soteriology
Secret Societies
Organized, persisting groups — fraternities, orders, lodges — that maintain esoteric knowledge or practices as an institution distinct from public religion or mainstream society, holding 'the keys' collectively rather than through any one master-disciple pair. Distinct from esoteric_lineage (a genealogical chain of individual transmission, not an institution) and hidden_sayings (the concealment of a teaching's meaning, independent of whether any organized body holds it).
107 passages · 2 traditions
theosophy71
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 1)
“The Secret Doctrine by H.
P.
Blavatsky -- Vol.
1 [[Vol.
1, Page xvii]] INTRODUCTORY.
------- "Gently to hear, kindly to judge." -- S HAKESPEARE.
S INCE the appearance of Theosophical literature in England, it has become customary to c…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 2)
“"When Buddhi absorbs our E GOtism (destroys it) with all its Vikaras, Avalokiteshvara becomes manifested to us, and Nirvana, or Mukti, is reached," "Mukti" being the same as Nirvana, i.e.
, freedom from the trammels of "Maya" or illusion.…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 3)
“I say "a few truths," advisedly, because that which must remain unsaid could not be contained in a hundred such volumes, nor could it be imparted to the present generation of Sadducees.
But, even the little that is now given is better than…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 5)
“Turning now to the oldest Aryan literature, the Rig-Veda, the student will find, following strictly in this the data furnished by the said Orientalists themselves, that, although the Rig-Veda contains only "about 10,580 verses, or 1,028 hym…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 6)
“When, however, he takes the opportunity of saying in the same breath that Odin "was worshipped as the supreme deity during a period long anterior to the age of the Veda and of Homer" ( Compar.
Theol., p.
318), he has not the slightest " h…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 7)
“Thus, though the Mother of Mercury (Budha, Thot-Hermes, etc.), was Maia, the mother of Buddha (Gautama), also Maya, and the mother of Jesus, likewise Maya (illusion, for Mary is Mare, the Sea, the great illusion symbolically) -- yet these t…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 8)
“This statement is rendered more credible by a consideration of the following facts: the tradition of the thousands of ancient parchments saved when the Alexandrian library was destroyed; the thousands of Sanskrit works which disappeared in…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 9)
“I believe in the ancients and therefore I love them."** (Quoted in "Science of Religions" by Max Muller.) The writer loves them too, and therefore believes in the ancients, and the modern heirs to their Wisdom.
And believing in both, she n…”
Show all 71 →western_esoteric36
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 6 (part 4)
“It is doubtful whether the presence of these elements can be accounted for on the principle that mankind in all ages works unconsciously for the accomplishment of similar intentions in an analogous way; a bizarre intention, of course, tends…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | Preface-f
“My heart was beating so hard that at each beat a loose brass knob on the bedstead rattled.
Fortunately for me, my friend saw that something was seriously wrong and she sent for my family, who fetched me away.
They were exceedingly suspici…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | Preface-g
“Within an hour of the ceremony I felt a change, and it is only upon the rarest occasions since then, after some psychic injury, that I have had a temporary return of those depleting attacks of exhaustion.
I have told this story in detail b…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 3. A Case Of Modern Witchcraft-a
“THE part played by the ex-witch in occult attack is very marked.
Again and again do the investigations of independent psychics point to witchcraft in a previous incarnation when trouble of this sort is afoot.
The motive is nearly always v…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 3. A Case Of Modern Witchcraft-c
“Fortunately for me I had in my hands a large saucepan full of freshly boiled greens, and I used this as a weapon of defence, and we danced round the kitchen table, slopping hot cabbage-water in all directions.
We neither of us made a sound…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 3. A Case Of Modern Witchcraft-d
“She did not know this, nor was it likely to reach her ears indirectly, for he was very uncommunicative, I only knew that he was sealing his room because I chanced to see him doing it.
Nevertheless, one day I heard a knock at my door, and t…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 4. Projection Of The Etheric Body-a
“BEFORE we can leave the subject of attack by incarnate human beings, we must consider the subject of etheric projection.
In this case not only is the mind at work, but also something which is pretty nearly physical; sufficiently physical,…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 5. Vampirism-d
“It was, in fact, the same method that I was instructed to use in dealing with my were-wolf, but it is a much more formidable task to absorb and transmute the projection of another person than to absorb one’s own, and could only have been ac…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 7. The Pathology Of Non-Human Contacts-d
“The great Orders have their definite contacts and work strictly within them, keeping a firm hand on neophytes; outside the Orders there is a good deal of chaos and banditry, and it is unwise to venture far save in the company of an experien…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 7. The Pathology Of Non-Human Contacts-e
“It is neither giddiness nor mountain sickness, but a curious oppression of the spirits by the overwhelming grandeur of nature.
The same force, when not at a poisonous concentration, inspires the passion ate love of the hills or of the sea…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 8. The Risks Incidental To Ceremonial Magic-d
“Secondly, when I speak of physical happenings, the smashing of glass and voices, they were never, with one absolutely inexplicable exception, actual, but pure obsessions; and this leads to the third point.
Not one of these incidents happen…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 8. The Risks Incidental To Ceremonial Magic-e
“Enough must be hinted, however, to reveal what, under certain circumstances, may be experienced.
I do not think it in the least likely, however, that the Qlippotic demons will be encountered save through the use of ceremonial magic.
They…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 8. The Risks Incidental To Ceremonial Magic-i
“She spoke from an Eastern standpoint and judged Western esoteric conditions by those she had seen in the East, where Tantric magic has become depraved in the hands of Dugpas and similar sects.
