First of all I want to thank Alan Richardson for introducing me to my publishers, Llewellyn Worldwide. Alan and I have the kind of friendship which endures because we don’t see each other that much. Next, I am deeply grateful to Caterina Fusca, my acquisitions editor at Llewellyn. Through the alchemy of her e-mails, Caterina was always encouraging during the time I was writing this book.
I also owe a debt to that wonderful coterie of writers on magick whose insights have encouraged me over the years. Dion Fortune, W. E. Butler, W. G. Gray, Israel Regardie, Col. Seymour, and Aleister Crowley are, alas, no more and we shall not see their like again. Fortunately, Gareth Knight, Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki, and R. J. Stewart are still around, and their knowledge was just as valuable to my research.
Finally, I want to thank my beloved partner, Shama, for just being there. Her presence enhances everything in my life.