the master grimoire of magickal rites and ceremonies

About 12 years ago I was managing a private hire company. One day the owner asked me to come to lunch at his family home, he and his wife gave me a lovely meal with wine and cheese to follow and they thanked me for all my hard work. All the time I was expecting them to say thanks but we no longer need you to work here or something negative to occur. It didn't after a few hours of just chatting about nothing imparticular the boss gave me a lift home. When we pulled up on my drive he said I have a book that I would like to give to you. It's a very important book and must be treated with respect. When he handed it to me it was wrapped in a silk cloth, I thanked him and went inside.
When I unwrapped the silk cover I found The Master Grimoire of Magickal Rites and Ceremonies by Nathan Elkana. I could see from the cover and title what it was about and as I felt slightly out of my depth, and daft as it may sound a tad scared too I just rewrapped it and hid it away.
This morning while I was cleaning out the attic I came across it again, so I thought I would look on line to see what I could find out about it and its author. Apparently Nathan Elkana is a pseudonym and even though no one knows for sure some people believe it to be Basil Crouche.
I couldn't find much about Mr Crouche either he set up a few covens in England back in the 70's and 80's which upset occult practioners, as they felt he was sharing to much information. He should be in his mid eighties by now, I have no idea if he is alive or dead.
The thing that really blew me away though, I followed a link from google and it took me to an ebay page where someone was asking over a thousand quid for exactly the same book.
I have no intention of selling this book, nor for that matter of reading it, still spooks me a little. I just wondered if any of you guys had heard of this book or could tell me anymore on the author. It was published in 1982 by a publishing house in Folkstone Kent. When my old boss gave me this book he said I would know what to do with it, what would of made him say that I am none to sure. At that time in my life I was truly one of the sheeple!
A few years back I bumped into an old work mate we started talking about the boss and my mate asked me if I had known he was a freemason? I told him I hadn't known.
Today when I looked at the book I had to wonder again why did he give it to me especially as I now know how valuable it is, and now after reading so much about freemasonary and the occults I wonder is this book given to all Masons?
Lastly on the last page of the book is a note from the publisher, it says

In view of the author's remarks that this work should be treated with the utmost care and secrecy in order to maintain its magickal influences, the publishers have agreed to supply at half price to the reader further copies of this grimoire, should he require same. This offer applies only to bona fide purchasers of this grimoire, and does not constitute an open offer of sale to the general public.

reply to post by serenecalamityz


I think you should read it and give us a page by page summary.

Maybe the boss intended to "groom" you?

Or maybe he knew that some day you would get the word out to others because he couldn't do it. Maybe he had a change of heart as to what he was involved in?

I think you should read and tell. Give us the blow by blow....a summary in your own words would not be any violation.

Would love to see such a tome....

I would suggesting someone scan or take digital pictures of it, maybe one of the greater or lesser seals for the purposes of identifying the source, but I don't know if that would be a copyright violation....

Maybe you are right and I should read it, honestly though it doesn't feel right? It kind of reminds me of Alistair Crowley's "do as thou will" which doesn't sit well with me. Peace

Holy Mother of God!!

I just Googled it and a PAPERBACK copy of this book is going for £565 on Amazon!!

Also, from the Google search, it looks like it is available in a torrent .pdf format strangely enough, although I can't get to it from here at work.

Either way, I am now way too curious. I HAVE to have a look inside this book.

reply to post by nik1halo


When I was trying to find more out about the author and publishing house I saw that it was offered in pdf form. The actual book that I have is the original and not the second edition. Also as far as I am aware there is no hardback copy of this book.
Anyone who lives near me and wants to have a better look at this book just u2u me and we can sort something out.

A real Grimoire, that is the history of the life long works of a practicing witch, is never handed down, or published. It is either buried with the witch, or burned in a special ceremony.

Grimoires are the accumulated knowledge of the witch. or wizard. It is filled with esoteric discoveries that have worked for that individual.
It is not a how to manual, like a Rachael Ray cookbook, sold by the millions.

I have an antique Solomon's Key. It is full of historical connections, information to another time. While very interesting, and valuable, it isn't anything that is going to give the reader instant powers of any kind.

Your publication, while rare, could make you some money, if you were to reissue it, in a spiral bound electronic re-print. That will be the extent of the magic it will offer...

There are a hand full of actual witch grimoires from history... They are in the hands of museums, and NOT available to the public, or in the hands of family-covens, again NOT available to the public.

Down load the pages to this web forum, and let the curious ponder on them.
If your not into wiccan practices, it will not mean a thing to you anyway.

reply to post by Confused and Dazed!


Thanx for the info, I had just found out the the word Grimoire comes from the word gramma and actually means magickal text.
Like I said before I am not interested in making money from this book so I don't wish to sell it or reissue it.
Neither do I wish to download the pages to the forum, I don't believe that would be a responsible thing to do. Peace

The original author is said to be Basil Le Croix, Nathan Elkana being a pseudonym. For anyone interested in ordering this book, the original publisher is:

Finbarr International
5 Godwyn Road
Folkestone, Kent CT20 2QQ
England

Although this book sells for a lot online, you can order it directly from them for cover price. Also for 2$ and two first class stamps (for the European address) you can order a complete catalog of their mystic books.

Edit: They have various phone numbers listed +01-303-259316 and +01-303-256266.

[edit on 11/17/2009 by Choronzon]

Originally posted by serenecalamityz
A few years back I bumped into an old work mate we started talking about the boss and my mate asked me if I had known he was a freemason? I told him I hadn't known.
Today when I looked at the book I had to wonder again why did he give it to me especially as I now know how valuable it is, and now after reading so much about freemasonary and the occults I wonder is this book given to all Masons?

