The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn ® Israel Regardie, A Garden of Pomegranates


By Israel Regardie Edited and annotated with new material by Chic Cicero & Sandra Tabatha Cicero When Israel Regardie wrote A Garden of Pomegranates in 1932, he designed it to be a simple yet comprehensive guidebook outlining the complex system of the Qabalah and providing a key to its symbolism. Since then it has achieved the status of a classic among texts on the Hermetic Qabalah. The Qabalah is the ancient system of Hebrew mysticism that is the foundation of all Western magical and esoteric studies. Its primary symbol is the Tree of Life, used to study the nature of the Universe, the essence of God, and the attributes of the human mind. This book stands as the best single guide for magicians on this complex system, with an emphasis on direct experience through meditation on the 22 paths. Now the Ciceros have made the A Garden of Pomegranates even more useful for today's students with full annotations, critical commentary, and explanatory notes. They've added practical material in the form of pathworkings, suggested exercises, and daily affirmations—one for each Sephirah and each path. Brief rituals, Qabalistic mantras, and meditations complement Regardie's section on gematria and other forms of numerical Qabalah. Reviews "I have always been fond of Regardie's A Garden of Pomegranates, for it represents his beginning understanding of the Hebrew Qabalah. It was written at a time when Regardie was first distancing himself from the teachings of Aleister Crowley. As such it is the Qabalah of the Golden Dawn filtered through the Thelemic cosmology of Crowley. [...] Now, this newest edition by the Ciceros fully annotates Regardie's original work and expands it with new material describing the visualization process that can bring into life the inner planes of the Tree of Life. Again, like their previous revision of The Middle Pillar, this new expansion of Regardie's classic A Garden of Pomegrantes is a very valuable addition to the working library of any student of the Golden Dawn or the Western Qabalistic tradition in general. I can highly recommend this work for both the beginning student and the advanced practitioner of Qabalistic based magic. If Regardie were alive today, he would heartily endorse these revisions of his classic texts on modern magic by Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero." David Allen Hulse, author of The Key of It All, Books 1 & 2 "Although Israel Regardie was professionally trained as a Reichian analyst he is best known as the author of more than a dozen books on mysticism and magick. When his Garden of Pomegranates was first published in 1931 it served as a clear and comprehensive outline of Jewish mystical teachings known as the Qabbalah or Kabbalah. The Qabalah emphasizes the attainment of a transcendental consciousness through meditation and magick. The age-old admonition, 'Know thyself,' is as important as ever and Regardie's guide to the wisdom of the Qabalah is helpful in leading to a comprehension both of the universe and one's own self. For a time Regardie explored Christian mysticism with great interest and the breadth of his knowledge is evident from the similarities he shows with other systems of esoteric knowledge, including yoga, the Rosicrucian Fraternity, the Masonic Lodge, and the writings of Ouspensky, Blavatsky, and Jung. Regardie quotes from Ouspensky's Tedium Organum, which states, 'The entire body of teachings of religio-philosophic movements have as their avowed or hidden purpose, the expansion of consciousness. This also is the aim of mysticism of every age and of every faith, the aim of occultism and of the Oriential Yoga.' In recent decades a growing number of westerners have embraced eastern meditative practices and wisdom, thinking that the grass is greener on the other side. A Garden of Pomegranates shows the beauty and richness of our western heritage of mystical wisdom and practices that are manifested in the Qabalah. Regardie's scholarly approach and (the Cicero's) ample footnotes contribute to the usefulness of this title for addition to academic libraries which support courses in comparative religion or mysticism. Now in its third edition, Regardie's original work has been supplemented by former students of his, Chic and Sandra Cicero, who have added chapters on Qabalistic rituals and exercises which provide guided visualizations for students to practice the principles of the Qabalah, utilizing the metaphor of the Tree of Life with the 32 paths a seeker may take to ascend to the Source of Wisdom. The visualizations draw upon stories in the Bible and from ancient mythologies. The descriptions of the challenges to be faced in each path or step we take will help the reader to envision how we will change when we open to the Holy Spirit and become a 'living testimony of the Word made Flesh.' The exercises in the second half of the book will enrich the spiritual growth of anyone who practices them. This could be considered as a useful addition for larger public libraries which serve patrons with an interest in mysticism and magick. Illustrations, a glossary, and a bibliography add to the usefulness of this new edition." Hans Raum, Starr Library, Middlebury College, VT "Greatest explanation of the Tree of Life. I respect a lot of Israel Regardie's works and this is no different. However, sometimes he is a bit more difficult to follow, but then again so are Crowley, Mathers, and other writers on Qabbalah of their period in history. […] The Cicero's have constantly proven to take the teachings of Regardie and make them a bit easier for the modern reader to comprehend, and this book is no different in that area either. Their addition to this book by adding excellent and mind provoking insights along with Pathworking is astounding. I would recommend this to any Qabbalist or serious student of the "Higher Science." Roy from Dothan, Alabama, August 11, 2000 "This book is the single best introduction to the Qabalah for Occultists and Magicians. It details the fundamentals of the Holy Qabalah in plain English. All of the information originally left out by Regardie has been provided by the Ciceros, who themselves have quite a name in the Occult books industry." Frater AChDAE from Pittsburgh, PA September 6, 1999 "Excellent Book. I have read and studied the Cicero's published works for many years and this book is simply superb. This expands and elaberates on Israel Regardie's original "A Garden of Pomegranates" without taking away from the author's true vision of his work. The book covers in depth the paths and spheres on the tree of life, along with the symbolism associated with them. If you have to get only one book on the cabala make it this one." A Reader, 4/21/99 "A Garden of Pomegranates is a wonderful old text: written in 1932 by Israel Regardie, a former secretary of Aleister Crowley and a master of the Golden Dawn, the volume is a straightforward look at the mysteries and truths of the Qabalah. Add on the revisions made by Regardie himself and the extensive annotations of Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero, and you have an indispensable volume. Then, browse through the second half of the work published this year by Llewellyn Publications: A practical, step-by-step approach to scrying the many paths of the Qabalah written especially for this edition by the Ciceros, and you have a bona fide work of art. …Chic and Sandra Cicero shine in their companion work, Scrying on the Tree of Life, included with the revised version of Regardie's work. In helpful meditations and guided voyages through the Astral Plane, they flesh out the dry, sometimes elusive explanations of the paths and Sephiroth of the Tree of Life. They also offer help in constructing a magickal name, motto, and other symbols used in general magickal works. …If you are looking for a quick, light read, you would be advised to look elsewhere…" Tammy Todd, Adout.com review 04/01/99 "This book is totally indispensable for anyone interested in the Practical Kabbalah. I only regret that I purchased three books which covered different aspects of the material contained in this volume without checking out the "Garden" first. Don't make the same mistake. Most modern texts are versions of bits and pieces of this one. The editors' contribution, which constitutes half of the edition, contains practical meditations that illuminate the different paths beautifully. There are also instructions for Scrying in the Sprit Vision and actual pathworking. I only wish all modern writers on the Kabbalah took the approach the Ciceros do. That is, taking an existing classic, adding footnotes to clear up confusion, then giving practical suggestions for its usage. This is much better than the typical procedure of throwing together a cribbed version of other’s work and passing it off as your own. Highly, highly recommended." James French San Francisco, Dec. 24, 2000 A Garden of Pomegranates Skrying on the Tree of Life by Israel Regardie. Edited and annotated with new material by Chic Cicero & Sandra Tabatha Cicero St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1999 ISBN 1-56718-141-4 Available from Llewellyn Publications For a copy autographed by the Ciceros visit
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Garden of Pomegranates

