Magick: Decoding the Visual Culture of Spells, Illusions and Psychic Powers

Combining powerful imagery of artworks and ritual objects with insightful analysis and expertly written text, Magick tells the visual story of the magical arts, from personal and community-based folk magic to ceremonial magic, illusionists, and the paranormal.

From 30,000-year-old magic wands unearthed in Wales to the sixteenth-century talismanic daggers used in Indonesian ceremonies and horseshoe good luck charms worn by modern Europeans, magic can be found in every era and culture. This intriguing and eye-opening book scrutinizes the compelling visual and material culture of magic in all its variety and power, from personal superstitions and protective markings to cunning folk and enchanted forests, and from mystical spellbooks and secret ceremonies to psychic self-defense and New Age therapies.

Following a concise introduction that clarifies what we mean by "magic," the book is organized in three broad sections: low, high, and alternative magic. Each of these sections is subdivided into three chapters that describe magical practices and reveal how practitioners have shaped culture and society at every level.

The magical beliefs and traditions explored are illustrated with spellbinding images of elaborate grimoires, wise magicians, and esoteric diagrams together with select artifacts, such as amulets, crystal balls, and magic mirrors. Many are examined in close-up detail and their symbolism decoded. Key spirit beings, psychic abilities, and superstitions are also profiled.

Readers will discover how personal magic was practiced in preindustrial Europe, and learn the techniques and beliefs of mesmerism, psychic mediumship, and other alternative magical traditions that have emerged in the modern period. This wide-ranging and accessible book reveals how magic has evolved from ancient times through the ages of science and technology to the present-day era of doublethink and conspiracy theories.