A
Complete System of Magic
Society
of Esoteric Endeavour 2018
A
slipcase containing four books and a folder (all handmade).
The four books:-
William Dawson Bellhouse
(Compiler and Scribe), A Complete System of Magic, hardback book 200pp, some diagrams, sigils
etc. Conventional Victorian design decorated endpapers. Cloth is manufactured
by a craftsman who has lectured both the Society of Bookbinders and the Society
of Designer Bookbinders about Victorian bookcloth manufacture. This material is
made with a traditional starch filling which is more pleasing to touch than
modern cloths which are treated with plastic. As with any handmade product, the
cloth may have minor irregularities. The text is a complete transcription of
manuscript of a practitioner active in Liverpool, England in the late 1850s,
his working magical book. He was part of a milieu who generally performed the
same perilous ritual, often in the same location, to establish their
communication with the spirits (including infernal beings) upon whom they would
rely to perform their craft. However, the nature of their practices could vary
greatly.
Someone
seeking the services of the Professor (for that is what he called himself)
Bellhouse could be in for an experience. On ringing the bell the front door,
untouched by human hand, would immediately swing open to reveal the waiting
room. There they must sit patiently, until the door of the inner sanctum is
opened. They must not try to listen through the closed door or peep through the
keyhole. To do so would risk being touched by the Devil! - experienced as a bolt of energy that would
shake an eavesdropper to the core. For Professor Bellhouse was also a
galvinist, who gave electric shocks as a medical curative. He attached wires to
the door knob and a metal plate on the floor so that snoopers might receive a
powerful electric shock, an utterly unfamiliar experience to most people at
that time and, given the situation, they would likely attribute to a
supernatural cause. The client, once summoned into the sanctum, would see
strange instruments - such as a planisphere and a horologue, medical jars
labelled in Latin, choice occult books and a skrying crystal set in the middle
of a diagram inscribed with words of power. If seeking to have their fortune
told they would be invited to touch the crystal whilst strange ritual
invocations were performed by the practitioner. Unlike modern practitioner's
who look into the crystal and then report the visions to the client, Professor
Bellhouse's enpowered his clients to behold the vision in the crystal for
themselves. Depending upon the purpose
of the consultation they might see:- angels, or their ministers, who could be
commanded; ghosts of the departed known to the client; a distant place and how
a loved one fares there (useful to the people of Liverpool, a major port); past
events from the client's life and, through symbols that the Professor could
interpret, their future. Bellhouse developed his own system, by which the
visions where summoned through the astrological house suitable to the question
using particular names of powers attributed to each house. Different charts are
given for men and women in which the names of power are juxtaposed across the
horizon, indicating a system of sexual polarity.
But
a dark shadow falls across the practice of Professor Bellhouse. He and his
associates were the subject of prolonged study by an investigative journalist.
Bellhouse was accused of taking advantage of women who came to him for readings
so the question arises whether he was practising an idiosyncratic tantric
xkrying technique or abuse, or both.
All available information is provided so that the reader can decide for
him or herself. The journalist rants against the sexual immorality of the seers
generally, opening a window upon a curious occult sub-culture in Victorian
England that presages the cultural shifts of the 20th Century.
A
Complete System of Magic provide
the magical procedures that clients might seek from a Cunning Man. These
include charms for healing with spells to staunch bleeding and stop cramp and
heal burns. There are charms for love, to cause an errant son or daughter to
return and to protect a building from evil. Clearly fear of malefic witchcraft
was an issue as there are various counter measures including two procedures for
using witch bottles. Theft and crime were problems and there is an elaborate
procedure for bringing miscreants to light. The involves the creation of wax
images. Whilst clearly its own text it does relate to the procedure disclosed
by Reginald Scot but Bellhouse gives the "certeine peculiar
characters" referred to by Scot, but not given, and conjurations,
which Scot deliberately omits. The words of power to be inscribed upon the
waxen images that Bellhouse gives are quite different from Scot suggesting that
this was, very much, a living, evolving tradition. There is a section on the
magical properties of naturally shed snakeskin, another on the occult
properties of vervain. There are illustrated instructions for the preparation
of planetary talismans.
Bellhouse
incorporates part of Agrippa's Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy into A
Complete Magical System and as this transcript is complete this is
included, though it presents the text and illustrations as given in the first
English edition of 1655 rather than Bellhouse's rather error laden copy.
A
Complete System of Magic
concludes with Bellhouse's multiple indexes of the material, signalling which
parts he utilised most and then some appendices:- The Magician's Blessing; Form
of a Spell; Manner of Baptising in the Catholic Church, Table of Hebrew
Letters; Signification of the [Astrological] Houses; Manner of Drawing Geomantic
Figures; How to Compose an Oration to the Angel whose assistance you want;
Platinumed Plate for Gavanic Operations.
Daniel Harms, William
Dawson Bellhouse, Galvinist, Cunning Man, Scoundrel, hardback book 29pp illustrations.
