Mysticism Books

Book SynopsisIt has been more than 50 years since sacred mushrooms were plucked from the shamanic backwaters of Mexico and presented to the modern world by R. Gordon Wasson. After sparking the psychedelic era of the 1960s, however, the divine mushroom returned underground from whence it mysteriously originated. Yet today, the mushroom’s extraordinary influence is once again being felt by large numbers of people, due to the discovery of hundreds of wild psilocybin species growing across the globe. In The Psilocybin Solution, Simon G. Powell traces the history of the sacred psilocybin mushroom and discusses the shamanic visionary effects it can induce. Detailing how psilocybin acts as a profound enhancer of consciousness and reviewing the research performed by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), Johns Hopkins University, and the Heffter Research Institute on psilocybin’s ability to dispel anxiety in the terminally ill and its helpful effects on obsessive-compulsive disorder, he examines the neurochemistry, psychology, and spirituality underlying the visionary psilocybin experience, revealing the interface where physical brain and conscious mind meet. Showing that the existence of life and the functioning of mind are the result of a naturally intelligent, self-organizing Universe, he explains how sacred mushrooms provide a direct link to the wisdom of Nature and the meaning of life.Trade Review“Simon G. Powell has crafted a magnificent, multifaceted argument for the reintegration of psychedelics into science, culture, psychotherapy, and religion to inspire our unbalanced species before we ‘push the biosphere into total decline.’ The Psilocybin Solution persuasively illuminates the profound social value of large numbers of people experiencing communion with and direct personal perception of Nature as a single system of self-organizing intelligence. A massive accomplishment!” * Rick Doblin, Ph.D., founder and president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studi *“This book provides a clear and up-to-date picture of what goes on in the brain during the visionary psilocybin experience. The author’s intrepid speculations, centering on information as the fundamental stuff of the universe, are clearly signposted. The writing is lucid and a joy to behold, an important contribution.” * Jeremy Narby, anthropologist and author of The Cosmic Serpent, Intelligence in Nature, and The Psych *“The profound experiences unlocked by the visionary psilocybin-containing mushrooms are more than a recreational holiday for the mind. They are, in fact, the key to understanding that consciousness is not an aspect of reality, it is reality itself.” * Dennis McKenna, Ph.D., ethnopharmacologist and coauthor of The Invisible Landscape *“A worthy successor to Aldous Huxley’s The Doors of Perception, The Psilocybin Solution takes the reader behind the grand curtain of reality with a compelling hypothesis that approaches a unified field theory of human consciousness in an intelligent and interconnected universe.” * Bill Linton, CEO of Promega *“In this fascinating and provocative book, Simon G. Powell speculates on the nature of reality. He posits that Nature is a deliberate and intelligently behaving system, and he proposes that psilocybin, by altering the neurochemistry of the brain in specific ways, enables novel patterns of information to emerge, allowing the psyche to become a sort of conduit to the Other. If in fact that is what actually happens, then entheogens (psychedelics) are much more important to the human species than has been realized.” * David E. Nichols, Ph.D., president and cofounder of the Heffter Research Institute *“It’s as if these fungi, which grow wild on most of the Earth’s land surface, beckon us to commune with them, Powell hints. And if we do have the chance, we’d do well to heed his advice on the “retuning” process. This communion offers a link with the intelligence of Nature. Opening the doors of perception and returning to entheogenic wisdom could ultimately create a more mystical, meaningful society.” * Nexus Magazine, Vol. 18, No. 6, October 2011 *“Read this book. Follow directions in the last chapter closely. Confirm or deny.” * Diana Reed Slattery, Reality Sandwich, October 2011 *“Overall, another adequate introduction to entheogenic thought but one that, interestingly, broaches questions about neurology more explicitly than others, in attempting to locate entheogenic thought in a wider metaphysics.” * Psychedelic Press, November 2011 *“All in all, this is a stimulating and revolutionary volume, whatever your take on “chemically induced theophany.”” * Mac Graham, Whole Life Times, December 2011 *Table of Contents Foreword by Graham Hancock Preface Prologue A Question of Life and Death One Sacred Ground Two An Ancient Form of Communion Three Psilocybin Flows in and out of the Western Mind Four Investigating the Earth’s Alchemical Skin Five The Mushroom and the Synapse Six The Stuff of Consciousness Seven A Universe of Information Eight Does the Universe Compute? Nine The Fantastic Hypothesis Ten A Neo-Shamanic Climax Epilogue Trick or Treat? Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA guide to realizing your highest magical and spiritual potential. In initiation, something happens to us. We change. Some aspect of ourselves is transformed. The result is that the various forces within us—desires, dreams, motivations, and inspirations—are amplified, deepened, and redirected. Ultimately, the goal is to become your own creation, your better self, the person you wish to be. In this accessible guide to realizing your highest magical and spiritual potential, William Mistele presents a wealth of practices and initiatory wisdom, structured around the Tree of Life, to help you develop the vast spiritual world within. Drawing on hermetic teachings, the Kabbalah, and the elemental magic of Franz Bardon, he provides psychological skills to master, dreams to explore, and initiations to experience. His methods enhance sensory perception and deepen feelings of peace and oneness with the universe. He shares practices for learning to talk t

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Book SynopsisThe difference between FEELING yourself in action, here and now, and visualizing yourself in action, as though you were on a motion-picture screen, is the difference between success and failure.- Neville GoddardIn 1948 the modern mystic Neville Goddard presented a series of lessons in Los Angeles that many have come to regard as the teacher''s clearest, most penetrating explanation of his methods of mental creativity. In them, Neville explains why your mental images and feelings determine your future. He provides his most direct, exquisitely clear method on how to explore the divine nature of your mind and use it to create the life you want.Preserving his words exactly as those original students heard them, the five lessons are: 1. Consciousness Is the Only Reality2. Assumptions Harden into Fact3. Thinking Fourth-Dimensionally4. No One to Change but Self5. Remain Faithful to Your IdeaNeville's writings and lectures are as fresh and relevant today as when he first wrote and spoke them. He walked the talk and has left us with ample material to ponder and the practical suggestions and techniques in this book can profoundly change your life.Neville concludes his lectures with his oft stated premise: Assume you are what you want to be. Walk in that assumption and it will harden into fact.

