First impressions and pleasant suprises.
I opened this, and it is lovely.
It tells the story of Johannes Wier, and all but three of the spirits are from his seminal work from 1563. YAY! Someone who actually did some historical research. The other three are from Reginal Scot, who wrote the second best book on the subject, in the 1600's. In short, it is exactly the same set of fallen angels I use and shows some serious work on the part of the researchers. He also attributes them to solid elemental and planetary ideals, and gives them keywords that are awesome and could easily tie they into being a synthesis of energies of the Major Arcanum, instead of a one to one relationship with a standard Tarot Deck. Their Zodiacal Associations are not mentioned here, but are well displayed in other decks.
He introduces Dr. Wier well, and explains how his continual legacy as a Dr continues to help in his native Netherlands. He does his utmost to respect this often unknown link to the pccult heritage of humanity, and to redeem his work. The theme of the Pseudomarchia Daemonium is that there are angels to earth, by pride, curiousity, or impudence. It is their task to help and present themselves to the Magician to be considered eligible for redemption. Only in using these beings irresponsibly or with unchecked ambition or malice does one invoke their dark nature as they invoke their own. The goal is uplifting them, by letting them once again serve the light. It is a fantastic deck, and may be a valiant effort to do that.
He makes this work a legacy of a kind, gentle physician who studied with the Greatly Honored Agrippa, instead of some depraved anti-christian rhetorical lashing out. He doesn't rely on Christian dogma, or any Religion for that matter. He instroduces the Hexagram and the Pentagram as keys to this Notary Art, which is refreshing and traditional at the same time. His work tends to tone down the literary inspired cautionary tone of the Theurgia Goetia, which is clearly an adoption of Wier's work set to the tune of 1001 Arabian Knights as a way to tap into the Mystique of the Ottomon Empire.
Furthermore, my first glances at the book (haven't touched the deck yet, but book includes full color illustrations of all cards and excellent guidance for use of the cards. The images are largely driven by the atmosphere of the keyword, and the traditional talismantic image of the spirit. I personally love the artwork of the deck, which is surreal interlayed photorealistic images. I cant speak to the quality of the cards yet, but I can't imagine them being any less solid than the book, the integrity of the research, and this is highly recommended.
I will write a full review in Behutet, a philadephia based journal of my O.T.O. community, which will be released after I make a more thorough study of the cards, and do some test runs. If no one objects, I will post it here.