cosmology
Animism
The doctrine and worldview that natural phenomena, places, and objects possess inherent spirit, soul, or personality — and that the cosmos is populated by countless local, plural, embodied divine agents: kami in mountain and tree, sidhe in cairn and well, landwights in field and stone, nymphs in spring and grove, haltija in forest and lake, lares and penates in household and threshold, Iamblichean daemons in element and place. Distinct from monotheism (single transcendent God), pantheism (one underlying substance), and emanation_hierarchy (cascading single source); animism's signature is the plurality, locality, and embodied-in-landscape character of the divine.
632 passages · 10 traditions
finnic255
The Kalevala | Rune I-a
“OF WAINAMOINEN.
In primeval times, a maiden, Beauteous Daughter of the Ether, Passed for ages her existence In the great expanse of heaven, O'er the prairies yet enfolded.
Wearisome the maiden growing, Her existence sad and hopeless, Thus…”
The Kalevala | Rune I-b
“Surely would the winds destroy it, Far away the waves would wash it." Then the daughter of the Ether, Now the hapless water-mother, Raised her shoulders out of water, Raised her knees above the ocean, That the duck might build her dwelling,…”
The Kalevala | Rune I-c
“Wainamoinen, old and trusty, Lingering within his dungeon Thirty summers altogether, And of winters, also thirty, Peaceful on the waste of waters, On the broad-sea's yielding bosom, Well reflected, long considered, How unborn to live and fl…”
The Kalevala | Rune II-a
“'S SOWING.
Then arose old Wainamoinen, With his feet upon the island, On the island washed by ocean, Broad expanse devoid of verdure; There remained be many summers, There he lived as many winters, On the island vast and vacant, well consi…”
The Kalevala | Rune II-b
“Wainamoinen, old and trusty, Thought awhile, and well considered, How to kill the mighty oak-tree, First created for his pleasure, How to fell the tree majestic, How to lop its hundred branches.
Sad the lives of man and hero, Sad the homes…”
The Kalevala | Rune II-c
“Straightway to the oak-tree turning, Thither stalks the mighty giant, In his raiment long and roomy, Flapping in the winds of heaven; With his second step he totters On the land of darker color; With his third stop firmly planted, Reaches h…”
The Kalevala | Rune II-d
“Down from heaven came the eagle, Through the air be came a-flying, That he might this thing consider; And he spake the words that follow: "Wherefore, ancient Wainamoinen, Hast thou left the slender birch-tree, Left the birch-tree only stand…”
The Kalevala | Rune II-e
“Here a few days pass unnoted And as many nights fly over.
When the seventh day had journeyed, On the morning of the eighth day, Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, Went to view his crop of barley, How his plowing, how his sowing, How his labors…”
Show all 255 →native_american165
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter I-b
“Sometimes an old man, standing upon the brink of eternity, might reveal to a chosen few the oracle of his long-past youth.
The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity.
They forget…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter I-c
“He had faith in their instincts, as in a mysterious wisdom given from above; and while he humbly accepted the supposedly voluntary sacrifice of their bodies to preserve his own, he paid homage to their spirits in prescribed prayers and offe…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter II-a
“THE FAMILY ALTAR Pre-natal Influence.
Early Religious Teaching.
The Function of the Aged.
Woman, Marriage and the Family.
Loyalty, Hospitality, Friendship.
The American Indian was an individualist in religion as in war.
He had neither…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter II-b
“You may destroy him once and again, but he issues as often from that same gentle lap—a gift of the Great Good to the race, in which man is only an accomplice!” This wild mother has not only the experience of her mother and grandmother, and…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter II-d
“Names of any dignity or importance must be conferred by the old men, and especially so if they have any spiritual significance; as Sacred Cloud, Mysterious Night, Spirit Woman, and the like.
Such a name was sometimes borne by three generat…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter III-a
“CEREMONIAL AND SYMBOLIC WORSHIP Modern Perversions of Early Religious Rites.
The Sun Dance.
The Great Medicine Lodge.
Totems and Charms.
The Vapor-Bath and the Ceremonial of the Pipe.
