The Secret Teachings of All Ages

THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF ALCHEMY, PART II

The alchemical prayer—The Emerald Tablet of Hermes A legendary text of Hermeticism believed to contain the secrets of the primary substance of the universe.—A letter from the Brothers of the Rose Cross original: "R. C." (Rosicrucian Order). —The magical Mountain of the Moon—An alchemical formula—The dew of the sages.

THE CHEMICAL MARRIAGE

Christian Rosencreutz is invited to the Chemical Wedding—The Light-Bringing Virgin original: "Virgo Lucifera"—The philosophical Inquisition—The Tower of Olympus—The homunculi Artificial miniature human beings said to be created through alchemical means.—The Knights of the Golden Stone.

BACON, SHAKESPEARE, AND THE ROSICRUCIANS

The Rosicrucian mask—Life of William Shakespeare original: "Shakspere"—Sir Francis Bacon—The acrostic signatures—The significant number thirty-three—The philosophic death.

THE CRYPTOGRAM AS A FACTOR IN SYMBOLIC PHILOSOPHY

Secret alphabets—The biliteral cipher A code using two different fonts or symbols to hide a message, famously associated with Francis Bacon.—Pictorial ciphers—Acroamatic ciphers Oral teachings and allegorical codes intended to be understood only by those initiated into secret knowledge.—Numerical and musical ciphers—Code ciphers.

FREEMASONIC SYMBOLISM

The pillars raised by the sons of Seth—Enoch and the Royal Arches—The Dionysiac Architects—The Roman Guilds original: "Collegia"; associations or guilds of craftsmen in ancient Rome.—Solomon, the personification of Universal Wisdom—Freemasonry's priceless heritage.

MYSTIC CHRISTIANITY

St. Irenaeus original: "Iranæus"; a second-century bishop and influential early Christian theologian. on the life of Christ—The original name of Jesus—The Christened man—The Essenes A Jewish sect of the Second Temple period known for their ascetic lifestyle and communal living.—The Arthurian cycle—Merlin the Mage.

THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION

The Golden Legend original: "Aurea Legenda"; a popular medieval collection of hagiographies (stories of the lives of saints).—The lost libraries of Alexandria—The cross in pagan symbolism— The crucifixion, a cosmic allegory—The crucifixion of Quetzalcoatl A major deity of ancient Mexican cultures, often called the "Plumed Serpent."—The nails of the Passion.

THE MYSTERY OF THE APOCALYPSE

The sacred city of Ephesus—The authorship of the Apocalypse—The Alpha and Omega— The Lamb of God—The Four Horsemen—The number of the beast.

THE FAITH OF ISLAM

The life of Muhammad original: "Mohammed"—The revelation of the Quran original: "Koran"—The valedictory pilgrimage—The tomb of the Prophet—The Kaaba original: "Caaba"; the most sacred building in Islam, located at the center of the Great Mosque in Mecca. at Mecca—The secret doctrine of Islam.