| Mystical beliefs and the magic rituals, spells and | | | | The Hermitica is an ancient collection of books |
| incantations associated with those beliefs are widely | | | | containing Egyptian magical beliefs and wisdom. It is |
| varied. Over the centuries, many schools of magic | | | | said to have been written by Hermes Trismegistus, |
| have developed, largely influenced by the religions and | | | | who was a combination of the deities Hermes and |
| traditions of ancient cultures. Although today, several | | | | Thoth. The knowledge contained within the Hermetica |
| schools tend to be similar to one another, having | | | | was especially important to alchemists, and the early |
| adopted similar elements from a multitude of sources, | | | | scientific principles described therein became known as |
| there exist a few schools that must be noted as being | | | | the Hermetic Arts. |
| the most influential foundations. | | | | |