If it were given to all Masons, it wouldn't be so rare now, would it?

Depending on when he gave it to you, it might not have been so valuable. A paperback mass published in the 80s? I've got one that currently sells used for $400-800 USD. It all depends on the book.

Originally posted by Maxmars
Would love to see such a tome....

I would suggesting someone scan or take digital pictures of it, maybe one of the greater or lesser seals for the purposes of identifying the source, but I don't know if that would be a copyright violation....

It would not be in violation of copyright to reproduce a few pages of the book, or its illustrations for purposes of review, critique or discussion. That falls clearly within "Fair Use".

reply to post by JoshNorton


That is a very good point, I have no idea how many where printed when it went into issue? So really I have no clue how rare it is, and it appears that you can still buy it from the publishers.
I have no real way of knowing if there is a connection with the masons but I did feel it was worth a mention.

reply to post by serenecalamityz


Hey there,

First off relax ... I myself have a copy of the very book you mention and it was (maybe still is as the company still exists), published by 'Finbarr'. I paid around £12 for my copy about 18yrs ago.

Finbarr is a great little mail order company that sells a wide range of occult books ... some useful little guide books for the novice (I have a couple that I still refer to from time to time and I've been a practicing 'solitary' for 20 + years).

Equally they sell many books that are erm ... well, lets just say 'not so good' ... very commercial (or should I say comical) !


Here's the address ... if any of you are interested get in touch with them and ask them to send you their mailing list.

Finbarr (BC), Folkstone CT20 2QQ (UK)


The book in question is a bit deep for beginners (some of the rituals require certain items that have to be foraged for or brought from specialized occult shops). Having said that there is a great section about 'Talismanic Magick' ... I have used several of these with excellent results.

One thing I do remember about this book is that it comes with a warning / request from the author ... 'never allow anyone to use your copy' ... so the guy who gave it to you was a bit naughty !

However, if you really have no experience in 'the craft', but would like to learn, I'd suggest you start with another book stocked by Finbarr called;


'Candle Burning Rituals' ... a new guide to an ancient art.


I still own a copy of this, it's simple to follow ... there are candle rituals for all occasions ... and they DO work. Once you become more adept and confident you can make-up your own. I recommended this book to a friend of mine and she sent for a copy just a few weeks ago so I know they still stock it ... cost her £6.95 ($14.99).

Always remember the witches lore when practicing magickal rites;

'If it harm none so mote it be'

Woody

I've been through innumerable so-called "grimoires", and have never found anything as remotely helpful as Israel Regardie's "The Golden Dawn", Aleister Crowley's "Magick In Theory and Practice", and "The Kybalion", anonymously published by "Three Initiates".

And all these can be purchased from Barnes and Noble for less than 30 bucks apiece.



[edit on 18-11-2009 by Masonic Light]

a reply to: woodwytch

I hope all take heed to your warning. I am proof positive that the young, the uninitiated and the just plain stupid, can make one heck of mess if they don't know what they are doing.

A gazillion years ago, shortly after college, I was at a party, and had maybe a lot more to drink than I should have. For some stupid reason I declared myself a witch. I wasn't then and I am not now. In fact I know absolutely nothing when it comes to the arts. So don't ask me why my drunk self made this declaration.

Well, it was met with great skepticism, as well it should have been. So the friend that was hosting the party, asked me to prove it. I was ready for this of course, I told her I couldn't work without the tools of my craft. Not to be put off so easily, she asked me what I needed. I told her I needed, a white candle, a red candle and a black candle. This was back in the early 70's, so I knew I was safe. Nobody had black candles just lying around the house. I was wrong. She left the room and came back with the 3 candles.

Now I am sort of on the spot. I asked her what she needed for proof. She said when she was in high school there was a guy she really liked. She said when she went home for holiday break she was hoping to see him, but he had also left town, and no one she knew, knew were he had gone. She said locate him for me. Now I had to buy myself some time to work up an excuse. I told her to write his name on a piece of paper, and to write her telephone number on the paper, she did. I said some hocus, pocus, mumbo, jumbo, and burned the paper with the three candles.

Less than 5 seconds later the phone rang. Of course we were all laughing at this point. I was just about to say the call had interrupted the spell, and it was ruined, but she turned white and screamed. Then she attacked me, screaming for me to get out of her house. I was shocked and scared speechless because I didn't what was happening. No one else did either, until she started screaming, "It's him!" It's him!" You made him call.

I found out a couple of days later that he said he called because he heard she was asking about him when she went home, a mutual friend gave him her number, so he decided to call to see what was up. Pure coincidence, except nobody believed it was coincidence, and I lost a good friend. Till this day some of those folks still look at me side-eyed at times.

Anyway not to derail the thread but dabbling in stuff you don't know anything about can have very unexpected and undesirable outcomes, even if not intentional.

a reply to: NightSkyeB4Dawn

Yes, lying can have unexpected and undesirable outcomes.

originally posted by: TheLivingEd
a reply to: NightSkyeB4Dawn

Yes, lying can have unexpected and undesirable outcomes.

Lying when drunk, can make those outcomes even worse.

Just chalk it up to a young girl being stupid. A lesson was learned.

On the subject of the book: It's a sensationalist product of its time when fictional Satanist cults were mass-murdering children and people ate up anything that seemed to give a glimpse to the 'inside'. It's full of tripe like a "5,000 Year Old Ancient Egyptian Rite to Give You Power and Dominance in Life!" and "The Ancient Money Magic Ceremony For Creating An Endless Flow of Money and Wealth!", "An Ancient Runic Ceremony That Actually Slows Down The Ageing Process!"

This book is full of typos, grammatical errors and horse puckey. Avoid it unless you have one to sell or enjoy a good laugh at such things.