I know this isn’t canon (it’s a 1939 manuscript written by Maurice Doreal as an abstraction of the original emerald tablets), but I have found this audiobook invaluable in my Hermetic journey. This has helped cultivate innumerable realizations, epiphanies, & quality visualizations of hermetic wisdom and ancient magickal Egypt.

The ambient noise (binaural perhaps?) & OBE instruction is conducive to immersion and astral projection as well. I find myself relistening to these works time and time again

https://youtu.be/Y1M05sVteW4?feature=shared

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inner-work-guide/episodes/Sustainable-Transmutations-Introduction-Part-3-e2h19a5

At the core of everything, there is – in Hermetic Terminology – a 'Palace' [space] that is a nexus containing both Heaven and Earth or the non-physical and physical reality that maintains and, indeed, is the cause of its emanation and perception.

In Alchemical literature, this 'Palace' is also termed a Quintessence. As I understand it, the Quintessence is a fifth element, the original element, having an unperturbable homeostasis because of the perfectly balanced existence of the four elements within it. Indeed, it gives birth to these four elements and uses them to conceal itself. When the alchemist works in reverse to make a physical analog from the four elements derived from the matter being worked on in his lab to create a seat for the divine presence, it is, for me, analogous to the 'Ark of the Covenant,' a physically tangible place where the spirit of divinity (Shekhinah/Alchemical Arcanum) resides.

So I'm reading Franz Bardon's Initiation into Hermeticism (again...) and really looking for something similar, but easier to apply or do daily. I'm not looking to levitate or do all these crazy stunts. Some book suggestions that have the same foundation but easier practices. Or more books on practical magick for that matter.

Many argue that Hermeticism is a philosophy or a way of thinking, but the same can be said of any religion. In the East, for example, many argue that Shintoism, Cunfucianism and Taoism are philosophies and not religions.
In this sense, Hermeticism is similar to these Eastern beliefs. The main point that separates philosophy from religion is that the latter has unverifiable points. All religions have, to some extent, verifiable points, but at some point, you will come across the supernatural, whose source is impossible to verify.

Something that could be argued is that Hermeticism does not have a central organization, or structured doctrine and followers who act together. But in reality, many organizations such as the Rosicrucian, Martinists, Golden Dawm Astrum Argentum and others have their core in Hermeticism - what happens is that they are highly syncretized with other religions - which is totally compatible with Hermeticism. Buddhism itself has this syncretic element, and is considered a religion by most people.

People thinks of religions by the abrahamic concept of it. People think of religion according to the Abrahamic concept of it. But religion has never been a closed doctrine in itself. Roman religion was highly syncretic.

Finally, I believe that Freemasonry, Theosophy, Rosicrucianism, Martinism and Thelema are the direct successors of hermeticism, just like protestantism came from catholicism- but I'll not elaborate on that, especially because saying that hermeticism is a religion is already controversial enough.

Introduction

The purpose of this post is to summarize my progress as a neophyte hermeticist. It's my hope to provide an example of what one might do right as well as one might do wrong in undertaking this path. Criticism is encouraged.

Part three. Part one can be found here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Hermeticism/comments/18gpye9/beginner_hermeticists_report_1/

Part two can be found here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Hermeticism/comments/19crl4x/beginner_hermeticists_report_2_sleepless_edition/

Derp music

As I don't do short-form posts here, I thought I'd offer a musical selection to help you relax as you skim my ramblings. Enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b_OjkAjF0Q

Study

As before, my main resources are both of Salaman's translations: The Way of Hermes and Asclepius. I'm currently reading at a snail's pace through Lachman's The Quest for Hermes Trismegistus. Once I'm done with that, I'll move on to the other translations.

Currently, academic progress isn't my main focus.

Training

I value training. Right now, I'm training more than I'm studying. That's probably a good thing at this phase.

Training is in two levels: physical and spiritual. I've gotten soft in both. That has to be corrected.

Physical training is just an intensification of my current daily calisthenics practice, a return to my hilariously bad hatha yoga practice, and feeble efforts to get back into some kind of martial arts training. That last point has been an epic tale by itself, and a significant contributor to my recent fury. Short version: there are a lot of schools near me, they're all too expensive, they're all too sketchy, and I don't like their vibe. Self-practice is now on the table.

