The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life by Israel Regardie, first published in 1932, is widely regarded as his magnum opus and remains a seminal work in the field of high magic. Until its release, much of the knowledge surrounding true magical practices was inaccessible to the public. In this book, Regardie offers a comprehensive exploration of magic, beginning with a clear definition of what it is and, equally important, what it is not—distinguishing it from mediums and psychics. He presents magic as a spiritual discipline closely related to yoga, illustrating how both form the branches of mysticism. The text delves into the essential tools of the magician, explaining their meanings and applications, and covers techniques such as evocation, invocation, scrying, and astral travel. Central to his discourse is the Qabalah, which he argues is the unifying framework of all magical practice, including a detailed discussion of sexual magic. Written in a clear and accessible style, the book is indispensable for aspiring magicians.
The Ciceros, Chic and Sandra Tabatha, who were close friends of Regardie and esteemed members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, made some revisions to this classic text when they republished it. They modernized the spelling from British to American English and updated his Hebrew transliterations to align with his later works. Importantly, they did not alter any vital content; instead, they enriched the original text with extensive annotations, over 100 illustrations, and enhanced contents pages. They also included a glossary, bibliography, index, and a biographical note on Regardie, highlighting the book’s significance in the occult community. With these valuable additions, The Tree of Life stands as one of the finest pieces of occult writing, making it a must-have for anyone serious about the practice of magic.
