The Hours: The Καταρχαί of Hygromanteia explores the hidden depths of the Hygromanteia, the Greek precursor of the Key of Solomon, examining the nature and transmission of Magical Time through Greco-Egyptian practices to the present day.

The Hours: The Καταρχαί of Hygromanteia explores the hidden depths of the Hygromanteia, the Greek precursor of the Key of Solomon, examining the nature and transmission of Magical Time through Greco-Egyptian practices to the present day. This form of Time is non-linear, cyclic, and mythic. We uncover some aspect of its expression in the North, upon the stellar axis upon which the Cosmos is set in motion, and investigate the cosmogonic Gods and Aerial Spirits which have been set there as sentinels through which we may negotiate. In this text we find, for the very first time, a reconstruction of the Names set over the Hours of the Days of the week as described by the Treatise of Solomon, and examine them in a new light, as the sublunar permutations of Planetary virtue.

“Bears and dragons of the stars, the zodiac, the decans, mansions of the moon, spirits, the PGM, Arabic magic, grimoires, all of this and more are found within. This work is extensive in its scope, sources and implications, and has the twin virtues of being both a necessary resource and a valuable guide through the magic of Time and our place within it. Outstanding and essential.” – David Rankine, author of The Grimoire Encyclopaedia

“This book on the sorceries of the spirits of the hours of the planetary days combines cosmological considerations with eminently practical resources and techniques for a practitioner’s own experiments with these potent magics and mysteries of Time itself.” – Dr. Alexander Cummins, co-author of An Excellent Booke Of The Arte Of Magicke

“A great development of the hemerological material of the Hygromanteia, diligently worked.” – Ioannis Marathakis, author of The Magical Treatise of Solomon, or Hygromanteia 

“Those who delve into this book will be rewarded with a deeper understanding of hemerological concepts that may be used to tap into the mythic cycles at the heart of astrology and magic.” – Aequus Nox, podcaster

“Mat Hadfield’s The Hours: The Καταρχαί of Hygromanteia is a valuable exegesis of the foundational Hygromanteia, unifying planetary workings, the cyclical nature of the universe, magical timing, spirits of place and more. It provides context, insight, practical experiments and divinatory methods drawing from the Greek magical texts, astral necromancy, the Solomonic stream of occult philosophy and much more. It is indeed a good initiatory text into a deep field of inquiry which will reward the curious reader as well as the practical magician.” – Aaman Lamba, author of The Complete Illustrated Grand Grimoire