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Book SynopsisIn 1902 Steiner wrote Christianity as Mystical Fact and the Mysteries of Antiquity, showing the evolutionary development from the ancient mysteries, through the great Greek philosophers, to the events portrayed in the gospels. Steiner saw the Christ event as the turning point in the world's spiritual history -- an incarnation whose significance he saw as transcending all religions.Charles Kovacs brings his deep knowledge of esoteric writings, mythology and Steiner's lectures to give more background and to show how the way for Christianity was prepared in the ancient pre-Christian mysteries of Egypt and Greece. He discusses the symbolic and real events of the gospels, as well as looking at some of the understandings and disputes of the early Christians.The book is illustrated with Kovacs' own colour paintings.Trade Review'Steiner's work becomes enriched and deepened by Kovacs' reflections... the reader does not need to be familiar with the original in order to gain insight and pleasure from Kovacs' book. His language is very clear and to the point, his train of thought as easy to follow as Ariadne's thread and his patient working through the material step by step allows you to stay with the entire development of humanity in picture form without getting lost. [The book] is fascinating and inspiring... Kovacs and Steiner have given us a feast of myths, philosophy and initiation wisdom which lights up our path towards initiation and can be an aid of encouragement for our own meditative practise.'-- Anna Phillips, Camphill Correspondence'... an interesting and informative book, one that would be a good study companion for Steiner's Christianity as Mystical Fact. Sixteen artistic works painted by Kovacs are featured in this volume; they provide a pleasant 'intermission' midway through the book.'-- New View

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Book SynopsisWhen Quietism was condemned in 1687 it resulted in an antipathy, if not an open hostility to authentic mystical theology. This situation has lasted down to the present day and has been aggravated by many forms of counterfeit mysticism that are self-centred, not God-centred. The consequences have been disastrous. To restore the balance lost to Christian spirituality, the author returns to the profound mystical teaching that Jesus himself lived and handed on to the early Church through his disciples. His research has resulted in a book that details a practical daily spirituality for all, that mirrors that which was lived by our earliest Christian forebears. It emphasises the original balance between personal and communal prayer in such a way that our whole lives become the place where we continually offer our lives through Christ to the Father.

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Book SynopsisPreviously unpublished - This is a collection of Krishnamurti's speeches and informal talks where he discusses war, politics and global tensions. It's especially vital in these times where people are overwhelmed by bad news and discord on all sides.

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Book SynopsisChristianity is in crisis in the West. The Inkling friend of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, Owen Barfield, analysed why. He developed an account of our spiritual predicament that is radical and illuminating. Barfield realized that the human experience of life shifts fundamentally over periods of cultural time. Our perception of nature, the cosmos and the divine changes dramatically across history. Mark Vernon uses this startling insight to tell the inner story of 3000 years of Christianity, beginning from the earliest Biblical times. Drawing, too, on the latest scholarship and spiritual questions of our day, he presents a gripping account of how Christianity constellated a new perception of what it is to be human. For 1500 years, this sense of things informed many lives, though it fell into crisis with the Reformation, scientific revolution and Enlightenment. But the story does not stop there. Barfield realised that there is meaning in the disenchantment and alienation experienced by many people today. It is part of a process that is remaking our sense of participation in the life of nature, the cosmos and the divine. It's a new stage in the evolution of human consciousness.

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Book Synopsis The easiest guide to astrology, ever. Through 100+ easy-to-follow charts, diagrams, and graphs, expert astrologer Julia Topaz helps you decode the secrets of the stars so that you can move forward in life and love with cosmic clarity.Brimming with scarily accurate insights, cheeky observations, and invaluable celestial wisdom, Astrolographs illuminates each sign’s unique traits, personality quirks, and compatibilities. Discover how the signs behave (or misbehave!) when it comes to romance, friendship, work, leisure, finances, and more, as you observe them: On vacation: See who packed seven suitcases, who is on a beach yoga retreat, and who missed their flight altogether. At the gym: Find out who is taking selfies in the mirror, who is hogging the treadmill, and who is in pigeon pose. Dating: Discover who chose a dating pic from their deep-sea fishing expedition, who wants someone to marathon romcom with, and who is most likely to slide into your DMs with love poems. And so much more! This innovative and playful guide makes a perfect resource to share with friends and to give as a gift to anyone who loves reading their daily horoscope or exploring all the sun signs and their meanings.Perfect for: Anyone interested in astrology or seeking astrology books for beginners Readers who enjoy personal transformation and self-help books Fans of Julia Topaz's work Gift-giving to any zodiac lover for birthday, anniversary, or just for fun Fans of astrology books like The Astrology of You and Me and You Were Born for This

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Book SynopsisA chance meeting with a mother of six inspires a young American, James Robertson, who has just lost his wife in childbirth, to visit her spiritual director, Peter Calvay, who lives in the Outer Hebrides. In the first part of the book - The Hermit, the young man learns how to pray and how to meditate according to the ancient Christian tradition. In the second part of the book The Prophet, Peter is presumed lost at sea and James is invited to order his personal effects. He finds details of Peter's own spiritual journey that inspires James to deepen his own spiritual life.This part is crammed with good practical advice on prayer for the reader as well as describing the deeply human story of the young woman with whom Peter falls deeply in love. Eventually Peter turns up alive and well and in the third part of the book - The Mystic - the two meet again this time on the mainland where Peter has come to attend his mother's funeral. Peter uses the story of his own parent's love for each other as the perfect paradigm with which to explain the mystic way. The teachings of the "Cloud of Unknowing" and the great mystics St John of the Cross and St Teresa of Avila are explained with great clarity by paralleling the mystic life with married life. Deeply moving lessons are drawn for those committed to each way that can lead to the fullest possible experience of love here on earth.Trade ReviewFilled with insights into spiritual growth and the options for meeting God in daily prayer time. Crux of the NewsIf this book ends up on the shelf next to Introduction to the Devout Life, they will be in fitting company. David McLaurin, winner of the "Daily Express Book of the Year Award" for his novel Bishop of San FernandoThe format and flow of a novel but the impact of a work of deep mysticism. This little book can revolutionize the way you pray. To get better at doing 'the most important thing' in your life, we recommend you read this book. Larry Holley O.S.B., Book Nook , USAHis engrossing style masks the depth of his practical advice and specifics about many forms of prayer from the traditional to the new. Stanley M. Grabowski, Ph.D., Pastoral LifeDavid Torkington writes about prayer, the true deep prayer of the heart that surrenders us to the Father of Jesus. So simply expressed, so colloquial, that we understand the total love of God as the essential act of being human. Sr. Wendy Beckett, Mount Carmel

