Liber Noctis is a practical and experiential handbook of the sorcerous arte by English alchemist and sorceror Gary Nottingham. It explores the attitudes, training and preparation required for success in ritual, and as the title suggests, does not shy away from the 'darker' aspects of magic.
Essential components of successful ritual such as the construction and empowering of magical tools, the hallowing of the compass points, protection, ritual timing and use of divination are all covered in depth, along with the use of plants through elemental condensers and the creation of magical servants. The benefits of planetary energies, and their use in sigils, together with the fixed stars and Psalms, the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram and the Middle Pillar, as well as an introduction to the use of Geomancy all add to the wide spectrum of material integrated into this manual of practice.
The use of curses, binding, summoning the dead and spirits of the deep are often perceived as being negative, but are elucidated by the author without judgement to demonstrate the arsenal of practices available to the modern sorceror and magical practitioner. Both necromancy and the evocation of Goetic spirits are considered, with examples of the author's own experiences of these artes. This comprehensive book provides an excellent introduction to the essentials of ritual magic.
This book is Volume I of the Foundations of Practical Sorcery, a 7-volume series by Gary St. Michael Nottingham.