The sacred magic of Abramelin the Mage is a renowned and highly sought-after system of magic that has intrigued and captivated occult practitioners for centuries. Its origins can be traced back to the 15th century, when it was allegedly compiled by Abraham the Jew, a Jewish philosopher and Kabbalist from Würzburg, Germany. The sacred magic of Abramelin revolves around the summoning and communication with holy and divine spirits, particularly guardian angels. The ultimate goal of this system is to attain spiritual enlightenment, divine union, and the knowledge of one's True Will. It is believed that by invoking these guardian angels and forming a connection with them, one can gain access to higher realms of consciousness, obtain guidance, and acquire a deep understanding of the divine workings of the universe. One of the key features of the Abramelin system is the requirement of a rigorous and lengthy preparation period, during which the practitioner must purify themselves both physically and spiritually.
The first section of the book presents an author—which I assume is the fictionalized author of Baba Yaga Laid an Egg though some reviewers have referred to this section as being about Ugresic herself—who is not only trying to come to terms with the death of her mother, but also with her mother’s slow decline in her old age. The second section deals with three old women going to a health spa. The third section is glossary turned manifesto on the folklore of Baba Yaga, apparently written by Dr. Aba Bagay, a character in the first section of the book.
This prologue ends with a warning, You will slide into a world that you had no intention of entering, because your time has not yet come, your hour, for God s sake, has not come. Katerina had tracked Baba Yaga to the area, but had no exact location for her, and knowing this, Sani informed Kat that the witch had attacked, and the woman could not leave fast enough to face the Baba Yaga and avenge her sister, Yulia, whom she thought was dead.
One of the key features of the Abramelin system is the requirement of a rigorous and lengthy preparation period, during which the practitioner must purify themselves both physically and spiritually. This involves adhering to specific rules and regulations, engaging in daily prayers, fasting, and engaging in intense spiritual practices. The preparation period is said to last for six months or longer and is considered essential to attaining the desired results.
Becoming Baba Yaga
When I was a child my favorite picture books was Bony-Legs by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Dirk Zimmer. The villain is a witch called Bony-legs who wants to eat the heroine, Sasha. Bony-legs has iron teeth and lives in a house on a pair of chicken legs. Years later while reading some Russian folktales, I met her once again. Only she was called Baba Yaga.
Baba Yaga is a strangely ambiguous character. Here in the U.S. we are more familiar with the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, where evil character tend to be purely evil. The witch in “Hansel and Gretel” is a cannibal, nothing more. The evil queen in “Snow White” is envy and vanity incarnate. From the perspective of that tradition, Baba Yaga would, at first glance, seem pure evil. She’s old, ugly, her house is bipedal, the fence surrounding the house has skulls on it. And in some stories, that pure evil is exactly what she is. But in many stories, she is also the benefactor—she gives the hero the necessary information to win the hand of a beautiful Tsarina, or she helps obedient and beautiful Cinderella-type girl escape a bad home and marry royalty. Baba Yaga is one of the few multi-dimensional characters that I’ve come across in folklore (though I admit I still have a long way to go in my studies). Because of this depth, I’m always on the lookout for more materials on the witch.
Recently I came across the book Baba Yaga Laid an Egg by Dubravka Ugresic. I love this book, but Baba Yaga Laid an Egg is a deep read and has several layers to explore. The primary focus is what it means to be an old woman. The book opens with a sort of lyrical prologue, which states, “You don’t see them at first,” and describes the way we over look elderly women and the details that seem to define them when we finally do take notice: “They roll by you like heaps of dried apples. They mumble into their chins.” This prologue ends with a warning, “You will slide into a world that you had no intention of entering, because your time has not yet come, your hour, for God’s sake, has not come.” Ultimately, we all feel that we grow old too quickly.
The first section of the book presents an author—which I assume is the fictionalized author of Baba Yaga Laid an Egg though some reviewers have referred to this section as being about Ugresic herself—who is not only trying to come to terms with the death of her mother, but also with her mother’s slow decline in her old age. The second section deals with three old women going to a health spa. The third section is glossary turned manifesto on the folklore of Baba Yaga, apparently written by Dr. Aba Bagay, a character in the first section of the book.
