Reincarnationism and Talismans

This third episode of the new series returns to some of the subject matter of our book, Metamorphosis—Hermetic Science and Yoga Power. In the first half of the nineteenth century French Socialists, who sought an explanation for social inequality, persuaded Allan Kardac, the founder of the French School of Spiritism, to accept their theory of souls being born into a succession of lives taking place in the same ‘world’ following a time-line through ‘history’. Reincarnationism was thus born into the world—a totally modern invention owing nothing to ancient doctrines.

Part One: Reincarnationism

Part Two: Telesma and Familiar Spirits

Reincarnation has been falsely ascribed to the Hindu doctrines, whereas it simply does not exist there. It has been used to explain metempsychosis and the transmigration of souls as also found in other traditions, for example the Orphic Mysteries and the ancient Egyptian tradition. The notion has become so deeply ingrained one might say that it is by now embedded at a deep stratum of modern thinking. Reincarnation is accepted without question and even if not believed, is falsely ascribed to all ancient civilisations and what are typically and insultingly called ‘ancient beliefs’ by those supposed to be experts in such studies.

The classical guitar was played and recorded by myself and features an extended flamenco improvisation on ‘Waves of Spain’ by Y. Shilin and an original composition of mine called ‘October’.