The public religious rites of the Plains Indians ar…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter III-d
“After silent prayer, each medicine-man in turn addressed himself to his charge, exhorting him to observe all the rules of the order under the eye of the Mysterious One, and instructing him in his duty toward his fellow-man and toward the Ru…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter III-e
“The sacred beast, bird, or reptile, represented by its stuffed skin, or by a rude painting, was treated with reverence and carried into battle to insure the guardianship of the spirits.
The symbolic attribute of beaver, bear, or tortoise,…”
Show all 165 →celtic97
The Mabinogion | Tale THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN-a
“King Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk; and one day he sat in his chamber; and with him were Owain the son of Urien, and Kynon the son of Clydno, and Kai the son of Kyner; and Gwenhwyvar and her handmaidens at needlework by the window.
And…”
The Mabinogion | Tale THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN-b
“And they had daggers with blades of gold, and with hilts of the bone of the whale.
And they were shooting their daggers.
“And a little way from them I saw a man in the prime of life, with his beard newly shorn, clad in a robe and a mantle…”
The Mabinogion | Tale THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN-c
“The man looked upon me, and he smiled and said, ‘If I did not fear to distress thee too much, I would show thee that which thou seekest.’ Upon this I became anxious and sorrowful, and when the man perceived it, he said, ‘If thou wouldest ra…”
The Mabinogion | Tale THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN-d
“Under this tree is a fountain, and by the side of the fountain a marble slab, and on the marble slab a silver bowl, attached by a chain of silver, so that it may not be carried away.
Take the bowl and throw a bowlful of water upon the slab…”
The Mabinogion | Tale THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN-e
“So I returned along the road by which I had come.
And when I reached the glade where the black man was, I confess to thee, Kai, it is a marvel that I did not melt down into a liquid pool, through the shame that I felt at the black man’s de…”
The Mabinogion | Tale THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN-f
“And Owain made it known to him, and said, “I am in quest of the Knight who guards the fountain.” Upon this the yellow man smiled, and said that he was as loth to point out that adventure to Owain as he had been to Kynon.
However, he descri…”
The Mabinogion | Tale THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN-g
“And as long as thou concealest it, it will conceal thee.
When they have consulted together, they will come forth to fetch thee, in order to put thee to death; and they will be much grieved that they cannot find thee.
And I will await thee…”
The Mabinogion | Tale THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN-h
“And following the train, he beheld a lady with yellow hair falling over her shoulders, and stained with blood; and about her a dress of yellow satin, which was torn.
Upon her feet were shoes of variegated leather.
And it was a marvel that…”
Show all 97 →western_esoteric58
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 6 (part 1)
“PART I THE LITERATURE OF CEREMONIAL MAGIC Click to view THE SERPENT OF THE GARDEN OF THE HESPERIDES.
From a Greek Vase Painting.
CHAPTER I The antiquity of Magical Rituals § 1.
The Importance of Ceremonial Magic THE ordinary fields of ps…”
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 7 (part 1)
Ҥ 2.
The Distinction between White and Black Magic Having considered the possible standpoints from which the Rituals may be regarded, we come now to the distinctions that are made between them, and, first and foremost, to that which has be…”
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 9 (part 4)
“The sources of occult wisdom, it proceeds, are, firstly, in God; secondly, in spiritual essences--that is to say, the Angelical Hierarchy; thirdly, in corporeal creatures, the reference being probably to the signatura rerum of Paracelsus; f…”
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 15 (part 1)
Ҥ 2.
The Lesser Key of Solomon The Lemegeton, or Lesser Key of Solomon, Rabbi and King, is a work of far more exalted pretensions, which deploys all the hierarchies and evokes spirits by milliards.
About its antiquity there is no need for…”
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 16 (part 3)
“Lesser officers: Pammon, Dracon, Gemtzod, Enariel, Rudosor, Salmon .
The Seventh Hour.
Supreme Ruler--MENDRION.
The chief officers include Ammiel, Choriel, Genaritzod, Pendroz, Memsiel, Ventariel .
