The Hermetic Book of the Dead

“The Hermetic Book of the Dead is a capstone in Pantano’s series on the Italic Tradition. Here, Pantano reveals to the student of Hermeticism some of the most important concepts and modern practices regarding the very nature of being itself as experienced in a living tradition of Western esotericism. This is a book that one will study, internalize, and come to rely upon.” * Mark Stavish, author of Egregores and The Path of Freemasonry *
“A fascinating collection of rare Italian esoteric writings, hard to find in the original language, beautifully translated and presented by David Pantano—a modern magical hero.” * Stanislas Klossowski De Rola, author of The Golden Game *
“Illuminating the way of magical heroism, this book prepares us not only to combat the negative pull of the numbingly unpoetic soul of modernity but to become magical heroes ourselves.” * Angel Millar, author of The Three Stages of Initiatic Spirituality *
“An extraordinary glimpse into the world of Italian esotericism—a tradition still far too poorly known in the English-speaking world—and a source of fascinating insights into the journey through death that we will all take sooner or later.” * John Michael Greer, author of The King in Orange *
“This remarkable book finally let the cat out of the bag on the initiatic teachings of the Italian Hermetist movement through a selection of writings from various leading avatars. It contains profound and eye-opening insights.” * Christopher McIntosh, author of Occult Russia and Occult Germany *
“In some sacred sodalities and secret societies, solemn, salacious rites persisted well into the Modern Era and beyond. Bringing a whole new meaning to the term ‘the Italian underground,’ Pantano has unearthed for his readers the uniquely Italic remains of a living and breathing tradition of working with the dead that stretches all the way back to the twilight of philosophy.” * P. D. Newman, author of Theurgy: Theory and Practice *
“David Pantano crafts an eloquent synthesis of ancient and modern approaches to the transformative nature of katabasis and the esoteric process of initiatory death, making The Hermetic Book of the Dead essential reading for the living.” * Gwendolyn Taunton, author of The Path of Shadows *
“The Hermetic Book of the Dead opened for me a gateway into the rich, little-known world of Italian occultism, past and present. Its lucid exploration of Kremmerz and Daffi, and the connections drawn to the thought of the great D’Annunzio, who is particularly dear to my heart, make it a deeply rewarding read. This is a book long overdue—we owe David Pantano a special debt for bringing it to light.” * Christian Bouchet, PhD, founder of Éditions Ars Magna *
“David Pantano’s book is essential for introducing readers to the little-known Italian esoteric tradition developed by Giuliano Kremmerz and Marco Daffi and which traces its roots back to Giordano Bruno and Marsilio Ficino. The Hermetic Book of the Dead represents almost a modern Orphic gold tablet for new initiates seeking to understand the soul’s journey after death and how to undertake it: a true discovery for the English-speaking world.” * Marcello De Martino, PhD, author of Mircea Eliade Esoterico *
“Acting as both a preserver of forgotten wisdom and a modern guide, Pantano leads readers on a journey that is as much an internal transformation as it is an external exploration of the afterlife, ensuring the perpetuation of this living tradition to the present day.” * Travis Trinca, author of The Rosicrucian Compendium *
“David Pantano is to be congratulated for making several key texts of Italian occultism available in English for the first time. The writings on Avatars, the Medicinae Dei, and the Hamzur ritual offer a rare insight into the nature of the ultra-secret Italian hermeticists. I look forward to further translations from Pantano with eager anticipation!” * Alex Sumner, author of Conjuring Demons for Pleasure and Profit *