Garden of Pomegranates - Israel Regardie

By Israel Regardie

Edited and annotated with new material by
Chic Cicero & Sandra Tabatha Cicero

When Israel Regardie wrote A Garden of Pomegranates in 1932, he designed it to be a simple yet comprehensive guidebook outlining the complex system of the Qabalah and providing a key to its symbolism. Since then it has achieved the status of a classic among texts on the Hermetic Qabalah.

The Qabalah is the ancient system of Hebrew mysticism that is the foundation of all Western magical and esoteric studies. Its primary symbol is the Tree of Life, used to study the nature of the Universe, the essence of God, and the attributes of the human mind. This book stands as the best single guide for magicians on this complex system, with an emphasis on direct experience through meditation on the 22 paths.

Now the Ciceros have made the A Garden of Pomegranates even more useful for today's students with full annotations, critical commentary, and explanatory notes. They've added practical material in the form of pathworkings, suggested exercises, and daily affirmations—one for each Sephirah and each path. Brief rituals, Qabalistic mantras, and meditations complement Regardie's section on gematria and other forms of numerical Qabalah.

Reviews

"I have always been fond of Regardie's A Garden of Pomegranates, for it represents his beginning understanding of the Hebrew Qabalah. It was written at a time when Regardie was first distancing himself from the teachings of Aleister Crowley. As such it is the Qabalah of the Golden Dawn filtered through the Thelemic cosmology of Crowley. [...] Now, this newest edition by the Ciceros fully annotates Regardie's original work and expands it with new material describing the visualization process that can bring into life the inner planes of the Tree of Life. Again, like their previous revision of The Middle Pillar, this new expansion of Regardie's classic A Garden of Pomegrantes is a very valuable addition to the working library of any student of the Golden Dawn or the Western Qabalistic tradition in general. I can highly recommend this work for both the beginning student and the advanced practitioner of Qabalistic based magic. If Regardie were alive today, he would heartily endorse these revisions of his classic texts on modern magic by Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero."
David Allen Hulse, author of The Key of It All, Books 1 & 2

