Open Request Adjuring the Voice and the Glory: An Approximation of Late Antique and Early Medieval Jewish Magic and Mysticism by BJ Swain

[Mohammed Salah]

Before the Kabbalah, Judaism gave birth to a rich and beautiful system of mysticism, complete with attendant magical literature. The earliest form of this is often called The Merkavah, or The Work of the Chariot, and refers to the reflection on the Vision of Ezekiel and the measurements of the Body of God and the Heavens. Possibly concurrent with this reflection upon these mystical teachings, or perhaps a development from them, came the Hekhalot System, or the process of moving through the Heavenly Palaces to attain a vision of the Throne of God. Related magical texts provide the foundation for much of the angelic and demonic magic of later European grimoires. Despite the richness and importance of this system, it has rarely, if ever, been explored as a practical system in accessible literature for the modern mystic and magician. In part, this is because very little of the material for this system was available in English until recently. This book presents a method of reconstruction and approximation—a guide to creating a modern approach to this system, followed by a practical grimoire for fully engaging with it both mystically and magically.

The initial section of the book discusses considerations to keep in mind when approaching a system like this. Then, the first main portion of the book includes a paper by the author exploring late antique and early medieval Jewish magical texts in light of apocryphal scripture, offering an approach to this system for those without access to all relevant materials. This paper was written before most of the relevant works were translated into English. It presents an excellent model for the thinking used to engage with older systems of magic, especially for those attempting either to reassemble or approximate them with limited sources. The concepts here can be useful for magicians, mystics, and religious explorers of various traditions and persuasions. As the author has gained further resources and experiences, the paper is annotated with updates and explanations based on newer understandings, so the reader can also explore how such ideas and approaches develop and progress over time.

While the first part of the book is an academic exploration of magic and mysticism, the second part is a hands-on deep dive into practical work. Rather than lengthy, wordy explanations and academic analysis, the second section is a grimoire assembled from the latest, most up-to-date materials, rooted in the author's experience with this system and the magic of the grimoires. Workable rituals are proposed along with the mythology that underlies the spiritology of the system, and lists and descriptions of numerous spirits, most of whom are not focused on in later grimoires. The grimoire includes instructions for purification as well as rituals to assist therewith, rituals for consecrating tools, a ritual to bind oneself to the Prince of the Presence - a possible analogue to later Holy Guardian Angel work, rituals for the seven heavens and to work with angels and demons as well as a ritual to enter through the seven heavenly palaces into the Divine Throne room. A ritual is provided to enliven the book as a magical tool, with limited space for binding spirit pacts to the book.

If you have ever been curious about early Jewish Magic and Mysticism, or about some of the root magical and mystical practices and texts that may have informed later systems of magic, this is the book for you