Conventional printed decorated endpapers. This is a biography of the man and
presents all that is known about him with considerable information concerning
his practice of medical galvanism with the illustrations used by him in a
leaflet he issued. The charges levelled against him are discussed. Excellent
account of his sometimes chequered career.
Daniel Harms, Witch
Bottles, Steel & Glass, hardback book 52pp some illustrations.
Conventional printed decorated endpapers.
Witch bottles, being one of the most enduring artefacts of folk magical
practice, are occasionally discovered and their contents investigated. The
famous Essex Cunning Man known as Cunning Murrell famously used metal bottles
in a manner akin to Bellhouse. Murrell's magic book was destroyed after his death.
It is remarkable then to find the text of a 19th Century practitioner giving
the procedures for their creation and use.
This work explores possible origins of the practice, their use in both
the Old and New World and discusses the nature of the practice.
Daniel Harms, Wax Images,
"Voodoo Dolls", Figurines, Mannikins & Poppets, hardback book 60pp some illustrations.
Conventional printed decorated endpapers. This creation of beings resonates
with Jewish traditions regarding the Golem
which emphasise the words and sigils that must be inscribed upon specific parts
of the being's form. This makes Bellhouse's text particularly interesting. It
is striking to find a 19th Century practitioner's magical book which has
developed and expanded centuries old traditions. This work places Bellhouse's
text in context by exploring the magical and religious use of wax figurines in
the Ancient World, medieval and early modern image magic in Western Europe and
their continued use into 18th century and modern times.
Liverpool Mercury, hardback
folder with stiff card pocket. Conventional printed decorated pastedowns:-
Anon.
(Hugh Shimmin), Liverpool Mercury, Liverpool Life Nos. II - XIII, This
series of twelve articles published in 1857 are presented, in emulation of
their original appearance, as cuttings upon both sides of a folded sheet 76cm x
64cm. The deeply hostile journalist provides an eye-opening view of the occult
in mid-19th Century Liverpool. His antipathy to seers like Bellhouse is
extreme. He regards them as a threat to Victorian morality. He says the work
hand in hand with the sex industry, very prominent in Liverpool at that time.
He notes that many of them, like Bellhouse, were also herbalists and supplied
aborticants to sex workers and recruited vulnerable girls. He also notes that
horny women would seek them out for recreational sex as they thought their
trade might insure them from any consequences, These articles describe the
skrying techniques, the herbal remedies, the talismans, Bible and key
divination, fairy magic, use of psalms, astrology, card reading etc. The
journalist also discusses Liverpool mesmerists and spiritualist mediums well
aware of the international movements. The latter's exploration of faery realms
is curious. Shimmin is slightly more sympathetic to a lunatic seer who does not
trade but has visions reminiscent of William Blake's in which he is the
connection between heaven and earth for the benefit of humanity. Highly
informative concerning the milieu in which Bellhouse worked.
Facsimile
of Original Manuscript Two
leaflets 64pp leaflet & 32pp leaflet, ribbon binding. (Not including the
section copied directly from Agrippa, Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy - but
this is included in the transcript) The facsimile is important as if provides
signals as to whether sigils have been copied or created, different hands in
compiling the manuscript, which pages were most used etc.
Limitation
Sheet, Also enclosed in the
folder is a folded sheet of mould made laid paper bearing a pyramid shaped
bookplate blocked in pure real gold recording the final limitation which will
be determined by the number ordered. Hand inscribed by a professional
calligrapher is the copy number and also the name (or magical name or motto) of
the person, institution or business to whom the set has been issued. If desired
this can be left blank or a generic title used like "Anon." "A
Student", "A Seeker", A Friend of the Society" "A
Member of the Society of Esoteric Endeavour". (All purchasers are entitled
to identify as the latter). The number will record the sequence of orders. The
first person ordering will receive No.1, and so on.
Copies will be made to order so the number of copies will be
determined by the number ordered over the next fortnight when it will be
declared out of print. The maximum number may be 200 as we have supplies to
make up to that number, Any orders
received after that number has been reached may be declined. If a significant
number above 200 are ordered, a further batch may be made but they will look
significantly different and may be offered at a higher price. But absolutely
no orders will be accepted after November 18th 2018.
Thereafter this publication will
be out of print.
It
will be noted that the reverse of the limitation sheet bears a wax seal with
the imprint of the Society of Esoteric Endeavour's eye. If this seal is broken,
the sheet can be unfolded. Of this more is said on Page 2.
The Slipcase is stout and felt lined to cushion and
protect its contents.
If
the slipcase is on a shelf with its contents accessible the above is all that will
be perceived without breaking the seal on the limitation sheet.
But
there is more!
-----------------------------------------------------
In
fact not everyone notices, but if one removes the books and folder from the
slipcase and picks it up from the shelf it may be found to be heavier than
expected, and when comparing the books with the outside of the slipcase it will
be seen that they do not extend all the way to the back. If shaken, there may be a rattling noise.
There
is a secret chamber in the slipcase!
