Real Magic: An Introductory Treatise on the Basic Principles of Yellow Light

by Isaac Bonewits and Philip Emmons Isaac Bonewits

Book Overview

Examines every category of occult phenomena from ESP to Eastern ritual and explores the basic laws of magic, relating them to the natural laws of the universe.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B00KEW6UG2
• ISBN13: 9780877286882
• Release Date: February 1989
• Publisher: Weiser Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

I'm glad I read this :)

This is one of those books that I've been meaning to read for years. I kept having people tell me what a good book it was (or, occasionally, not so good) and it remained on my very long to-read list until recently. What's funny to me is the synchronicity involved; I believe that if I'd read it earlier in my magical career, it might not all have sunk in so well. Yes, it's an introduction to magic, but it's an interdisciplinary one, and having a practical background in magic actually made some of the concepts even more understandable to me, believe it or not. What Bonewits did was create a guide to magic for the non-magician as well as the magician, the pagan, and the candlestick-burner. It's almost entirely theory, but he explains it in terms of science, psychology, religion, as well as magical practice itself, among others. Much of it comes from his gaining a bachelor's degree in magic (which I think is pretty cool, myself), and the ability to research shows. It's a solid work, and well worth the read. Once again I must comment on his tone. In the preface to this edition he apologized for "rampant egotism". I'm not sure if he toned it down in this edition or not, but I have to say that this is part of what makes reading his work so much fun! Sure, it annoys some people, but I love every minute of it just because it is full of so much nerve and guts and gall and all that. Additionally, the peppering of puns left me laughing (and occasionally groaning). The book is a bit dated; the emphasis on parapsychology and psy research is nowhere near as prevalent in the magical community as it was in the warly 70's when the book was first written. And there are a few political and other current event mentions that also place the book in another decade for just a moment-for instance, if you were to toss someone into Lake Erie now, at least they would sink (though they might develop a lovely skin rash, and don't drink the water!) But these are very small details and they don't detract from the quality of the book as a whole. Overall, this is a highly enjoyable read. I'd recommend it as a gift to non-magical folk who are interested, or who need an example of a book on magic that A) isn't all dark and scary and cultish, and B) isn't all sparkles and pixie dust and unicorn giggles. I'd also recommend it to any magical practitioner who hasn't read it yet, simply because if you're like me, you'll find something that either really speaks to you, or you'll learn something you didn't know. And it is a seminal work in the field of modern magic, worth reading simply for the historical value (well, recent history anyway).

A Great Beginning Point

At first this book drove me absolutely crazy. I hate Isaac Bonewits writing style, his tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, his pedantic editorializing and especially his endless political rhetoric. At this point you're probably wondering why I gave this book 5 stars. The reason is because this book is phenomenal. I had to ignore, or at the very least wade through his smarmyness, but what I found when I did so was pure gold. He explains in perfect but simple detail the fact and opinion behind magical practice, from classical hermetics to modern parapsychology. I grew by leaps and bounds while I read it. This work was the first of its kind: A truly interdisciplinary review of magic and paranormal phenomena. While the author can't be called non-biased (by any stretch of the imagination... on any topic), he is well-researched, logical and thorough. I cannot recommend any book more than this for a beginner in the realm of magic. I wish it had been my first.