"Although Israel Regardie was professionally trained as a Reichian analyst he is best known as the author of more than a dozen books on mysticism and magick. When his Garden of Pomegranates was first published in 1931 it served as a clear and comprehensive outline of Jewish mystical teachings known as the Qabbalah or Kabbalah. The Qabalah emphasizes the attainment of a transcendental consciousness through meditation and magick. The age-old admonition, 'Know thyself,' is as important as ever and Regardie's guide to the wisdom of the Qabalah is helpful in leading to a comprehension both of the universe and one's own self. For a time Regardie explored Christian mysticism with great interest and the breadth of his knowledge is evident from the similarities he shows with other systems of esoteric knowledge, including yoga, the Rosicrucian Fraternity, the Masonic Lodge, and the writings of Ouspensky, Blavatsky, and Jung. Regardie quotes from Ouspensky's Tedium Organum, which states, 'The entire body of teachings of religio-philosophic movements have as their avowed or hidden purpose, the expansion of consciousness. This also is the aim of mysticism of every age and of every faith, the aim of occultism and of the Oriential Yoga.' In recent decades a growing number of westerners have embraced eastern meditative practices and wisdom, thinking that the grass is greener on the other side. A Garden of Pomegranates shows the beauty and richness of our western heritage of mystical wisdom and practices that are manifested in the Qabalah. Regardie's scholarly approach and (the Cicero's) ample footnotes contribute to the usefulness of this title for addition to academic libraries which support courses in comparative religion or mysticism. Now in its third edition, Regardie's original work has been supplemented by former students of his, Chic and Sandra Cicero, who have added chapters on Qabalistic rituals and exercises which provide guided visualizations for students to practice the principles of the Qabalah, utilizing the metaphor of the Tree of Life with the 32 paths a seeker may take to ascend to the Source of Wisdom. The visualizations draw upon stories in the Bible and from ancient mythologies. The descriptions of the challenges to be faced in each path or step we take will help the reader to envision how we will change when we open to the Holy Spirit and become a 'living testimony of the Word made Flesh.' The exercises in the second half of the book will enrich the spiritual growth of anyone who practices them. This could be considered as a useful addition for larger public libraries which serve patrons with an interest in mysticism and magick. Illustrations, a glossary, and a bibliography add to the usefulness of this new edition."
Hans Raum, Starr Library, Middlebury College, VT

"Greatest explanation of the Tree of Life. I respect a lot of Israel Regardie's works and this is no different. However, sometimes he is a bit more difficult to follow, but then again so are Crowley, Mathers, and other writers on Qabbalah of their period in history. […] The Cicero's have constantly proven to take the teachings of Regardie and make them a bit easier for the modern reader to comprehend, and this book is no different in that area either. Their addition to this book by adding excellent and mind provoking insights along with Pathworking is astounding. I would recommend this to any Qabbalist or serious student of the "Higher Science."
Roy from Dothan, Alabama, August 11, 2000

"This book is the single best introduction to the Qabalah for Occultists and Magicians. It details the fundamentals of the Holy Qabalah in plain English. All of the information originally left out by Regardie has been provided by the Ciceros, who themselves have quite a name in the Occult books industry."
Frater AChDAE from Pittsburgh, PA September 6, 1999

"Excellent Book. I have read and studied the Cicero's published works for many years and this book is simply superb. This expands and elaberates on Israel Regardie's original "A Garden of Pomegranates" without taking away from the author's true vision of his work. The book covers in depth the paths and spheres on the tree of life, along with the symbolism associated with them. If you have to get only one book on the cabala make it this one."
A Reader, 4/21/99

"A Garden of Pomegranates is a wonderful old text: written in 1932 by Israel Regardie, a former secretary of Aleister Crowley and a master of the Golden Dawn, the volume is a straightforward look at the mysteries and truths of the Qabalah. Add on the revisions made by Regardie himself and the extensive annotations of Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero, and you have an indispensable volume. Then, browse through the second half of the work published this year by Llewellyn Publications: A practical, step-by-step approach to scrying the many paths of the Qabalah written especially for this edition by the Ciceros, and you have a bona fide work of art. …Chic and Sandra Cicero shine in their companion work, Scrying on the Tree of Life, included with the revised version of Regardie's work. In helpful meditations and guided voyages through the Astral Plane, they flesh out the dry, sometimes elusive explanations of the paths and Sephiroth of the Tree of Life. They also offer help in constructing a magickal name, motto, and other symbols used in general magickal works. …If you are looking for a quick, light read, you would be advised to look elsewhere…"
Tammy Todd, Adout.com review 04/01/99

"This book is totally indispensable for anyone interested in the Practical Kabbalah. I only regret that I purchased three books which covered different aspects of the material contained in this volume without checking out the "Garden" first. Don't make the same mistake. Most modern texts are versions of bits and pieces of this one. The editors' contribution, which constitutes half of the edition, contains practical meditations that illuminate the different paths beautifully. There are also instructions for Scrying in the Sprit Vision and actual pathworking. I only wish all modern writers on the Kabbalah took the approach the Ciceros do. That is, taking an existing classic, adding footnotes to clear up confusion, then giving practical suggestions for its usage. This is much better than the typical procedure of throwing together a cribbed version of other’s work and passing it off as your own. Highly, highly recommended."
James French San Francisco, Dec. 24, 2000

A Garden of Pomegranates
Skrying on the Tree of Life
by Israel Regardie.

Edited and annotated with new material by Chic Cicero & Sandra Tabatha Cicero

St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1999
ISBN 1-56718-141-4

Available from Llewellyn Publications

For a copy autographed by the Ciceros visit

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