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ELECBOOK CLASSICS
A Survey of
the Occult
Julian Franklyn, ed.
ISBN 1 84327 087 0
A SURVEY OF
THE OCCULT
Edited by
JULIAN FRANKLYN
with contributions by
DR. F. E. BUDD, Ph.D.
Lecturer in English in the University of London
and
ALASTAIR BAXTER
PREFACE
Contents
(Click on number to go to page)
PREFACE ................................................................................................8
ALCHEMY .............................................................................................14
Etymology.......................................................................................14
Origin of Alchemy..........................................................................14
Physical Aspect of Alchemy.........................................................18
Mystical Aspect of Alchemy .........................................................21
The Alchemists ..................................................................................25
Hermes Trismegetus.....................................................................25
Geber the Arab ..............................................................................26
Michael Scot...................................................................................28
Albertus Magnus ...........................................................................28
Thomas Aquinas............................................................................29
Roger Bacon...................................................................................30
Arnold de Villanova.......................................................................31
Raymond Lully or Raimon Lull ..................................................32
Peter Bonus....................................................................................33
Nicholas Flamel .............................................................................34
Basil Valentine...............................................................................35
Glues de Laval................................................................................36
Bernard Trévisan ..........................................................................37
Sir George Ripley ..........................................................................38
Paracelsus.......................................................................................38
John Dee .........................................................................................41
H. Khunrath ...................................................................................43
10
Michael Sandivogius.....................................................................44
Michael Maier ................................................................................47
J. B. Van Helmont .........................................................................49
J. F. Helvetius ................................................................................51
Thomas Vaughan...........................................................................52
“Eirenaeus Philalethes” ...............................................................53
Robert Boyle (1627-91)..................................................................53
Dr. James Price, F.R.S..................................................................55
Dr. S. H. Emmens..........................................................................55
Was Transmutation Effected?.........................................................56
Modern Alchemy ...........................................................................58
The Elixir of Life............................................................................60
Rejuvenation ..................................................................................62
ASTROLOGY ........................................................................................74
BLACK MAGIC.....................................................................................94
The Knights Templars..................................................................98
Bluebeard .....................................................................................100
Infernal Necromancy ..................................................................103
A Pact with Lucifer .....................................................................106
The Hand of Glory.......................................................................110
Modern Maleficium.....................................................................111
BUDDHIST OCCULTISM ................................................................115
CHINESE OCCULTISM....................................................................126
DEVIL-WORSHIP ..............................................................................140
ENGLISH LITERATURE AND THE OCCULT............................148
Poetry ............................................................................................149
Drama............................................................................................156
11
Prose..............................................................................................160
FAIRIES ...............................................................................................167
GHOSTS...............................................................................................177
HISTORY OF OCCULT IDEAS .......................................................192
Hunger, Birth, Death ..................................................................192
The Mother Cult ..........................................................................196
The Divine Cow ...........................................................................199
The Lunar Cult ............................................................................201
The Solar Cult..............................................................................203
The Book of the Dead .................................................................206
Lord of the Earth.........................................................................210
Abram, Son of Terah...................................................................212
Ishtar and Tammuz.....................................................................214
Divination and Astrology ...........................................................215
Kali, the Black One .....................................................................217
Yoga...............................................................................................220
Bon Pa...........................................................................................222
Kuei Shen .....................................................................................223
The Double Axe ...........................................................................225
Philosophers.................................................................................229
Oracles ..........................................................................................230
“She of the Seven Hills” .............................................................232
The Hammer of Thor..................................................................234
The Melting-Pot...........................................................................236
Hoa-Haka-Nana-Ia ......................................................................240
The Feathered Snake .................................................................243
The Spirit Guide..........................................................................245
ILLUSION AND HALLUCINATION..............................................248
12
13
14
ALCHEMY
Alastair Baxter
Etymology
§ 1. Divergent views are held concerning the etymology of the
term alchemy. According to Sir Walls Budge, the eminent
Egyptologist, it is derived from khemein, an Egyptian word
meaning “the preparation of the black ore or powder” used in
transmutations. Another writer asserts that the art owes its name
to the fact that Egypt was once known as Khem—the country of
dark soil and home of chemistry. To this name was added the
Arabic article at, “the,” and so the hermetical art became known
as al-khem and later to the Western world as alkhemie—a likely
explanation. A third writer claims that “alchemy” has its root in
the Greek word meaning “to pour out” or “mix.” (See especially
Professor Weekley, Etymological Dictionary of Modern English.)
Origin of Alchemy
§ 2. There is abundant evidence to prove that the ancient
Egyptians were thoroughly skilled in the arts of metallurgy,
enamelling, dyeing, and glass-tinting; and were fully conversant
with the use of mercury in the process of separating gold and
silver from the native matrix. Arising out of this process, there was
created an oxide for which one claimed wonderful properties. This
oxide became mystically identified with the god Osiris, and was
regarded with superstitious reverence. In addition to its power of
transmuting base metals into gold or silver, it was said to be a very
potent agent in the healing of all diseases and to have rejuvenating
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Alchemy 15
Alchemy 16
1
Dr. Bhudeb Mookerji, M.A., author of Rasa-Jala-Nidhi: Ocean of Indian
Alchemy.
A Survey of the Occult Elecbook Classics
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Alchemy 17
Alchemy 18
Alchemy 19
1
“Eirenæus Philalethes”—supposed by some writers to be George
Starkey, a reputed alchemist of the 16th century; by others to be Thomas
Vaughan, the mystic.
A Survey of the Occult Elecbook Classics
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Alchemy 20
1
Prof. F. Paneth, non-resident lecturer in chemistry at Cornell
A Survey of the Occult Elecbook Classics
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Alchemy 21
University, U.S.A.
A Survey of the Occult Elecbook Classics
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Alchemy 22
Alchemy 23
Alchemy 24
1
This account is entitled Elixir of Life, although it might be considered as
A Survey of the Occult Elecbook Classics