Lesser officers: Zacharel, Razziel, Ta…”
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 19 (part 2)
“As a counterpoise, a century later his bust was placed in the town-hall of Padua.
His undoubted works, which are frankly unreadable, betray no acquaintance with the occult sciences beyond a belief in astrology, which in those days was cath…”
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 26 (part 1)
Ҥ 6.
The Black Pullet The Black Pullet , the Druid of Menapienne, Red Magic, or the Cream of the Occult Sciences , with derivatives from the first of these works, such as the Queen of the Hairy Flies , the Green Butterfly , &c., form a cla…”
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 26 (part 3)
“The Black Pullet disclaims all connection with Black Magic and is duly to be identified therewith, firstly by its characters and secondly by their pretended power over evil spirits; though it should be observed that the infernal beings ment…”
Show all 58 →norse24
The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1f
“Fire for men | is the fairest gift, And power to see the sun; Health as well, | if a man may have it, And a life not stained with sin.
69.
All wretched is no man, | though never so sick; Some from their sons have joy, Some win it from kin…”
The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1g
“The stanza-form is so irregular as to show either that something has been lost or that there have been interpolations.
The manuscript indicates no lacuna; Gering fills out the assumed gap as follows: "Certain is that which is sought from r…”
The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1i
“50 Foul scorn was my meed | from the crafty maid, And nought from the woman I won.
* * * 103.
Though glad at home, | and merry with guests, A man shall be wary and wise; The sage and shrewd, | wide wisdom seeking, Must see that his speech…”
The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1j
“On his ring swore Othin | the oath, methinks; Who now his troth shall trust?
Suttung's betrayal | he sought with drink, And Gunnloth to grief he left.
* * * 111.
It is time to chant | from the chanter's stool; By the wells of Urth I was,…”
The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1k
“I saw a man | who was wounded sore By an evil woman's word; A lying tongue | his death-blow launched, And no word of truth there was.
119.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir!
| and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy ga…”
The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1l
“| and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: I bid thee be wary, | but be not fearful; (Beware most with ale or another's wife, And third beware | lest a thief outwit thee.) [129.
Line 5 is a…”
The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1m
“I ween that I hung | on the windy tree, Hung there for nights full nine; With the spear I was wounded, | and offered I was To Othin, myself to myself, On the tree that none | may ever know What root beneath it runs.
[138.
In the manuscrip…”
The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1n
“Knowest how one shall write, | knowest how one shall rede?
Knowest how one shall tint, | knowest how one makes trial?
Knowest how one shall ask, | knowest how one shall offer?
Knowest how one shall send, | knowest how one shall sacrifice…”
Show all 24 →theosophy16
The Secret Doctrine | Page 5 (part 6)
“(See Weber, Max Muller, etc.) We labour under the impression that Colebrooke, "the highest authority" in such matters, had long ago settled the question by showing, that "the Hindus were in this instance the teachers, not the learners." [[V…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 15 (part 10)
“" From the second Round , Earth - - hitherto a foetus in the matrix of Space -- began its real existence: it had developed individual sentient life , its second principle.
The second corresponds to the sixth ( principle ) ; the second is l…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 16 (part 3)
“(5.) Everything in the Universe, throughout all its kingdoms, is CONSCIOUS: i.e., endowed with a consciousness of its own kind and on its own plane of perception.
We men must remember that because we do not perceive any signs -- which we c…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 30 (part 2)
“Whether Egyptian or Pelasgian, Aryan or Semitic, the genius loci , the local god, embraced in its unity all nature; but not especially the four elements any more than one of their creations, such as trees, rivers, mounts or stars.
The geni…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 30 (part 3)
“Paganism preached a dual and simultaneous evolution: "creation" -- " spiritualem ac mundanum ," as the Roman Church has it -- ages before the advent of that Roman Church.
Exoteric phraseology has changed little with respect to divine hiera…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 30 (part 4)
“Do not they, moreover, sacrifice to this day, to the same " God of Wind and Water?
