Posted on by Kyle Roques

Hellenistic Gifts

When the Greeks came to dominate Egypt and the Middle East it created a cosmopolitan environment that synthesized Egyptian and Middle East religion with Greek rationalism, leading to groups of mystical philosophies known as Neoplatonist. It also led to a series of mystical texts known as the Hermetic texts, containing works on alchemy, magic, astrology, and philosophy – collectively called the Hermetica. Hermetic philosophy became a major influence on all Western magical practices and mystical traditions. Neoplatonism, alchemy, Kabbalah, Sufism, mystical Christianity and occultism, including the Tarot are all affected by this influence.

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Ancient Astrology

Astrology is based on the idea that the soul departs from Heaven, which is above the stars, through one of the constellations of the zodiac and then descends through the planets to live in a body on Earth. At each planet the god of that sphere clothes the soul in certain qualities that become its personality. This is the origin of the list of the seven virtues and seven vices. Effectively the planets function as a ladder or stairway to earth and as personal emanations or steps in every person’s individual creation. Through a complex system of correspondences between the planets and colors, metals, herbs and other objects on Earth, magicians can make use of the powers of the planetary gods in their magical practice.

Robert M. Place
Posted on by Kyle Roques

THE TAROT, MAGIC, ALCHEMY, HERMETICISM, & NEOPLATONISM

An almost 700 page book with roughly 300 illustrations, a scholarly work. I got this book and his 5th edition tarot deck to help reinforce alchemical concepts and symbolism. I’m currently going through and meditating on my Knapp-Hall deck so it’ll be a while before I get to a study of Robert’s alchemy deck. The information in this book I’m sure will enhance my intuition and deepen understanding in reading the Knapp-Hall deck.