Dr John Dee's Spiritual Diary (1583-1608)

Singapore: Golden Hoard,, 2011. How to distinguish between angels and demons Signed limited edition, number 142 of 200 copies signed by the editor. This is Skinner's comprehensive revision of his 1974 facsimile edition of Meric Casaubon's compilation of the Elizabethan occultist's communications with spirits, first published in 1659. Dee and Casaubon disagreed on whether the messages Dee had received originated from angels or from demons. Meric Casaubon (1599-1671) was a classical scholar and steadfast advocate of the Church of England; his edition of Dee's journals, first published in 1659, sought to discredit the dissenting religious radicals of the Civil War and Interregnum periods. Casaubon perceived the supernatural spirits that Dee had communed with as demons, and argued that they not only served as proof of the existence of God, but also demonstrated the necessity of an established church to interpret spiritual messages. The present work is the most comprehensive edition available, and reproduces Casaubon's text along with an introduction, appendix, timeline, and textual footnotes. John Dee (1527-1608/9) was an English astronomer, mathematician, and occultist. He is best known for his position as court astronomer and advisor to Elizabeth I, and for his interest in the Hermetic and esoteric arts of alchemy, divination, and astrology. He was particularly enthusiastic about establishing contact with angels, whom he believed held beneficial knowledge that could improve mankind. Dee and his scryer, Edward Kelley (1555-1597/8), developed an "Enochian" language, complete with its own alphabet, to record in their journals the angelic wisdom they received. Skinner (b. 1948) is a scholar of magic and feng shui. He has published widely on various topics pertaining to the Western esoteric tradition, such as alchemy, sacred geometry, and grimoires. Large quarto. Portrait frontispiece, numerous illustrations, photographs, and facsimiles within text, floriated initials, title page printed in red and black. Original black half roan, red imitation leather sides, spine and front cover lettered in gilt, Dee's arms in gilt to front cover, marbled endpapers. Corners very slightly rubbed, faint foxing to edges, contents clean: a near-fine copy.