" They do; because special prayers for rain, dry weather, trade-winds and the calming of storms on the seas exist to this hour in the prayer-books of the th…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 42 (part 1)
“The Secret Doctrine by H.
P.
Blavatsky -- Vol.
1 [[Vol.
1, Page]] 566 THE SECRET DOCTRINE.
[[This page continued from previous section ]] XI.
ON THE ELEMENTS AND ATOMS.
FROM THE STAND-POINT OF SCIENCE AND THAT OF OCCULTISM.
W HEN th…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 42 (part 6)
“should have selected a god against whose commandments Jesus was the first one to rise in rebellion.
The Planetary origin of the Monad (Soul) and of its faculties was taught by the Gnostics.
On its way to the Earth, as on its way back from…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 46 (part 8)
“Let the men of Science only throw a bridge half-way, and think seriously over the theories of Leibnitz.
We have shown our theories with regard to atomic evolution -- their last formation into compound chemical molecules being produced with…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 53 (part 2)
“In short, combinations of various animals and men, of fishes, reptiles and other monstrous animals assuming each other's shapes and countenances.
The feminine element they resided in, is personified by Thalatth -- the Sea, or "Water" -- wh…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 53 (part 11)
“They are never erring, perpetually recurring numbers, unveiling, to him who studies the secrets of Nature, a truly divine System, an intelligent plan in Cosmogony, which results in natural cosmic divisions of times, seasons, invisible influ…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 65 (part 5)
“What can modern science have to say to such an euhemerization of old fictions?
The verdict is not difficult to foresee.
Therefore an attempt must be made to answer by anticipation, and prove that fictions and empirical speculations are so…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 70 (part 1)
“The Secret Doctrine by H.
P.
Blavatsky -- Vol.
2 [[Vol.
2, Page]] 341 THE MATERIALISM OF THE BIBLE.
[[This page continued from previous section ]] C YCLOPEAN R UINS AND C OLOSSAL S TONES AS W ITNESSES TO G IANTS.
In his enormous works…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 71 (part 10)
“There reside mankind along with Daityas and Danavas, as well as with spirits of Heaven ( Gandharvas, Yakshas, Kimpurushas, etc .) and gods.
" ( Chapter iv.
) There is but one exception in the case of King Priyavrata, the son of the first…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 72 (part 11)
“Oriental tradition is ever referring to an unknown glacial, gloomy sea, and to a dark region, within which, nevertheless, are situated the Fortunate Islands, wherein bubbles, from the beginning of life on earth, the fountain of life ( Herbe…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 91 (part 8)
“296.) This he develops in his mirific lecture on the " Perigenesis of the Plastidule, or the wave-motions of living particles." It is an improvement on Darwin's theory of "Pangenesis," and a further approach, a cautious move towards "magic.…”
← Collapsemesopotamian9
Adapa and the Food of Life | Section 1a
“ADAPA AND THE FOOD OF LIFE .
TABLET NO.1 He possessed intelligence .
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, His command like the command of Anu ...
He (Ea) granted him a wide ear to reveal the destiny of the land, He granted him wisdom, but he did not grant him eterna…”
Adapa and the Food of Life | Section 1b
“Adapa, For whom art thou clad in a mourning garment?" In the country two gods have vanished; therefore am I clad In mourning garments." "Who are the two gods, who have vanished from the land?" "Tammuz and Gishzida." They looked at one anoth…”
Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet III — The Expedition against Humbaba | Tablet III, Section 1a
“THE THIRD TABLET.
THE EXPEDITION TO THE FOREST OF CEDARS AGAINST HUMBABA.
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"He lifted up [his foot, to the door .
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21.
(?) They raged furiously .
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Enkidu hath not [his e…”
Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet III — The Expedition against Humbaba | Tablet III, Section 1b
“Proffereth nothing of substance thy courage—I, I'll be thy va ward!
’Tis thine own mouth shall tell thou didst fear the onslaught (of battle), (I, forsooth), if I should fall, my name will have stablish’d (for ever).
15.
Gilgamish ’twas,…”
Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet III — The Expedition against Humbaba | Tablet III, Section 1c
“I (forsooth) dread him, and (yet) to [(the depths of the) Forest] I'll take [me] .