Spiritual is more relevant. It's also much simpler. I'm putting myself back through the Illuminates of Thanateros' Liber MMM curriculum. Mindcontrol and Dreaming are the hardest (can't dream if you don's sleep, and when you do sleep, your body goes right to delta). It took me longer than I liked to master the motionless part of Mindcontrol, and as I expected, I've slowed down on the breathing part of that practice. Goal is proper pranayama for thirty minutes. I'm currently at crappy pranayama at around sixteen.

I can't properly express how much that lack of performance irks me. But breathing was always the hardest part of MMM for me. I get back pain doing it, and it slows things down.

Practice

Prayers at my still-simple altar every morning: Hermes' Prayer and the Secret Hymn. The good news is I've ceased saying them in a Macho Man Randy Savage imitation. I'm sure God appreciates that.

Banishing rituals twice a day, once before prayers, and once in the evening before Liber MMM. Years of experimentation led me to conclude that the old Gold Dawn stuff is the best, and tolerates minor tweaks well. I do those. Pentagram and hexagram.

Kids these days don't need no stoopid banishing crap. So did a lot of my LHP peers back in the day. And they're all dead or insane, so...

Resistance points

The good news is I've somehow managed to power though most every major resistance point that I described in my previous reports. The solution was simple. I had a simple mantra I used: "Don't think about it and do the fucking work you wannabe hermetic pussy."

Here's an instructional video that I feel encapsulates the mindset:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg

The other good news is I finally realized I need to add the NSFW tag to these kinds of posts. You're welcome. EDIT: seemed unnecessary, looking at it again. Removed the tag.

The bad news is while I've managed to get past my previous resistance points -- except for astrology, fuck astrology -- those issues have been replaced with a pervasive, smouldering, malevolence for all human life.

At first I thought it was just my working out the last of my old LHP stuff. Then I thought I was just getting old and yelling at clouds, then I thought I was just deprived of proper Tex-Mex. None of those proved to be true. Okay, the Tex-Mex part is true, but not the rest of it. Believe it or not, I'm pretty chill AFK, about everything. But I'm turning into this asshole:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK3HGewz_NM

Except, you know, without the ability to fly or resist the freezing cold. I do monologue a lot, tho.

It took years of meditation, fasting, prayers, and hentai before I realized what was going on.

I believe I'm going through some kind of major recalibration of my nature. I believe the Secret Hymn is the main processor for this. It's a wonderful prayer, a masterclass in proper spell design which incorporates both invocation and evocation alongside the connection offered by Hermes' Prayer. This shift in personalty started about the time I mostly memorized the prayer. There were no other variables of note that would account for it.

The malevolence makes sense if one considers my background: what I've survived, the things I've seen, and what I've done to protect myself and others. Monsters of the Id, Jungian Shadow, all of that. I'm familiar. You don't fight your monsters. You hug them and give them headpats.

I grew up around hate. Real, not fictional or political bogeyman, hate. I spent my childhood and early adulthood getting away from it. It doesn's surprise me that this would be lurking around in my subconscious. I've seen what people are really capable of.

I have to be very careful now with my communication, online included.

I'm working on it. I know how. It won't take very long.

I believe this is necessary in order for me to progress.

That's it. Thanks for reading!

What are best books to read to learn more about hermeticism? Is the kybalion the best/breaks down the basics the best?

This is an introductory essay of my observations regarding the depiction of hermetic symbolism in various chapters and verses of Quran.

https://esoteric-islam.blogspot.com/2022/12/03.html

An interesting concept is introduced in Book 1 of the Corpus Hermeticum, where Hermes declares in the Holy Trisagion that God desires to be known and is known by His own (people). It describes a familial connection among seekers on the mystical path of Hermes.

Holy is God the Father of all.
Holy is God whose will is accomplished by his own powers.
Holy is God who wills to be known and is known by those that are his own.

• Book I Corpus Hermeticum (translation Salaman)

In the Holy Trisagion, Hermes asserts that God yearns to be known and is indeed known by His own (people). There is a personal and intimate relationship between the seeker and the divine. The line shows the importance of learning (spiritual) knowledge as understanding is a sacred endeavor, creating not only a bond between you and God but also a bond among those who embark on this mystical journey.

Indeed, those who are able to drink in more of this vision often lose awareness of the body in this most beautiful sight as happened to our ancestors Ouranos and Cronos.

• Book X Corpus Hermeticum (translation Copenhaver)

Throughout Hermetic literature, the familial metaphor is prevalent. Seekers are described as brothers, indicating a bond that transcends earthly relationships and signifies a shared spiritual heritage. The notion of ancestors emphasizes that there is a lineage of wisdom passed down through the ages, connecting you with those who have walked the path before.

