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Introduction
David Rankine has long established himself as one of the more prolific scholars of the Western esoteric tradition. From grimoire magic to Qabalah, his work is known for bridging the gap between rigorous research and hands-on practice. With Claves Intelligentiarum, Latin for “The Keys of the Intelligences” Rankine offers a fresh yet deeply historical look at the lesser-known spirits known as intelligences, often overshadowed by angels and demons in magical literature.
This book is not a casual read, it’s a scholarly investigation, a practical manual, and in many ways, a restorative text, reviving spirits and magical frameworks that have often been neglected in modern occult discourse.
What the Book Contains
Claves Intelligentiarum is structured around the exploration and contextualisation of intelligences, a class of spiritual beings often associated with planets, spheres, and the divine. Drawing heavily from the grimoires of the Solomonic and Renaissance traditions, the book sets out to answer two central questions:
- Who are the intelligences?
- How might we work with them in modern magical practice?
Highlights of the Content:
- A thorough historical overview of the concept of intelligences in Hermetic, Qabalistic, and magical traditions.
- Detailed entries on specific intelligences associated with planetary spheres and classical magic.
- Textual comparisons between source grimoires, such as The Sworn Book of Honorius, Liber Juratus, Heptameron, and Agrippa’s Three Books of Occult Philosophy.
- Practical considerations for invocation, magical timing, correspondences, and ritual structure.
- A focus on the intelligences as spirits of balance, wisdom, and divine order, rather than the more forceful or adversarial spirits found in Goetia.
- Speculative but well-grounded reconstructions of names, seals, and attributes from fragmented or corrupted manuscript traditions.
Pros: Why This Book Stands Out
A Rare and Focused Topic
Very few modern occult texts devote serious attention to intelligences. These spirits are often footnotes in broader works on planetary magic or angelology. Rankine gives them the spotlight, tracing their development from antiquity through medieval grimoires and offering them back to the modern practitioner.
Scholarly Precision
Rankine’s research is extensive and meticulous. For readers who appreciate source referencing, linguistic notes, and critical analysis, this book delivers. It doesn’t just summarise, it builds bridges between texts and traditions.
Practical Relevance
Despite the scholarly depth, the material is ultimately aimed at the working magician. The inclusion of correspondences, timing charts, ritual notes, and suggested practices makes this a usable grimoire, not just a theoretical study.
Integration with Broader Magical Systems
The book situates the intelligences within the broader framework of the Tree of Life, planetary magic, and angelic hierarchies, making it compatible with Golden Dawn-style systems and Thelemic approaches, as well as traditional grimoire work.
Cons: Where It Might Challenge Readers
Dense and Demanding
This is not a beginner’s book. Without a strong grounding in Qabalah, planetary magic, and grimoire tradition, some of the references and terminology may feel overwhelming. There are few concessions to casual readers.
Limited Practical Examples
While Rankine does provide a framework for working with intelligences, some practitioners may find the lack of detailed ritual templates or step-by-step workings frustrating. It assumes the reader can construct their own rituals from correspondences and theory.
Occasional Gaps in Speculation
In cases where source material is incomplete or names are corrupted, Rankine does his best to reconstruct meaning or intention, but at times this feels speculative. While clearly labelled as such, these moments may leave readers wanting more definitive conclusions.
Conclusion
Claves Intelligentiarum is a rare and valuable contribution to the field of Western occultism. It fills a genuine gap in the literature by focusing on intelligences as unique spiritual allies, beings associated not with chaos or extremes, but with clarity, wisdom, and the divine order of the cosmos.
This is a book for intermediate to advanced practitioners, ceremonial magicians, and occult historians looking to deepen their understanding of planetary spirits beyond the usual binary of angels and demons. It’s an intellectual, thoughtful work that invites the reader to engage with a more nuanced spiritual ecology.
For those willing to do the work, Claves Intelligentiarum offers not just knowledge, but a key to unlock deeper dimensions of magical practice.
Best For:
Practitioners of ceremonial or planetary magic, students of Renaissance and Solomonic grimoires, and Qabalistic magicians seeking deeper cosmological understanding.
Avoid If:
You’re new to occult studies, prefer hands-on spellcraft to theoretical analysis, or are looking for a fully scripted ritual manual.