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Book SynopsisThis fascinating work profiles Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (1058-1111), the foremost Islamic scholar and mystic of the medieval period. Attracting the patronage of the vizier Nizam al-Mulk early in his career, he was appointed head of the Nizamiyyah College at Baghdad, and attracted audiences from across the Islamic world, who sought his teachings on Islamic philosophy and jurisprudence. Eventually renouncing his position due to a spiritual crisis, he went into self-imposed exile, during which he wrote the Sufi masterpiece, Revival of the Sciences of Religion. Concise and lucid, this is a perfect introduction to the great man’s life and work.Table of ContentsPreface Abbreviations Names and terms Chronology INTRODUCTION The Seljuqs The “Schools” of Law The Notion of Kalam The Mu‘tazili Factor Ash‘ari and the Three Brothers Philosophy (Falsafa) The Isma‘ilis Sufism 1 THE RISE TO RENOWN A Child of Khorasan The Stages of his Career Early Studies: Sufi Masters and Theologians Juwayni The Patronage of the Powerful Ghazali at Court The Temptations of Prestige 2 DEVOTION TO THE LAW Ghazali’s Contributions to Law The Example of Analogy (qiyas) The Indolence of the Learned Shafi‘i: the Beloved Model Fidelity to the Law 3 THE DOUBLE-EDGED DISCIPLINE: GHAZALI AND THEOLOGY Theology vs Philosophy Against a “Religion of Donkeys” Ghazali the Theologian The Dogmatic Manual al-Iqtisad fi’l-i‘tiqad Ghazali’s Mode of Argument in “The Just Balance” The Shadow of Ibn Sina A Human Accent Ghazali on Divine Names The Absence of Insight as Insight A Manual for Meditation Ghazali’s Attitude towards Kalam 4 THE POISON OF PHILOSOPHY AND ITS ANTIDOTE Did Ghazali Destroy Philosophy in Islam? The Seductiveness of System The Exposition of Philosophy: the Maqasid al-Falasifa The Attack: Tahafut al-Falasifa 5 CRISIS AND RECOVERY The Breakdown of 1095 Sickness and Health Al-Munqidh min al-Dalal (“The Deliverer from Error”) Scepticism and Ghazali: His Early Crisis The Significance of Dream The Four Ways The Decisive Break and the Departure from Baghdad Baghdad, the “Nest of Darkness” The Role of Ahmad Ghazali 6 THE REVIVAL OF ISLAM The Character of the Ihya’ The Architecture of the Ihya’ CONCLUSION: KNOWLEDGE IN ACTION The Return to Teaching Death and Posthumous Career Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisDivine Intoxication is a common theme in Middle Eastern poetry. The wine on which the seeker becomes drunk is nothing less than the nectar of love. Such inebriation, however, often produces unconventional behaviour, even hints of madness, marking the lover as one apparently lost to the ordinary world. In this mood, Kahlil Gibran wrote: Only an idiot and a genius break man-made laws and they are the nearest to the heart of God. And so, the poetry written by or about these drunkards is often saturated with perennial wisdom, with stark reflections of the truth (in vino veritas), and with a variety of prayerful longing that is found throughout all mystical traditions.SWEET LUNACY contains works by some of the most well-known mystical Sufi poets from the 11th through the 14th century, including Rumi, Attar, and Jami. But the reader will also meet lesser-known authors here whose messages, both unique and fresh, are equally inspiring. The poets in this collection are those who, for reasons which might not seem altogether reasonable to our everyday mind and logic, were willing and able to question this mystery called life and, unwilling to accept readymade answers. Vraje Abramian, born in Iran and a native speaker of Farsi, has worked to keep his translations as close to the meaning and cultural flavour of the originals as possible.

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Book SynopsisWhat precisely happens at the time of death is a question that theologians have struggled over for centuries but have never answered satisfactorily. The response to this question that Ladislaus Boros gives in his monumental synthesis, The Mystery of Death, is that in death we meet Christ fully for the first time and in doing so attain to full consciousness and freedom. It is therefore only in the moment of death than humans are able to elect for or against their eternal salvation. In other words, death is a kind of judgment day, but it is we ourselves who pass judgment on ourselves. In her introduction and commentary, Cynthia Bourgeault argues passionately that Ladislaus Boros represents a necessary link to understanding the radical theology of Teilhard de Chardin. She presents Boros as a powerful potential bridgebuilder. Standing firmly on the shoulders of his celebrated Jesuit mentor Karl Rahner, and highly skilled in the scholastic discourse that Teilhard himself eschewed, he is able to mediate an illuminating dialogue between Teilhard and the greater Christian theological traditionnot, as is so often the case in so much of contemporary Teilhardian scholarship, by secularizing Teilhard's thought or draping it in current evolutionary jargon, but by piercing to the very marrow of Teilhard's Christic mysticism and carrying it to an even more brilliant degree of spiritual luminosity.

