In this series of previously-untranslated lectures, Rudolf Steiner describes how myths and legends portray humanity's most ancient evolutionary and spiritual history. Folklore presents ancient mystical wisdom in the form of stories – clothed in pictures by initiates – that enable individuals to understand their content in a more intellectual form at a later time.Focusing on Greek and Germanic mythology, the lectures in the first part of this volume cover the chronicles of Prometheus, Daedalus and Icarus, Parzival and Lohengrin, the Argonauts and the Odyssey, and the heroic dragon-slayer Siegfried. From these focal points, Rudolf Steiner discusses a variety of themes – from the mysteries of the Druids and the founding of Rome to the esoteric background of Wolfram von Eschenbach; from good and evil and the unjust death sentence on Socrates to the significance of marriage..The second part of this book features lectures on the nature and significance of the musical dramas of Richard Wagner. Wagner's works, from his earliest attempts to his most mature opera Parsifal, are discussed from spiritual viewpoints. Although Wagner did not have a fully conscious awareness of the deeper meanings of his compositions, Steiner suggests that his shaping of Germanic legends was driven by an instinctive, creative and artistic certainty that accords with deep occult truths.
Horror Takes Its Time Looking for a thoughtful fright? Or perhaps a frightful thought? Packed with stories selected by one of today’s leading esoteric scholars, this book will do more than make your toes curl and your skin crawl. These tales reveal hidden truths, inspire forbidden pursuits, and divulge the secrets of magical initiation in the guise of fiction. Covering topics from rituals to hauntings to Satanism, this one-of-a-kind volume includes selections from: Aleister CrowleyAmbrose BierceArthur MachenEdgar Allan PoeRobert W. ChambersRalph Adams CramH.P. LovecraftDion FortuneSir Edward George Bulwer-LyttonBram Stoker As DuQuette writes in his introduction, horror takes its time. It creeps in, seeps in, and lingers. These stories will take you hours to read, but they will stay with you, biting at your heels from the shadows, eternally. Don’t say we didn’t warn you...
How does one become—or kill—a werewolf? Where do our modern shapeshifting stories come from? Are werewolves real? In this fascinating book, Konstantinos digs into the centuries-old myths and compelling scientific evidence surrounding these enigmatic beasts of literary and Hollywood fame. Explore four different types of werewolves: involuntary, voluntary, otherdimensional beings, and astral Find out which kinds of werewolves might actually exist Learn about the shapeshifting beliefs of the Quileutes and other Native American tribes Discover lycanthropic legends from cultures all over the world You'll also find true, never-before-published accounts of werewolf sightings and discussions of modern scientific theories that support the existence of these mysterious creatures. Each aspect is investigated, from curses and shamanic vision quests to drug-induced hallucinations and serial-killer werewolves.
Author's summary and summaries of 34 lectures, 1901-1905; with reports on Rudolf Steiner's activity in the "Giordano Bruno Association," 1902 (CW 51) "Steiner's approach was at first a surprise for the students, who had been schooled in Marxist thought and tended to view all spiritual matters as 'byproducts' of material, economic processes. For them, it was questionable whether the spiritual striving of individual human beings could really be a driving force in history. Steiner knew the soul disposition of his students and the 'inexpressibly tragic situation' that the proletariat's intense desire for knowledge had so far been 'satisfied only through the grossest form of materialism.' But the materialistic ideas that had been absorbed by the workers from popular scientific literature and from Marxist writings contained 'partial truths.'" (introduction) Wide-ranging, illuminating, and entirely unique in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works, this volume consists of lectures given at the Worker Education School and at the Independent College in Berlin (along with a lengthy appendix on Steiner's activity in the Giordano Bruno Association). Concerning his teaching activities in the Worker School, Steiner later reflected in his autobiography, "I had to find a completely different way of expressing myself than I had become used to until then" (p. 193). This was due largely to his students' working-class background. Steiner's new approach involved allowing "idealism to arise from materialism." The result was the foundation for what he called "historical symptomatology"--that is, the study of the deeper causes behind history through their symptomatic expression in concrete historical events. This volume is therefore an exceptional resource for anyone interested in Steiner's approach to history. Steiner's lectures at the Independent College, which form part two of the volume, are concerned, on the one hand, with the philosophies of the medieval and early modern mystics--forming a companion to his book Mystics after Modernism (CW 7)--and, on the other, with the remarkable figure of Friedrich Schiller. Speaking on the occasion of the centenary of Schiller's death, Steiner's lectures are a brilliant homage to the great thinker and dramatist, brimming with insights into this extraordinary individual and the significance of his contributions for our time. The appendix contains unique documents outlining Steiner's work in the Giordano Bruno Association for a Unified Worldview. The lively exchange of ideas and Steiner's unique role within the Association are evident in the selected lectures and discussions. This book is a must-read for both long-time students of Steiner's work and newcomers seeking a fresh, enlivened, and enlivening approach to philosophy, history, and literature. On Philosophy, History, and Literature is a translation from German of Uber Philosophie, Geschichte, und Literatur. Darstellungen an der Arbeiterbildungsschule und der Freien Hochschule in Berlin, Zusammenstellung edition, Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach, 1983 (GA 51).
