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Rating: 
Summary: Theourgia= Divine Work
Review: As far as I am concerned this book is one of the most significant that Llewellyn ever published. It demonstrates the debt that western occult philosophy and practice owes to Greek thought. As the author points out you can hardly open any book on this subject without finding Plato and Plotinus on every page. The history of Greek mystical and magical thought is traced progressively from Archaic and Classical Greece, to the growth of the Mysteries, to the wider Hellenistic period, to Gnosticism, to Middle Platonism, to the Greek New Testament, to Neoplatonism, to the Renaissance, to 19th and 20th century occult societies (Golden Dawn, Theosophical Society, Rosicrucian, Fraternitas Saturni, Aurum Solis, etc.) An especially good case is made for cabalistic thought being as much, or more, Greek as Hebrew in nature. Yet, in spite of the main purpose of showing Greek influence, the author doesn't hesitate to point out the roots of Orphism and Pythagorianism may very well have been influenced by Siberian Shamanism. I have only two comments about the content. First, the author does an excellent job of condensing all that is know about the nature of the various mysteries. He also makes some perceptive speculations of his own. However, he misses what has long been obvious to me- namely, that at least at Eleusis, the Greater mysteries involved an induced near death experience in the subterranean chambers. Also, while a comprehensive appendix concerning Isopsephos (numerical values of Greek words and names), I couldn't help but notice that there is no interpretation of 999....
Rating:
Summary: One of the best introductions to Greek Magick ever written
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone. Godwin shows how Greek philosophy and mysticism has influenced thought, religion, and metaphysics throughout history. This book is essential for anyone studying the Qabbalah, Gnosticism, the Golden Dawn, Wicca, or any other magickal religion or system. It helps show the foundations on which all of these systems are built and shows how the ideas of Plato and Plotinus have grown, developed, and shaped modern thought.
Rating: 
Summary: Well researched, great rituals
Review: The author goes into all the juicy details on Greek theology, philosophy and ritual. He's unnecessarily harsh on Christianity, but does a fantastic job of showing how the Greeks influenced Cabalism and the Western Mystery traditions. He also presents a number of rituals at the novice to intermediate level that illustrate the principles behind what he's talking about. It helps - but is not essential - to know a bit of Cabala before reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: Well researched, great rituals
Review: The author goes into all the juicy details on Greek theology, philosophy and ritual. He's unnecessarily harsh on Christianity, but does a fantastic job of showing how the Greeks influenced Cabalism and the Western Mystery traditions. He also presents a number of rituals at the novice to intermediate level that illustrate the principles behind what he's talking about. It helps - but is not essential - to know a bit of Cabala before reading this book.
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