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The Magician’s Companion: a Practical and Encyclopedic Guide to Magical and Religious Symbolism
Bill Whitcomb The author suggests five uses for this book: as a reference guide, as a tool for meditation, as a means of achieving an expanded awareness through intense study, as a guide for understanding and creating one’s own rituals, and as an aid in the creation of one’s own symbol systems. It would more than suffice for any one of these purposes; that it succeeds on all counts is quite extraordinary. The book is in five sections: the structure and theory of ritual, the individual symbols arranged by Model (based upon the number of elements in each system), correspondences and attributes of symbols arranged by symbol type rather than by system of origin, and a glossary – more properly a dictionary – of esoteric terminology. Also included in appendices is an annotated listing of groups, periodicals and publishers, a bibliography of principal sources for each Model (unfortunately without annotation), and an index sufficiently detailed actually to be useful. The Magician’s Companion is a book as much about the nature of consciousness as it is magic, about psychology and information science as much as the art of ritual. Whitcomb’s fascination with and respect for all aspects of his subject matter is evident, and his writing is deliciously smooth, scholarly without being pedantic, serious without being dry or grim. Not simply a compilation of research, one gets the impression that this is a product from a man who Understands How Things Work. This fascinating book is not for the faint of heart or intellect, and will not instruct in the creation of a charm to attract Jimmy or Janet (well, actually, it will, but it’s a very long way ‘round.) For the serious student of mythology, mysticism, religions, magic, the nature of consciousness, linguistics, cosmology, even graphic art, this is an invaluable resource and a Must Have addition to the library.
Review by Karen Albeck |