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Book SynopsisExamines a series of powerful artifacts traditionally associated with King Solomon, largely via extra-canonical textual sources--Solomon’s ring, bottles to contain evil forces, the so-called Solomon’s knot, a shamir, and a flying carpet--and traces their varying cultural resonances.Trade Review“Whether or not King Solomon was a real historical figure, he has left an imprint on the collective imagination of Jews, Christians, and Muslims—a physical imprint in the form of special rings, bottles, carpets, and other objects thought to manifest the king’s legendary magical powers. Iafrate’s study illumines the ancient and medieval history of these various magical objects, but more than that, it is a model of how to combine historical inquiry into the Bible's reception with sophisticated study of material religion. This book has much to teach those with an interest in the religious origins of magical symbols, but it is also a marvelously innovative study of the history of biblical interpretation that shows what we can learn by thinking of the Bible three-dimensionally.”—Steven Weitzman,author of Solomon: The Lure of Wisdom“Iafrate nimbly maneuvers among the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim literatures on Solomon as well as between the canonical and non-canonical texts of these three religions. She also expressly and sensitively considers the materiality of the objects taken from Solomon’s ‘cabinet,’ carefully tracing their literary emergence and transformations, allowing literary imaginations to develop material features, real in a quite different way. Through case studies in the polysemic appreciation of cultural objects, this work becomes a guidebook on how historical cultural objects sustain multiple meanings across time and cultures.”—David J. Collins, S.J.,editor of The Sacred and the Sinister: Studies in Medieval Religion and Magic“A pioneering attempt to write a material history of magical objects. Training her sights on a well-curated collection of items associated with the magical powers of King Solomon, Iafrate traces with exquisite care the ‘biographies’ of these devices as they move through time and between cultures. Beyond documenting the many symbolic and material permutations of these Solomonic objects across Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, she also demonstrates how integral—even essential—their material, morphological, and aesthetic properties are to their ritual efficacy.”—Ra‘anan Boustan,author of From Martyr to Mystic: Rabbinic Martyrology and the Making of Merkavah Mysticism“After her Wandering Throne of Solomon, Allegra Iafrate continues her exciting investigations by studying five ‘Solomonic magical objects’: the ring used to control demons; the bottles in which he was said to constrain them; the so-called Solomon’s knot; the shamir, a mythical object, known for its ability to cut through stone; and the flying carpet. This breathtaking study confirms the talent of one of the brightest historians of medieval art of her generation.”—Jean-Patrice Boudet,Université d'OrléansTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsAcknowledgments Solomon’s Cabinet of Curiosities: Objects from an Uncanonical Collection1. Magical Objects and Where to Find Them2. The Signet Ring3. Bottles for the Demons4. Much Ado About Knotting5. The Metamorphic Shamir 6. Carpets and Other Flying DevicesConclusion: “Of the Cosmopolitan Destiny of Magical Objects”NotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisGiordano Bruno's most representative work, "Spaccio de la bestia trionfante", published in an atmosphere of secrecy in 1584, was singled out by the church tribunal at the summation of his final trial. This title provides an introduction to the philosopher who dared to voice his audacious theories of nature, religion, and history.Trade Review"Bruno's works . . . Will always find a place in the heart of those who wish to move more deeply into the European Hermetic and classical spiritual inheritance."—Parabola"Not only worth reading as a work of art and intellect, it illuminates an aspect of that crucial period which saw the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Counter-Reformation and the Inquisition."—Los Angeles Times

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Book SynopsisExploring the practice of living resurrection in ancient Egyptian, Phoenician, Greek, Persian, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Celtic, and Native American traditions, Freddy Silva explains how resurrection was never meant for the dead, but for the living--a fact supported by the suppressed Gnostic Gospel of Philip: “Those who say they will die first and then rise are in error. If they do not first receive the resurrection while they live, when they die they will receive nothing.” He reveals how these practices were not only common in the ancient world but also shared similar facets in each tradition: initiates were led through a series of challenging ordeals, retreated for a three-day period into a cave or restricted room, often called a “bridal chamber,” and while out-of-body, became fully conscious of travels in the Otherworld. Upon returning to the body, they were led by priests or priestesses to witness the rising of Sirius or the Equinox sunrise. Silva describes some of the secret chambers around the world where the ritual was performed, including the so-called tomb of Thutmosis III in Egypt, which featured an empty sarcophagus and detailed instructions for the living on how to enter the Otherworld and return alive. He reveals why esoteric and Gnostic sects claimed that the literal resurrection of Jesus promoted by the Church was a fraud and how the Church branded all living resurrection practices as a heresy, relentlessly persecuting the Gnostics to suppress knowledge of this self-empowering experience. He shows how the Knights Templar revived these concepts and how they survive to this day within Freemasonry.Trade Review“Freddy Silva’s latest book is his most brilliant, scintillating, and inviting of all, a superb book on global initiation over thousands of years. In it he explores how ancient sacred cultures guided people to experience psychic death while alive--a ritual near-death experience. The Lost Art of Resurrection is a truly remarkable contribution to the quest of reviving lost wisdom and a must-read for anyone interested in spirituality and sacred sites.” * Barbara Hand Clow, author of Awakening the Planetary Mind *“This is a breakthrough work that topples not only church dogma but a century of pyramidiots stumped by Egypt’s elusively empty sarcophagi. No mummy there! No, it’s all about the round-trip journey to the spirit world and what our ancestors were really doing in their secluded temples. Fabulously illustrated, this important book is as much about the cosmogony of the ancient wisdomkeepers as it is about the hidden chambers of the human mind.” * Susan Martinez, Ph.D., author of The Mysterious Origins of Hybrid Man *Table of ContentsA Scottish Faery Tale 1 A Noble Tradition Recently Suppressed 2 The Myth of Resurrection 3 What Is Initiation? 4 Early Followers of The Way 5 The Otherworld of the Celts 6 Secrets of the Beehive 7 Fifty Shades of Gnosticism 8 The Secret Bridal Chamber 9 What Happens in the Middle East Stays in Central America 10 Geezers of Nazareth 11 Inside the Great Pyramid and into the Otherworld 12 Egyptian Initiation 13 How to Travel to the Otherworld and Back. Or, the Pyramid Texts 14 Pharaoh Has Left the Building 15 Green Men, White Knights 16 The Science of the Otherworld 17 The Metamorphosis of the Soul Notes Bibliography Index About the Author

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Book SynopsisBeing the twenty-sixth book of The Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya' 'ulum al-din), The Book of the Censure of This World (Kitab Dhamm al-dunya) seeks to persuade its reader of the folly of worldly pleasures and possessions.To do so, al-Ghazali begins with a collection of Islamic primary-source texts that speak to the dangers of this world from a variety of angles. He then adds to this collection fourteen metaphors for this world that illustrate its perfidious nature. In a third subsection, al-Ghazali provides an original rationale for renouncing worldly enjoyments, and he furnishes his reader with a blueprint for determining what constitutes 'this world' in its most dangerous sense. In a fourth and final subsection, al-Ghazali applies a sociological theory to enumerate the essential human vocations and identify the mechanisms through which these lead people away from God.

