Mostrando resultados por Editor "Lamp of Trismegistus" en Todas las categorías

Toward the end of the Renaissance period, John Dee and Edward Kelly famously engaged in experiments with alchemy, crystal balls, and conversations with otherworldly entities during this important chapter of real occult and magical history. Here Adams explores the life of Dee and his relationship with Kelly, regarding these experiments. He offers examples of the sorts of dialogue that occurred, which Dee dutifully recorded for the sake of posterity. Adams also documents the tragic final years of the lives of both men, after they went their separate ways.

Brother Westcott describes karma in a theosophical setting and also touches briefly on Esoteric Christianity while reminding us that we all have potential divinity inside of us. He warns heavily of the perils and pitfalls the neophyte must navigate to avoid becoming a black magician, while exploring what he refers to as the hidden mysteries of nature. Additionally, he reminds us that although every potential Adept must exist on this physical plane, they must also live above it.

William Harvey was a prolific masonic scholar of his day. In this essay from 1920, he dissects the myth of a Freemason on the battlefield saving an enemy's life after he is seen giving the Masonic sign of distress. In addition to examining similar tales from around the globe, Harvey looks at the stories from a philosophical standpoint and asks some hard questions. And, while these wars may be old, this topic never will be.

Member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and cocreator of probably the most famous and commonly used tarot deck, Arthur Edward Waite was also a prolific writer and prominent Freemason. Here he examines many of the adjacent intellectual movements that were happening in Europe prior to the creation of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717, which many scholars have claimed were an influence on Masonry, such as alchemy, Kabbalah, and the Rosicrucian fraternity.

Published in 1892, in this piece Mead explains that anyone can be a Theosophist, but in order to be considered an Occultist, the individual must be an agent of practice, not theory, and must have the wisdom to differentiate good from evil. Simply claiming to be an occultist and having basic knowledge on general subjects is not enough to truly be considered one. One of the great, underrated writers of Esoterica.

Annie Besant was a writer, lecturer, prominent Theosophist, and women’s rights activist of her time. She was a frequent contributor to various Theosophical publications of her day. This particular piece dates to 1911, and she’s lecturing on Christ from an intellectual but still spiritual standpoint. She encourages us to engage in critical discussion regarding historical evidence, authenticity of records, and his nature and purpose. She also touches on the Buddha, Blavatsky, Gnosticism, the mysteries, the ascended masters, and so forth.

Not simply satisfied with the signs, grips and words of workmen at temples, from a bygone past, the author wants to know what lies beyond these pedestrian tales told to the newly made mason, of our history. Brother Bush engages in justifiable pride examining the mysteries of ancient Egypt and Greece, which span centuries and helped to carve the path, which gave way for our modern fraternity. What are masonry's ties to the ancient Rites of Eleusis?

In lecture given to a Masonic lodge in Dublin in 1857, Robert Longfield muses on a topic many are still debating today, whether or not the noble fraternity of Freemasonry has ancient origins or if those allegations simply are, as Brother Longfield puts it, a “modern invention.” The author offers numerous examples from the ancient world, which seem to support Freemasonry having existed for hundreds or even thousands of years prior.

Prominent theosophist leader, writer, and publisher William Q. Judge outlines the 13 major points of what define the Rosicrucian movement, from selflessly working for the greater good of humanity to the importance of the four powers of the sphinx.

In addition to being a prolific writer of Theosophical and occult teachings, Madame Blavatsky also penned a few tales of short fiction, although she often claimed the events of her tales to be true, for added effect. This, one of her more famous short stories, is a tale of an inheritance, a mysterious cave, and supernatural events.

Arthur Machen has been cited as an influence to many writers of supernatural horror. He was also a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. This story, originally from 1888, is about a monk, in charge of the wine cellar at his abbey, who finds a strange jar and decides to take a drink.

Madame Blavatsky was the face of the Theosophical movement, and probably its most prolific writer. In this particular piece, published in 1889, she writes somewhat philosophically about the dawning of a new age of writers and religious thinkers. She feels that she is witnessing an equalization of sorts, within society, which she refers to as the Awakening Spirit of Humanity. She urges the listener to participate, rather than just sit idly by and observe.

William Hope Hodgson was an early British writer of supernatural and fantasy fiction, becoming an inspiration for later writers such as Clark Ashton Smith and others. This story, from 1907, tells the tale of a series of mysterious deaths and a strange creature at a local water tower.

Notable theosophical author and colleague of Madame Blavatsky, writer C. De. Leiningen examines the more mystical and transcendental side of a subject that sometimes is approached from too much of a mathematical or analytical viewpoint. He discusses concepts like morality, reasoning, divinity and humanity and how the spiritual experience comes into play with regards to the four Qabalistic parts of the soul.

In his treatise on the Occult Arts, William Judge explores a process of precipitation that could only be described as a sort of astral alchemy, such as was taught by the Theosophical Society, at the time. To Madame Blavatsky and her peers in the Spiritualism movement, this was a popular method of receiving messages, sometimes in the form of a cypher, from the Masters of Ancient Wisdom, most often referred to as simply the Adepts.

As any Freemason will tell you, there are certain words, symbols and phrases that one primarily encounters during Masonic ritual. Two notable Masonic authors examine the works of Shakespeare in an effort to determine if there is any merit to the claim of his rumored involvement in Freemasonry, as well as what that might mean for the history and provenance of the Fraternity.

Masonic scholar William Wynn Westcott examines the assertion that the ancient religious sect, known as the Essenes, was in many ways a precursor to the Masonic fraternity. In addition to the notable features of brotherly love, relief, truth, morality and universal tolerance, there were much more tangible similarities, such as initiation, oaths, modes of recognition and the reception of an apron upon admittance. Or, at least that's what other Masonic writers would have you believe.

Originally published in 1879, this essay begins with a quick overview of the beginnings of the Theosophical Society. The author quickly moves on to discuss theosophy's place in the religions of the world, with greater attention being paid to Buddhism. He also spends time on reincarnation and karma as two principle aspects of theosophy. There is also discussion of the Great White Brotherhood, as Blavatsky would have called it - or, more simply, the adepts or ascended masters.

Annie Besant was a writer, lecturer, prominent Theosophist and women's rights activist of her time. She was a frequent contributor to various Theosophical publications of her day. This piece by her is a short lecture she gave in 1891, on the topic of Universal Brotherhood, altruism, and their importance to both, the Theosophy movement in general and members of the Theosophical Society, in particular.

Originally published in 1911, this account perhaps more accurately belongs in our series of occult fiction, but it is one of many stories Leadbeater published as being true. This particular tale is the retelling of a story relayed to him by Helena Blavatsky, about two travelers who discover a remote, old house that is haunted by the spirit of a baron who committed suicide. Enjoy this "true story".