Saturday, June 18, 2005

The Symbolism Of The Tarot

The Symbolism Of The Tarot Cover

Book: The Symbolism Of The Tarot by Pyotr Demianovich Ouspenskii

Born in 1878, Pyotr Demianovich Ouspenskii in Moscow, Russia, Ouspensky was to become one of the most influential philosophers of his day. Somewhere along the way, he developed an interest in the Tarot, as have many philosophers down through the centuries, and wrote this book of Tarot Meditations. As are all of the books in this series, The Symbolism of the Tarot has become an old classic and is often quoted in books on Tarot and the occult (hidden) down to the present day. I have faithfully copied this book in its original content.

You will see many words spelled in turn of the 20th century English spellings, and a few out-and-out misspellings. In the interest of giving you the book in its original content, I’ve made no attempt to edit it in any way. This is the way it was written and this is the way I’m giving it to you.

WHAT IS THE TAROT?

“No study of occult philosophy is possible without an acquaintance with symbolism, for if the words occultism and symbolism are correctly used, they mean almost one and the same thing. Symbolism cannot be learned as one learns to build bridges or speak a foreign language, and for the interpretation of symbols a special cast of mind is necessary; in addition to knowledge, special faculties, the power of creative thought and a developed imagination are required. One who understands the use of symbolism in the arts, knows, in a general way, what is meant by occult symbolism. But even then a special training of the mind is necessary, in order to comprehend the "language of the Initiates", and to express in this language the intuitions as they arise.” P. D. Ouspensky

The entire basis of Tarot is in its symbols and how they interact with the mind. This book is how they interacted with the mind of P. D. Ouspensky! It will make an invaluable addition to your Tarot-study collection !

Download Pyotr Demianovich Ouspenskii's eBook: The Symbolism Of The Tarot

Downloadable books (free):

Robert Wang - The Qabalistic Tarot
Aleister Crowley - The Soul Of The Desert
Max Heindel - The Message Of The Stars
Pyotr Demianovich Ouspenskii - The Symbolism Of The Tarot

Thoth The Hermes Of Egypt

Thoth The Hermes Of Egypt Cover

Book: Thoth The Hermes Of Egypt by Patrick Boylan

1922. The purpose of this essay is to indicate the chief tendencies of ancient Egyptian speculation in regard to the god Thoth. Taking as the basis of his work a fairly complete examination of the chief references to the god in Egyptian literature and ritual, the author has tried to distinguish the more important phases of Thoth's character as they were conceived by the Egyptians, and to show how these aspects, or phases, of his being help to explain the various activities which are assigned to him in the Egyptian legends of the gods and in the ritual of tombs and temples.

Thoth was considered one of the more important deities of the Egyptian pantheon. In art, he was often depicted as a man with the head of an ibis or a baboon; these animals were sacred to him. His feminine counterpart was Seshat.[2] His chief shrine was located in the city of Khmun[3], later renamed Hermopolis Magna during the Greco-Roman era (in reference to him through the Hellenic Greeks' interpretation that he was the same as their god Hermes) and Eshmunen in the Coptic rendering. In that city, he led the local pantheon of the region known as the Ogdoad, and its eight principal deities. He also had numerous shrines within the cities of Abydos, Hesert, Urit, Per-Ab, Rekhui, Ta-ur, Sep, Hat, Pselket, Talmsis, Antcha-Mutet, Bah, Amen-heri-ab, and Ta-kens.

He was often considered as the heart, which, according to the ancient Egyptians, is the seat of intelligence or the mind, and tongue of the sun god Ra; as well as the means by which Ra's will was translated into speech. He had also been related to the Logos of Plato and the mind of God (see The All). In the Egyptian mythology, he has played many vital and prominent roles in maintaining the universe, including being one of the two deities (the other being Ma'at) who stood on either side of Ra's boat. Later in ancient Egyptian history, Thoth became heavily associated with the arbitration of godly disputes, the arts of magic, the system of writing, the development of science, and the judgment of the dead.

Taking as the basis of his work a fairly complete examination of the chief references to the god in Egyptian literature and ritual, the author has tried to distinguish the more important phases of Thoth s character as they were con ceived by the Egyptians, and to show how these aspects, or phases, of his being help to explain the various activities which are assigned to him in the Egyptian legends of the gods, and in the ritual of tombs and temples. An attempt has been made, in many instances, to discover the simple concrete meaning which often underlies characteristic epithets of the god, and the need of seeking groupings among epi thets which can in any way be associated with well-defined activities or aspects of the god has been emphasised.