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Book SynopsisAs the title testifies, students were sworn to secrecy before being given access to this magic text and only a few manuscripts have survived. Bits of its teachings, such as the use of the magic whistle for summoning spirits, are alluded to in other texts. Another key element of its ritual, the elaborate Seal of God, has been found in texts and amulets throughout Europe.Interest in THE SWORN BOOK OF HONORIUS has grown in recent years, yet no modern translations have been attempted - until now.Purporting to preserve the magic of Solomon in the face of intense persecution by religious authorities, this text includes one of the oldest and most detailed magic rituals. It contains a complete system of magic including how to attain the divine vision, communicate with holy angels and control aerial, earthly and infernal spirits for practical gain.Largely ignored by historians until recently, this text is an important witness to the transmission of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism to European Hermeticists.

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Book SynopsisProvides a lucid English translation of the prayer known as 'The Most Elevated Cycle' or 'The Prayer of Protection'. This book also delves into the prayer's contemporary life and historical transmission and gives details of generations of well-known scholars and Sufi masters.Trade Review"The importance of having a stable text with full vocalisation based upon the best manuscripts is evident. But the author's careful study of the chains of transmission and the detailed information about the recitation of the prayer in the contemporary world are also of the highest interest." Prof Michel ChodkiewiczTable of ContentsIntroduction; The Dawr Today; A Prayer Across Time; The Prayer for Spiritual Elevation and Protection; Index.

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Book SynopsisPost-Christian life and society do not eliminate a desire for the transcendent; rather, they create an environment for new and divergent spiritual communities and practices to flourish. We are flooded with spiritualities that appeal to human desires for nonreligious personal transformation. But many fail to deliver because they fall into the trap of the self. In the last book of the Ministry in a Secular Age series, leading practical theologian Andrew Root shows the differences between these spiritualities and authentic Christian transformation. He explores the dangers of following or adapting these reigning mysticisms and explains why the self has become so important yet so burdened with guilt--and how we should think about both. To help us understand our confusing cultural landscape, he maps spiritualities using twenty of the best memoirs from 2015 to 2020 in which "secular mystics" promote their mystical and transformational pathways. Root concludes with a more excellent way--even a mysticism--centered on the theology of the cross that pastors and leaders can use to form their own imaginations and practices.Table of ContentsRead before Using (Don't Skip)1. New Mystics without God: Closed World Structures and Memoirists2. When Dogs Bark during Paris Lockdown: Meet the Magnificent Jean-Jacques3. Performing Selves Are So Guilty: Why Mysticism and Guilt Are Back4. When the Everyday Houses a Mysticism without God5. The [Bleeping] Triangles Are Everywhere: How Triangulated Dilemmas and Conflicts Map the Mysticism of a Secular Age6. Mystical Memoirists: Mapping the Spiritual Pathways of a Secular Age7. Why Not All Mysticisms Are Equal: Welcome to a Smooth, Pornographic World Obsessed with Action8. Why Passivity Is the Path9. The Headless Man of Shadows: Into Negativity10. When a Late-Night Talk Leads to Deconversion: Or, How We Keep from Hating the WorldIndex

