Alchemy · History, symbols & spiritual interpretations
Alchemy
Explore alchemy’s history, the philosopher’s stone, symbolic imagery and spiritual interpretations, with original book passages and scholarly sources.
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Explore Buddhism’s teachings, history, traditions and practices, with sacred art, Buddhist scriptures and original passages from the Lumitheca Library.
Buddhist traditions · Teachings, history & communityExplore Hinduism’s history, scriptures, philosophies, deities, cosmology and living practices, with historical art and exact readings from the Library.
Hindu traditions · Texts, philosophy & practiceAn introduction to Islam’s beliefs, Qur’an, history, worship and major traditions, with clear distinctions between communities and examples of historical art.
Islamic traditions · Scripture, worship & historyExplore Christianity’s origins, Jesus, the Bible, beliefs, churches and worship, with primary-text readings, historical art and clear distinctions between traditions.
Christian traditions · Jesus, scripture & religious lifeExplore Zoroastrianism’s sacred texts, ethical teachings, worship, judgment and renewal, with histories of Iranian, Parsi and diaspora communities.
Zoroastrian traditions · Texts, ethics & living practiceExplore Hermes Trismegistus, the Corpus Hermeticum, divine mind and spiritual rebirth, with the history of Hermetic texts and their later interpretations.
Hermetic traditions · Sacred texts & their receptionUnderstand gnosis, Sophia, the demiurge and the Nag Hammadi writings through distinct ancient texts, their Christian settings and the debate over Gnosticism.
Ancient religious worlds · Knowledge, revelation & salvationExplore Thelema’s understanding of True Will, its sacred text and divine figures, with Aleister Crowley’s history, ritual practice and the distinct roles of O.T.O. and A∴A∴.
Modern esotericism · Will, magick & religious lifeExplore Spiritualism’s beliefs, mediumship, history and churches, with spirit photography and debates about evidence for communication after death.
Modern religious movements · Mediumship & the afterlifeExplore Judaism through covenant, Torah, rabbinic interpretation, Shabbat, festivals, Jewish communities and the relationship between religion and peoplehood.
Covenant, Torah and Jewish lifeExplore Daoism through the Daodejing, Zhuangzi, wuwei, religious lineages, ritual, meditation, alchemy and the changing relationship between people and the Way.
The Way, cultivation and Daoist traditionsExplore Sikhism through Guru Nanak, the Guru Granth Sahib, divine oneness, the Khalsa, langar, the Five Ks and service in everyday life.
The Gurus, divine oneness and serviceExplore Jainism through Mahavira, ahimsa, the soul and karma, the Five Vows, Digambara and Shvetambara traditions, worship and the practice of forgiveness.
Nonviolence, the soul and liberationExplore Shinto through kami, shrines, purification, matsuri, Japanese myths, Ise Jingu and the changing relationship between religion, community and the state.
Kami, shrines and the life of communitiesExplore the Bahá’í Faith through Bahá’u’lláh, progressive revelation, human unity, sacred writings, prayer, the calendar and its elected institutions.
Progressive revelation and the unity of humanityExplore Mandaeism through living water, repeated baptism, the World of Light, John the Baptist, Mandaic scriptures and communities in Iraq, Iran and diaspora.
Living water, knowledge and the World of LightExplore Yazidism through Tawusi Melek, Lalish, sacred oral poetry, community traditions, festivals and the history of the Yazidi people.
The Peacock Angel, Lalish and a living oral traditionExplore Tenrikyo through Nakayama Miki, God the Parent, the Joyous Life, Jiba, the Service, hinokishin and its teachings about the mind and rebirth.
God the Parent and the Joyous LifeExplore Cao Dai through its Vietnamese origins, the Divine Eye, spirit revelation, sacred texts, temple worship, ethical practice and diverse communities.
The Divine Eye and a Vietnamese religion of unityBegin with transformation, its history and its different interpretations.
Alchemy, H. Stanley Redgrove's historical accountMeet the Theosophical setting of Besant and Leadbeater’s book.
