The Secrets of Alchemy


Lawrence M. Principe - 2012
    Though the history of alchemy is intricately linked to the history of chemistry, alchemy has nonetheless often been dismissed as the realm of myth and magic, or fraud and pseudoscience. And while its themes and ideas persist in some expected and unexpected places, from the Philosophers’ (or Sorcerer’s) Stone of Harry Potter to the self-help mantra of transformation, there has not been a serious, accessible, and up-to-date look at the complete history and influence of alchemy until now.In The Secrets of Alchemy, Lawrence M. Principe, one of the world’s leading authorities on the subject, brings alchemy out of the shadows and restores it to its important place in human history and culture. By surveying what alchemy was and how it began, developed, and overlapped with a range of ideas and pursuits, Principe illuminates the practice. He vividly depicts the place of alchemy during its heyday in early modern Europe, and then explores how alchemy has fit into wider views of the cosmos and humanity, touching on its enduring place in literature, fine art, theater, and religion as well as its recent acceptance as a serious subject of study for historians of science. In addition, he introduces the reader to some of the most fascinating alchemists, such as Zosimos and Basil Valentine, whose lives dot alchemy’s long reign from the third century and down to the present day. Through his exploration of alchemists and their times, Principe pieces together closely guarded clues from obscure and fragmented texts to reveal alchemy’s secrets, and—most exciting for budding alchemists—uses them to recreate many of the most famous recipes in his lab, including those for the “glass of antimony” and “philosophers’ tree.” This unique approach brings the reader closer to the actual work of alchemy than any other book.A concise but illuminating history, The Secrets of Alchemy is written for anyone drawn to the alchemical arts, those who are fascinated by the science as well as the fantastic stories and mysterious practitioners.

New View Over Atlantis: The Essential Guide to Megalithic Science, Earth Mysteries, and Sacred Geometry


John Michell - 1983
    This unrivaled introduction to megalithic science, earth mysteries, and sacred geometry was expanded and updated in The New View Over Atlantis in 1983. Now available in a fresh new package this classic, seminal work offers an impressive body of evidence and arguments to support the theory that at one time, many thousands of years ago, there was a worldwide, highly sophisticated civilization that Plato referred to as Atlantis. Michell, one of the premier esoteric writers of the 20th century, reveals that ancient stone monuments and earthworks found around the globe are not randomly strewn, but are a well-executed system of psychic centers connected worldwide and used by the people of Atlantis. Michell also demonstrates the significant modern discovery of "leys," a mysterious network of straight lines that link the ancient places around the world. He carefully and thoroughly documents the research that points to these ancient sites as places of high magic.

The Satanic Bible


Anton Szandor LaVey - 1969
    It is a collection of essays, observations and rituals, and outlines LaVey's Satanic ideology. It contains the core principles of the Church of Satan and is considered the foundation of the philosophy and dogma that constitute LaVeyan Satanism.

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot


Rachel Pollack - 1980
    Described by many as ‘the Bible of Tarot readers’, the books brought awareness of myth and modern psychology to the Tarot’s ancient esoteric symbolism. Now, for the first time, the texts for 'The Major Arcana' and 'The Minor Arcana' appear in one volume. To mark this special occasion, Rachel Pollack has revised and updated the book in the light of her thirty years’ teaching, reading, and writing about Tarot cards. She has also written a new preface describing her own journey through the Tarot’s world of symbols.The Tarot is an eternally fascinating set of strange and beautiful pictures. But beyond this lies a world of potent symbols granting access to a path of self knowledge, personal growth and freedom. These symbols connect us to the great stories of world mythology and the eternal truths of the soul. 'Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom'shows you how to use Tarot as an effective and accessible means of self-enlightenment. The book includes a complete section on how to give Tarot readings, as well as an analysis of the origins, meaning and psychological aspects of Tarot divination.

Meditation and the Bible


Aryeh Kaplan - 1978
    First English translation from ancient unpublished manuscripts, with commentary.

Genesis Revisited


Zecharia Sitchin - 1990
    . . or Knowledge of the Ancients? Space travel . . . Genetic engineering . . . Computer science . . . Astounding achievements as new as tomorrow. But stunning recent evidence proves that as these ultramodern advances were known to our forfathers millions of yrsterdays ago . . . as early as 3,000 years before the birth of Christ!In this remarkable companion volume to his landmark EARTH CHRONICLES series, author Zecharia Sitchin reexamines the teachings of the ancients in the light of mankind's latest scientific discoveries -- and uncovers breathtaking, never-before-revealed facts that challenge long-held, conventional beliefs about our planet and our species.

The Masonic Myth: Unlocking the Truth About the Symbols, the Secret Rites, and the History of Freemasonry


Jay Kinney - 2009
    A nonfiction look at the mysterious and wrongly maligned ancient society that plays a major role in The Lost Symbol, the new novel by Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code), Kinney’s The Masonic Myth debunks the myths as it reveals the truth about the Freemasons, their history, and their secret symbols and rituals—a truth that is far more fascinating than all the conspiracy theories combined.

Abrahadabra: Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thelemic Magick


Rodney Orpheus - 1995
    And yet Thelemic Magick, separate from Crowley's admittedly polarizing exploits and personality, remains one of the most effective and well-documented systems of ritual magick available to modern spiritual seekers. Rodney Orpheus does a remarkable job presenting this magical system in a way that will have even neophytes practicing magick—and more importantly, understanding it—in no time. Abrahadabra covers the meditation, ritual, and philosophy that form the foundation of magical study in a fun and casual style and balances this theory with hands-on exercises. Abrahadabra is an excellent introduction to Crowley's form of magick, and it presents a workable system of magick for anyone interested in "The Science and Art of causing Change in accordance with the Will."

