This work investigates the historical and psychological foundations of magical systems and their manifestation in human culture. The author, Charles Poncé, utilizes a scholarly approach to examine the evolution of occult practices, drawing upon historical texts and symbolic analysis to construct a framework for understanding how magic functions as a bridge between the conscious and unconscious mind.

Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the author's commitment to historical rigor. Experts highlight this as a foundational text for those interested in the intellectual history of Western esotericism.