Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism

Mr Knight is very thorough in his discussion of the Quabala. I believe his material would be a wonderful supplement to Gray's Qaballistic Concepts. The beginning student should read Gray first and then progress to Knight's methods..Mr Knight gives lengthy and learned insights to a reasonable and sane approach to the studies..I highly recommend his book. Both authors were connected to Dion Fortune, whose group is still active today..We need more men like these to point the way to the new generation of seekers.

Even though the word PRACTICAL is part of the title, this book is still very difficult reading for the uninitiated. In my case, a teacher helped open me up to the delights of this book, revealing a powerful world waiting to be explored. I wouldn't recommend this book to beginners, but I suspect this tome would soon be in their libraries once they establish a basic foundation within themselves.

This is the best book on Qabalah I've yet read!! Even though it was written over thirty years ago, it seems SO much more modern and clear, by comparison to other books on the subject. Unfortunately most of the other books on Esoteric Qabalah that I've read were written prior to 1950 and often come across as quite cryptic. This is the first book I've found that does away with the "cloak and dagger" secrecy which prevented most prior writers on the topic from disclosing anything resembling a straightforward explanation. Also, I was pleased to see that Mr. Knight apologized in his 2001 Forward to the book, for his past views on homosexuality and Scientology.

A Practical Guide To Qabalistic Symbolism by author and modern occultist Gareth Knight is a comprehensive reference, encompassing Volume 1: On the Spheres of the Tree of Life and Volume 2: On the Paths and the Tarot, showcasing the power of Magick and the applications of Qabalah. Diagrams, tables, black-and-white illustrations and extensively annotated explanations help lead readers through the fascinating, sometimes conflicting and hidden meanings of the skill, art, and practice of Qabalah in this most thorough guide. Highly recommended for serious students of the Qabalah, magick, and metaphysics.

Gareth Knight has put together perhaps the most complete assessment of Qabalistic symbology yet published in one book, both for the Tree of Life and the Tarot. As such, it's value to beginning students of Qabalah cannot be overstated. Be this as it may, Knight sometimes uses the book as a soapbox for trumpeting his particular Christian/Scientology brand of Qabalistic dogma, which may leave many libertines out in the cold. He also mistakenly considers Gematria unnecessary to the understanding Qabalistic symbology (!) and tends to beat up Aleister Crowley needlessly while embracing the Master's exchange of the Tarot cards The Emperor and The Star in accordance with Liber AL vel Legis (an allusion to L. Ron Hubbard's Thelemic roots, methinks). However, in spite of these drawbacks, Knight presents the Qabalah lucidly and with great erudition, in a language which is suprisingly accessible to all newcomers. He even dares to show how the Christian Mysteries are relevant to Qabalistic philosophy, often considered taboo in esoteric circles. One of the best features of the book is Knight's thorough comparative analysis of numerous Tarot symbologies, including those of A. E. Waite, Aleister Crowley, and Paul Foster Case. This is definitely an important work which belongs on every Qabalist's bookshelf.