Tag Archives: apocalypse

The Mysteries

The Mysteries: Rudolf Steiner’s Writings on Spiritual Initiation, selected and introduced by Andrew Welburn, the 1997 hardcover from Floris Books, is part of the collection at the Reading Room.

Andrew Welburn Rudolf Steiner The Mysteries from Floris Books

“Rudolf Steiner wrote and spoke extensively on the lasting value of the ancient Mysteries as an essential source for understanding the Christian experience. His view was that modern rationality did not banish the deeper patterns of spiritual initiation but was rather, in the very foundations of our thought, a transformation of early Mystery structures and processes. We should therefore look to the Mysteries for an illumination of our spiritual, intellectual and religious history as well as for insight into our evolutionary future.

This collection of extracts from Steiner’s books and lectures includes his account of the mystical and mythical patterns of the ancient world, the pre-Socratic and the Platonic philosophers, the initiation Mysteries of Egypt and the Orient, and finally his commentary on the Apocalypse of St. John. Around this collection, Welburn examines the Mystery school against the background of their time, and their relevance to Christianity and the world today.” — flap copy

The Apocalypse

“The Apocalypse” is the theme for the Journal of the Western Mystery Tradition, No 23 Vol 3, Autumnal Equinox 2012, which is now available online. In addition to several interesting articles, including the first of a series of translations of and commentary on writings of the Bavarian Illuminati, there are book reviews for a number of recent publications you may wish to check out.

 


Cover: The Angel of Silence by J. S. Kupperman

 

“This issue of the Journal of the Western Mystery Tradition offers two featured articles. The first of these, The Apocalypticism of Joachim of Fiore and the Western Mystery Tradition, by Dr. William Behun, explores various approaches to apocalyptic literature within the framework of Joachim of Fiore and applies them to the Western Mystery Tradition. In doing so, Dr. Behun advances perspectives on the subject that should prove important to anyone engaged in either the study or practice of the various WMT traditions. The second paper, In Search of the Illuminati: A Light Amidst Darkness by K. M. Hataley is not so much about an apocalypse, but is itself a revelation. This issue marks the first of a series on the Bavarian Illuminati, including not only elements of its history, but, for the first time, English translations of original Illuminati texts!” [via]

The next two issues will focus on Platonism and Eros, respectively, so you may wish to check out the current submissions guidelines and contribute.

The Book of Enoch the Prophet

The Book of Enoch the Prophet is a new edition recently released you might find interesting.

“This new edition of The Book of Enoch, banned by Christian authorities and thought lost for millennia, features a new introduction by bestselling author and expert on mysticism and the occult, Lon Milo DuQuette. ‘The Book of Enoch is important more for what it is rather than for what it says,’ explains DuQuette.’ It could be argued that it, more than any other single document, is responsible for western civilization’s most dangerous and nightmarish neurosis — war in heaven, fallen angels, heaven and hell.”

This superlative translation by noted scholar and theologian R.H. Charles is one of the best and most complete available. An introduction by noted esoteric scholar and antiquarian bookseller, R. A. Gilbert, places The Book of Enoch in historical context and dispels many of the dubious interpretations previously attributed to it.

The Book of Enoch’s vision of the Apocalypse takes a very different view than that of western Christians, although it is part of the biblical canon for Ethiopian and Eretrean Christians. According to Enoch, the wicked shall be cast out and the good will realize a literal heaven on Earth. The prophecies also contain the lost Book of Noah, early references to a messiah as ‘Christ,’ and an accounting of the angels and subsequent creation of demons.” [via]

Hallowed Light

“Hallowed Light” is a recent track by T. Thorn Coyle. This track is being offered on a “name your price” basis, but proceeds from donations go to support the various projects by Solar Cross Temple.

“This is my gift to you, for Winter Solstice. If you wish to make a donation to Solar Cross Temple, know that it will support our projects: prison ministry, winter fuel for native elders and other good ventures!”

 

“We are stars fallen down to earth
Kissed-cold with darkness, burning.
We reckon out each moment from our birth.
Finding new ways to shine.

Band together, earthly ones!
Blend your brightness whole, and sing!
Reclaim the wings of angels, strong,
Bring forth now, the change!

(We are the ones)

We seed the earth,
With hallowed light.
The core burns through
This longest night.

There is no apocalypse to come,
No messiah leads our journey
There is now this chance to turn the wheel,
For sleeping ones to rise!

Band together, earthly ones!
Blend your brightness whole, and sing!
Reclaim the wings of angels, strong,
Bring forth now, the change!

(We are the ones)

We seed the earth,
With hallowed light.
The core burns through
This longest night.

(We are these sleepers, waking from long night.
We are anointed ones who claim this sun
Dawn now. Shine now. Burn brightly. Live.)”