Magickal Servitors: Create Your Own Spirits to Attract Pleasure, Power and Prosperity


Damon Brand - 2016
    Magick can make people see you in a new light, protect you, end bad luck, open new opportunities, and direct change in whatever way you want. If you have a need, it can be served through magick With servitor magick you create a spirit yourself, using your mind, heart and soul, to serve your deepest needs. This is the most personal magick imaginable, and it can reward you with extreme pleasure, the power to create change, and the ability to attract prosperity in all areas of your life. Everything that could be said about servitors has been said. Until now. Servitor magick has been around for a long time, but it became popular in the last half-century or so. There are countless Chaos Magick books and free websites that will tell you how to create a servitor. There are a small number of variations on a theme, but the essence of these sources is the same. Magickal Servitors contains two major secrets discovered by The Gallery of Magick, which are embedded within the fabric of this process. This magick is designed to be accessible to beginners as well as experienced occultists. If you are new to magick, all you need is an open mind and the willingness to work with the techniques as instructed. You will be pleasantly surprised by the way the world yields to the touch of magick. You will discover: Spirits that are easy to contact and effortless to command. Servitors that grow and change with your needs. Magick for long-term, repeating results. Servitors for Self-Development, that help you enhance or subdue a personality trait. Perception Servitors, to see people and situations clearly. Servitors of influence, to stir thoughts and feelings in others. Manifestation Servitors for material rewards and real-world change. The secret process of Vision, Creation and Life that gives birth to a loyal, powerful spirit. Acclaimed author Damon Brand say, ‘With the secrets of practical magick, you create your life according to your true will. There is no higher magick than the magick that brings results.’ This book presents a system for creating servitors that will enable you to craft a conscious spirit that will act on your behalf, manipulating matter, time and the patterns of reality to bring the results you desire.

The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards


Alejandro Jodorowsky - 2004
    The Tarot is first and foremost a powerful instrument of self-knowledge and a representation of the structure of the soul. The Way of Tarot shows that the entire deck is structured like a temple, or a mandala, which is both an image of the world and a representation of the divine. The authors use the sacred art of the original Marseille Tarot--created during a time of religious tolerance in the 11th century--to reconnect with the roots of the Tarot’s Western esoteric wisdom. They explain that the Tarot is a “nomadic cathedral” whose parts--the 78 cards or “arcana”--should always be viewed with an awareness of the whole structure. This understanding is essential to fully grasp the Tarot’s hermetic symbolism. The authors explore the secret associations behind the hierarchy of the cards and the correspondences between the suits and energies within human beings. Each description of the Major Arcana includes key word summaries, symbolic meanings, traditional interpretations, and a section where the card speaks for itself. Jodorowsky and Costa then take the art of reading the Tarot to a depth never before possible. Using their work with Tarology, a new psychological approach that uses the symbolism and optical language of the Tarot to create a mirror image of the personality, they offer a powerful tool for self-realization, creativity, and healing.

Blood Brothers: Austin Conrad Action-Adventure Thrillers Book 1


Dusty Sharp - 2018
    A gut-wrenching revelation. Loyalty, brotherhood, and honor will be tested to the breaking point. Austin Conrad is a study in contradictions. A decorated war hero turned jaded enforcer for a ruthless outlaw motorcycle club, the honor he once had is jolted back to the surface with a devastating discovery about the club he called home. Can this hardened criminal look the other way, or will honor drive a wedge between him and the brotherhood that embraced him? Blood Brothers is the gripping prequel to author Dusty Sharp’s acclaimed Austin Conrad series. Warning: contains violence, profanity and irreverence, in equal measure.

Grimoires: A History of Magic Books


Owen Davies - 2009
    In Grimoires: A History of Magic Books, Owen Davies illuminates the many fascinating forms these recondite books have taken and exactly what these books held. At their most benign, these repositories of forbidden knowledge revealed how to make powerful talismans and protective amulets, and provided charms and conjurations for healing illness, finding love, and warding off evil. But other books promised the power to control innocent victims, even to call up the devil. Davies traces the history of this remarkably resilient and adaptable genre, from the ancient Middle East to modern America, offering a new perspective on the fundamental developments of western civilization over the past two thousand years. Grimoires shows the influence magic and magical writing has had on the cultures of the world, richly demonstrating the role they have played in the spread of Christianity, the growth of literacy, and the influence of western traditions from colonial times to the present.

Life Is a Soap Bubble: 100 Ways to Look at Life


Osho - 2013
    Life Is a Soap Bubble is among the few written statements available from enlightened masters or mystics. Lao Tzu's statements of the Tao Te Ching came into being only at the end of his life. In the same way, Osho's books are transcriptions of his daily talks. This book is a precious collection of 100 letters written by Osho and mailed to a Yoga Sohan at her meditation camp. Osho promised her that he would send her a letter every day and that she should keep them so they could be published one day. This collection of thoughts provides an essential road map to those who feel that there must be something more to life and are ready to explore other dimensions of being. These short passages are full of diverse, pertinent gems that will touch the heart.

A Bridge To Light , A Study in Masonic Ritual & Philosophy


Rex R. Hutchens - 1985
    A discussion of the themes in Albert Pike's Morals and Dogma.

Horoscope Symbols


Robert Hand - 1981
    Horoscope Symbols takes the beginner beyond cookbook interpretations to genuine insight, beyond superficial keywords to the fundamental principles that underlie astrology, beyond overemphasis on signs to the primacy of planets and angles. Although Hand assumes little prior knowledge of astrology, the more you know, the more you will get out of this book. Hand takes the expert beyond the fatalism of tradition to a deep understanding of the role of personal choice in the life of the individual, beyond fortune telling to the true source of human experience.