© The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. A priestess of the god Apollo, the Pythia served as an oracle, experiencing visions after imbibing vapours rising from the floor of an inner room at the Delphi temple complex – as seen here in The Oracle by Camillo Miola (1880). Over time, the Pythia became the most influential oracle in all of Greece, and today the ruins of Delphi are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What is it about myth, magic and the occult that fascinates humanity? In ancient times, magic was a way of explaining how the universe worked – it helped us make sense of the chaos of the world. Even in modern times, we seek patterns and rituals to help us understand and navigate our lives while searching for a little bit of magic to imbue our everyday.
Discover six spellbinding books on the mystical world, from paganism and numerology to the occult and the cosmic universe. Uncover symbols and ancient customs, delve into rich histories and harness planetary powers.
1. Pagans
For more than a thousand years, across the world, people have been labelled ‘Pagan’ by the Christians who encountered them. In the twentieth century, new groups have emerged to carry on the name. But what is it that Pagans believe?
From sacred plants imbued with supernatural powers to hand-carved amulets that repel evil, and from mischievous spirits of nature to holy mountains, Pagans find divine value in the natural world and spiritual significance in the material universe. Delve within these pages and examine the myriad paintings and sculptures, shrines and ceremonial objects that reveal the stories, symbols and rituals of Paganism.
Discover Pagans by Ethan Doyle White.
2. A History of Witchcraft
Witchcraft is a fluid belief system that has enchanted and sometimes terrified humanity, from Greek goddess Hecate through the witch-crazes of the 15th and 16th centuries and into the modern day.
A History of Witchcraft: Sorcerers, Heretics & Pagans is an authoritative and concise history of witchcraft from the ancient world up to the present day, exploring the definition of witchcraft in its many diverse forms. This updated edition features a new chapter exploring the challenges that witchcraft has faced in the past decade, including the rise of social media platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok, the coronavirus pandemic and neopagan groups.
Discover A History of Witchcraft by Jeffrey B. Russell and Brooks Alexander.
3. Compendium of the Occult
Explore the mysterious and intriguing world of the occult, from divination and charms to secret societies and rituals. Compendium of the Occult is a visual cabinet of curiosities, with expert commentary on topics from Ancient Egyptian curses to the history of demonology, all illuminated by excerpts from historical texts and a wide range of beautiful archive imagery. Unlock the mysteries of ancient customs, sacred sites and secret societies.
Discover Compendium of the Occult by Liz Williams.
4. Cosmic Numerology
Cosmic Numerology is numerology with an extra dimension. Numerologist and astrophile Jenn King pairs mystical mathematics with planetary power so you can tap into deeper levels of self-knowledge, access your talents and enhance your relationships by charting their cosmic course with the numbers and planets by their side. Use this magic manual to tune into the number and planet energies at play in your life, and use this knowledge to maximise the gifts bestowed on you by your birth chart.
Discover Cosmic Numerology by Jenn King
5. Ancient Magic in Greece and Rome
Magic was everywhere in the ancient world, and to the Greeks and Romans, everything in the natural world was packed with magic. Flowers turned magically into fruit, and caterpillars into butterflies. Magic was the use of natural forces to bring about a desired result.
In Ancient Magic in Greece and Rome, bestselling author Philip Matyszak offers us a new way of understanding the role of magic in the classical world. From how to make a love potion or cast a curse to protecting oneself from evil spirits, Matyszak explores how the Greeks and Romans used magic, who performed it – and why.
Discover Ancient Magic in Greece and Rome by Philip Matyszak.
6. The Cosmic Dance
In The Cosmic Dance, renowned image alchemist Stephen Ellcock uses a collection of remarkable, arresting and surprising images drawn from the entire history of art to explore the ancient belief that the cosmos is reflected in all living things. Beginning with the microscopic and moving though the particulate and into the celestial and infinite, The Cosmic Dance provides bitesize information on key concepts and key thinkers, while thought-provoking quotations from philosophers, writers, artists and scientists interspersed throughout the artworks prompt a closer, more personal engagement with the images.
Discover The Cosmic Dance by Stephen Ellcock.