Brilliant, but not unflawed

Isaac Bonewits' _Real Magic_ is one of the first serious books on magical theory I read, and one that reveals new insights with every re-reading. It is the first book that comes to mind when I am asked about books on magic because of Bonewits' engaging style and willingness to think through his theories. Bonewits himself does show through in his work in ways both good and bad, however. Unlike many other books on such topics, Bonewits writes in a clear, academic style, with bits of dry wit sprinkled throughout. I found it as lucid to read as an issue of _Science Digest_, and a fair bit more entertaining (his comments on haruspicy, for instance, contain a real howler). _Real Magic_ is written such that the beginner will pick up on the broad strokes while perhaps not catching the finer bits of detail that reveal themselves with further attention. The more right-brained might find it dry, however, as Bonewits examines magic with the tools of various by academic disciplines (I have heard that Antero Alli's _Angel Tech_ may be more palatable for such, but I have not fully read that book). Make no mistake, this book does focus on magical theory, and it does so from a viewpoint that excludes the concept of the supernatural. I would call it materialist as Bonewits does, but that term has confused people in the past. Bonewits ranges from discussions of common elements of ritual practice worldwide to attempts to explain magical effects using scientific principles. Though there are suggested practical exercises sprinkled throughout, the book is not organized around them. For those looking for followup reading, _Real Magic_ has an extensive glossary and bibliography, though the age does show on both of them in spots. I would be remiss if I did not discuss what I consider to be _Real Magic_'s biggest flaw. Bonewits, frankly, has little tolerance for monotheistic fundamentalism and attacks Christianity and monotheism in a few spots within _Real Magic_. I have given copies of _Real Magic_ to friends and warned them that about the rants but also said the rest of the book is truly worth it - hence my giving it five stars. After reading it they agreed, but at least one told me that had I not said it was worth it they would have not read past the vitriol the first time it appeared.

This is IT! The magickal masterpiece!

"Real Magic" by P.E.I. Bonewits (the only person to have been granted a degree in "Magic and Thaumaturgy" by the University of California) is the sine qua non of magickal handbooks for beginners, whether neophyte practicing mage or the scholarly outsider. Bonewits is a philologist by training, explaining just what certain magical terms MEAN. A "sorcerer," for example, is some who divines the future or casts spells by casting "lots," whether they be tarot cards, I Ching stalks, runes, or the Ummim and Thummim of the Levite priests -- that is the practice of "sortilege," no matter what is being cast or who is doing the casting, woad-rubbed Druid or silk pantalooned spokesman of Jehovah shooting craps with sacred dice.Oh, and about "the Druid thing" -- Bonewits is one. He's a co-founder, in fact, of the New and Reformed Druids, which began as a collegiate rebellion against mandatory chapel attendance at one school. Chapel attendance was mandatory, but no rule dared specify HOW students should worship, nor WHAT (nor WHOM) they should worship, so modern Druidism was born (along with many inebriated rituals with uisghebegh, literally, "the water of life"), and it grew into a substantial and academically respected religious tradition of the modern world. The scholarly work of Bonewits went far towards this development.But nothing written by Bonewits for the laity is to be feared as too academically dry for a good read. Au contraire! Bonewits writes with good humor and self-effacement. He remarks, for instance, how the first edition's, "So you've decided that your mother-in-law has got to go" became the second edition's, "So you've decided that the local dictator has got to go...." Thus begins one of the few actual spells Bonewits presents, his spell for anger and destruction. (There's also a generic love/lust spell, too.)One of the great strengths of Bonewits is that he does not present the high-falutin' chants and incantations and specifications that make the typical "Book of Shadows" seem more like a somewhat shady cookbook or electronic assembly handbook than a guide to the realm of the mysterious and arcane. Stardust Wondermorning Skysong Raven (Wiccan High Priestess, 89th level, 2 month's experience in "The Craft") is going to be s.o.l. trying to find a collection of feel-good sing-along songs for the next Sabbat in "Real Magic," because Bonewits sharply points out that any such collection is useless for anyone except the author or compositor (or someone closely bound to them); magick is a PERSONAL matter, and Bonewits tries to teach his readers how to express their desires and CREATE THEIR OWN SPELLS.Much of modern magickal literature and theory owes its origins to "Real Magic," including the now-popular "colors of magic" theories of fantasy literature and pop wizardry. (Forget "black" and "white" -- REAL magic is all about the colors, from infra-red to ultra-violet. Yellow magick is magick dealing with intelligence, the intellect,

Top Pick

for years when someone comes to me asking that I teach them this book has by and far been the first book that I like to put into their hands. Not only does it draw you in, it informs and teaches with each return to the pages, read it again and again, you keep learning each time you dig into the pages. Its not just for beginners, although for a beginner on the path this is the best book to get a firm grasp of the basics from. When asked to back up my beliefs Ive often quoted from the pages of this wonderful book. Not only do you get taught about Real Magick from the book, you also get taught how to think, how to open up your eyes and observe the world around you. by far this is truely one of my favorite books and holds the place of honor within my library.