Review: The Four Powers, by Nicholas Graham

The Four Powers, by Nicholas Graham
Megalithica, an imprint of Immanion Press, 1905713045, 128 pp. (incl. appendices, glossary, annotated bibliography), 2006

The Four Powers was written as the book Graham wished he’d had to accompany him on his first forays into magick as a young adult. As such, following a forward by Lupa (an early magickal co-conspirator and author of Fang and Fur, Blood and Bone,¹ also published with Immanion Press), a note to parents is included. It seems unlikely a parent would buy this book for their teen, flip through it and find this message addressed to hir, though it’s a nice gesture.

The book opens with an introduction to definitions of magick, and setting expectations. While it’s good to see the models of magick espoused by Frater U.:D.: and Phil Hine receive more attention, it would have been nice to see a source cited for these ideas. Graham does expand some of these themes and take it in new directions, equating each model with an element and power of the sphinx. Strangely, nowhere is Levi mentioned in relation to these “powers” alluded to in the title and presentation of themes.

Graham gives a brief overview of some of the major magickal traditions and practices, from ceremonial magick to neo-Paganism to Tantra, and an overview of practical applications lifted (with attribution) from Peter Carroll’s Liber Kaos (enchantment, divination, evocation invocation, and illumination). Techniques follow for creating sigils and servitors, a note on gnosis, and exercises to put these ideas to use.

Each chapter is followed by a list of suggested reading for the student to advance hirself further in areas of interest. Appendices offer lists of correspondences for colours and herbs, as well as a piece on candle magick, and simple self-dedication and self-initiation ritual suggestions.

The formatting of the text is inconsistent, which is a typical problem with Immanion Press titles, but this doesn’t overly affect the flow of the book.

It’s not a bad little introduction, and the recommendations for follow up books to be read and utilized are decent. The Four Powers is likely to peak any new student’s interest to explore further.

1. Read the review of Fang and Fur, Blood and Bone. [↩]

Psyche serves as the editor for SpiralNature.com and Plutonica.net. She also operates a tarot consultation business, Psyche Tarot. She has been published in The Cauldron, Konton, Tarot World Magazine, among other magazines, and her essay “Strategic Magick” appeared in Manifesting Prosperity (Megalithica, 2008).