Sanctuary Fighting back the darkness with style.

The Book of Abramelin tells the story of Abraham of Worms and his journey from Germany to Egypt. It is ostensibly written to teach his son Lamech the secrets and mysteries that Abraham has learned from an Egyptian mage named Abramelin (sometimes written Abra-Melin). The work has a heavy Kabbalistic influence.

There are many translations of the book, and perhaps the most well knowntranslation is S. L. MacGregor Mather's The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage. Considered an unreliable translation, it nevertheless has greatly influenced the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and Crowley's magical system of Thelemia.

The book gives instructions for an elaborate and difficult 18 month long ritual to prepare to gain the "knowledge and conversation" of one's Holy Guardian Angel. The ritual includes the summoning and binding of demons and devils, uses magical word squares quite extensively, and eventually gives the magician great powers, including the abilities to find buried treasure, fly, and become invisible among others.

(For fans of Supernatural: his book also contains the formula for the Oil of Abramelin that was mentioned in the episode In Our Time of Dying.)

For more information:
The Wikipedia entry.
abramelin.org