De Occulta Philosophia
Volume IV - The Fourth Book
by Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim
translated and introduced by Paul Summers Young
(Volume IV of the De Occulta Philosophia series)
Then rise to your feet and turn around your circle, from east to west, until your head spins and you fall to the ground and be still; like that, you will be enraptured, and the spirit you seek will appear and tell you all you want to know.
Volume IV, the final part of De Occulta Philosophia, includes new translations of extracts from Agrippa's work De Incertitudine et Vanitate Scientiarum (1530) and the potentially apocryphal Liber Quartus de Occulta Philosophia (1559), which also contains the Heptameron, or Elementa Magica de Petri de Abano.
Liber Quartus serves as a practical guide to magical rituals, grounded in Agrippa's academic text. It reflects the magical subculture of his time and offers an open-source approach to magic. On the other hand, the Heptameron, although related to Agrippa's work, is a sequence of texts prescribing magical rituals more akin to liturgical handbooks.
Agrippa's work in De Incertitudine et Vanitate Scientiarum satirises various aspects of human endeavour and emphasises the importance of revelation and happiness. He criticises astrology and hints at paradigm shifts and the possibility of other worlds. Agrippa uses humour to make his critique engaging and explores various magical arts. While he critiques charlatans, he presents a nuanced view of natural magic, suggesting that these matters need a rational approach.
This collection of extracts captures Agrippa's engaging and thought-provoking tone, making his humour and wisdom accessible to modern readers. It includes discussions of monks and prostitution, where Agrippa's warmth, humour, and societal critiques shine through. These passages provide insight into Agrippa's complex personality and his views on various aspects of life, magic, and human nature.
About De Occulta Philosophia (Three Books of Occult Philosophy)
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy holds a longstanding fascination that has spanned centuries. This influential work explores various aspects of occult and mystical knowledge. The new translation from the Latin of the 1533 edition seeks to render this foundational text accessible to a broader and contemporary audience. The publication is divided into the three traditional volumes, as well as a fourth volume containing the apocryphal Fourth Book, along with additional magical texts either written by Agrippa or attributed to him. This comprehensive collection offers readers a deeper understanding of Agrippa's contributions to the world of occult philosophy and magic.
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Cover design by Alice Rocchetti.
Hardcover Edition
279 pages. Printed and bound in Italy. Hardcover bound in Italian Fedrigoni Imitlin. 120 gram black Endpapers. Printed on 115 gsm wood-free, age-resistant Cream paper. Sewn book block, black ribbon bookmark and black Headbands. Gilding on front cover and spine.
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About the Author
The late Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim (1486 – 1535) was a German Renaissance polymath, physician, legal scholar, soldier, knight, theologian, and occult writer.
Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy published in 1533 drew heavily upon Kabbalah, Hermeticism, and Neoplatonism. This work was widely influential among esotericists of the early modern period, and was condemned as heretical by the inquisitor of Cologne.
