The Sorcery of Solomon

The Sorcery of Solomon; A Guide to the 44 Planetary Pentacles of the Magician King
Sara L. Mastros
Weiser Books
ISBN 978-1-57863-786-7
$29.95

Magic books and the images they evoke—robed sorcerers waving wands through clouds of smoke while chanting words of power—may seem like the stuff of movies, but they hold a powerful allure and occupy an important place in the history of magic and Witchcraft. They are, however, notoriously opaque texts full of ancient languages, obscure drawings and instructions that can seem nearly impossible. In The Sorcery of Solomon, Sara Mastros elucidates the murky world of Solomonic magic, rendering it comprehensible without watering it down.

The book is divided into three sections. The first opens with a historical overview of the Key of Solomon and discussion of the twin contexts of Judaism and grimoire magic, as well as a discussion of the Mathers and their influence on the pentacles as they are generally presented today. The second part outlines Mastros’ method of working with the pentacles. She calls this the SLM method, not for her initials but for Solomon, Logos and Magic. She begins with guidance for working with Solomon as a spirit guide and goes on to discuss in depth the Hebrew meanings of Names of Power employed in Solomonic magic. She then instructs the reader in her method of invoking Solomon to assume his splendor and speak in his name.

The third part of the book is a thorough treatment of each of the pentacles, organized by planet. Mastros opens each chapter in this section with astrological and numerological information about the planet. She then unpacks the symbolism and applications of each pentacle, explaining the  Hebrew writing and contextualizing symbols and phrases as needed.

For the experienced magician, The Sorcery of Solomon will add layers of meaning to your practice and provide new working methodologies to explore. For those drawn to the mystique of magic books but unsure where to start, Mastros is an excellent guide for navigating the complex web of grimoire magic.