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may thy god (so) [protect] thee, Bringing thee back [(safe and)] sound to the walls of [broad-marketed] Erech." 35.
Gilgami…”
Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet IV — The Arrival at the Gate of the Forest | Tablet IV, Section 1a
“THE FOURTH TABLET.
THE ARRIVAL AT THE GATE OF THE FOREST.
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36.
Enkidu lifted [his eyes] .
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and spake with the Gate as [’t were human(?)]: "O thou Gate of the Forest without understanding(?
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Sentience which thou hast n…”
Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet IV — The Arrival at the Gate of the Forest | Tablet IV, Section 1b
“[Be brave(?)] and resist!
O my comrade, together We will go down—let the combat [in no wise diminish(?)] thy courage!
40.
O forget death, and be fearful(?) of nothing(?) .
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(for he who is) [valiant(?)], Cautious (and) careful, by lead…”
Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet V — The Fight with Humbaba | Tablet V, Section 1a
“THE FIFTH TABLET.
OF THE FIGHT WITH HUMBABA.
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Stood they and stared at the Forest, they gazed at the height of the Cedars, Scanning the avenue into the Forest: (and there) where Humbaba 5.
Stalk’d, was a path, (and) straight were his t…”
Show all 9 →renaissance_hermeticism6
Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter XVII — How by Enmity and Friendship the Virtues of Things Are to be Tried and Found Out | Chapter XVII, Section 1a
“CHAPTER XVII.
How by Enmity and Friendship the Virtues of Things Are to be Tried and Found Out .
In the next place it is requisite that we consider that all things have a friendliness and enmity amongst themselves, and every thing hath so…”
Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter XVII — How by Enmity and Friendship the Virtues of Things Are to be Tried and Found Out | Chapter XVII, Section 1b
“When Sappho writes to Phaon: To Birds unlike oftimes joyned are white Doves; Also the Bird that’s green, black Turtle loves.
Again, the whale and the little fish, his guide, are friendly.
Neither is this amity in Animals amongst themselve…”
Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter XVIII — Of the Inclinations of Enmities | Chapter XVIII, Section 1a
“CHAPTER XVIII.
Of the Inclinations of Enmities .
On the contrary, there are Inclinations of Enmities, and they are, as it were, the odium, and anger, indignation, and a certain kind of obstinate contrariety of nature, so that any thing sh…”
Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter XVIII — Of the Inclinations of Enmities | Chapter XVIII, Section 1b
“Amongst birds, also, some are at perpetual strife one with another, as also with other animals, as jackdaws and owls, the kite and crows, the turtle and ring-tail, egepis and eagles, harts and dragons.
Also amongst water animals there is e…”
Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter XXIV — What Things Are Lunary, or Under the Power of the Moon | Chapter XXIV, Section 1b
“But most Lunary of all is the two-horned beetle, horned after the manner of a bull, which digs under cow-dung and there remains for the space of twenty-eight days (in which time the Moon measures the whole Zodiac), and in the twenty-ninth d…”
Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter LV — How Auspicias Are Verified by the Light of Natural Instinct, and of Some Rules of Finding It Out | Chapter LV, Section 1c
“Many, being much moved with these words, went to see, and so it was, as Apollonius said, at which they much wondered.
Phorphyrius, the Platonist, in his third book of sacrifices, saith that there is certainly a swallow language, because ev…”
christian_mysticism1
Revelations of Divine Love | Chapter XVIII
“"When He was in pain, we were in pain" Here I saw a part of the compassion of our Lady, Saint Mary: for Christ and she were so oned in love that the greatness of her loving was cause of the greatness of her pain. For in this [Shewing] I saw…”
shinto1
The Kojiki: The Beginning of Heaven and Earth | Section 1
“p. 15 RECORDS OF ANCIENT MATTERS [SECT. I.—THE BEGINNING OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.] The names of the Deities 1 that were born 2 in the Plain of High Heaven 3 when the Heaven and Earth began were the Deity Master-of-the-August-Centre-of-Heaven, 4…”