The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts: Including the Rites and Mysteries of Goetic Theurgy, Sorcery, and Infernal Necromancy, Also the Rituals of Black Magic

What did scholars of the occult truly believe about black magic, demonic pacts, and forbidden ritual?

First published in the early twentieth century, The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts by Arthur Edward Waite is one of the most detailed and scholarly examinations of ceremonial magic, goetic theurgy, sorcery, and infernal necromancy ever written.

Unlike sensational grimoires or modern occult manuals, Waite approaches the subject with historical rigor and critical restraint, examining magical traditions not to promote them—but to document, analyze, and contextualize them within Western esoteric history.

This work explores the ritual literature of black magic, including discussions of the Lesser Key of Solomon, ceremonial evocation, magical pacts, and the theological framework behind demonology and ritual practice.

Presented here as the complete and unabridged text, this edition preserves Waite’s original scholarship while including the original illustrations, offering readers an authentic encounter with one of the most influential studies of forbidden ritual ever produced.

Inside This Classic Occult Study, You’ll Discover:

The historical foundations of black magic and ceremonial sorcery

Goetic theurgy and ritual evocation traditions

Medieval and early modern concepts of demonic pacts

The role of the Kabbalah in ceremonial magic

A critical examination of grimoires, including the Lesser Key of Solomon

Why fear, myth, and misunderstanding shaped the legacy of occult ritual

This is not a how-to manual, but a serious academic and esoteric investigation into how ritual magic was understood, practiced, and condemned across centuries.

Ideal for Readers Interested In:

Occult history and ceremonial magic

Demonology and religious belief

Hermeticism and Western esotericism

Grimoires and magical literature

Public-domain occult classics

A Foundational Text of Western Occult Scholarship

Whether you are a student of esotericism, a researcher of religious history, or a reader fascinated by the darker traditions of ceremonial magic, The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts remains an essential reference—respected for its depth, caution, and intellectual honesty.

A cornerstone volume in any serious occult library.