In the dense and materialistic atmosphere of t…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 9. Distinction Between Objective Psychic Attack And Subjective Psychic Disturbance-b
“It is necessary to use very great caution in drawing conclusions from the psychic impressions of an inexperienced student, who is apt to be as full of alarms as a two-year-old thorough bred.
On the other hand, the instinctive reactions of…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 9. Distinction Between Objective Psychic Attack And Subjective Psychic Disturbance-d
“The complaints of occult attack may have their source in nothing more or less than the delusions of the insane, and it does not necessarily invalidate this fact that a second person can be found to give supporting evidence.
There is a curi…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 10. Non-Occult Dangers Of The Black Lodge-a
“THE facts considered in the previous chapter, though they should make us exceedingly careful in weighing evidence, must not blind us to the fact that there are black sheep in every fold and that a fraternity which started out with the best…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 10. Non-Occult Dangers Of The Black Lodge-c
“But quite apart from any form of coercion, unwary persons may, while filled with enthusiasm or glamoured by the new revelation, part with considerably more money than they can comfortably spare; they may even literally lay their all upon th…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 10. Non-Occult Dangers Of The Black Lodge-d
“It is amazing to what an extent women of the highest ideals and of good family and wide culture can be induced to accept such theories and practices.
The danger of membership of such a group to young girls or unsophisticated women can read…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 10. Non-Occult Dangers Of The Black Lodge-e
“Needless to say, the correspondence was sent straight to the authorities.
The problems which we have considered in this chapter are not peculiar to occult fraternities, but are common to any organisation which does not discriminate as to i…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 12. Methods Employed In Making A Psychic Attack-a
“ANYONE who reads the old books on witchcraft, usually compiled by the professional witch-finders from the confessions of alleged witches extorted under torture, will find that the phenomena described fall into certain broad categories which…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 12. Methods Employed In Making A Psychic Attack-d
“For instance, a small animal may be baptised with the victim’s name, and then immolated, usually with torture, the operator meanwhile concentrating upon the personality of the original.
The old device of making a wax image and melting it b…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 12. Methods Employed In Making A Psychic Attack-e
“The curser declares, “I curse you by so and so.” This is the form of evocation which calls the ensouling essence into the thought- form, thus making an artificial elemental which is endowed with an independent life of its own.
If we want t…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 13. The Motives Of Psychic Attack. I-c
“Anyone who has any knowledge of the esoteric aspect of sex knows that union is as much etheric as physical.
It is this fact which constitutes the real difference between normal union and self-abuse, and explains why the former is vitalisin…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 13. The Motives Of Psychic Attack. I-d
“This poor girl, lonely and unsuspicious, gave herself up unreservedly to this task.
Presently, however, she began to grow uneasy.
Her common sense asserted itself, for she found the meditations she was required to perform were having a ve…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 13. The Motives Of Psychic Attack. I-e
“Four women are persuaded to embark upon a meditation process whose aim is to pour out force.
The nature of the force that is to be poured out is indicated by the fact that the married women are instructed not to live with their husbands an…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 14. The Motives Of Psychic Attack. II-a
“IT is a matter of general knowledge among occultists that it is not a pleasant thing to fall foul of an occult fraternity of which one has been made a member by means of a ceremonial initiation and to which one is bound by oaths.
As we hav…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 14. The Motives Of Psychic Attack. II-b
“But he immediately began to get together another temple in a carefully concealed place; and this time he was more ambitious, for he made ready to attempt the Greater Mysteries.
He was an exceedingly clever craftsman and made all the equipm…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 14. The Motives Of Psychic Attack. II-d
“Great power-tides are flowing on the Inner Planes, and these are very difficult to handle.
If there is going to be astral trouble, it usually blows up for storm at this season.
There are also certain meetings which take place on the Astra…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 15. Physical Aspect Of Psychic Attack And Defence-c
“Indeed, pressure without heat will give relief, and I have known cases where a firm pad held in place by a belt or corsets gave much comfort.
Above all things, the bowels should be kept freely open while facing a psychic attack, because th…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 19. Methods Of Defence III-a
“PSYCHIC trouble not infrequently arises owing to the formation of an undesirable rapport.
In order to understand the nature of this problem we must consider the whole subject of rapport.
We have already considered in some detail the quest…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 19. Methods Of Defence III-e
“That for many past lives she had been upon the Path, and that in her last life, a male incarnation, in order to speed up her progress she had travelled in the East, and eventually took initiation into one of the Thibetan Orders, which unfor…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 19. Methods Of Defence III-f
“Next morning I visited her to see how she was getting on, and found her sitting up in bed eating a hearty breakfast and looking an entirely different woman to the grey-faced, exhausted creature I had seen the day before.
Without waiting fo…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 20. Methods Of Defence IV-c
“It should be invoked in every operation of psychic self-defence where any human element, incarnate or discarnate, is concerned.
Where non-human elements, such as elementals, thought-forms, or the Qlippoth, have to be dealt with, it is the…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 20. Methods Of Defence IV-e
“At his request she wrote to me to enquire how I was faring, but mentioned no names, and I, not realising the significance of the incident, returned a non-committal answer.
He heard my story and told me to leave the matter in his hands, whi…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 20. Methods Of Defence IV-f
“I came across them in a manner which serves to illustrate the way in which occultists can “call” for information they may be in need of, and the fortuitious train of circumstances that will supply it.
As a young girl, at the commencement o…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 20. Methods Of Defence IV-g
“No one has said harder things of the occult movement than I have, and if I thought that there were any organised system of evil influence, I should not hesitate to say so, for I have the integrity of the movement very much at heart; but I h…”
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