A Garden of Pomegranates: Skrying on the Tree of Life

In what is certainly an oxymoron for the genre, Regardie introduces the associative language of Kaballah and Tarot without manipulating the reader through false promises of enlightenment. His thumbnail character assessments of various figures in the history of occult literature are variously incisive, inspiring, and cautionary. The structure of the book easily permits the volume to double as a reference. There is no better guide for the curious.

Symbols have always been used in the mystical tradition to express spiritual truths that cannot be properly expressed in words. The founders of the Qabalah created a particularly elegant system of symbols, numbers and the figure of the Tree of Life to convey their insights. The word "skrying" means "to see" or "observe" and refers to the type of clairvoyance where use is made of mirrors, crystals, water in a bowl (like Galadriël in Lord of the Rings) or the tarot, to concentrate and focus psychic abilities in order to receive and interpret visions in the normal state of waking consciousness. Regardie published this work in 1932 as an easy albeit comprehensive guide to the complex system of the Qabalah and to serve as a key to its symbolism. The primary symbol of this ancient Hebrew system is the tree of life that has been used for centuries as a means to study the nature of the cosmos and the qualities of the psyche. With its emphasis on direct experience by meditating on the paths of wisdom, this is a most understandable introduction to the Qabalah. The editors have enhanced this classic work with their commentary, notes and a system of reference and have added practical material in the form of meditations, exercises, rituals and mantras. Garden of Pomegranates is an excellent book for those interested in the working of the mind, in psychology, parapsychology and for practicians of the magical arts. This edition contains a glossary, bibliography and index. The text is enhanced by 52 beautiful illustrations and figures.

This book is totally indespensable for anyone interested in the Practical Kabbalah. I only regret that I purchased three books which covered different aspects of the material contained in this volume without checking out the "Garden" first. Don't make the same mistake. Most modern texts are versions of bits and pieces of this one. The editors' contribution, which constitutes half of the edition, contains practical meditations that illuminate the different paths beautifully. There are also instructions for Scrying in the Sprit Vision and actual pathworking. I only wish all modern writers on the Kabbalah took the approach the Ciceros do. That is, taking an existing classic, adding footnotes to clear up confusion, then giving practical suggestions for its usage. This is much better than the typical proccedure of throwing together a cribbed version of ohter's work and passing it off as your own. Highly, highly reccomended.

This book is the single best introduction to the Qabalah for Occultists and Magicians. It details the fundamentals of the Holy Qabalah in plain English. All of the information originally left out by Regardie has been provided by the Ciceros, who themselves have quite a name in the Occult books industry. Other great books to check out: Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition, The Middle Pillar (The Balance Between Mind and Magic), The Golden Dawn.

I have read and studied the Cicero's published works for many years and this book is simply superb. This expands and elaberates on Israel Regardie's original "A Garden of Pomegranates" without taking away from the author's true vision of his work. The book covers in depth the paths and spheres on the tree of life, along with the symbolism associated with them. If you have to get only one book on the cabala make it this one.