This familial imagery shows that there is a shared spiritual lineage and it reinforces the idea that you are not a solitary wanderer but an integral member of a cosmic family united in their pursuit of divine wisdom, uniting individuals on the Hermetic journey, and fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

Being a part of the Family of Hermes goes beyond the mystical and spiritual aspects. As you embark on the mystical journey of Hermes, the concept of the “Family of Hermes” not only implies a shared spiritual kinship but also brings forth a set of tasks and responsibilities akin to those within bloodline families that strengthen the communal fabric and contribute to the collective growth of its members.

Within the Family of Hermes, you are entrusted with the task of preserving and passing on the sacred wisdom acquired on your spiritual journey. This responsibility mirrors the familial duty of passing down traditions and values to future generations. Initiates are akin to stewards of a cosmic legacy, ensuring the continuity of Hermetic knowledge for the benefit of those who follow in their footsteps.

Another important responsibility within the Hermetic family is the guidance and support offered to fellow seekers. In the same way one might turn to a sibling for advice or assistance, members of the Hermetic family are expected to extend a helping hand to their spiritual brethren. This interconnectedness fosters a sense of unity and mutual aid, creating a supportive environment for everyone on the mystical path.

The Family of Hermes emphasizes the importance of cultivating personal virtues and qualities that contribute to the collective well-being. You are encouraged to embody virtues such as wisdom, thankfulness, piety, humbleness, compassion, and integrity, not only for your individual growth but also for the positive influence you bring to the Hermetic community. In this sense, the responsibilities extend beyond personal development to actively contribute to the shared spiritual evolution of the family.

Pursuing Hermetic knowledge requires a commitment to introspection and self-discovery. As you uncover the mysteries of the divine and the cosmos, you are challenged to confront and transcend personal limitations, contributing to the overall elevation of the collective consciousness within the Family of Hermes.

As you progress on the Hermetic path, you become part of a spiritual lineage that stretches beyond the boundaries of time and space. The family of Hermes, bound by a shared quest for divine knowledge, embraces seekers of all backgrounds and experiences, inviting you to join a collective pursuit of divine knowledge, self-improvement, and salvation.

Hi all I'll keep this short. I searched the forum search function and read the faq and didn't see this question answered. I am quite new to this and preparing to begin an extensive deep read of the corpus hermeticum.

My question is for those of you not considering yourselves beginners anymore who might consider yourselves more advanced.

I must heavily preface this by stating that I ask this currently in ignorance as I haven't begun my studies yet beyond just skimming texts: I am diving into this after having been a lifelong seeker of truth in many conventional religions e.g I've ran the gambit from serious Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc. In those realms often we talked about faith being central to our beliefs, and often the proofs that are pointed to are the experiential events that would be interpreted to have been resulting from the religion currently being practiced.

My question for you all further along the path. Do you find this to be true in your practicing hermeticism? Is your proof of hermeticism being true your faith or has this practice showed itself to you in more concrete physical changes or otherwise unexplainable events that might go beyond faith alone?

Thank you for reading this and considering a response.

Much along the same lines as earlier allegorical fiction, I have put together a manuscript which focuses heavily on Rosicrucianism and Hermetic thought. Still, I have tried to make it engaging and a historical fictional novel with actual characters, not just Pilgrim 1, 2, 3 etc.

So firstly, if anyone knows of a reputable publisher who works with these sort of obscure novels? It's never going to be a bestseller, but I feel its worth print.

If not, would self-publishing be an idea and try to get the word out myself?

It has taken a few years to complete and came from the backbone of my Masters thesis.

​

Many Thanks,

ES

I finished The Way of Hermes and enjoyed it, and also really enjoyed imagining how I would feel getting my eyes on such texts if I had been living in Florence back in the 1400s. I underlined a lot in the book. But I think if someone asked me to summarize it I would have a really hard time. It definitely includes some wisdom I have encountered in other traditions, for example (not all these are direct quotes from the book/some are quotes or approximations from other sources) "if you understand/know this then you will have eternal life," "God is in everything," "God is in nothingness," "God is the source," "know thyself," "[you] contain multitudes," "this kind of knowledge is not taught...it is remembered" (hello, Plato!), listen to the music of the spheres "hid in silence," and something along the lines of "be the change" ("if you cannot see what is within, how can God who is Himself within you appear to you through your eyes?" and "Grow to immeasurable size...become eternity").