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Book SynopsisTHE WAY OF MARY, MARYAM, BELOVED OF GOD is a weaving of strands from ancient sources, traditional stories, poetry, prayers of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, and beyond (with full colour illustrations), to reveal, through the illuminated being and twelve life stations of Beloved Mary, the palpable Oneness of all Creation, our Oneness in Spirit.Trade Review"Revered across the family of Abraham and Sarah, adored as Miriam, Mary, Maryam, Madre Maria, there is no other single figure who so universally serves to lift up the weary heart of the world, blessing us with lovingkindness and infusing us with hope. With her signature blend of sublime wisdom and grounded scholarship, beloved Sufi teacher Camille Helminski offers a penetrating and life-giving transmission of Maryam as guide to the awakening of the soul, during a time when we need her most." ~ Mirabai Starr, author of God of Love and Wild Mercy ; "I have read numerous books on the Holy Mother in Her many guises: Kali, Chochma, Sarada Devi, Shechinah, Avalokiteshvara, and of course Mary, but none was as striking, profound, and potentially heart-transforming as Camille Helminski’s The Way of Mary. This book, steeped in wisdom, is a book to be savored. I cannot recommend it more highly." ~ Rabbi Rami Shapiro, author of The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature ; "What beautiful blessedness: the wise and gentle heart of Mary mirrored in the wise and gentle heart of Camille Helminski." ~ The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault, author of The Wisdom Jesus and The Meaning of Mary Magdalene ; "I would like to thank Camille Hanim for bringing us Hazreti Meryem’s fragrance full of patience, compassion, mercy, and knowing. Camille Hanim has done a great service to humanity by writing this book—the fact that she quotes from the Bible, the Quran and the Masnavi is very important in terms of realizing that all paths lead to the One. Even though the paths are different, the destination is the same." ~ Esin Celebi Bayru, 22nd generation granddaughter of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi; Vice President, International Mevlana Foundation ; "Camille Helminski’s The Way of Mary is a lovely and welcome addition to the deep dialogue of the spirit shared between Muslims and Christians. The Qur’an uses the exact same verb to talk about Mary being “chosen and purified” as that of the most common honorific for the Prophet Muhammad, Mustapha. Indeed, one could say that there is a close association between Mary and Muhammad, in that the former receives God’s Word (Jesus) into her pure womb, and the latter God’s Word (the Qur’an) into his luminous heart. Deeply rooted in the Qur’an and the Sufi tradition, The Way of Mary is a beautiful way of accessing the rich waters of life that are shared across our tradition, and is highly recommended to all spiritual seekers." ~ Omid Safi, Professor of Islamic Studies at Duke University; Founder, Illuminated Courses and Tours ; "This priceless book is a treasure trove of precious insights, heartfelt poetry, sacred verses and meticulous scholarship. These elements exquisitely woven into twelve chapters uniquely and profoundly enrich our mind, purify our heart and exalt our soul. Our beings feel deeply grateful to be graced and blessed by beauty and a rare taste of the sacred." ~ Imam Jamal Rahman, Interfaith Community SanctuaryTable of ContentsAuthor’s Preface | Introduction: Twelve Stars of Blessing | I. The Gift of the Conception of Mary to Anna, She Who Had Been Barren | II. Within the Sanctuary | III. Annunciation of the Word | IV. Magnifi cat, Mary’s Song of Praise | V. Birthing Jesus | VI. Presentation of the Infant Jesus in the Temple: Forty Days of Love | VII. Journey to Egypt | VIII. Losing and Finding Jesus: Calling the Beloved | IX. Miracles of Nourishment and New Life | X. The Gathering to God: Death and Resurrection | XI. Teaching Journeys | XII. Tranquility of Spirit | Rose Prayers | Antiphon | Appendix I: Songs of Love | Appendix II: Extended Context Notes | Illustrations | Selected Bibliography | Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the 2019 I.R. Iran World Award for Book of the Year, Islamic Republic of Iran""This groundbreaking monograph is critical not only for understanding the complex phenomenon that is Sufism, but also for gaining insight into the significant methodological issues of modern historiography."---Kamal Gasimov, Voices on Central Asia"Anyone looking for an introduction to the complexities of Sufism should turn to this book by Alexander Knys." * History Today *"By challenging existing theoretical constructs, the author allows one to rethink metadiscourses on Sufism."---Ayesha Khan, Muslim World Book Review"With a contemporary look at the different perspectives and dimensions of Sufism, the book offers new ideas experiences and, in this respect, is a valuable resource that contributes to promoting an understanding of Sufism’s various dimensions and angles of complexity."---ShahRokh Raei, Die Welt des Islams"Remarkably well-written and comprehensive overview . . . [Sufism] give[s] an accessible, accurately detailed account of Sufism as a system of thought and action. . . . A helpful, wide-ranging historical introduction for students of Islamic spirituality and the many related fields of Islamic thought and practice."---Andi Herawati, Reading Religion"Sufism: A New History of Islamic Mysticism is a welcome addition to a collection of relatively recent overviews of Sufism…The book is a masterful display of Knysh’s extensive study of Sufi history and sources. It will be of immediate use to instructors within Islamic and religious studies, as well as to specialists in need of a summary of the state of Sufi studies and its major points of contention."---Cyrus Ali Zargar, Journal of the American Oriental Society

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Book SynopsisThe Torah is both hidden and revealed there is a secret meaning to the holy Torah that is not written down explicitly or explained in it' This selection offers a comprehensive survey of the ''Kabbalah'', the body of writings in the Jewish mystical tradition. It features texts from a variety of literary forms, from the earliest biblical sources through to the early twentieth century, with a section on ''practical kabbalistic knowledge and procedure'' to appeal to the modern market.

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Book SynopsisForeword; J.Walter Driscoll Introduction: Gurdjieff, Hypnosis, and Hermeneutics Philosophy: Ontology of the Harmonious Universe Philosophy: Psychology of a 'Tetartocosmos' Philosophy: Epistemology of 'Three-Brained Beings' The 'Organ Kundabuffer' Theory of Human Disharmonization The Practice of 'Harmonious Development of Man' Life is Real Only Then, When 'I am' Not Hypnotized Meetings with the Remarkable Hypnotist Beelzebub's Hypnotic Tales to His Grandson Gurdjieff's Roundabout Yezidi Circle Appendix: Textual Chronology of Gurdjieff's LifeTrade Review"Tamdgidi sets a benchmark for Gurdjieff Studies in relation to two recognized but insufficiently explored areas, his writings as a unified field and his exploitation of hypnosis in its broadest sense. His compact interpretation of Gurdjieff emphasizes - for the first time - a search for meaning based on recognizable keys within about 1,800 pages of Gurdjieff's four texts as a single body of work, with particular focus on subliminal and subconscious dimensions of impact and interpretation, an approach which might be termed the 'Hermeneutics of Gurdjieff.' Thus, Tamdgidi's work is an important original contribution to the constructive, independent, and critical study of Gurdjieff's four books. Anyone who has seriously attempted to read Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson or Meetings with Remarkable Men can vouch for their intentionally beguiling or 'hypnotic' effect. These readers will appreciate Tamdgidi's interpretive virtuosity and focus - he keeps each tree and the entire forest in sight throughout." - From the Foreword by J. Walter Driscoll, independent scholar and bibliographer; editor and contributing author, Gurdjieff: A Reading Guide, 3rd Ed.; contributing editor, Gurdjieff International Review (1997-2001); co-author, Gurdjieff: An Annotated Bibliography "A wondrous odyssey and extraordinary argumentation! Nothing in the corpus of writings on Gurdjieff's works goes near to matching this masterful reading. Each time one looks back into the text, one finds more gold, no dross." - Paul Beekman Taylor, Professor Emeritus at the University of Geneva, and author ofG. I. Gurdjieff: A New Life; Gurdjieff's Invention of America; The Philosophy of G. I. Gurdjieff; Gurdjieff & Orage: Brothers in Elysium;andShadows of Heaven: Gurdjieff and Toomer "In the ocean of literature on Gurdjieff, the brilliant book of Mohammad Tamdgidi has a very special place. It is the first serious academic attempt at a hermeneutics of Gurdjieff's texts, taking as key the core of Gurdjieff's teaching - the enneagram. Of course, Gurdjieff's teaching cannot be understood apart from its practice. But it is also true that this teaching cannot be understood without a rigorous study of the writings of Gurdjieff himself." - Basarab Nicolescu, author of Manifesto of TransdisciplinarityTable of ContentsForeword; J.Walter Driscoll Introduction: Gurdjieff, Hypnosis, and Hermeneutics Philosophy: Ontology of the Harmonious Universe Philosophy: Psychology of a 'Tetartocosmos' Philosophy: Epistemology of 'Three-Brained Beings' The 'Organ Kundabuffer' Theory of Human Disharmonization The Practice of 'Harmonious Development of Man' Life is Real Only Then, When 'I am' Not Hypnotized Meetings with the Remarkable Hypnotist Beelzebub's Hypnotic Tales to His Grandson Gurdjieff's Roundabout Yezidi Circle Appendix: Textual Chronology of Gurdjieff's Life

