Masonry is permeated with powerful symbolism-both verbal and pictorial-that arouses the mental, spiritual, and intellectual life of those who use them. This extremely interesting study, once limited to 150 copies, gives the correct spelling of, and analyzes all the "significant words" (pass words, etc.) in, the Scottish Rite from the 1st through 30th degrees inclusive. In addition to being an etymological dictionary Pike explains why...
The Little Flowers is a traditional collection of tales of St. Francis, divided into 53 short chapters, which was composed at the end of the 14th century. It relates many colourful anecdotes, miracles and pious examples from the lives of Francis and his followers (such as Brother Juniper). Also includes: Of the Most Holy Stigmata of St. Francis; The Life of Friar Juniper; The Life of Friar Giles, the Companion of St. Francis; Teachin...
'The Red Book' is a primary text in Martinism, a philosophical movement started in 18th century France by Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin and based on Mystic Christian illuminist philosophy with theurgical integration added for good measure. The core belief of this religion is that mankind should return to its original and divine state. This was to be accomplished both by metaphysical knowledge and by Theurgical abilities, that is to sa...
Two Years Before the Mast is a memoir by the American author Richard Henry Dana, Jr., published in 1840, having been written after a two-year sea voyage starting in 1834. In the book, which takes place between 1834 and 1836, Dana gives a vivid account of "the life of a common sailor at sea as it really is".
A journal of sorts written by Elizabeth Bisland. She covers many things in this book, from her musings on death to the way we treat animals, from poetry entries to discussions that her and her friends had; it's an interesting read and beautifully written.
A collection of seven lectures, published as a book of essays in 1850. The first essay discusses the role played by "great men" in society, and the remaining six each extoll the virtues of one of six men deemed by Emerson to be great: Plato ('the Philosopher'); Emanuel Swedenborg ('the Mystic'); Michel de Montaigne ('the Skeptic'); William Shakespeare ('the Poet'); Napoleon ('the Man of the World'); and, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ('...
Several hundred of Bierce's pet peeves. Bierce's list includes some distinctions still familiar today. The which-that rule, less vs. fewer, lie and lay – but it also abounds in now-forgotten shibboleths: Ovation, the critics of his time agreed, meant a Roman triumph, not a round of applause. Reliable was an ill-formed coinage, not for the discriminating. Donate was pretentious, jeopardize should be jeopard, demean meant "comport ones...
This is Volume 1 of 4 - The Anti-Christian Conspiracy. It examines the anti-Christian conspiracy that was begun by Voltaire in 1728. Barruel found that the philosophers had created an age of pretend philosophy which they used in their battle with Christianity. Their commitment to liberty and equality were really commitments of 'pride and revolt'. Barruel claimed that the proponents of the Enlightenment led people into illusion and er...
Stories from the legends of King Arthur, the famous British leader who led the defence of Britain against the Saxon invaders in the 5th and 6th centuries. Chapter subjects include: The Prophecies of Merlin, and the Birth of Arthur; The Miracle of the Sword and Stone, and the Coronation of King Arthur; King Arthur drives the Saxons from the Realm; The Battles of Celidon Forest and Badon Hill; King Arthur Conquers Ireland and Norway, S...
This is a short guide to modern western Raja Yoga, illustrated by a couple of dozen photos of yogic postures. For a short book, it is quite comprehensive and manages to fit in a lot of information. It covers breathing techniques, postures for relaxing, corrective postures, postures for weight reduction, yoga of the mind, diet, sexual practises in yoga, the eight principles of Raja yoga, yoga for childbirth and a glossary of yogic terms.