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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Alternative belief systems > Syncretist & eclectic religions & belief systems > General
Korda's famous photograph of Che Guevara titled the "Guerrillero
Heroico" has been reproduced, modified and remixed countless times
since it was taken on March 5, 1960, in Havana, Cuba. This book
looks again at this well-known mass-produced image to explore how
an image can take on cultural force in diverse parts of the globe
and legitimate varying positions and mass action in unexpected
global political contexts. Analytically, the book develops a
comparative analysis of how images become attached to a range of
meanings that are absolutely inseparable from their contexts of
use. Addressing the need for a fluid and responsive approach to the
study of visual meaning-making, this book relies on multiple
methodologies such as semiotics, research-creation, multimodal
discourse analysis, ethnography and phenomenology. Each method has
something to offer toward the understanding of the social and
cultural work of images in our global cultures.
Especially since the Renaissance, some in Western Christendom have
suspected that the deeper dimension of their tradition has somehow
been lost, and have therefore sought to discover, or create, an
'esoteric' or 'initiatic' Christianity. In the middle of the
nineteenth century two scholars, Gabriele Rossetti and Eugne Aroux,
pointed to certain esoteric meanings in the work of Dante
Alighieri, notably The Divine Comedy. Partly based on their
scholarship, Gunon in 1925 published The Esoterism of Dante. From
the theses of Rosetti and Aroux, Gunon retains only those elements
that prove the existence of such hidden meanings; but he also makes
clear that esoterism is not 'heresy' and that a doctrine reserved
for an elite can be superimposed on the teaching given the faithful
without standing in opposition to it. One of Ren Gunon's lifelong
quests was to discover, or revive, the esoteric, initiatory
dimension of the Christian tradition. In the present volume, along
with its companion volume Insights into Christian Esoterism (which
includes the separate study Saint Bernard), Gunon undertakes to
establish that the three parts of The Divine Comedy represent the
stages of initiatic realization, exploring the parallels between
the symbolism of the Commedia and that of Freemasonry,
Rosicrucianism, and Christian Hermeticism, and illustrating Dante's
knowledge of traditional sciences unknown to the moderns: the
sciences of numbers, of cosmic cycles, and of sacred astrology. In
these works Gunon also touches on the all-important question of
medieval esoterism and discusses the role of sacred languages and
the principle of initiation in the Christian tradition, as well as
such esoteric Christian themes and organizations as the Holy Grail,
the Guardians of the Holy Land, the Sacred Heart, the Fedeli
d'Amore and the 'Courts of Love', and the Secret Language of Dante.
In addition to Dante, various other paths toward a possible
Christian esoterism have been explored by many investigators-the
legend of the Holy Grail, the Knights Templars, the tradition of
Courtly Love, Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, and Christian
Hermeticism-and Gunon deals with all of these in the present volume
as well as his Insights into Christian Esoterism. In the latter,
one chapter in particular, 'Christianity and Initiation', will be
of special interest with regard to the history of the
Traditionalist School. When first published as an article, it gave
rise to some controversy because Gunon here reaffirmed his denial
of the efficacy of the Christian sacraments as rites of initiation,
a point of divergence between the teachings of Gunon and those of
other key perennialist thinkers. Both The Esoterism of Dante and
Insights into Christian Esoterism will be of inestimable value to
all who are struggling to come to terms with the fullness of the
Christian tradition.
'We have shown how in the course of time the being who was present
in Elijah appeared again at the most important moments of human
evolution on Earth - appeared again so that Christ Jesus Himself
could give him the initiation he was to receive for the evolution
of mankind. For the being of Elijah reappeared in Lazarus-John -
who are in truth one and the same figure ...' Thus spoke Rudolf
Steiner in his 'Last Address' to members of the Anthroposophical
Society. This was his first and only indication of the connection
between John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. As Prokofieff
points out, Steiner intended to develop and bring to full clarity
the short comment reproduced above, but his terminal illness
prevented him from doing so. In this brief but enlightening
booklet, Sergei O. Prokofieff addresses the mystery of the 'two
Johns', solving many unanswered questions. In particular, he throws
light on issues of 'incarnation and incorporation', the nature of
John the Baptist's and John the Evangelist's respective
initiations, the significance of their mutual work at the 'Turning
Point of Time', and its relevance to our present day.
Rudolf Steiner is perhaps best known for his influence and wisdom in the fields of education, agriculture, medicine, science, and art. It is often forgotten that it was as a spiritual teacher that he made these contributions. Unfortunately, while his immediate students had the advantage of Steiner as a personal guide to their inner lives, later readers have had only his written works to guide them. Steiner, however, did give a few lectures on inner development -- especially on beginning a path of practice. This book now collects these lectures -- some of which have never been in English -- for the first time. It also contains a number of the basic meditations and exercises shared by Steiner with his students. Here readers will find descriptions of various practical exercises, including exercises for the moral qualities that students must develop, and for the various qualities of consciousness that inner development requires. This book is not only for beginners. Wherever you are on the path, this book will be your companion.
Existence is a constant reminder, according to Osho; one just needs
to be sensitive and alert to pick up the messages. The selected
quotes in one of Osho's most accessible books create an urgency
very much in tune with a growing worldwide awareness that
everything is not right with humanity and our beautiful planet
Earth. These powerful meditations cover a wide range of subjects
including love, death, friendship, and hate; together they remind
us that we have only one moment in our hands, and that we must live
it or leave it unlived.
