Stephen Skinner discusses the evolution of Magic

Stephen Skinner is an internationally acclaimed author and lecturer. He was responsible for introducing real feng shui to the West, and wrote the first 20th century English book on the subject in 1976. His first profession was that of Geography Lecturer, at what is now the University of Technology in Sydney.



During the 1970s and 1980s he was the driving force behind Askin Publishers, producing lovely editions of classic magical works such as Agrippa's Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy and the Archidoxes of Magic by Paracelsus, several titles by Austin Osman Spare, Aleister Crowley, Dr Donald Laycock (The Enochian Dictionary) and others, all of which are now collector's items. The first of these was a huge quarter leather edition of the primary source book of Enochian magic, the True & Faithful Relation of what passed between Dr John Dee...and some Spirits. During this period he co-wrote books with Francis King, including the still popular Techniques of High Magic, which has gone through many editions since it was first released. Also with Francis King he wrote Nostradamus, following this with the best selling Millennium Prophecies.

In the late 1990s he published and owned a number of monthly magazines such as Wining and Dining, Healthy Living, Alternatives and XL. Later in the decade he was publisher of a number of client and affinity group publications such as 050, ARP and Goldlife.

In 1998 he was responsible for launching and publishing the first full colour magazine on feng shui, Feng Shui For Modern Living, which was distributed in 41 countries with translated editions in German and even in Chinese. At its peak the English edition sold over 121,000 audited copies per month, and Stephen was nominated at the PPA awards as UK 'Publisher of the Year' (the UK print media equivalent of the Oscars).

In 2004 he began publishing Source Works of Ceremonial Magic with co-author David Rankine. The first title was The Practical Angel Magic of Dr. John Dee's Enochian Tables, opening the doors on real 17th century angel magic in a way never done before. This was followed by The Keys to the Gateway of Magic and then The Goetia of Dr Rudd, a complete 17th century version of the four books of the Lemegeton as used by a practising magician. He then produced a new edition of three versions of the most famous grimoire, the Key of Solomon as The Veritable Key of Solomon. More recently they deciphered and translated the Grimoire of St Cyprian, the Clavis Inferni.



In 2006 he published The Complete Magician's Tables with tables of Magic, Kabbalistic, Angelic, Astrologic, Alchemic, Demonic, Geomantic, Grimoire, Gematria, I Ching, Tarot, Pagan Pantheon, Plant, Perfume and Character Correspondences in more than 835 Tables, four times as many tables as Aleister, Crowley's Liber 777, or any other imitator.



He was educated at Sydney University graduating in English Literature, Geography and Ancient Greek Philosophy. His interests include feng shui, ancient civilisations, geometry, travel, computers, magic and the Middle Ages. He is the author of more than 36 books published worldwide in more than 20 different languages. His books have had introductions by such diverse people as Colin Wilson, HRH Charles Prince of Wales, and Jimmy Choo shoe designer to the stars.

He spends his time writing, teaching and researching feng shui and the Western Hermetic tradition.