This "compendium of information on the occult sciences, occult personalities, psychic science, demonology, spiritism, and mysticism" was one of a kind when it was first published in 1920 and is still considered the best in its field today. Spence organizes a world's worth of magic -- from "Ab" (a magical month in the ancient Semitic calendar) to "Zulu witch-finders" -- into 2,500 dictionary-style entries that explore concepts and personalities both familiar (Freemasonry, Morgan le Fay) and obscure: palingenesy (a process by which plants or vegetables are destroyed and then "resurrected"), Leonora Galigai (a 17th-century Italian aristocrat who was burned as a witch). A delight for devotees of the weird and the strange, and a valuable resource for students of mythology and the evolution of scientific thought, this important volume is at home in the libraries of all book lovers. Scottish journalist and folklorist LEWIS SPENCE (1874 -1955) was a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, and Vice-President of the Scottish Anthropological and Folklore Society. He published more than 40 works on mythology and the occult, including History of Atlantis, An Introduction to Mythology, and Myth and Ritual in Dance, Game and Rhyme.
"American Indian Myths and Mysteries" is an authoritative and scrupulously researched account of mythology of the Native American - an all-encompassing collection of American Indian legends, truths, and myths. Although much of this ancient heritage has been lost, a great deal has been saved, and there are men and women alive today who remember the lore of their ancestors. This book divides its chapters into two groupings: the Historical Mysteries and the Mystical Mysteries. Section one deals with the origins of the American Indian, artifacts, megaliths, totems, and lost colonies. Section two deals with ritual ceremonies such as the shaking tent, medicine man magic, secrets of the shamans, and other interesting topics. This volume sheds new light on the motivations of Native Americans when faced with a deluge of European settlers. If you love ancient American history, this volume is a must have.Vincent H. Gaddis, the author, is a former newspaperman, perhaps best known for giving the "Bermuda Triangle" its name. He specializes in exploring the borderland between fact and myth. He has published thousands of articles in hundreds of national periodicals, among them True, Argosy, Saga, and Fate. He is the author of seven books on occult and anthropological puzzles, including "Mysterious Fires and Lights," "Invisible Horizons," and "The Curious World of Twins."
Could the Great Pyramid of Giza be a repository of ancient magical knowledge? Or perhaps evidence of a vanished pre–Ice Age civilization? Misinformation and myths have attached themselves to the Egyptian pyramids since ancient Greece and Rome. While many Americans believe that the pyramids were built by aliens, archaeologists understand that the Giza pyramids were built by the pharaohs of the Fourth Dynasty around 2450 BCE. So why is there such a disconnect between scholarly opinion and the popular view of Egypt? In The Legends of the Pyramids, Jason Colavito takes us back to Late Antique Egypt, where the replacement of polytheism with Christianity gave rise to local efforts to rewrite the stories of Egyptian history in the image of the Bible. When the Arab conquest absorbed Egypt into the Islamic community, these stories then passed into Islamic historiography and reentered the West. Colavito's The Legends of the Pyramids lays open pop culture's view of Egypt in movies, TV shows, popular books, and New Age beliefs, detailing how the hidden history of Egypt has grown alongside the official history of archaeology and Egyptology.
Tales of mysterious blood drinkers & life-stealing phantoms have fascinated & terrified people from all over the world for centuries. What is the truth behind the legends of the undead? For the first time ever, here is convincing evidence that vampires really exist- & that the actual truth about vampires is stranger than anything you may have read, heard or dreamed about! Vampires: The Occult Truth contains first-hand accounts of encounters with vampires & vampirism of all types-the ancient undead of folklore, contemporary mortal blood drinkers who believe themselves to be vampires, & the most dangerous of all: psychic vampires who intentionally drain the life force from their victims. Vampires is the first book to consider vampires from an occultists point of view, & to present solid esoteric theories to explain their existence. Youll read case histories of real modern & historical contacts with vampires & victims of vampirism-including those personally encountered by the author himself- & youll learn a simple yet powerful technique that will protect you from attacks by psych.
Prepare to step over to the dark side with this sinister selection of occult stories Have you heard the tale of the black-eyed children? What about the monster that eats your dreams? Do you know about the witches that summon the dead? This spine-chilling compendium of strange and supernatural happenings from across the globe is essential reading, whether you're an occult enthusiast or simply curious. Filled with mind-bending stories of dark magic, terrifying hauntings and unexplained phenomena, the world of the occult has left us fascinated and fearful since ancient times. Spellbinding, mysterious and hidden from view, occult practices offer a way to uncover the secret knowledge of the universe, but beware: some say this knowledge comes at a price... Explore this rich history of magic and intrigue, as well as occult rituals and esoteric philosophies that continue today. Stories of the Occult looks at: - Hauntings - Unexplained deaths - Witchcraft - Mythical creatures and much more. Delve into this book and see what you can discover. By the end, you may not know what to believe!
