultism, with a particular focus on the Qabalah. Far from condemning occult thinking, he finds it has much common ground with the Christian perspective and contemporary developments in psychotherapy. Drawing on the works of Dion Fortune, Gareth Knight and others, he appraises the theology and assumptions of occultists and examines how Christian mysticism coheres with the Tree of Life. While his ideas may be challenging and thought-provoking for many occultists as well as for many Christians, his spectrum is broad and his criticisms carefully considered. He also provides a lucid overview of the Tree of Life which makes the book an incredibly valuable introduction to the Qabalah, especially as a guide for aspiring Christian Qabalists. Originally published in 1969, this book came about through Anthony Duncan's friendship with occultist Gareth Knight, and directly inspired Knight's major work Experience of the Inner Worlds. "Now at least one clergyman has got the point and in this book urges his fellow Christians not to dismiss occultism either as a cranky fad or as 'a black art'." - The Guardian

Anthony Duncan served for over thirty years as a parish priest in the Church of England until his retirement in 1995. He is the author of many books on spiritual, mystical and esoteric subjects and was experienced as a retreat conductor and as a lecturer. One time curate of Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire, he also served as vicar of Parkend in the Forest of Dean, and Highnam near Gloucester.