The
biblionaut is invited to discover the way into the chamber. Once you know the
way it can be opened easily and quickly. But unless you know the procedure it
can prove totally inaccessible. In experiments
most people are unable to find their way in. There are full instructions with
diagrams, but the seal upon the limitation sheet has to be broken in order to
view them.
Inside
the felt lined secret chamber are some of the key articles required to practice
the Complete System of Magic:-
There
are three "Bonds for the Crystal", one for men, one for women and one for
both. These relate to the astrological houses and give the names of power
attributed to each house. These can be unfolded and the crystal placed in the
centre for a reading. They are printed upon laid, mould made paper.
Glass Skrying Ball,
as used by the Liverpool seers so modestly sized compared to modern large
balls. They obtained their skrying glasses from the workers at St. Helen's
glass works, about 12 miles from Liverpool (still a centre for the British
glass industry). They were "end of day pieces" or
"friggers" where the workers might use up the last of the molten
glass for personal projects. The intermediary was the seer of St. Helens
who many trusted to properly consecrate the glasses. He specialised in fairy
magic. The round shape is reminiscent of the Earth so the crystal can be
perceived as a microcosm of the world.
Glass Skrying Egg, the
ovoid or egg shape was the most common form of skrying in Liver pool at that time. Whilst the use of egg
shaped skrying glasses is noted in some old books, their existence is now
largely forgotten. The egg is a symbol of fertility and suggests the mystery of
new life emerging from apparently inanimate matter. The beings that appear in
the crystal might be considered as new life forms, manifestations of life force
formulated into beings through the egg shape of the crystal.
Glass
Skrying Cylinder, was used
with a plate engraved with cabalistic figures. It has been speculated that the
optical properties of a glass cylinder made that shape particularly suitable
for a skrying glass. And it has also been suggested that unscrupulous seers may
have surreptitiously slipped images under the cylinder to trick a client into
believing they had received a vision.
Anon, Further Notes
Regarding the Practice of Professor Bellhouse & the Liverpool Seers
including their Ritual of Initiation, 32pp small
format leaflet, ribbon bound the ties being left long as they facilitate
removal of items from secret chamber. This gives the ritual of initiation
utilised by the seers and describes the location where it was performed. It
discusses Bellhouse's magical technique, its embrace of sexual polarity and
it's relationship to eroto-comotose lucidity, a sex magical technique
enunciated by Crowley (drawing upon the work of Pascal Beverly Randolph). The
relationship between sex and skrying is discussed and the accusations against Bellhouse are
examined in this context and the reader is provided with all available
information to make his or her own judgement,
Metal Ring, upon which the ball and egg shaped glass
can be set.
Snakeskin, this
is naturally shed by a wild snake, almost certainly a grass snake. Out of concern for bio-contamination it has
been treated in an alkaline solution of at least 12.5 ph for one month, as per
the recommendations of Australian customs which is taken as the exemplar of
good practice.
Beeswax, which
is undyed. Mindful of bio-contamination issues, it has been thoroughly heated
in boiling water. This goes beyond the requirements of Australian customs which
is taken as an exemplar of good practice.
Vervain Leaves, thoroughly
dried as per the instructions of Australian customs which is taken as an
exemplar of good practice.
Vervain Root, thoroughly
dried as per the instructions of Australian customs which is taken as an
exemplar of good practice.
Important
note regarding international postage.
Regrettably
all copies sent by Caduceus Books to non European Union customers will have to
be sent with the secret chamber open and all items available for inspection by customs
officials. Regrettably his does mean that non-EU purchasers will not have the
opportunity to discover the way into the secret chamber for themselves.
Consequently they are less likely to need to break the seal to reveal the
instructions. The snakeskin will be sent separately by private non-commercial
letter post to avoid the requirement for costly import certificates and paid
inscriptions etc.
Ordering
Details
The
Complete System of Magic is available at £275 plus postage.
When
packaged the Complete System of Magic will weigh 3.7 kilos, so looking at
www.royalmail.com postage will be as follows:-
UK
£13.14 (total £288.14)
Europe
(including Russia etc) £26.15 (total £301.15)
Rest
of the World
£36.05 (total 311.05)
Payment
can be made by:-
1)
Paypal (please make payment to ben@caduceusbooks.com).
2)
Credit Card or Debit Card
3)
Electronic Transfer to my bank Account (please email me for account number etc)
4)
Cheque in British currency made out to Caduceus Books
5)
Postal Orders made out to Benjamin Petroc Fernee in UK currency only
6)
International Money Order or Bankers Draft payable to Caduceus Books in
UK Pounds only.
7)
Western Union Money transfer made payable to Benjamin Petroc Fernee
Delivery
As
mentioned the print run will be determined by orders received. However in
preparation production has already started with a couple of hundred of the
books that go into the slipcases finished. It is reasonably expected that
copies will start being shipped to purchasers a month from now.
Available From
Ben Fernee
Caduceus Books
28 Darley Road
Burbage
Hinckley
Leicestershire
LE10 2RL
Telephone 01455 250542
(+ 44 1455 250542 from abroad)
ben@caduceusbooks.com
www.caduceusbooks.com