Elementary Treatise of Occult Science: Understanding the Theories and Symbols Used by the Ancients, the Alchemists, the Astrologers, the Freemasons & the Kabbalists Hardcover – December 8, 2018

The book's quality is better than I expected, especially since I thought I'd ordered a paperback. It looks like it doesn't come in paperback, so that was my mistake. But, I don't mind. Now that I have it in hand, even if there was paperback, I don't think I'd want to trade this copy in.The book arrived on time and in good condition.The subject matter is sometimes a bit dense for me, and I am often forced to re-read passages several times in order to better understand them. That's not a complaint about the translation or the notes, though. The translation and notes are as clear as possible, considering, and I am really enjoying the mental gymnastics this text sometimes requires.I wanted something that would challenge me to think in alternate ways. This text fits the bill perfectly for me.

Clearly explained and full of connections never explained in my years of studying occult philosophy and literature, this book is a joy to read! Full of ideas to meditate on, I predict this book will be re-read often. I hope the success of this book will lead to Llewellyn Publications green-lighting the publication of the English translation of Papus’ other book, Methodical Treatise on Occult Science.

It's easy to read, only just finished chapter two but it is easy to understand and explains concepts well!

Very good book of Masonic and Templar symbols. Excellent read on ancient knowledge.

Thank you

I bought this at the full price and what I received was the text but there was a printing error I guess where it said it was DJ Conways Dragon Magick in the copyright/credentials area whatever you call it. I returned it and they sent me another one that ALSO thought it was secretly Dragon Magick 101. I never got any help with it, in fact amazons system makes it very difficult to even have such a problem addressed. If you get your replacement and return that one too they basically just offer a refund and so I don't have the book anymore and don't plan on buying it again hoping they get it right this time.As for the text itself it seems to be a fantastic 19th century french occult book from a respected wizard. I never finished it but I got to read some of it and I was really enjoying it. It's not for beginners but I imagine anyone could pick it up and follow his train of logic. If you want fuel for argument to support your occult values and beliefs this book is for you, certainly. He makes a lot of great arguments as if it was a wizardly debate with other philosophers and theologians!The qualify of the actual book seems like a standard hardcover book but the cover is trash. I hate it. It looks very cheaply made like they paid someone on fiver and they made it in 5 minutes and weren't even familiar with the occult let alone the material of the text.This book also carries a dirty or slightly sinister reputation as well. To my knowledge there was another guy who wanted to translate this text. This person translated another text by Papus that has a similar title, that being "Elementary Treatise on Practical Magic" which is also available here on Amazon but something happened to where JMG and Mikituk rushed this translation and basically stole the dudes thunder. Of course that is their personal affair but If something like that did happen it kinda taints the reputation of this version and such a thing has already been said about it. I know when I looked at the book in person I thought about it and it put a sour taste in my mouth looking at it's low quality. It really does look rushed at least as far as getting it onto the market.. and why is it so expensive when it's a translation of someone else's book? You don't see that with the other recent papus translation. It sounds like greed was a factor here all around which of course isn't very decent so I hope all of that is incorrect and Mikituk spent the past decade translating it and the astrological glyphs on the cover spell out a secret hidden message that ties heavily into the essence of the text and of the Great Papus.

Three stars is blind benefit of the doubt. It’s been a long day & I’m tired. Aesthetically, the book beneath the bookcover is lack-luster. Also, I received a 278 page book. What I ordered, was advertised as 312 pages book. Where are the other 34 pages? If these factors are any reflection of the content. This book may be getting returned.

This book was released *AFTER* +Piers Vaughan released his translation of Papus' Elementary Treatise on Practical Magic ( which is also available on Amazon ). Mr. Vaughan translated the first book in the series, and was originally planning on releasing this after.It was widely known that the highly regarded Mason and Esotericist was in the process of translating other of Papus' works, including this one, when the decision to translate and publish this book was made without consulting him in any way. Mr. Vaughan does these translations as a labor of love for a tradition that he is deeply involved in, and it was dishonest of such a large company to put this forth when it was well known that he was planning on releasing it, as it is part of a series of which he had already translated the first.I recommend visiting Piers Vaughan's Amazon page to peruse his many excellent translations of books in the French esoteric tradition, and I suggest considering giving him your money. You will not be disappointed in the quality of the translations or the books offered.