What struck me as I was reading was I couldn’t think of any other book that focuses on elderly women (okay maybe the Miss Marple mysteries, but as I’ve not read the books I don’t know how much of her of character is explored in them). I’ve read books about young woman, young men, middle age women (often trying to remain young), middle age men, and old men (often trying to sleep with young women). Old women have been characters varying from bumbling sweethearts who mean well, to wise grannies dispensing advice, to old crones that everyone wishes would get around to dying already, but never (in my experience) are they the protagonist whose character changes over course of the plot.
Ugresic shows us the weird space that women inhabit once they reach old age. Since they are no longer beautiful, they are viewed with revulsion. While they may have once cared for children and kept the house running, they are often viewed as a drain on their family’s resources. While Baba Yaga never appears in the story—in some ways, she shows how the world views elderly women. All the older women are Baba Yaga. A figure that we abhor but that we need. A figure that we will ourselves one day become.
What was the most revealing part was when the three old women at the spa are trying to help a young masseur romance a girl, one decides that “‘The very fact you [the masseur] like women qualifies you to be an ideal man!…very few people actually like us, women.’” When I read this part, I had to put the book down, because it’s true. A lot of people are attracted to women, but many will complain about not understanding us, not being able to take our mood swings, or not wanting to deal with our frivolous concerns, and myriad of other stereotypes—even other women. This dislike of women is why old age is so terrifying, alienating, and abhorred—when we lose our looks and are no longer able to contribute through money or labor, we’re just some old biddy no one likes dealing with.
However, what the third section, the glossary, makes clear is that the old age for women is more complicated. Baba Yaga may be reviled, but the hero and heroine must earn her good favor to succeed—she still has important and dangerous wisdom to share. In that third section, Dr Bagay wonders what would happen if the sword, which is underneath Baba Yaga’s pillow, was brought out.
Ultimately, my interest in Baba Yaga is because she’s reflection of how society views women, especially those who live on its edges. After all, when I was child reading Bony-Legs, I was interested in the flawed witch rather than Sasha, who was just another too perfect ideal.
The centerpiece of the Abramelin system is the invocation of the divine guardian angels or the Holy Guardian Angel (HGA). This process is described in detail in the book titled "The Book of Abramelin," which provides a step-by-step guide on how to establish contact and form a bond with the HGA. The instructions involve the construction of a sacred space, the recitation of specific prayers, and the performance of specific rituals. Once the practitioner has successfully established contact with their HGA, they can receive guidance, wisdom, and spiritual teachings directly from the divine source. The HGA acts as a guide and mentor, assisting the practitioner in their spiritual evolution and understanding of their True Will. The sacred magic of Abramelin has influenced numerous occultist traditions and practices throughout history. It has been incorporated into various systems of ceremonial magic, including the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and Aleister Crowley's Thelema. Its emphasis on spiritual purification, connection with higher realms, and pursuit of divine knowledge continues to inspire and intrigue modern practitioners of the occult. In conclusion, the sacred magic of Abramelin the Mage is a powerful system of magic that aims to establish a connection with divine guardian angels and attain spiritual enlightenment. Its rigorous preparation period and focus on summoning the Holy Guardian Angel make it a unique and revered system within the realm of occult practices..
Reviews for "A Journey through the Path of Light: Discovering Abramelin the Mage's Sacred Magic"
- John - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "The sacred magic of abramelinnthe mage" after hearing so much about it, but I ended up being really disappointed. The book was incredibly dense and hard to follow, with overly complex rituals that seemed impractical and unrealistic. The author also seemed to assume that the reader had a deep understanding of esoteric knowledge, making it even more confusing for someone like me who was just starting to delve into these topics. Overall, I found it to be a frustrating and inaccessible read.
- Sarah - 1 star - As someone who has always been interested in magic and occult practices, I was hoping "The sacred magic of abramelinnthe mage" would provide me with some valuable insights. Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed. The book was filled with vague instructions and convoluted explanations that left me scratching my head. It seemed like the author was more interested in showing off his own knowledge than actually helping readers understand and implement the magic. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is serious about learning and practicing magic.
- Michael - 2 stars - "The sacred magic of abramelinnthe mage" was not what I expected at all. I found the language to be unnecessarily flowery and overcomplicated, making it difficult to grasp the core teachings. The book also lacked a clear structure, with chapters jumping from one topic to another without much coherence. I didn't feel like I gained any practical knowledge or insights from reading it. Overall, I was left feeling frustrated and confused, and I would caution others before diving into this dense and bewildering text.