It doesn't seem wholly consistent with itself and much of it seems to try to put into words something that is ineffable OR can only be understood by those who already understand it ("These things will seem true to you if you understand them, but if you remain ignorant they are beyond belief.") The Wisdom of the Idiots? what are we to do with this information? A few more questions I have: if the mortal body is subject to destiny, does that imply we don't have free will in mortal life? If the thing moving something else needs to be bigger and "of an opposite nature," and the movement of "all living material" arises from "what is within," then...if I move me, from within, what is moving my desires, senses, etc--the things that are the impetus for movement? If it is "bigger and opposite," then I can't define it without defining myself. (?) If man rules over the cosmos by "means of speech," but "speech without Nous" doesn't matter, and "he who busies himself in giving and listening to speeches...is beating the air" then how can you know for sure if your speech has Nous in it? "Devotion with knowledge" seeks after beauty, which is seeking after God, but how do you practice it? I also noticed that "God the Father" is a sort of theme, and the cosmos is "the son of God," which may have been incorporated into Christianity --? If the powers of nature "act through the elements and men through arts and sciences," is education assumed to be important here? There seems to be a theme of eternity being "unchanging identity" while creativity is the "active power" of God (mind and soul), which I like and feel in my own soul, but I wonder if not just ANY kind of speech is good, then is ANY kind of creativity good enough? If "every living creature is immortal" then how can it be "man above all"? Is it possible to be more immortal than immortal? I get that they are saying God talks to people (through dreams by night and through signs by day) but I think I'm having a hard time believing humans are THE best or only ones in this situation. If humans get this kind of treatment, I feel like trees, birds, and mountains might have something going on too? And the planet itself, actually.

​

I like that it seems to joyfully embrace the nature of humanity, and considers humanity's special place in the universe. microcosm and macrocosm, mortal and immortal, with the power of imagination. (i appreciate that it's not sheepishly considering the body to be a "meat prison" or this life to be a big nothing, or humanity to be a terrible curse, or this world a piece of trash, etc... ) I like the idea that the soul, by understanding nature, can "attract" to itself "the intellect of the planetary harmony" but I still ask what it means if "it rules on its reason." I think these texts acknowledge the privilege of life (and death) and I love that about them. "If it seems to you that nothing is a vain work, you will find the work and the craftsman." <-- this might be my favorite takeaway.

Hey guys, I'm Brazilian and apologize in advance for any mistakes in English.

I read all the main books on hermeticism and recently finished Franz Bardon's initiation into hermetics to get started in magic because I identified so much with hermeticism.

I intend to read about other systems, but not at the moment.

I recently started the degree II exercises after completely mastering degree I.

I have a very important test in 3 months and although I'm preparing a lot, I would like to have some help from magic, so I want to make this my first practical magic ritual.

I don't want to rush things but I feel like I'll have to wait 10 years to start doing practical magic, if I follow to the letter the mastery of all the degrees in the book.

I thought about creating a talisman to help with memorization during the test and some kind of ritual to help with understanding the content studied but I don't really know the best way to start and haven't found a better place to resolve this doubt.

If you can help me with this or with your own ideas, I would be very grateful.

Sorry for the big text, the movie comes out next month 🤣🤣🤣

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inner-work-guide/episodes/Sustainable-Transmutations-Introduction-Part-2-e2gmv8f

​

https://preview.redd.it/ojfz0dr07qmc1.jpg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f5d4c2d4ca42309eeb17842f44a4c9fff4759b78

The 53rd chapter of Quran is called “An-Najm”, meaning ‘The Star’. It has the most profound guidelines for human beings to navigate through the astrological zodiac; and it also envelops all the fundamental doctrines of Islam throughout the entirety of its structure. The most fascinating aspect of this design is that it flows with apparently unrelated subjects whilst maintaining a profoundly rhythmic style alongside the underlying context of esoteric symbolism of the twelve astrological signs in such a way so as to represent the metaphorical descriptions successively throughout the progression of its verses; and thereby creating the most beautiful symphony of psychological and spiritual relevance to its readers. It attempts to deliver the most comprehensive moral guidelines through the esoteric undertones of hermetic arts for the growth of human spiritual potential and that indubitably makes it the greatest hallmark of Quran.

https://esoteric-islam.blogspot.com/2022/12/14.html

I mean, I believe that we are an extension of god, and when I hug a tree or see the moon I believe that the essence I am feeling is the essence of god, so would this still be pantheistic as god is this external kind of source ? 🤔 could someone explain god like im five ?