"Do what thou wilt." Written in the early twentieth century, the
four books contained within this collection make up one of the most
complete and groundbreaking works on the practice of magick ever
written. They are considered to be the masterpiece of occultist,
magician and philosopher Aleister Crowley and the core texts for
the religion of Thelema. Their influence on alternative western
thought and philosophy cannot be exaggerated. Also known as Book
Four, or Liber ABA, the four parts bring together many rituals,
received texts, theorems and unequalled insights into the practice
of magick, culminating in The Book of the Law, the central, sacred
text dictated to Crowley by a preternatural entity. Anyone
interested in yoga, ceremonial magic, esoteric thought, invocation,
divination and beyond, or those looking to delve into the
fascinating, playful and illuminating writings of a unique man,
will find inspiration. For the first time, one of the world's
leading experts on Western esoteric traditions and magic, Dr.
Stephen Skinner, introduces the text, sharing his insights into
Crowley's take on yoga, ceremonial magick and Thelema. His long
involvement with magick, both as an academic and as a practitioner,
enabled Dr. Skinner to highlight the differences between the
psychological and the spirit-orientated approaches to magick, and
to show how that dilemma shaped Crowley's practice and his founding
of Thelema, enlightening the reader to many previously unknown
connections.
In the beginning was the word, and...you know the rest. Not like
this you don't. In a new twist on a classic tale, Tom Carver
re-imagines the Old Testament without the leading character. The
Newer, More English Version takes an erudite look at the supporting
players of the Pentateuch, with no Jehovah to steal the show.
What's left is a varied cast of egomaniacs, revolutionaries, war
criminals, genii and perverts: Joseph, smug careerist and part-time
psychoanalyst; Moses, a revolutionary firebrand who just wants to
belong; Abraham, the world's first and greatest global branding
strategist; and one very strange tree...
An overview essay and approximately 50 alphabetically arranged
reference entries explore the background and significance of
atheism and agnosticism in modern society. This is the age of
atheism and agnosticism. The number of people living without
religious belief and practice is quickly and dramatically rising.
Some experts call nonreligion, after Christianity and Islam, the
third largest "religion" in the world today. Understanding the
origins, history, variations, and impact of atheism and agnosticism
is crucial to getting a grasp of the meaning of the present and
gaining a glimpse of the future. Exploring some of the most
extraordinary people, events, and ideas of all time, this book
provides a fair, comprehensive, and engaging survey of all aspects
of contemporary atheism and agnosticism. An overview essay
discusses the background and social and political contexts of
unbelief, while a timeline highlights key events. Some 50
alphabetically arranged reference entries follow, with each
providing fundamental, objective information about particular
topics along with cross-references and suggestions for further
reading. The volume closes with an annotated bibliography of the
most important resources on atheism and agnosticism. An overview
essay surveys the background and significance of atheism and
agnosticism in today's world A timeline highlights key events in
the history of atheism and agnosticism Some 50 alphabetically
arranged reference entries provide essential information about
important topics related to atheism and agnosticism An annotated
bibliography cites and assesses the most important broad resources
on atheism and agnosticism
'The contents of this volume have arisen from my own spiritual
experience, and do not represent any kind of hypothesis or
speculation, except where I expressly say that I am unable to make
any definitive statement about a particular event or set of
circumstances...'After she received the stigmata in 2004, Judith
von Halle began vividly to experience the events that occurred at
the time of Christ. These continuing experiences are not visionary
or clairvoyant in nature, but constitute an actual participation,
involving all human senses, in the events themselves. To complement
this method of witnessing Christ's life, von Halle applies a
spiritual-scientific mode of observation - a form of research based
on a fully conscious crossing of the spiritual threshold by the
human 'I' (or self). Combining the results, she describes here, in
her most powerful book to date, the secrets connected to particular
events of Christ's Passion. Von Halle discusses the Mystery of
Golgotha in its relationship to the formation of the Resurrection
Body; the Mystery of the Spear-Wound in Christ's side and the Grail
Blood; and how Christ's Seven Words on the Cross relate to the
Stations of the Cross.
Valentin Tomberg was for many years a strong proponent of the
science of spirit, anthroposophy, founded by Rudolf Steiner. He
became prominent as a lecturer and writer, but in 1945 turned away
from anthroposophy and converted to Roman Catholicism, authoring
two influential Catholic texts. Nevertheless, a number of Tomberg's
modern-day followers have maintained that he remained faithful to
esoteric Christianity and Rudolf Steiner. In this revealing booklet
Prokofieff presents startling new research, which at the very least
shows the above hypothesis to be misguided. His key evidence is the
text of a letter, reproduced in its entirety, handwritten by
Tomberg in 1970, which demonstrates the full extent of his
condemnation and dismissal of his former spiritual path and
teacher.
Prokofieff draws on the whole extent of Rudolf Steiner's work and
combines it with his own original spiritual research to form an
intricate picture of the cosmic forces at play between Christmas
and Epiphany. We are led on a tour through the circle of the zodiac
and spiritual hierarchies, and shown how they form a path from
Jesus to Christ. The author further explains that the Starry Script
is a key to anthroposophical Christology, and shows how it relates
to the conception of the First Goetheanum. Prokofieff guides us
imaginatively through the interior of Steiner's architectural
masterpiece, destroyed by fire in 1922, whose structure and
decorations are seen to constitute a coherent esoteric map. Our
task now, he suggests, is to build the First Goetheanum in
ourselves and, through a new schooling of the self, strive for a
truly modern path of initiation. Supplementary essays focus on the
cosmic aspects of Sophia as well as the being of Michael.
Prokofieff's seminal study offers a rich source of inspiration for
those wishing to penetrate the mysteries of the Twelve Holy Nights
and their relation to spiritual beings.
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