According to the background information provided by the publisher Arbor de Magistro, which is the first booklenght venture of its author, Nikolai Saunders, is built upon over a decade of practical magickal work. It is not, however, a theoretical representation or unification of that decade-long empirical research, but a grimoire in the true sense of the word. A handbook for those willing and able to follow its teachings to the complex chaos of spirits and aethyrs.It is by the drinking of the blood of Chaos or Tiamat, that the magician affirms the connection with the spirit they evoke. This congress is also known as ligatio. In this system ligatio consists of a blood pact made with the spirit in the form of the blood of Chaos. This blood unites the magician and spirit and makes use of the sinister formula of the Chaos Therion current. It is from the blood of the Mother that we draw a synergistic vortex of energy with the spirit and the forces of the aethyr invoked.
The basic caveat of Arbor de Magistro is that it is not a book for the beginners. There are a general commentary and introduction sections, which counts a total of 22 pages, but these two do not teach the basics of magickal practice. In fact, a bar has been raised considerably higher for someone deliberating a dive into this therionic stream; a potential candidate should be proficient in the basics of magickal work, but he/she should also have amassed a notable amount of experience in Enochian and Solomonic magick. Thus, someone just about to dip his/her toe into the world of spirits and aethyrs for the very first time should probably pick up some speed from the likes of Lon Milo DuQuette and Thomas Karlsson, and leave Arbor de Magistro for the future attainment.
Like already indicated, the flesh and bones of the book is a collection of workings, which are based on a fusion of Enochian and Solomonic magick. These two strands of magick combined together form a rather vast vistas for someone about to follow them to the fruition; all in all there are around 5000 different combinations of spirits and aethyrs.
True to the traditions involved, the author has laid out the workings in Enochian and Latin, which are accompanied with English translations. This means, naturally, that the actual reading material is quite sparse. Then again, grimoires are hardly sought and bought for a reading pleasure, right? The given workings are supplemented with photocopied sigils lifted, or so I suppose, from the author's magickal journal. These blesses the whole work with an air of authenticity. There are also a couple of pencil drawings by an artist named Leonor V. Doria.
In sum, I would say that Nikolai Saunder's first booklenght offering is probably a gem for those who are in the position needed to dive into its complex and multifaceted world. It is also a fine yardstick for those still struggling towards the more elevated line of magickal practice; to be there somewhere, as a darkly shining diamond, to remind about the further goals.