Download Patrick Boylan's eBook: Thoth The Hermes Of Egypt

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Patrick Boylan - Thoth The Hermes Of Egypt.pdf

Saturday, June 4, 2005

Full Moon Names And Their Meanings

Full Moon Names And Their Meanings Cover Many names associated with the Full Moon are derived from the early Native American tribes of the United States. Back in the time when many lived free off the land, they kept track of the seasons by allocating meaningful names to each of the monthly Full Moons. The names they chose were often closely associated with daily life and nature. Later variations in their names occurred when European settlers arrived and stole their lands, adding different names to suit their own circumstances.

January - Wolf Moon

Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, quite often wolf packs would roam and howl hungrily outside Indian villages, and so the full moon in January became known as the Wolf Moon. Later other names associated with January were added, such like: the Old Moon, the Winter Moon, the Ice Moon, the Cold Moon and the Moon After Yule.

February - Snow Moon

Since the heaviest snows fell during this month, native tribes of the north called the February full moon the Snow Moon. Other tribes referred to it as the Hunger Moon, since the harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult. Other names associated with the February full moon include: the Trapper's Moon, the Opening Buds Moon and the Quickening Moon.

March - Worm Moon

The Full Moon in March lends itself to a variety of names. As temperatures begin to warm and the ground began to thaw, earthworms appeared bringing the return of the Robin. The more northerly tribes called it the Crow Moon after the cawing of crows signalled the end of winter, they Also Called it the Crust Moon after the snow became crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon and Maple Sugar Moon marks the time when Maple trees were tapped to provide sugar. To the European settlers it was known as the Lenten Moon. While it was considered to be the last full moon of winter, weather could still be temperamental and so to some it was known as the Storm Moon. Chaste Moon???

April - Pink Moon

The Pink Moon was named after “moss pink” (Phlox subulata), a native flower to North America and one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Other names for the April full moon are the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Wind Moon and the Frog Moon. Among coastal tribes it was also known as the Fish Moon, because this was the time that the Shad fish swam upstream to spawn.

May - Flower Moon

In most areas by the time May arrives flowers are abundant everywhere, so its not surprising that the full moon should take this name. Other names for the May full moon include: the Budding Moon, the Corn Planting Moon, the Milk Moon and the Egg Moon.

June - Strawberry Moon

The Strawberry Moon name was use by most of the native Algonquin tribes of North America, and known because the strawberry had a relatively short harvesting season that began in the month of June. Other names for the full moon in June are: the Rose Moon and the Strong Moon. Dyad Moon???

July - Buck Moon

July was the month when the new antlers of buck deer begin to show as they grew out from their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It was also known as the Thunder Moon due to the frequency of thunderstorms that appear at this time, due to which it was also called the Blessing Moon. Another name associated with the July full moon is the Hay Moon. Mead Moon???

August - Sturgeon Moon

The fishing tribes of the Algonquin before their decimation by the Iroquois and the League of Five Nations are given credit for the naming the Sturgeon Moon. Sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water are particularly abundant and most readily caught during this month. To other tribes it was known as the Red Moon because as it rises, it appears reddish through the sultry heat haze. In both Europe and America it was also called: the Corn Moon, the Grain Moon and the Fruit Moon.

September - Harvest Moon

This is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox. In two years out of three, the Harvest Moon appears in September, but in some years even as late as October. At the peak of harvest time, farmers often work late into the night aided by the light of the Harvest Moon (see below for more).

October - Hunter’s Moon

As summer leads into autumn and the leaves begin to fall, once the harvest is in attention is turned to the animals and the hunt is on. By this time the deer have fattened and since the fields have been cleared, the hunters can easily see the game as animals come out to glean. As well as the being known as the Hunter’s Moon, other names for the full moon in October are: the Falling Leaves Moon and the Blood Moon.

November - Beaver Moon

In November to ensure a good supply of warm winter furs, beaver traps are set before the waters of the swamps freeze over, at which time beavers are plentiful and actively about as they prepare for their own winter in hibernation. Other names for the full moon in November are: the Frosty Moon and the Mourning Moon.

December - Cold Moon

It’s easy to see how the full moon in December gets it name the Cold Moon, as during this month the winter cold deepens its grip. Likewise the nights are at they’re longest and darkest during this month, so too the full moon became known as the Long Nights Moon. Naturally enough being in December, it is also called the Moon before Yule.

New Moon/Dark Moon.

The Dark Moon occurs between the last day of the waning moon and the beginning of the waxing moon, vis-a-vis for the New Moon. Each New and Dark moon has the power of in-between, a time that is not a time, similar to midday and midnight etc. When working with New and Dark Moon magick, you should start the active part of the rite a good 45 minutes before either moon reaches its peak, as their energies can be erratic. Also the waning moon allows you to calm down and tune out.

