Showing results by narrator "Michael Strader" in All Categories

This translation of the Book of Parables comes to us from notable scholar of apocryphal literature R. H. Charles. A new, lengthy introduction has been added, exploring what the Book of Parables is about, offering assistance to the listener.

Arthur Edward Waite examines the classic Legend of San Graal (or the Holy Grail), as it was known in both Great Britain and France. He looks at similarities, writes about Percival, and quotes from Tennyson. He discusses the suppression of the Knights Templar by Pope Clement in 1307. He also looks at what role Christianity plays in all of this. During the course of his exploration, Waite likens the knights' quest for the Holy Grail to the candidate's journey through the initiatory degrees in Freemasonry.

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.

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".

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.

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.

Long ago removed from the Bible, these visions of Enoch are apocalyptic dreams of the end of the world, brought on by the sins of man. The dreams of Enoch contain characteristics that lend themselves to a larger symbolic reading and seem to share the same ancient, cosmographical interpretation of the world, which is outlined in the Book of Genesis. Complete with a brand new introduction and analysis.

The author discusses numerous topics related to physical alchemy, including the practical methods, which the Renaissance alchemists would have used for transmutation of baser metals into gold. He discusses alchemical mercury, calcination, First Matter, creating both vegetable and metallic tinctures, Caput Mortuum, Essential Salt, the Seed in Metals, the quintessence, separation, the Mystical Marriage, ripening the Seed, the White Tincture, uses of the Stone, the Great Work, and other topics.

This is a collection of 13 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. This collection was compiled specifically with the student in mind.

Masonic scholar Manly P. Hall offers some well-researched insights into early human philosophy and history that helped solidify the basis of knowledge for what would eventually become Freemasonry, one day. He covers Freemasonry’s origins in biblical fables, the Dionysiac Architects, Solomon and the personification of Universal Wisdom, and lastly, Freemasonry’s priceless heritage.

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.

Renowned Masonic scholar Albert G. Mackey examines the role Pythagoras has played in our fraternity. He begins by examining old records and the potential origin of how the Masonic name "Peter Gower" became a synonym for Pythagoras. He points to an early Masonic reference of Pythagoras and Hermes, dating to 1450, while at the same time pointing out that many of the much later documents are devoid of his name altogether. From there, Mackey explores the history of Pythagoras and what he may have symbolized to some early masons.

Dating to 1614 and 1615, these are two of the three primary documents which originally announced and helped define who the secret society of Rosicrucians were. These works, written in veiled and alchemical language, outline the true philosophy of RC along with a code of conduct that members are expected to live by. These two pieces have been the subject of serious occult study for centuries since their first appearance.

Leadbeater attempts to answer the age-old question, which all aspirants to the occult sciences ask their teacher: How can I have those powers? He outlines different examples of the steps and the philosophy behind what the student will need to do in order to begin accessing the extraordinary powers they have within. In doing so, he doesn't limit the discussion to simply clairvoyance, but he touches on astral travel and other psychic powers.

Generally, when we hear the word “psalm”, we tend to think of the traditional 150 psalms that collectively comprise the Book of Psalms of the Old Testament. Of those 150 psalms, about half of them are traditionally attributed to David. But, King Solomon is also remembered for being a prolific writer, as the author of numerous biblical books: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Wisdom of Solomon, as well as this one. Presented here are King Solomon's lost 18 psalms that make up this apocryphal book.

Notable esoteric writer and scholar examines the history and symbology of the zodiac. The word zodiac is derived from the Greek zodiakos, which means a circle of animals, or, as some believe, little animals. It is the name given by the old pagan astronomers to a band of fixed stars about sixteen degrees wide, encircling the earth. It is difficult to estimate correctly the profound effect produced upon the religions, philosophies, and sciences of antiquity by the study of the planets, luminaries, and constellations.

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.

The Vision of Enoch the Righteous is largely a forgotten first-century text, not being connected to any of the numbered versions of the Book of Enoch. It is part of a tradition referred to as Apocalyptic Literature. The content of The Vision of Enoch the Righteous alternates between the voice of Enoch and that of a chorus of cherubim, who have descended from heaven, in order to deliver a message to Enoch. Includes a prologue discussing the text.

Over 350 years before the British occultist Aleister Crowley was sitting quietly in a Cairo hotel room receiving the text of his Book of the Law, the famous French renaissance author Francois Rabelais was busy writing the second book of his legendary fantasy quintology Gargantua and Pantagruel, which included the story of the founding of the Abbey of Theleme, wherein but one clause was observed: "Do What Thou Wilt"!

This manual of instruction is for the benefit of Masons who have recently taken their First Degree, and for that of other brethren wishful to understand the purpose and the meaning of the initiation ceremony and to draw aside the veil of allegory and symbolism in which the initiation ceremony is clothed, and to reveal its spirit and subsurface significance.