This interesting work by Rudolf Steiner is basically a follow-up to "The Way of Initiation", talking about the chakras, initiation process, the awakening of the serpent fire (Kundalini) and other such topics. It is more heavily Eastern-influenced than many of his latter texts and oratory.
86 pages.
This text is a mid 19th century refutation of some of the contemporary attacks on the Freemasons- especially by Catholic sources. It specifically refutes a half dozen major premises, most notably the concept that members had to swear oaths which were against British law. The Vatican is repeatedly condemned for its near incessant diatribe against secret societies- a phenomenon which, it must be noted, went far beyond merely the Freemasons themselves.
109 pages.
This compiled volume includes nine different works of Theosophy for the purpose of general teaching about it and some of the subtopics of especial note among Theosophists in the earlier stages of the occult orders' existence. I have included a couple of good introductory works (by Judge and Dower) and then fleshed the subject out with additional material which involves a range of discussion; from human evolution, to the occidental-oriental debate, to the topic of vegetarianism and spirituality. The work includes, as always, a lengthy bibliography of additional works and an expansive foreword explaining the content and subject.
Included works:
-Occult Significance of Blood
-Echoes of the Orient
-The Ideals of Theosophy
-The Theosophy of Christ
-Vegetarianism in the Light of Theosophy
-The Roots of Ritualism in Church and Masonry
-The Life After Death and How Theosophy Unveils It
-The Stanzas of Dzyan
-Occultism for Beginners
374 pages.
This short work is a transcribed lecture by Rudolf Steiner, mostly about self awareness and mindfulness and their usage, but also contains a (strangely unrelated) short lecture on the nature of philosophy, especially related to Aristotle. It should be noted that this work comes from a time when Steiner was still a Theosophist, before leaving the movement to form what became Anthoposophy.
79 pages.
This "Temple of the Illuminati" book by Reuben Clymer essentially traces the story of Jesus and interprets it in a mystical manner, labeling Jesus an Essene (which is almost certainly true, if we assume the historicity of this figure) and ruminating on his antipathy towards the Sadducees and Pharisees, among other contemporary movements. It then expounds upon both Judeochristian and Eastern topics, and how practices therein can bring one into better spiritual alignment with the same mystical interpretation of Jesus.
121 pages.
This work is a categorical refutation of Theosophy and its practices from the background of fire and brimstone early 20th century Christian rigor. At times, the specific arguments made are hilarious (that Theosophy causes demon possession via spiritualism- despite seances and the like being generally and repeatedly debunked in both the contemporary and latter sense.) Some of the other arguments make more sense, and it's important to provide a critical counter-balance since I have edited several dozen works by Theosophists themselves. It is half-jokingly dedicated to someone I debated recently, who hates Theosophy but is also a socialist/communist (they are fundamentally the same) even though works like this often attacked Theosophy as well, but also because it was in part derived at times from socialist rhetoric by the likes of Annie besant.
136 pages.
This nice literary edition predominantly describes medical quackery, the persecutions of Salem (and attempts at the same from latter time periods well into the 18th century!) and some interesting supernatural tales involving those who believed themselves demonically troubled or bewitched. I decided to edit this particular work partly as a cautionary tale for occultists not to be too incredulous, and as an amusing look at times of persecution and charlatan medicine which roughly equate to the 2020s. The more things change the more they remain the same!
132 pages.
Leadbeaters' work on the astral plane is an interesting (and sometimes bizarre) work of Theosophy, arranging the plane above normal physical existence into seven levels and detailing the inhabitants therein; there are human souls, the shades of the dead, thought-forms, and even beings loosely pre-defined as elementals or as cryptozoological (such as gnomes and undines.) Devas, and other incarnations above mankind, are taken out of their initial divine or semi-divine role in Eastern lore and are spoken of as being in the higher levels of the astral world. Vampires (in the psychic sense) and werewolves are also mentioned.
100 pages.
This is a second short collection of magic-related poetry by A E Waite. Unlike "Lucasta", which was named after his wife, this collection deviates from the more romantic side of poetry and is slightly melancholic in nature; one of the inclusions here is a sort of short stage play containing interaction between a man and a fairy, and appears to be a symbolic reference to the changing of the seasons and the death which comes with the entrance of winter. As his other poems, it is fairly obviously heavily influenced by mid 19th century romantic-era poetic works.
67 pages.
