Hermes Trismegistus (the thrice-great Hermes) is the blending of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. This writing attributed to Hermes Tristmegistus is the record of a conversation between the goddess Isis and her son Horus, that explains the traditional belief that the Egyptian Gods came from the heavens, being sent to Earth by the Father of all to bring about civilization.

In presenting the "Virgin of the World," which with my "Hargrave Jennings" Edition of the "Divine Pymander," now so much in repute and demand, are the text books of Hermetic thought, it is no act of supererogation to gratefully acknowledge my appreciation of the valued services of all associated with me in the privileged task of once again reviving those priceless writings of that "Master Initiate," "Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus;" (to be shortly supplemented by the Third Volume, or "Golden Treatise concerning the Physical Secret of the Philosopher's Stone, in seven sections," esteemed one of the best and oldest pieces of Alchemical Philosophy extant; comprising, in epitome, the whole Art, and secret method of its confection, with corroborative annotations from Fludd, Behmem, Vaughan, &c.

IF, therefore, they be Mystic Books, they ought also to have a Mystic Consideration. But the Fault of most Writers lieth in this, that they distinguish not between the Books of Moses the Prophet, and those Books which are of an historical Nature. And this is the more surprising because not a few of such Critics have rightly discerned the esoteric Character, if not indeed the true Interpretation, of the Story of Eden; yet have they not applied to the Remainder of the Allegory the same Method which they found to fit the Beginning; but so soon as they are over the earlier Stanzas of the Poem, they would have the Rest of it to be of another Nature.

This important Hermetic dialogue, the 'Virgin of the World' was very nearly lost to the mankind. It appears in only one book, a 5th century AD anthology of classical texts, collated by Johannes Stobaeus of Macedonia for his son Septimius. 'The Virgin of the World' describes a dialogue between the goddess Isis and her son Horus, in which she explains the origin of the Egyptian "gods," and how they were sent from the heavens to bring civilization to humanity. The book is replete with Egyptian god-names, and eulogises Egypt as a type of earthly paradise, "free from trouble," all of which argues for a very early provenance, relatively free from Judaic and Greek influence. Internal evidence points to the 5th century BC - almost 2,500 years ago - making 'The Virgin of the World' the earliest Hermetic document that we possess.

The Hermetic Kabbalah of Anna Kingsford, The Credo of Christendom & other addresses and essays on Esoteric Christianity, by Anna Kingsford and Edward Maitland represented for the 21st century enquirer. In 1883 Anna Kingsford was made President of the Theosophical Society, promoted a Western, Christian and Hermetic Esotericism. She claimed to receive mystical insights in trance states and sleep, she was an advocate of women's rights anti-vivisection & vegetarianism. Mahatma Gandhi is said to have sold her books.

Subjects covered: Anatomy and Physiology; Natural Habits; Chemistry; Stimulating Effects of Flesh Food; Alcoholism; Social considerations, etc.

Contents: Biographical Preface; The Credo of Christendom; The Hermetic Fragment Kore Kosmou, the Virgin of the World; The Method of the Mystics; Karma; Bible Hermeneutics; Violationism or Sorcery in Science; The Systematisation and Application of Psychic Truth; The Constitution of Man; Concerning Reincarnation; The Doctrine of Shells; Extraneous Spirits and Obsession; The Historic "Jesus"; Fate, Heredity, and Reincarnation; The Mystic Kings of the East; Christian Mysticism; Animals and their Souls; The Trinity; Index.

Revised and Enlarged Edition. This is the most quoted book in Blavatsky's Secret Doctrine. Lecture 1, "The purpose of this book is to supply the existing need of a perfect system of thought and life by one founded in the nature of existence. This not a new invention, but a recovery of the original system which was the basis of all religions. Its recovery due to the same means by which it was originally received, namely, the Intuition, which represents the knowledges acquired by the Soul in its past existences. Lecture 2, The Soul; and the Substance of Existence; Lecture 3, The Various Orders of Spirits; and How to Discern them; Lecture 4, The Atonement; Lecture 5, The Nature and Constitution of the Ego; Lecture 6, The Fall; Lecture 7, The Fall No. 2; Lecture 8, The Redemption; Lecture 9, God as the Lord; or, The Divine Image; Concerning the Interpretation of Scripture; Concerning the Hereafter; On Prophesying; Concerning the Nature of Sin; Concerning the Great Work and the share of Christ Jesus Therein; The Time of the End; Higher Alchemy; Revelation; The One Life; The Mysteries; Hymn to the Planet-God; Hymn of Aphrodite; Hymn to Hermes; Secret of Satan.