Although more than fifty years old, this book possesses the rare attribute of being as youthful and actual today as it was when first written. This is because "Initiations" offers something to the sincere and earnest seeker, which is so hard to find in the enormous quantity of literature about human spiritual and occult endeavors, in the striving for the solution to the burning problems of inner life. It has been possible only because the author of "Initiations" really lived through everything he describes in such a fascinating way. This urges the reader to attempt the Path for himself, which is by no means impossible, for that Path is utterly independent of any outer conditions, such as race, age, worldly position, family ties, and so on. It remains open to everyone who has the eyes to see and the ears to hear. The book explains in the simplest way, but one which reaches into the ultimate depths of the human soul, all the problems dealing with modern and ancient occult philosophy and spiritual searching, as well as social and political conundrums of this and probably also future periods. It is translated from the french by the noted hermeticist and mystic Mouni Sadhu.

A classic text on esoteric traditional herbalism from one of the most influential herbalists of the Paris occult revival * Includes a dictionary of nearly 300 magical plants with descriptions of each plant's scientific name, common names, elemental qualities, ruling planets, and zodiacal signatures, with commentary on medico-magical properties and uses * Explores methods of phytotherapy and plant magic, including the Paracelsian "transplantation of diseases," ritual pacts with trees, the secret ingredients of witches' ointments, and the composition of magical philters * Explains the occult secrets of phytogenesis, plant physiology, and plant physiognomy (classification of plants according to the doctrine of signatures) Merging the scientific discipline of botany with ancient, medieval, and Renaissance traditions of occult herbalism, this seminal guide was first published in French in 1902 as a textbook for students of Papus's Ecole hermetique and sparked a revival in the study of magical herbalism in early twentieth-century France. Author Paul Sedir, pseudonym of Yvon Le Loup (1871-1926), explains the occult secrets of phytogenesis (the esoteric origin and evolutionary development of the plant kingdom), plant physiology (the occult anatomy of plants), and plant physiognomy (classification of plants according to the doctrine of signatures). Unveiling the mysteries behind planetary and zodiacal attributions, he provides readers with the keys to make their own informed determinations of the astral properties of plants. Moving from theory into practice, Sedir explores various methods of phytotherapy and plant magic, including the Paracelsian "transplantation of diseases," the secret ingredients of witches' ointments, and the composition of magical philters. In the third section of the book, Sedir offers a dictionary of magical plants that covers nearly 300 plant species with descriptions of their astral signatures, occult properties, and medico-magical uses. Compiled from an array of rare sources and esoterica, this classic text includes a wealth of additional materials and supplemental charts and diagrams drawn from Sedir's occult colleagues, all of whom adopted and expanded upon Sedir's pioneering system of plant correspondences.

Paul Sedir was one of the most important figures of the late 19th century occult renaissance in France, and yet he remains very little known in the English-speaking world. Born Yvon Le Loup in 1871, the young Breton moved to Paris and took up occultism as a teenager under the patronage of Papus (Gerard Encausse). Blessed with an exceptional memory and intuition, he embraced a diversity of paths and quickly rose through the ranks of a wide range of esoteric fraternities, authoring a number of books. From his home in Montmartre he held weekly open discussions on occultism and was well known for his exceptional knowledge and powerful presence. In later life, a significant mystical encounter led him to resign from his occult activities and focus solely on a Christian mystical path. Adopting the name Sedir (an anagram of 'desir'), he began writing his important work Initiations around 1901, and expanded it gradually over the following twenty-five years until his death in 1926. It follows the 'initiations', both occult and mystical, of a Paris doctor and his strange friend Andreas, nuanced by the enigmatic background presence of Theophane, the true healer. Presented in a deceptively simple narrative form, it distils and encodes a lifetime's esoteric and mystical knowledge in a way which serves as a very real initiation for the perceptive reader. Gareth Knight brings the benefit of 60 years' experience in practical occultism to this new translation of Sedir's work. He has translated a number of French esoteric texts, as well as being a renowned author in his own right.

La preghiera, compresa nella sua vera dignita, e un desiderio al Cielo e una conversazione con Dio. E una Grazia e una fonte di Grazie; e un seme nelle terre dell'eternita, un'opera piu preziosa di tutti i capolavori, piu grande del mondo, piu potente, si potrebbe asserire, di Dio stesso. Non essere sorpreso e seguimi. Lascia i regni dialettici della ragione, adesso siamo nelle foreste lussureggianti dell'Amore. Silenzia l'intelligenza; apri le finestre del cuore; contempla gli infiniti campi delle colline eterne. Affinche sia possibile renderli visibili! Due movimenti si verificano nella preghiera. Il desiderio si umilia, si nobilita e si rifugia nella divina misericordia: la quale e lo stesso Cristo; la Grazia gli risponde, si sforza e si lascia divorare da esso. Questi due elementi sono la forma mistica della fede; e piu il desiderio affonda nell'abisso dell'umilta, piu attrae la Grazia; piu il nostro cuore e alimentato come una fiamma e con maggior forza il Verbo si sviluppa in profondita dentro di noi.

Quest'opera di Paul Sedir sullo yoga (una tra le prime in assoluto comparse in Europa) viene qui presentata per la prima volta in forma accettabile, con il testo francese a fronte. Sia il testo originale che la traduzione sono stati infatti accuratamente rivisti e corretti (ed ampiamente annotati) da Dario Chioli, dopo che per piu di cent'anni hanno circolato in edizioni piene di errori tipografici e di traduzione. Con cio si e voluto onorare la memoria di un ricercatore sincero che - gia appassionato occultista, amico di Papus e di Stanislas de Guaita nonche autore di un celebre libro sui Rosacroce - dopo l'incontro con il taumaturgo Maitre Philippe di Lione, elaboro una nuova visione del mondo piu misticamente caratterizzata. Questo libro riporta alcune tradizioni e fonti altrimenti poco note sia in Italia che in Francia ed e tra i primi testi in cui, sulla scorta di Louis Jacolliot e Saint-Yves d'Alveydre, ben prima di Guenon, si fa cenno alle tradizioni relative ad Agarttha.