Ouroboros Press - ProfilesArchive

About Me

William Kiesel is a member of the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism. ESSWE Website
In addition to his work as a publisher and editor, William gives presentations on Alchemy and the Western Esoteric Tradition. His practical experience and historical knowledge of occult literature and culture spans two decades and draws from such diverse areas as Hermeticism, Neoplatonism, Qabalah, Thelema, Alchemy, Rosicrucianism, Theosophy, Near Eastern Esotericism and Ceremonial Magic. Esoteric symbol systems in religion, mythology and folklore are among his objects of continual study in historical and contemporary contexts. He is a natural teacher and good orator with the distinct talent of making the enigmas of esoteric symbolism clear to the curious.
A few presentations given in recent history:
-The Royal Art: Introduction to Alchemical Symbolism
-Atalanta Fugiens: Alchemical Music in Renaissance Hermeticism
-Iconography in the Western Esoteric Tradition
-The Alchemical Bestiary: Animal Symbolism in Renaissance Hermeticism
-The Circle of Arte: Magic Circles in European Grimoires
He may be contacted through email: ouroboros [@] bookarts [.] org
About the Press:
Please visit our blog: The Serpent Bites its Tail!
Ouroboros Press publishes fine esoteric bookarts. We select important and difficult to locate texts which have played significant roles in the history of esoteric thought and provide them to those without access to institutions, museums or private libraries.
Translated from Arabic, Latin and German, these classic texts provide important hermetic & magical lore, which influenced later practitioners. The typography, ornament and woodcuts reflect the quality of previous eras. We have spared no effort in design or durability, even offering on request hand-bound volumes, in full leather or vellum, from the magnificent studios of Ars Obscura Bookbinding. All our publications are issued in limited editions and will add lasting value to the libraries of scholars and collectors alike.
Thank you for your kind support.

My Interests

Alchemy, Art, Books, Bookarts, Esotericism, Design, Demonology, Grimoires, Occult, Occultism, Hermeticism, Hermetic philosophy, Letterpress, Publishing, Broadsides, Libraries, Special Collections, Rosicrucianism, Masonry, Freemasonry, Occult Books, Fine Press, Ephemera, Bookfairs, Mythology, Gnosticism, Paper, Bookbinding, Graphic design, Book design.

I'd like to meet:

Publishers, Book People, Designers, Scholars, Translators, Readers, Collectors, Costumers, Antiquarians, Bibliophiles, Bookbinders, Occultists, Swordplayers, Researchers, Teachers, Lecturers, Esoteric Shops, Occult Shops, Artists, Book Designers, Typographers, Medievalists, Renaissance People, Hermetic Philosophers, Rosicrucians, Masons, Freemasons, Papermakers, Letterpress Printers..

Ouroboros Press also founded the Esoteric Book Guild.
The press is supported in part by discerning bibliophiles who recognize the importance of fine bookmaking.

Books:

Picatrix, Ghayat Al-Hakim

Heptameron of Peter Abano

And the Arbatel of Magick
Turba Philosophorum

Grimoires, Rasa'il Ikhwan Al-Safa, Zoroaster's Telescope

My Blog

The Goal of the Wise Completed!

Ouroboros Press is very pleased to announce that Volume Two of the Picatrix is now complete and is on its way to the printers. We have received many words of encouragement and praise from our readers...
Posted by Ouroboros Press on Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:29:00 PST

Freemasonry and the Esoteric Tradition

Ouroboros Press author Angel Millar was recently interviewed on Occult of Personality Podcast. Angel gives an account of the historical and esoteric aspects of Freemasonry and its relationship with su...
Posted by Ouroboros Press on Sun, 27 Jul 2008 09:01:00 PST

Picatrix Volume One Print Over-run

During a recent inventory at the bindery we discovered that the printer supplied us with an overrun of printed sheets, enough for a total of 50 more books. These are the last remaining copies of the b...
Posted by Ouroboros Press on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:44:00 PST

Emerald Tablet of Hermes Broadside - LAST REMAINING COPIES

Dear Friends,The Emerald Tablet of Hermes is the shortest and the most famous of all the Alchemical texts throughout the history of the Royal Art. ...
Posted by Ouroboros Press on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:10:00 PST

Book Releases Spring 2008

Ghayat Al-Hakim - Picatrix: The Goal of the Wise Volume Two Release Date: March / April 2008 The long awaited translation of Volume Two of the Picatrix is in the final sta...
Posted by Ouroboros Press on Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:14:00 PST

A Gentleman and a Scholar

Ouroboros Press is pleased to introduce Angel Millar whose forthcoming book will be published by the press this Spring 2008."Angel Millar is a contributing scholar to the Chancellor Robert R Livingsto...
Posted by Ouroboros Press on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:54:00 PST

Alchemy Presentation at the Seattle Theosophical Society

..> The Alchemical Bestiary ~ Alchemical Animal Symbolism in Renaissance Hermeticism Ouroboros Press editor William J. Kiesel will give a talk on the enigmatic symbolism associated with the Animal K...
Posted by Ouroboros Press on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:39:00 PST

Picatrix Volume Two

Dear Friends,I receive frequent inquiries regarding the status of volume two of the Picatrix and I am happy to report that the translation has finally been completed. This means that the book is now i...
Posted by Ouroboros Press on Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:31:00 PST

Alchemical Presentation in New York

The Alchemical Bestiary Alchemical Animal Symbolism in Renaissance Hermeticism.Book Release: Turba PhilosophorumOuroboros Press editor William J. Kiesel will give a talk on the enigmatic symbolism ass...
Posted by Ouroboros Press on Fri, 15 Jun 2007 01:36:00 PST

Turba Philosophorum Update

We are pleased to announce that the Turba Philosophorum has just been delivered from the printers. The image above shows the stacks of books ready to be handbound at the bindery of Ars Obscura in Seat...
Posted by Ouroboros Press on Fri, 25 May 2007 06:44:00 PST