The Sword & the Serpent: The Two-Fold Qabalistic Universe, Paperback

An Occult Classic from Denning & Phillips' Magical Philosophy Series

This highly regarded text is a cornerstone among ceremonial magicians and occultists worldwide. The Sword & the Serpent expounds upon the principles of ceremonial magic and its relationship to the teachings of Qabalah. This volume, the second volume of The Magical Philosophy Series, presents the external Qabalistic universe and the internal Qabalistic universe; together, the two-fold universe--that which surrounds us, and the universe of the psyche within.

It is the ultimate integration of the outer world and inner world that is the Great Work and purpose of High Magic. The essential structures of outer and inner worlds are here conceived of in parallel terms, seen through one common comprehensive framework, and their integration is thus revealed as comprehensible and progressive gnosis. For the magician, this is the key to learning to use the psyche, or inner world, to control and direct the forces of the outer worlds of being. Thus, and only thus, do we fulfill our destiny and become masters of our fate.

Melita Denning and Osborne Phillips are internationally-recognized authorities on the mainstream Western Mysteries and are two of the foremost exponents of the Ogdoadic Tradition, that premier hermetic school whose keywords are knowledge and regeneration, and whose influence and works are historically traceable for the past one thousand years.

The authors received their major esoteric training in the magical order Aurum Solis, a society which was founded in 1897 and which has continued in active existence to the present day. On July 8, 1987, the authors, then heads of Aurum Solis, retired from the Order; but on June 23, 1988, at the unanimous request of the members, they resumed office.

In 1997, Melita Denning passed from this earth.

Melita Denning and Osborne Phillips are internationally recognized authorities on the Western Mysteries and two of the foremost exponents of the Ogdoadic Tradition, the premier hermetic school whose influence and works are historically traceable for the past one thousand years. The authors both served as Grand Masters in the magical order Aurum Solis, which was founded in 1897 and is still active today. Phillips lives in the United Kingdom. Denning passed from this earth in 1997.