Blue Moon

The Blue Moon is always the 2nd full moon in the same month, and occurs on average once every two and a half years. Because this happens fairly infrequently, it has resulted in the Expression "once in a blue moon. Historically the Blue Moon was considered unlucky and a real nuisance, for when it occurs it upsets the normal scheduling of festivals. In love songs the Blue Moon is often associated with sadness and loneliness.

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Wednesday, June 1, 2005

The Inner Temple Of Witchcraft Magick Meditation And Psychic Development

The Inner Temple Of Witchcraft Magick Meditation And Psychic Development Cover

Book: The Inner Temple Of Witchcraft Magick Meditation And Psychic Development by Christopher Penczak

The Inner Temple of Witchcraft is a thorough course of education, introspection, meditation, and the development of the magickal and psychic abilities that are the birthright of the witch. Four introductory chapters present the history, traditions, and principles of witchcraft, followed by thirteen lessons that start with basic meditation techniques and culminate in a self-initiation ceremony equivalent to the first-degree level of traditional coven-based witchcraft.

This book's non-dogmatic presentation encourages an eclectic, personal approach while providing a strong foundation for the practice of witchcraft and magick. Develop your psychic abilities and practice potent magickal techniques as you explore the source of every witch's power--the temple within.

These two new titles from Llewellyn focus on witchcraft, or Wicca, a cluster of religious rituals and beliefs deriving from ancient European polytheisms or paganisms. The author of seven books on witchcraft, Grimassi is a practicing Italian witch (a strega) who has researched the history and theory of witchcraft back to antiquity, with a view to recovering and preserving teachings and lore. As a result, the book is primarily a historical study of various European Witchcraft traditions. Even when considering magickal techniques for the focusing of natural power or discussing methods of psychic development, the author takes pains to cover their historical development. While Grimassi's book will appeal more to scholars of religion, Penczak's book will appeal to believers and interested casual readers. An active witch and teacher of modern neo-Paganism, Penczak teaches classes (mainly in New England) on witchcraft and various other New Age practices such as reiki, shamanic journeying, and past-life regression. His book aims at using Wiccan techniques (generally termed "Magick") to aid in personal growth. Accordingly, after a brief history and some basic theory of Wiccan spirituality comprising four chapters, there follow 13 lesson-chapters on techniques of spiritual growth, each followed by appropriate exercises. A minor criticism: some of the material discussed, while probably hermetic or occult in origin, is not ordinarily considered Wiccan but pertains to other religious traditions. Astral travel, for instance, is more often a feature of Shamanism, while chakras are a part of yoga. Both books provide a useful introduction to Modern Witchcraft and are recommended for both academic and public libraries, particularly those with substantial religion collections.

As you progress through this year-and-a-day course of study, you will explore a wide range of topics that support and inform the dedicated witch:

- Ancient and modern magickal philosophy
- Modern scientific theories supporting a new definition of reality
- "Instant" magick techniques for protection, healing, and serenity
- Energy work and anatomy, including chakras and auras
- Astral travel, dreams, and spirit guides
- Healing techniques for body, mind, and spirit

Unlike most beginner books on Witchcraft, this book does not focus on spells, tools, or celebrating the wheel of the year (Sabbats). It is all to often that student of the Craft go straight to traditional spellwork without understanding how or why it works. The author insists that students who have not experienced energy or psychic powers, the "foundation stones or magick", will have a less profound experience in ritual. Instead this book focuses on the journey within, psychic development, meditation, and magick.

The book starts out with four introductory chapters that gives basic definitions of the word "witch", such as the healer and Walker Between worlds. It describes Witchcraft as an art, science, and spirituality and describes the ancient history and modern traditions of Witchcraft. The rest of the book is divided into 13 lessons along with exercises, meditations, and homework to go along with "a year and a day" study course. Lesson topics include meditation, ancient philosophy, magickal theory, protection, astral projection, light, energy anatomy (chakras, auras, etc.), spirit guides, and healing.

In my opinion, The Inner Temple of Witchcraft is an extraordinary text. Christopher Penczak's eclectic approach and personal experience makes this book a pleasure to read. When reading a book on Witchcraft, what's better than one written by an experienced minister and practitioner of the Craft.

This book makes me feel better knowing that I'm not the only one who can't figure out what it really is to "visualize your intent" right off the bat. It eases you into a meditative practice, visualization, affirmations, healing, chakra work, etc. He presents the skills as progressive lessons so the format is easy to follow. All the other magic 101 books say that magical skill comes with practice, but once again, this book is much more useful. Instead of just saying that you should practice, Penczak actually lists homework at the end of each lesson.


Buy Christopher Penczak's book: The Inner Temple Of Witchcraft Magick Meditation And Psychic Development

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