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Illustrated Goetia: Sexual Evocation
In 1904, Aleister Crowley commissioned, edited, and introduced an English translation of The Book of the Goetia of Solomon the King, the first of five magical texts known as the Lemegeton. Yet few have actually worked the system, believing one must conform blindly to the archaic procedures and long-winded conjurations of the original text. But Crowley s attitude toward the Goetia appears to have been different. His masterful expansion and perfection of the Preliminary Invocation of the Goetia is a prime example. This new edition of the Goetia features an introduction explaining Goetic Magick. Goetia refers to all the operations of that Magick which deals with gross, malignant or unenlightened forces. Goetia is sometimes thought of as a wild card, something that can get out of control, something which expresses the operator's lower desires to control others and improve his own personal life. And, in fact, this potential loss of control, this danger, the desire for self-improvement and great power is exactly what attracts many people to the Goetia while horrifying and repelling others. Crowley's Goetia is brought to life by David P. Wilson with vivid illustrations of the Goetic demons, while Lon Milo DuQuette and Christopher S. Hyatt bring the ancient art of Goetic Magick to life in the modern day. Christopher Hyatt joined with Lon Milo DuQuette and David P. Wilson to glean extraordinary magical and philosophical treasures from this most misunderstood subject.
254 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
17 people are currently reading
523 people want to read
About the author
Aleister Crowley
879 books1,885 followersAleister Crowley was an English occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, novelist, mountaineer, and painter. He founded the religion of Thelema, proclaiming himself as the prophet destined to guide humanity into the Æon of Horus in the early 20th century. A prolific writer, Crowley published extensively throughout his life.
Born Edward Alexander Crowley in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, he was raised in a wealthy family adhering to the fundamentalist Christian Plymouth Brethren faith. Crowley rejected his religious upbringing, developing an interest in Western esotericism. He attended Trinity College, Cambridge, focusing on mountaineering and poetry, and published several works during this period. In 1898, he joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, receiving training in ceremonial magic from Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers and Allan Bennett. His travels took him to Mexico for mountaineering with Oscar Eckenstein and to India, where he studied Hindu and Buddhist practices.
In 1904, during a honeymoon in Cairo with his wife Rose Edith Kelly, Crowley claimed to have received "The Book of the Law" from a supernatural entity named Aiwass. This text became the foundation of Thelema, announcing the onset of the Æon of Horus and introducing the central tenet: "Do what thou wilt." Crowley emphasized that individuals should align with their True Will through ceremonial magic.
After an unsuccessful expedition to Kanchenjunga in 1905 and further travels in India and China, Crowley returned to Britain. There, he co-founded the esoteric order A∴A∴ with George Cecil Jones in 1907 to promote Thelema. In 1912, he joined the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), eventually leading its British branch and reformulating it according to Thelemic principles. Crowley spent World War I in the United States, engaging in painting and writing pro-German propaganda, which biographers later suggested was a cover for British intelligence activities.
In 1920, Crowley established the Abbey of Thelema, a religious commune in Cefalù, Sicily. His libertine lifestyle attracted negative attention from the British press, leading to his expulsion by the Italian government in 1923. He spent subsequent years in France, Germany, and England, continuing to promote Thelema until his death in 1947.
Crowley's notoriety stemmed from his recreational drug use, bisexuality, and criticism of societal norms. Despite controversy, he significantly influenced Western esotericism and the 1960s counterculture, and remains a central figure in Thelema.
Born Edward Alexander Crowley in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, he was raised in a wealthy family adhering to the fundamentalist Christian Plymouth Brethren faith. Crowley rejected his religious upbringing, developing an interest in Western esotericism. He attended Trinity College, Cambridge, focusing on mountaineering and poetry, and published several works during this period. In 1898, he joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, receiving training in ceremonial magic from Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers and Allan Bennett. His travels took him to Mexico for mountaineering with Oscar Eckenstein and to India, where he studied Hindu and Buddhist practices.
In 1904, during a honeymoon in Cairo with his wife Rose Edith Kelly, Crowley claimed to have received "The Book of the Law" from a supernatural entity named Aiwass. This text became the foundation of Thelema, announcing the onset of the Æon of Horus and introducing the central tenet: "Do what thou wilt." Crowley emphasized that individuals should align with their True Will through ceremonial magic.
After an unsuccessful expedition to Kanchenjunga in 1905 and further travels in India and China, Crowley returned to Britain. There, he co-founded the esoteric order A∴A∴ with George Cecil Jones in 1907 to promote Thelema. In 1912, he joined the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), eventually leading its British branch and reformulating it according to Thelemic principles. Crowley spent World War I in the United States, engaging in painting and writing pro-German propaganda, which biographers later suggested was a cover for British intelligence activities.
In 1920, Crowley established the Abbey of Thelema, a religious commune in Cefalù, Sicily. His libertine lifestyle attracted negative attention from the British press, leading to his expulsion by the Italian government in 1923. He spent subsequent years in France, Germany, and England, continuing to promote Thelema until his death in 1947.