Hi folks,

r/SkepticsBibleStudy is looking to take a deep dive into the text "Thunder: Perfect Mind", and we'd like to invite the Hermetecist community to participate.

"One of the most enigmatic and alluring text in the Nag Hammadi Library is the famed hymn-poem Thunder: Perfect Mind." notes Dr. Justin Sledge in his Esoterica episode on the text, "it defies literary, logical, gender, and theological categories, and revels and vertigo inducing paradox."

Elaine Pagels says, "It's a poem which sees the radiance of the divine in all aspects of human life, from the sordidness of the slums of Cairo or Alexandria, as they would have been, to the people of great wealth, from men to women to slaves. In that poem, the divine appears in every, and the most unexpected, forms."

Thunder is often labelled 'gnostic', along with all of the documents found at Nag Hammadi, but it was bound in Codex VI, along with several texts of profound Hermetic Wisdom. We'd like to get as many perspectives as we can, and are looking forward to the insights that the Hermeticism community will bring.

If you're interested in sharing your thoughts and engaging in this text with other thoughtful readers, please leave a comment over at the introductory post: Thunder, Perfect Mind. If enough folks are interested, I'll start posting a few passages at a time, and we can each share our insights and perspectives.

Guys I’m looking for books on Hermes and his philosophy. I’m a beginner but Im convinced his philosophy is way deeper than the average person thinks, and are very applicable to life.

So people knowledgable on the subject what are the 3 books that you think would have the most impact on someone’s life? Imagine someone can only read 3 books for the rest of their lives, what would they be?

I have always been very spiritually connected but have not found any one philosophy or religion that aligns with the depth of understanding my journey has allowed me to have. Or at least believe that I have.

Reddit has been an amazing place for finding information on that journey. That said, most people in the communities I have found are aggressively evangelical atheists and shut down any discussion of a creator. I want it to be known that I have no issue with and have a healthy respect for atheism and atheists. My issue was with closed minds. Those exist all over the spectrum of philosophies and beliefs.

While I understand and completely agree with the dissolution of faith in traditional religious paradigms and structures, I feel that silencing the discussion totally is throwing out the baby out with the bath water, so to speak. From the admittedly little I know, Hermeticism as an ideal and this community seem to be more open in that regard. I hope that you all prove me right.

With all of that said, I am interested in exploring hermeticism in a very open and unbiased way, and would love to hear your recommendations for literature or rabbit hole subtopics. Preferably rabbit hole topics so I can process the information in bite sizes, and because I am lysdexic and long reads are very difficult for me.

TLDR; Hi I’m new here and am on a quest for knowledge and willing to find it any place it exists. Recommendations welcome!

PS: If I used the flair wrong or this type of post isn’t allowed, please let me know. I am human and, as such, I am prone to mistakes.

It’s a very conspiratorial concept but it seems that most ancient hermetics were weary of this organization. Any thoughts are appreciated.

Hello!

I have been reading Compendium of The Emerald Tablets by Billy Carson and have quickly become disenchanted with the way a lot of the very “out there” information is presented as fact with little to no explanation or evidence. I would skim and find an example but I’m sure some of you in here have read into this book a bit and have reached a similar conclusion… A relative but more glaring concern for me is that this is all based almost entirely on the accounts of Dr. Doreal, which are without a doubt questionable at the very least. Now for me, that may all be good and well so long as the author is forthcoming about the apparent lack of evidence (“plot holes” feels more appropriate) backing his claims. He does not however provide and such clarification and instead chooses to glaze over the fact that this entire book is predicated on the words of someone whose accounts are again very questionable to me. This makes me hesitant to read any further into the book so as to not internalize bad information/false wisdom that was potentially created to deceive or even to serve Doreal’s ego.

Anyways, being that this was my first dive into any sort of “hermetic” literature and it feels like a swing and a miss, I was hoping someone in here could give me a solid recommendation to at least a decent starting point for this sort of thing (hermetic wisdom and more specifically it’s history). I feel very drawn to this and have for a long time, but the extent of my research up until now has sadly been YouTube, podcasts, and now this book. I know there is good literature out there and also know that there is a lot of bad information and actors in and around these subjects, so I figured this is as good a place as any to find someone who has already weeded out some of the bs so that I don’t have to waste time and money.

Thanks everyone and sorry if this was a bit wordy for a simple request for recommendations. Maybe I just needed to vent. Maybe I just need my $30 plus shipping back…