The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts

The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts (later called The Book of Ceremonial Magic) is a grimoire of ritual magic written by British occultist A.E. Waite.

Content

The book is an attempt to document various famous grimoires, explain the history behind them (refuting many of the legends surrounding them), discuss the theology contained therein (e.g. raising the question why good angels would be summoned to kill an enemy), and to synthesize many famous grimoires into one system.

Waite delves extensively into the Goetic demons, explaining their nature and how to work with them, including numerous rituals for summoning them and other demons, such as Lucifuge Rofocale.

Publication

It was first published in a limited run in 1898, and distributed more widely under the title The Book of Ceremonial Magic in 1910.