Crowley's notoriety stemmed from his recreational drug use, bisexuality, and criticism of societal norms. Despite controversy, he significantly influenced Western esotericism and the 1960s counterculture, and remains a central figure in Thelema.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 22, 2018
I appreciated the chapter presenting that evocation of a Goetic spirit can be used to help with the under-developed parts of the individual. We always hear that self-knowledge is essential, and finally here is a hint at a tool. Only a hint, and pity the author had to insult Jung while referring to the usefulness of his character-analysis system. This idea could have been developed into a whole book and not specifically Goetic.
The summaries of the Banishing Ritual, Bornless Ritual, Enochian Keys and signs were fine, though simplified and incomplete. They’re better explained elsewhere. I appreciate the suggestion of replacing longer processes in the grimoires with the Bornless Ritual. The breakdown of the ritual structure is clear and easy to understand. In my opinion, for a first evocation, it would be worth doing a complete, long ritual working. Someone inexperienced should learn the Banishing and Bornless Rituals for those rituals’ own values.
The illustrations were not especially evocative. The chapters feel like they’re written by different people and are uncredited, with different perspective and writing styles. It feels like poor editing, not like a collaboration.
The uses of sex magick for evocation extraordinarily risky and is not well thought-out in the brief chapter explaining the process. Frankly, it may be possible and intellectually understandable but it’s a crazy idea in practice, especially considering that in the chapters before, an author wrote about all the extreme emotional mind games that came up in response to the evocation. For crying out loud, NO.
This book was given to me as a gift, probably picked up at a used bookstore. I read it because I wanted a very basic intro to Goetic evocation, and to understand why someone would want a Goetic familiar, and the book did indeed help with that. I'm glad I read this before other archaic volumes.
The summaries of the Banishing Ritual, Bornless Ritual, Enochian Keys and signs were fine, though simplified and incomplete. They’re better explained elsewhere. I appreciate the suggestion of replacing longer processes in the grimoires with the Bornless Ritual. The breakdown of the ritual structure is clear and easy to understand. In my opinion, for a first evocation, it would be worth doing a complete, long ritual working. Someone inexperienced should learn the Banishing and Bornless Rituals for those rituals’ own values.
The illustrations were not especially evocative. The chapters feel like they’re written by different people and are uncredited, with different perspective and writing styles. It feels like poor editing, not like a collaboration.
The uses of sex magick for evocation extraordinarily risky and is not well thought-out in the brief chapter explaining the process. Frankly, it may be possible and intellectually understandable but it’s a crazy idea in practice, especially considering that in the chapters before, an author wrote about all the extreme emotional mind games that came up in response to the evocation. For crying out loud, NO.
This book was given to me as a gift, probably picked up at a used bookstore. I read it because I wanted a very basic intro to Goetic evocation, and to understand why someone would want a Goetic familiar, and the book did indeed help with that. I'm glad I read this before other archaic volumes.
December 10, 2012
A very good insight on the Goetia. I'm not a big fan of Lon Milo Douquette's obsessive tendency to assert bull*** on the subject of Daemons being "of the psyche", yet, for some reason believing in an objective creator God (yet, just the opposite seems to be the case. The Daemons are objective and the "God" is the cop out explanation for not understanding what's going on.) Yet, the other Authors don't let him get away with it, while still respecting his opinion (AKA Jewish monotheistic biases).
April 9, 2010
I read this because I was curious as to what the whole Keys of Solomon thing is about. This book basically goes through the steps of how to summon a demon, but it is obviously a bunch of malarcky. Although I did enjoy reading it a bit more than some other Christian Mythology, which is really what this is... Christian Mysticism and Mythology.
February 11, 2018
The Illustrated Goetia features a lot of sound advice on working with the Solomonic Spirits and I found it to be highly useful. That being said, and as always, I wish that DuQuette didn't come off as pompous and callous as he does. He's a brilliant magician, but his writing comes off a bit cringe-worthy.
November 8, 2020
Evoking Goëtia seems to be a type of meditation used for expressing an energy from within us to help steer ourselves down a chosen path.
The book explains the phenomena, the energies, rituals and symbols well enough for a practitioner to launch from!
It’s an easy read as the majority of the pages are images or energy descriptions.
The book explains the phenomena, the energies, rituals and symbols well enough for a practitioner to launch from!
It’s an easy read as the majority of the pages are images or energy descriptions.
July 2, 2024
Demons (religious texts as a whole) are wild. I had a great time.
September 24, 2022
Buy this Amazing book from Play store. Read Free sample before buying
Check out "Aleister Crowley's Illustrated Goetia: Sexual Evocation"
https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
Check out "Aleister Crowley's Illustrated Goetia: Sexual Evocation"
https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
September 6, 2008
An absolute must-have for Demonolators and Ceremonial Magicians. I especially enjoyed the preface materials and the presentation of the manuscript is understandable and easy to follow.
January 10, 2014
An interesting take of the Goetia. Not sure if all the illustrations were worth it but heh still enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews