Showing results by narrator "Michael Strader" in All Categories

Esoteric scholar Manly P. Hall covers a lot of areas relating to the ancient mysteries, including common roots in religious and ritual practices, the practices of the Druids and how they relate to Masonry, the rites of Mithras, Simon Magus and the Gnostics, Abraxas, the Egyptian Serapis, the Odinic mysteries and how they compare, the rites of Eleusis, the Orphic mysteries, Bacchus, Dionysos, and much more.

The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ, also commonly referred to as The Infancy Gospel of Thomas (not to be confused with the apocryphal book simply called the Gospel of Thomas), dates to AD 185 and tells stories of the early events in the life of Christ, including miracles; although, also included are stories depicting the childhood Jesus behaving less sacredly than one might expect, which may be exactly the reason why the infancy gospels were never considered canon by the Church.

Famed writer Manly P. Hall explores the symbolism of the most famous Master of the Builders. He continues to delve into the Hiramic legend and how it connects with other cultures and similar myths. He examines the name Hiram as compared to the name CHiram and looks at the esoteric meaning behind the Hebrew letters, which compose the name. He examines the role of the three ruffians and shows examples of the three men as symbols in other myths.

Leadbeater addresses the sorrow, grief, and despair we all sometimes experience in this mortal coil, especially when someone close to us has passed beyond the veil. He explains how our mourning for those who have transitioned beyond a terrestrial life affects those who now exist in spirit form. As well, before we can understand their position there, we must first understand our own here.

This is a collection of 26 essays on a variety of theosophical, spiritual and esoteric subjects by some of the most notable and prominent names in the history of theosophy. Compiled specifically with the student in mind.

Waite covers a lot of esoteric territory in this work, from mysticism, to alchemy to the Kabbalah, with a spattering of Latin throughout, for those wishing to brush up. The overall theme here being the search for personal adeptship, to which Waite proclaims, "Lift up your eyes." This is the advice that Brother Waite gives the zealous aspirant who may be seeking the secret tradition or the hidden college of the Rosicrucians.

This is a collection of 21 essays on a variety of occult-themed topics, covering the full spectrum of classic esoteric and related subjects, which include Hermeticism, alchemy, magic, the Kabbalah, ancient wisdom and philosophy, the Tarot, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, Theosophy, and spiritualism, by some of the most notable and prominent names in the history of those subjects.

Famed masonic scholar Albert G Mackey discusses some deeper symbolism and lesser known masonic lore.

Karl von Eckhartshausen was an 18th-century German mystic. The Cloud upon the Sanctuary is Christian mysticism veiled in hermetic code and often considered a classic among Rosicrucians and Theosophists. Eckhartshausen was briefly a member of Adam Weishaupt's Bavarian Illuminati but left for spiritual reasons. In this work, he cryptically mentions a "society of the Elect" that has existed from the very beginning of time as "the invisible celestial Church".

The Book of Astronomical Secrets, sometimes translated with the title of the Book of the Courses of the Heavenly Luminaries, dates between the third and second century BC. It is the oldest of the collected Enoch texts and comes to us from notable scholar of apocryphal literature, R.H. Charles.

This is a collection of 14 essays on a variety of occult-themed topics, covering the full spectrum of classic esoterica and related subjects, which include hermeticism, alchemy, magic, the Kabbalah, ancient wisdom and philosophy, the Tarot, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, Theosophy, and spiritualism, by some of the most notable and prominent names in the history of those subjects.

The content of this piece covers Enoch's journey through the multiple heavens, meeting the angels Gabriel and Michael, Enoch instructing Methuselah and his other sons on moral and ethical lessons, which he had written out in 366 books and which he eventually passes on to Methuselah and his other sons, so that his teachings wouldn't be lost and finally, Enoch's eventual assumption into heaven. This is essentially the sequel to the fabled Book of Enoch.

Famed esoteric scholar Manly P. Hall examines the origins and evolution of Qabbalism and the role of the Sepher Yetzirah in a wonderful and insightful essay. He also offers a fantastic, simplified, and unique translation of the Sepher Yetzirah, the Book of Formation, for which he consulted nine separate translations in four languages (English, German, Hebrew and Latin) in order to assemble the most accurate modern representation of this classic, Qabbalistic text.

Arthur Edward Waite was a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and cocreator of probably the most famous and commonly used tarot deck. He was also a prolific writer and a prominent Freemason. In this short discourse he examined the symbolism of our often-ignored second degree.

Notable masonic and esoteric writer A. E. Waite left behind a treasure trove of writings and translations. Included here are some of his varied essays.

Manly P. Hall explores the secret purpose of the great pyramid and examines the anatomy of this massive structure’s architecture.

The oldest, the most profound, the most universal of all symbols is the human body. The Greeks, Persians, Egyptians, and Hindus considered a philosophical analysis of man's triune nature to be an indispensable part of ethical and religious training. The mysteries of every nation taught that the laws, elements, and powers of the universe were epitomized in the human constitution, that everything which existed outside of man had its analogue within man.

Prolific writer and influential member of the Theosophical Society, Charles Leadbeater enlightens seekers on the law of divine justice, karma and chance. Written for students of Theosophy.

Member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and co-creator of probably the most famous and most commonly used tarot deck, Arthur Edward Waite was also a prolific writer and prominent Freemason. Here he looks into the trio of Blue Lodge degrees and the initiatory arc of birth, life, and death associated with those degrees. He looks at the history of these types of initiations in the ancient world, as well as how they relate to the candidate, and asks the listener to consider if Freemasonry even has a place in this type of initiation cycle.

Notable French esoteric writer and occultist, Eliphas Levi, left behind numerous hints for the diligent student who may be seeking out communication with and travel across the astral plane. Here, his thoughts on the subject, culled from dozens of sources, have been collected together for students of the esoteric sciences.