Full title: "Słownik Symboli"
Author: Władysław Kopaliński
Published in: 1990

Number on my list: 01
Acquired in: 2018-2021 (?)

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

My story
I got this book pretty long ago. Before I got my hands on it, the book belonged to my father. He gave it to me when I said I wanted to buy a book about different symbols' meanings.

Ideology and style
It's not a book about esotericism per se, let alone a book written with practitioners in mind. It reads in a very formal language, which can't be said about a lot of contemporary occult-adjecent works. It doesn't tell you what to think or how to behave - it's literally just a dictionary.

Value
Every single time I'm writing an essay about the esoteric, I'm referencing this very book. A lot (if not most) of its definitions mention various cultures and traditions. It is also not uncommon to find here quotes from great authors' literary works (from what I've seen mostly Polish, since this is a Polish book).
I am frankly impressed by how substantial this book's contents are. I think this type of writing is something we have unleared in the age of the Internet. We have so much knowledge at our fingertips, yet every information is watered down. But I digress.

Conclusion
Books like these are in my opinion a must-have for anyone interested in the occult. The esoteric is after all intertwined with the exoteric. An understanding of symbols in literature and culture is crucial knowledge for those who want to study the Mysteries.