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Book SynopsisJulian of Norwich is among the most intriguing religious visionaries in Christian history.

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Book SynopsisDaughter of a mayor of King's Lynn, wife of a burgess there and mother of fourteen children, Margery Kempe (c. 1373-post 1438) was also a religious mystic and hysteric, who dictated her 'autobiography' to a scribe at the end of her life. In this history of her life, Anthony Goodman examines The Book, to reconstruct as much of her conventional biography as the materials allow. Including her spiritual experiences, but focusing most particularly on her day-to-day life, he builds an intriguing picture of bourgeois society in late medieval Lynn, and the wider world of late medieval towns in England and Europe more generally.Trade Review'Goodman's book is for readers who want to know what The Book of Margery Kempe has to offer by way of social and political historical information.''Anyone who does not wish to work his or her way through the whole of Margery's confusing and effusive text will be grateful.'Livia Visser-Fuchs, The Ricardian XVI, 2006'Margery Kempe and Her World is not the same old Margery. It is far more creative, interesting, and sensible, and makes a valuable contribution to an increasingly overcrowded field.''Goodman succeeds both in offering new and plausible interpretations of Kempe's intriguing work...''...an excellent introductory text. Students who read it will learn a great deal about important aspects of life in late medieval England.'Raymond A. Powell, The Catholic Historical Review, April 2006Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Lynn and the Brunham Family 3. Margery and Urban Gender Roles 4. Ecclesiastical Authority and Religious Culture in Lynn 5. The Piety of The Book of Margery Kempe 6. English Travels and Contexts 7. A Wider World 8. Great Cities and Sacred Soil 9. Conclusion Notes Select Bibliography Index

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 2006. From the Preface: THE BOOK OF CEREMONIAL MAGIC is by a distinguished author whom readers of books in the mystic arts have met before as the author of THE HOLY KABBALAH and THE PICTORIAL KEY To THE TAROT) among others. His present book first took the form of a work entitled THE BOOK OF BLACK MAGIC AND OF PACTS (London, 1898) and that first version has been reprinted many times in the United States, perhaps because of its somewhat sensational title. This book includes the key passages from the principal magical texts of the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION, PART I The Literature of Ceremonial Magic CHAPTER I THE ANTIQUITY OF MAGICAL RITUALS CHAPTER II THE RITUALS OF TRANSCENDENTAL MAGIC CHAPTER III COMPOSITE RITUALS CHAPTER IV THE RITUALS O F BLACK MAGIC PART II The Complete Grimoire CHAPTER I THE PREPARATION OF THE OPERATOR CHAPTER II THE INITIAL RITES AND CEREMONIES CHAPTER III CONCERNING THE DESCENDING HIERARCHY CHAPTER IV THE MYSTERIES OF GOETIC THEURGY ACCORDING TO THE LESSER KEY OF SOLOMON THE KING CHAPTER V CONCERNING THE MYSTERY OF THE SANCTUM REGNUM, OR THE GOVERNMENT OF EVIL SPIRITS; BEING THE RITE OF CONJURATION ACCORDING TO THE GRIMORIUM VERUM CHAPTER VI THE MYSTERIES OF INFERNAL EVOCATION ACCORDING TO THE GRAND GRIMOIRE METHOD OF MAKING PACTS CHAPTER VII THE METHOD OF HONORIUS CHAPTER VIII MISCELLANEOUS AND MINOR PROCESSES CHAPTER IX CONCERNING INFERNAL NECROMANCY

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Book SynopsisDid seven monks carry The Grail from Glastonbury Abbey at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, to the Cistercian Abbey of Strata Florida in Mid Wales? The mystery of the Nanteos Cup and its healing powers has fascinated and intrigued for 300 years.

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Book SynopsisPicturing the life story of Jalal ad-Din Rumi, a premier Muslim mystic and the original Whirling Dervish, John Renard studies the images in three extant manuscripts of Aflaki's Wondrous Feats of the Knowers of God to provide a unique way to interpret the text.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisAn engaging study of Sufi teachings that presents the Sufi way as a universal means of gaining a greater understanding of ourselves, others, and the world In Sufi teaching the human heart is not a fanciful metaphor but an objective organ of intuition and perception. It perceives all that is beautiful, lovely, and meaningful in life—and reflects these spiritual qualities in the world, for the benefit of others. Every human heart has the capacity and the destiny to bring that world of divine reality into this world of appearances. The Sufis, mystics of Islam, have been educators of the heart for some fourteen centuries. Their teachings and methods are designed to help us awaken and purify the heart, to learn to listen to our deepest knowing. In The Knowing Heart, Kabir Helminski presents the Sufi way as a practical spirituality suitable for all cultures and times—and offers insights that are especially valuable for our life in today’s world. In cultivating a knowing heart, we learn to experience a new sense of self, transform our relationships, and enhance our creative capacities. Most important, we learn how to meet the spiritual challenge of our time: to realize our sacred humanness.

