The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses

grimoireprobable

A pseudepigraphic grimoire that presents itself as hidden Mosaic books of magical seals, names, and operations; historically treated by scholars and sellers as an 18th–19th century popular occult manual that circulated in multiple German and English printings and reprints.

History & Contents

Documented history: The work circulated as a grimoire titled The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses (also styled The Sixth, Seventh Books of Moses; full variant: The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses / Moses' Magical Spirit Art). It is not part of canonical scripture but a manual of magical incantations and seals that self-presents as drawing on Mosaic, Kabbalistic and Talmudic authority. Modern reference sources characterize it as a product of the popular occult print culture of the 18th or 19th century, later published and reprinted in German- and English-language editions; bibliographic records note extant printings including a recorded 1910 edition. Comparative editorial work by collectors and researchers (for example listings and version comparisons compiled on Esoteric Archives) documents multiple editions and recensions and a history of editorial attention and reprints. Contents and claims (as presented by the text): The grimoire contains plates of seals (magical drawings/ideograms), lists of names and words (some Hebrew characters or ideograms and many transcribed into Latin letters), and ritual instructions for invocations and operations. Within its own framing the text claims these seals, names and operations can reproduce or emulate miracles like those associated with Moses and provide practical magic for health and good fortune. Specifically, the text presents seals, names, words and instructions that it claims can produce biblical-style miracles and practical effects, including control of weather, influencing people, contacting the dead or biblical figures, and securing health and good fortune. Legend and reception: The text’s ascription to Moses is pseudepigraphic and treated skeptically by reference works. It has been widely circulated in occult and folk-magic markets, attracting attention from occult publishers, collectors and researchers. Online commentary, blog discussion, and comparative editions (notably work compiled by Joseph H. Peterson on Esoteric Archives) have debated its textual history and variant readings. Popular commerce listings and cultural references attest to its continued presence in esoteric subculture. Limits of the record: The supplied sources are secondary and popular; they do not supply primary manuscript evidence for an ancient Hebrew archetype nor a firm composition place or precise date. Claims of Mosaic origin are those of the book itself and are not corroborated by the cited reference material.

Provenance

Multiple printed editions and reprints are documented; at least one 1910 edition is recorded in bibliographic databases. Esoteric Archives maintains an editions list and comparative apparatus compiling variant material and editorial histories. The grimoire has been distributed commercially through occult retailers and reprinted in modern editions.

Community Record

Sources
  1. [1]
    The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses — Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 'The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses' — general description as an 18th/19th-century grimoire, contents and presentation.wiki
  2. [2]
    Wikidata entry for the sixth and seventh books of Moses. Wikidata — bibliographic note including a recorded 1910 edition.other
  3. [3]
    Editions of the Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses. Esoteric Archives — list of editions compiled by researchers and collectors documenting multiple printings and variant texts.other
  4. [4]
    Comparison of versions of Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses material. Esoteric Archives — comparative notes and variant readings assembled by Joseph H. Peterson and others.other
  5. [5]
    The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses / Moses' Magical Spirit Art (commercial listing). Commercial vendor listing illustrating modern sales and titles used in occult retail.other
  6. [6]
    On the Shelf – The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses, Part 1 (blog). Blog commentary discussing editions, history and Peterson's edition.other
  7. [7]
    On the Shelf – The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses, Part 4 (blog). Follow-up blog commentary and discussion of the grimoire's textual history.other
  8. [8]
    IMPACT! Sound 517 - Sixth and Seventh Books Of Moses (broadcast reference). Example of modern cultural reference and continued presence in esoteric subculture.other
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