The Rise and Development of Alchemy
December 28, 2024Mysticism and Occultism: Books Tour to Explore the Unknown
In the long and never-ending journey of human seeking knowledge, mysticism and occultism are like a mysterious and profoundly attractive universe, lurking at the fringes of common cognition. This realm is filled with supernatural phenomena, ultimate inquiries about the essence of the universe and the soul, and numerous wonderful concepts that break the conventional thinking paradigms. They are not only the elaborately crafted spiritual treasures of ancient civilizations but also the hidden ties that span time and space, touching the curiosity and awe deep in the human heart. If you have a heart eager to understand the unknown, the following carefully selected classic works are the perfect guides to lead you into the palace of mysticism.
“The Twelve Houses of the Zodiac”
An In-depth Analysis of Astrology
The author of this book, Howard Sasportas (1948 – 1992), was a pillar of the American astrology community. He not only held a master’s degree in humanistic psychology with a solid academic foundation but also, with his unwavering enthusiasm and dedication to astrology, co-founded the Centre for Psychological Astrology with Liz Greene in 1983.
They gathered astrology enthusiasts and professional scholars, triggering waves of astrology research and discussion, and left behind several influential astrology works, making remarkable contributions to the expansion and deepening of the astrology field.
Opening “The Golden Bough” is like instantly boarding a cultural train that travels back in time, roaring towards the hidden depths of primitive tribes and ancient civilizations around the world, uncovering those belief codes that have been dust-covered for thousands of years and rarely known. At the beginning of the story, the inheritance ceremony of the priest of Diana in Aricia, Italy, makes a shocking appearance with its bloody, cruel, and mysterious posture. At that time, the current priest must be ended by the successor with a sharp blade to complete the power transition and the continuation of the protection of the gods. Behind such seemingly barbaric rules, it actually condenses the earliest and most simple and pure awe of early humans towards the supreme authority of the gods.
As the pages turn, the book ingeniously connects classic mythological stories in diverse cultures such as Adonis, Osiris, and Baldur, deeply analyzing the evolution process of the ancient custom of sacrificing the god-king for a good harvest in different regions and ethnic groups with the trend of unravelling silk from cocoons. It deeply dissects the intricate internal logical connections among the ancient social structure, the thinking mode of the people, and the mysterious sacrificial ceremonies, gradually unfolding a magnificent spiritual scroll of humanity from ignorance and primitiveness, firm belief in magic, devout conversion to religious beliefs, and the difficult march towards the era of rational science.
“The Golden Bough”
A Grand Puzzle of Global Primitive Beliefs
“The Golden Bough” by the Scottish social anthropologist James George Frazer (1854 – 1941) is undoubtedly a foundational and masterpiece in the field of modern mythology and comparative religious studies. Frazer was obsessed with the field exploration and academic sorting of primitive cultures and ancient beliefs around the world throughout his life. His footprints almost covered the corners of global mysterious cultures, accumulating a large amount of precious first-hand materials. This persistence and focus established his unshakable authoritative position in the academic circle early on.
As the pages turn, the book ingeniously connects classic mythological stories in diverse cultures such as Adonis, Osiris, and Baldur, deeply analyzing the evolution process of the ancient custom of sacrificing the god-king for a good harvest in different regions and ethnic groups with the trend of unravelling silk from cocoons. It deeply dissects the intricate internal logical connections among the ancient social structure, the thinking mode of the people, and the mysterious sacrificial ceremonies, gradually unfolding a magnificent spiritual scroll of humanity from ignorance and primitiveness, firm belief in magic, devout conversion to religious beliefs, and the difficult march towards the era of rational science.
“Culture Fashions and History of Regions”
A Delicate Interpretation of the Integration of Mysticism into Daily Life
Mircea Eliade, a master scholar shining in the fields of religious studies and mythology, with his profound insight into the relationship between human spiritual beliefs and secular life, dedicated his entire life to presenting this excellent work to the world. He devoted his life to studying the phenomenon of mysticism in different cultural contexts, traveled far and wide, absorbed multicultural nutrients, and finally became a towering peak in the academic circle.
“Three Stones of Destiny”
The Comprehensive Masterpiece of Traditional Fortune-telling
Wan Minying, a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations during the Ming Dynasty, was undoubtedly a legendary figure in the field of ancient Chinese astrology. As a learned scholar from the imperial examinations, he was not satisfied with the study of orthodox Confucian knowledge but, with a strong curiosity about the unknown field of fate, resolutely devoted himself to the vast ocean of astrology. Relying on his natural intelligence and diligent study, he accumulated knowledge over time and finally became a master. “Three Stones of Destiny” is the brilliant crystallization of his lifelong efforts.
“The Plum Blossom Divination Method”
The Flexible and Wonderful Method of Divination at Will
“The Plum Blossom Divination Method” is said to be written by Shao Yong of the Northern Song Dynasty and is a unique and remarkable work in the history of the development of the Book of Changes. Shao Yong, who had multiple outstanding identities as a philosopher, mathematician, and poet, was obsessed with the study of the Book of Changes throughout his life. Immersed in it, he achieved mastery through a comprehensive understanding and the pioneering theory of congenital learning was like a brilliant star that cut through the night sky, having a profound influence on the development of the Book of Changes in later generations. And “The Plum Blossom Divination Method” is his amazing work that showcases his accumulated wisdom in the study of the Book of Changes.
“The Book of the Dead”
The Mysterious Guide to the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt
“The Book of the Dead” is not the independent creation of a single author but a funeral classic that was passed down and elaborately created by successive generations of priests and literati in ancient Egypt over a long period of time. The priests in ancient Egypt, as the spokespersons of the gods in the mortal world and the absolute leaders of funeral ceremonies, with their most pious and passionate beliefs in life and death and the afterlife, poured all the imaginations and expectations of the society at that time about the destination of the soul and the journey to the underworld into it.
“Mysticism and Logic”
The Philosophical Lens for a Rational Examination of Mysticism
Bertrand Russell, a recognized titan in the fields of philosophy, mathematics, and logic in the United Kingdom, with his extraordinary wisdom and sharp and precise thinking ability, conducts an in-depth analysis of mysticism across boundaries. He was a prolific author throughout his life, pioneering and achieving remarkable results in many academic fields. His ideological light still illuminates the path forward in the academic circle to this day.