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Book SynopsisEknath Easwaran taught spiritual living for nearly 40 years and drew deep, ongoing inspiration from the sacred literature of all traditions -- the great river of wisdom that is always flowing throughout the world. The 149 short extracts in this anthology come from the much-loved saints, sages, and scriptures of the Christian, Hindu, Sufi, Jewish, Native American, Buddhist, and Taoist traditions. These passages can be read for daily inspiration, for their insights into other spiritual traditions, for the light they throw on how to live, for the sustenance they offer when we feel sad or tired, and for the deep transformation they can bring in Easwaran's method of passage meditation. Rich supporting material includes stories from India, detailed background notes, suggestions for memorization and for studying the texts in practices such as lectio divina from the Christian tradition, and instruction in using these texts in passage meditation.

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Book SynopsisGnosticism was contemporary to early Christianity and its demise can be traced to Christianity's efforts to silence its teachings. The Gnostic message however was not destroyed but simply went underground. Starting with the first emergence of Gnosticism the author shows how its influence extended from the teachings of neo-Platonists and the magical traditions of the Middle Ages to the beliefs and ideas of the Sufis Jacob Boehme Carl Jung Rudolf Steiner and the Rosicrucians and Freemasons. In the language of spiritual freemasonry Gnosis is the rejected stone necessary for the completion of the Temple a Temple of a new cosmic understanding that today's heirs to Gnosticism continue to strive to create. The Gnostics believed that the universe embodies a ceaseless contest between opposing principles. Terrestrial life exhibits the struggle between good and evil life and death beauty and ugliness and enlightenment and ignorance: Gnosis and Agnosis. The very nature of physical space and time are obstacles to humanity's ability to remember its divine origins and recover its original unity with God. Thus the pre-eminent Gnostic secret is that we are God in potential and the purpose of bona fide Gnostic teaching is to return us to our godlike nature. Tobias Churton is a filmmaker and the founding editor of the magazine Freemasonry Today. He studied theology at Oxford University and created the award-winning documentary series and accompanying book The Gnostics as well as several other films on Christian doctrine mysticism and magical folklore. He lives in England.Trade Review"Recommended for upper-level academic collections that specialize in early Christianity, religion, or philosophy." * Brad Matthies, Butler Univ. Lib., Library Journal, Feb. 1, 2005 *"Exhaustive (but not exhausting) in scope and copiously annotated, [Churton's] work will spice up virtually any reading list of Gnosticism and early Christianity. . . . will pique the interest not only of professional academics but anyone interested in the Gnostics through the centuries." * Publishers Weekly, Jan. 24, 2005 *"Churton separates the wheat from the chaff and disposes of unnecessary speculations and fantasy. To get a good handle on what Gnosticism is really all about (and isn't), a great place to start is with Gnostic Philosophy by Tobias Churton." * Robert Burns, New Dawn, Nov-Dec 2005 *"GET THIS BOOK. This is, quite simply, one of the best books I have read this year. Though I could, with plenty of justification, describe this work as erudite, witty, humorous, profound, engaging, or any of a number of depictions, none of these would convey the sense of validation I got with devouring its pages." * Sven Davisson, Ashe! Journal of Experimental Sexuality, 2005 *"We desperately need a solid historical overview of Gnosticism which is historically credible and yet not too academic to put it out of reach of the average reader and this book is it. To get a good handle on what Gnosticism really is (and isn’t), a great place to start is with Gnostic Philosophy by Tobias Churton." * Living Traditions, May 2007 *Table of ContentsGnostic Philosophy From Ancient Persia to Modern Times Foreword by Christopher McIntosh Acknowledgments Introduction Part one--Antiquity 1--Before the Gnostics Also Sprach Zarathushtra The Wise Lord That Old Devil Time Mithra the Mediator Enter the Demiurge 2--From the Magi to St. Paul Jewish Themes The Anthropos: Man Sophia The Unknown God and the Demiurge Philo of Alexandria The Essenes The Book of Enoch Life at the Dead Sea Jesus Stone Theology Paul 3--The First Gnostics Gnosticism Hans Jonas: The Gnostic Religion The Irresistible Character of Gnosis; or, “The Spirit Is Willing” Being Is Seeing Clement of Alexandria: The Gnosis Truly So-called? Part two--The Middle Ages 4--Magic in the Middle Ages Neoplatonic Theurgy Celestial Hierarchies Light Metaphysics After the Pact Kabbalistic Magic Roger Bacon 5--The Sufis The Insights of Sufism Sufis and Philosophy Maulana Jalal-ud-din Rumi: Sufi Master Interesting Times 6--The Troubadours Prologue: The Two Worlds What Is a Troubadour? Miraval The Ladies in His Life Loba The Rules of Love: Miraval’s Guide to Successful Courtship Was the Fine Love a Spiritual Love? The Allegory of Love Troubadours and Cathars The Last Song The Joy That We Have Lost Creation Is the Product of Pain Were the Troubadours Sexual Mystics? 7--The Knights Templar Templars and Cathars The Templars and the Gral Baphomet Templars in Search of the Stones Kilwinning Conclusion: Gnostics in the Temple? Part three--Enlightenment 8--Jacob Böhme’s Theosophick Cosmos Böhme’s Life Elements of Böhme’s Theosophy The Influence of Jacob Böhme William Law Romantic Philosophy The Neo-Rosicrucians William Blake 9--Germany 1710-1800: The Return of the Rosy Cross The Gold und Rosenkreuzers Masonry in Germany Radicals Under Attack: Gold und Rosenkreuz vs. the Illuminati A Real Rosicrucian King (on the Throne of Prussia) Rosicrucians in Poland Russia The Asiatic Brethren Romanticism 10--Freemasonry in France The Elect Cohens Éliphas Lévi Zahed: A Great Socialist Magician and Occult Revivalist Lévi’s Legacy Magic Revives in France Part Four--The Modern Age 11--A New Aeon: Aleister Crowley Aiwass: Messenger of the Gods The Book of the Law The Crisis Aleister Crowley: Sex Magician Sexual Alchemy 12--Light in the Jar Carl Jung 13--Gnosis and the New Physics The Copenhagen Interpretation 14--Gnosis Today: A Personal View Rudolf Steiner Gnosis and Ecology Neo-Gnostics Cinema Hipgnostics: Popular Music The Arts Notes Bibliography Index

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