Anon. (attributed Dr. Johann Faust), Praxis Magica Faustiana, Society of
Esoteric Endeavour 2011. Numbered limited edition of 180 copies. (38pp)
printed in black and red on 160gsm Fabiano Ingres mould made paper (which has a
natural texture – resultant from the production process). Substantial
limp canvas binding in printed dustwrapper of archival glassine (a traditional
translucent paper – so that the magic circle printed on the cover can be seen
through the dustwrapper) 38pp, one foldout printed on 40gsm Bible paper. The
endpapers are hand marbled by Zoe Bradley of Ann Muir Ltd. There are a number
British craftsmen and women currently making hand marbled paper, this workshop
excels in creating a wave effect in the design that can be achieved by thumping
the sides of the trays whilst the design is being made. The nature of the book
makes a place ribbon useful, it is made of pure silk, rather than the
synthetics usually employed. The book is hand sewn and hand bound.
It is not always realised that when Goethe wrote Faust he was
drawing upon an extensive corpus of often quite folky publications concerning
the famous yarn. These included grimoires attributed to Faust himself. One was
published as a series of 11 lithographs of text and illustration in the middle
of the 19th Century in a collection of chapbooks, fairy tales and
other popular miraculous literature. This book commences with reproductions of
the lithographs in the same small format as originally issued (6.5ins x 4.5ins)
though their appearance is rather improved. Then follows a commentary and
translation. This translates the German and Latin of the original, and
also notes any variation between the published text and a manuscript of an
English translation of the same (though variant – not having the illustrations)
work made by Major F. G. Irwin, member of the Golden Dawn, co-founder of the
Fratres Lucis, member of the Society of Eight. This manuscript was in the
possession of A.E.Waite and is now in a public library in the United States of
America.
The commentary also explains the significance of the
illustrations. These enunciate a surprisingly sophisticated magical philosophy.
Perhaps significantly, it is more easily described than categorised. Christian
powers of Light are utilised to control Lucifer (the light bearer) who is
followed by his dark counterpart Mephistophiles (whose name derives from the
Greek for “Not-light-lover”) who is the terrifying other who can negate the ego
of the practitioner. The cunning nature of the illustration of Mephistophiles,
who is not, himself delineated, but whose presence is implied by lines of force
and is cloaked in the letters of his name indicates the artist is fully
appraised with the significance of the name, which is another form of is
Lucifuge Roficale (Lucifuge meaning “one who flees the light). Having
mastered this polarity the practitioner can now utilise the powers of the
ultimate play of polarity, the forces of generation. It is an observation by
Mr. Daniel Schulke that indicates the specific field:- one component of the
final lithograph appears to be a representation of the actual (uncarved)
appearance of the mandrake plant, suggesting that this relates to the
generation of homunculi.
An additional diagram from the Irwin manuscript is reproduced as
a foldout on 40 gsm Bible paper. This also evinces the averse process described
above. First the reverse is generated, then that reverse if mirrored again, but
upon a different axis. Here the medium is not religious imagery but numerology.
The end is the same, the creation of a homunculus, or familiar, which is
illustrated. The numerology is sophisticated and surprising, even utilising
binary numbers. However, the commentary reveals how binary numbers, when first
described in 1703, were believed to be the universal mathematical key
underlying the creative interplay of Ying and Yang described in the I Ching, of
which the West had just learnt of from Jesuit missionaries. In the diagram,
there is reference to the same interplay of the western alchemical equivalents,
the sun and moon.
The anonymous commentary make no claim to be complete,
concentrating on the symbolism of the illustrations, there is some
Hebrew, a little Greek undeciphered, and it is likely that further
numerological aspects of the final illustrations can be unlocked. The publisher
welcomes contributions (which, of course, will be credited) to a supplement,
which may be published at a later date.
Regret this item has sold out.
Image of the front cover and
dustwrapper
Image of the front cover with
dustwrpper removed
Back cover showing the homunculus
on dustwrapper
Reproduction of some of the
Lithographs