Theosophy, Besant and LeadbeaterFollow one author’s account of Kabbalistic correspondences.
Éliphas Lévi, Transcendental Magic56 entries · A–Z
Alchemy · History, symbols & spiritual interpretations
Explore alchemy’s history, the philosopher’s stone, symbolic imagery and spiritual interpretations, with original book passages and scholarly sources.
Éliphas Lévi, Transcendental Magic
Active Intelligence in Lévi’s symbolic scale, balanced by Wisdom and associated with the four Tarot threes.
Buddhist traditions, Nivedita and Coomaraswamy
The Buddha-elect whose long preparation joins sacrifice to the power to enlighten others.
Buddhist traditions · Teachings, history & community
Explore Buddhism’s teachings, history, traditions and practices, with sacred art, Buddhist scriptures and original passages from the Lumitheca Library.
The Divine Eye and a Vietnamese religion of unity
Explore Cao Dai through its Vietnamese origins, the Divine Eye, spirit revelation, sacred texts, temple worship, ethical practice and diverse communities.
Éliphas Lévi, Transcendental Magic
Mercy in Lévi’s symbolic scale: benevolent strength expressed through the benefactions of the four Tarot fours.
Éliphas Lévi, Transcendental Magic
Wisdom in Lévi’s symbolic scale, represented by four rivers and associated with the Tarot’s numbered twos.
Christian traditions · Jesus, scripture & religious life
Explore Christianity’s origins, Jesus, the Bible, beliefs, churches and worship, with primary-text readings, historical art and clear distinctions between traditions.
The Way, cultivation and Daoist traditions
Explore Daoism through the Daodejing, Zhuangzi, wuwei, religious lineages, ritual, meditation, alchemy and the changing relationship between people and the Way.
Indian traditions, Nivedita and Coomaraswamy
The ordering of conduct, expressed through duty and tested through loyalty.
Japanese legends, Davis retelling
The Girls’ Festival and its dolls in Davis’s discussion of children’s observances.
Welsh customs as described by Wirt Sikes
The Easter chair-lifting custom described by Wirt Sikes, with men and women taking turns on successive days.
Japanese legends, Davis retelling
The return and farewell of ancestral spirits in Davis’s festival account.
Éliphas Lévi, Transcendental Magic
Austerity in Lévi’s symbolic scale, joining severity with goodwill and the justice represented by the Tarot fives.
Ancient religious worlds · Knowledge, revelation & salvation
Understand gnosis, Sophia, the demiurge and the Nag Hammadi writings through distinct ancient texts, their Christian settings and the debate over Gnosticism.
Dante, Inferno
The hypocrites’ bright garments conceal a burden that slows every step.
Hermetic traditions · Sacred texts & their reception
Explore Hermes Trismegistus, the Corpus Hermeticum, divine mind and spiritual rebirth, with the history of Hermetic texts and their later interpretations.
Hindu traditions · Texts, philosophy & practice
Explore Hinduism’s history, scriptures, philosophies, deities, cosmology and living practices, with historical art and exact readings from the Library.
Éliphas Lévi, Transcendental Magic
Enduring accomplishment in Lévi’s symbolic scale, linking the triumph of mind over matter with the Tarot eights.
Islamic traditions · Scripture, worship & history
An introduction to Islam’s beliefs, Qur’an, history, worship and major traditions, with clear distinctions between communities and examples of historical art.
Nonviolence, the soul and liberation
Explore Jainism through Mahavira, ahimsa, the soul and karma, the Five Vows, Digambara and Shvetambara traditions, worship and the practice of forgiveness.
Éliphas Lévi, Transcendental Magic
Foundation in Lévi’s symbolic scale, the basis of truth and belief represented by the four Tarot nines.
Covenant, Torah and Jewish life
Explore Judaism through covenant, Torah, rabbinic interpretation, Shabbat, festivals, Jewish communities and the relationship between religion and peoplehood.
Éliphas Lévi, Transcendental Magic
The Crown in Lévi’s symbolic scale, balancing Mercy and Austerity and corresponding to the four Tarot aces.