In many ways the great grandfather of the modern magickal primer, and arguably far more exhaustive than many recent entries into that ersatz genre, An Encyclopaedia of Occultism by Lewis Spence can rightly claim to have been groundbreaking in its day. A truly mammoth tome it has received many reprints under a few different names, including the modern Dover edition, though my own copy is an obscure Bracken Books hardback from 1988 that I picked up in a charity shop for less than the price of a packet of stick incense. The information that I gained so early in my journey, however, was priceless.

Yes, it does show its age a little. The original text was laid down in the 1920′s, after all. But it still offers over four hundred pages on esoteric and occult subjects, with some entries running to the length of a small essay. The superstitions and magickal practises of certain geographic regions are present, as are articles on various divination techniques and the then burgeoning spiritualist craze. It also features some technical illustrations, though they are far from the focal point. A time capsule of sorts, though not everything on offer within its heavy card covers could be considered historical curio alone.

Indeed, it is worth noting here that the entry on necromancy is exhaustive in ritual detail, and is viewed by many in the occult community as a major foundation text on the subject. The one on exorcism is just as long, and content rich. The biographical essays, such as those for Paracelsus and Cagliostro are perhaps a little outdated in light of current research trends, though the basics are all there and presented in a format that is easy to digest. For obvious reasons later groups such as the Golden Dawn or Ordo Templi Orientis do not get a mention, though the Freemasons and Rosicrucians are dissected thoughtfully.

The encyclopedia does at times veer into the same language related issues that a lot of early 20th Century anthropological texts seem to become mired in. This is an inevitable byproduct of the social landscape in the inter-war period, and some of the racial terminology used is potentially offensive. Plus a few of the entries show the creaky, Western bias that also ran like a blunt knife through a lot of cross-cultural scholarship during that period too. Far more nuanced than with the works of someone like H. P. Lovecraft, however, and certainly not pervasive enough to make following the effected narratives overly uncomfortable.

Despite these issues the An Encyclopaedia of Occultism remains a foundational text for a reason. Not only does it work as a resource for experienced adepts to dip in and out of as the need arises but can also double as a textbook of sorts for less experienced seekers yearning to understand the wider esoteric sphere. It stands as proof that seeking out the books that other writers reference in their own work usually pays off. Based on the sheer number of reprints in the last century it is relatively cheap to purchase too, even in the wild. All in all a worthy, if not outright required, addition to almost every esoteric bookshelf.

Title: An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Author: Lewis Spence
Genre: Occult Non-Fiction
Tradition: Various
Difficulty: Starter/Intermediate
Published: 1920 (2003 for the Dover Edition)
ISBN: 9780486426136
Score: 8/10