Review: Magick - Decoding the Visual Culture of Spells

Did I really need another book about the history and culture of magic?  Yes. Yes, I did. But it's called  "Magick", the way Aleister Crowley chose to spell it, to differentiate between genuine attempts to alter reality and stage tricks. Mind you, the book does have a really interesting chapter on stage-type illusions, as well as oodles of well-researched and brilliantly explained information on everything from folklore through ceremonial rituals to modern-day witchcraft. 

The subtitle is Decoding the visual culture of spells, illusions and psychic powers and it's by Thomas Waters, who earlier wrote the excellent book Cursed Britain. It's part of a series that have relevant pictures with key aspects itemised and explained. 

Here's the description from publisher Thames and Hudson's website:

Combining powerful imagery of artworks and ritual objects with insightful analysis and expertly written text, Magick tells the visual story of the magical arts, from personal and community-based folk magic to ceremonial magic, illusionists and psychics.

Since the Ice Age, humans have sought to bend reality with magic. Powerful wands, enchanted talismans, transformative spells and potent herbs have been used to conjure everything people desire: love, wealth, health, protection and knowledge of the future. Join historian of magic, Thomas Waters, as he presents and demystifies an astonishing array of magical artefacts and occult acts. Understand the symbolism of a spirit-summoning magic circle; discover how to harness the protective power of amulets; scrutinize psychic tools and techniques; and explore the methods of performance magicians, including how they have been used by the CIA.

The magical beliefs and traditions explored are illustrated with spellbinding images of elaborate grimoires, spirit beings and esoteric diagrams together with select magical artefacts, such as amulets, crystals and magic mirrors. Many are examined in close-up detail and their symbolism decoded. Key magicians, rituals and enchanted landscapes are also profiled.

This wide-ranging book reveals how magic has evolved from ancient times, through the ages of science and technology, to the present-day era of spiritual wellbeing trends and magical products that can be ordered on next-day delivery.

There's a section at the end on modern witchcraft, which I thought was very good. Mind you, I had to snigger a bit at the photo of Crowley doing yoga with just the corner of a leopard skin rug covering his privates. Poor leopard!

You can view Magick on Amazon 

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Learn about the History of Magic Online with Tom Waters

Dr Tom Waters is teaching a 20-week university course called Spellbound: A History of Witchcraft, Magic and the Occult live online via Imperial. It starts on Wednesday 14 October. The standard fee is £531, but there are concessions. For course content enquiries contact t.waters@imperial.ac.uk, For booking enquiries contact Christian Jacobi at c.jacobi@imperial.ac.uk  More information is at https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/spellbound-history-of-magic-online/

Previous related posts

https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/09/pagan-eye-launch-of-magick-at-word-on.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/10/review-occult-decoding-visual-culture.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/02/excerpt-divination-ancient-magic-by.html