Azoth - Or, The Star in the East

Arthur Edward Waite

Description

“Azoth - Or The Star in the East” is a 1893 work by A. E. Waite. Arthur Edward Waite (1857 – 1942), more commonly referred to as A. E. Waite, was an American-born British mystic and poet. He wrote profusely on the subject of the occult and esoteric matters, and is famous for being the co-creator of the Rider-Waite Tarot deck. His work arguably constitutes the first attempt to systematically studying the history of western occultism, which he viewed more of a spiritual tradition than proto-science or pseudo-religion, as was the more common conception. Contents include: “The Agnostic Standpoint as the Threshold of Mysticism”, “Intellectual Difficulties of a Certain Class of Thinkers”. “Connection between Religion and Morality”, “Certain Consolation to be Derived from the Mysteries of Life”, “Philosophical Basis of this Statement”, “Appeal of Material Philosophy”, “Ultimately Worthless Nature of this Life Except as a Preparation for the Higher Life”, etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in a modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

Sujets

• Hermeticism (history of science)
• Esoteric Christianity

Informations

• Publié par: Read Books Ltd.
• Date de parution: 06 août 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781528768832
• Langue: English

Extrait

A NEW LIGHT OF MYSTICISM.
AZOTH;
OR ,
THE STAR IN THE EAST.
E MBRACING THE F IRST M ATTER OF THE M AGNUM OPUS, THE E VOLUTION OF A PHRODITE -U RANIA, THE S UPERNATURAL G ENERATION OF THE S ON OF THE S UN, AND THE A LCHEMICAL T RANSFIGURATION OF H UMANITY .
BY
ARTHUR EDWARD WAITE.
Copyright 2018 Read Books Ltd.
This book is copyright and may not be reproduced or copied in any way without the express permission of the publisher in writing
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ARTHUR EDWARD WAITE
Arthur Edward Waite was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA in 1857. His father died when he was very young, and his widowed mother returned to her home country of England, where he was then raised. Waite was educated at a small private school in North London, and St. Charles College. After school, he became a clerk, and wrote verse in his spare time.
In 1874, the death of Waite s sister saw him become deeply interested in psychical research. He began to read regularly in the Library of the British Museum, studying many branches of esotericism. Not long later, Waite became editor of an occultist magazine called The Unknown World , and in 1891 joined Aleister Crowley s Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. A decade later, he became a Freemason, and entered the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia. Waite had a lifelong rivalry with Aleister Crowley, who presented him as a villainous wizard in his novel Moonchild .
Waite was a prolific author, and many of his works were well received in academic circles. He wrote occult texts on subjects such as divination, esotericism, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, Kabbalism and alchemy; he also translated and reissued several important mystical and occultist works. His works on the Holy Grail rank amongst his finest publications.
However, Waite is best-remembered not for his scholarly work, but for his co-creation of the popular and widely used Rider-Waite Tarot deck, and his authoring of its companion volume, The Key to the Tarot . First published in 1909, the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot was notable for being one of the first tarot decks to illustrate all 78 cards fully, in addition to the 22 major arcana cards. The work made him famous, and Waite spent much of the rest of his life lecturing and speaking on the topic of the Tarot. He died in 1942, aged 88.
AZOTH; OR, THE STAR IN THE EAST.
PERFECTION CONSISTS:-
In the physical order: In the realization of the dream of beauty.
In the moral order: In the realization of the dream of love.
In the intellectual order: In the realization of the dream of poetry.
In the spiritual order: In the realization of the dream of the mystics.
But these four orders are fundamentally one order, and the four dreams constitute one reality.
ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS.

PROEM.
PREFACE.
T HE Sublimating Principle of Alchemy- AZOTH an energizing force of Occult Chemistry-Its application to the First Matter of the Sages-The Hermetic Azoth considered as a Principle of Universal Development-The Great Work in its application to Man-For what reasons the name of AZOTH should be applied to this work which treats of the conditioning of the man to come-The class of readers addressed-The Mystic always in advance of his age-The Hope of the Mystic-The Day of Christ-The Christ within-The exterior world and the interior man-The Fluctuations of opinion and fashion concerning the Mystical Philosophy-The nature of Mysticism-The two kinds of secrecy connected with it-The circle of arcane experience-Illustrations of the incommunicable quality of this experience-The love of Nature-The love of poetry-The proper attitude of the Mystic.
THE GATE OF THE SANCTUARY.
T HE symbolism of Israfel and Lucasta-The holiness of evolution-The connection between religion and development-Human perfection as the great end-Transcendental Philosophy and the Universal Subject-The end of evolution, its nature, and the essentials of a perfect form of subsistence, as the objects of this book-A complete answer offered by Mysticism-Life and dream-Rationale of an appeal to the poets-Philosophical groundwork and fundamentals of the present work-After what manner a creation of the perfect man must be accomplished-The law of evolution-After what manner this law is to be fulfilled-Statement of the knowledge of God-Tetradic nature of man-The unification of man.
INTRODUCTION.
C HAPTER I.
T HE Agnostic Standpoint as the threshold of Mysticism-Intellectual difficulties of a certain class of thinkers-Connection between religion and morality-Certain consolations to be derived from the mysteries of Life-Philosophical basis of this sentiment-Appeal of material philosophy-Ultimately worthless nature of this Life except as a preparation for the higher Life-The error in Agnostic calculation-The contention of the Mystics-The legitimacy of spiritual aspiration-Inevitable outcome of Agnostic principles-The connection between Matter and Mind-False position of the Materialist-Definition of legitimate Agnosticism-The credentials of spiritual aspiration-Development of Agnosticism into Mysticism-Principles which may be common to both systems-The foundation of legitimate Agnosticism-The arcane door of mystic doctrine-Mysticism devoid of dogma-Its experimental nature-Its claims-Further elaboration of the philosophical correspondences between Agnosticism and Mysticism.
C HAPTER II.
M YSTICISM as a New Basis of Demonstrative Faith-The Search after Truth-Sacred nature of the pursuit-Inadequacy of phenomenal knowledge-The one class of subjects which transcends the phenomenal world-Barriers to investigation in this region-Value of the message of Modern Spiritualism-Transcension of the Phenomenal World-The methods of this transcension taught only by the science of the Mystics-Mystic science the one avenue of Knowledge concerning the absolute of being.
C HAPTER III.
M YSTICISM a Practical Science-The end of Mysticism-Qualifications necessary to a Mystic-Nature of the first step-Points already reached in this enquiry-Position of Mysticism in regard to them-Methods of the Mystics-Subject of the experiment of Mysticism-Universal character of the Mystic message.
C HAPTER IV.
T HE Revival of Mysticism-Its practical purpose-Definition of Mystic Science-What it includes-Mysticism and the need of the age-Reasons for its dissemination.
C HAPTER V.
T RANSCENDENTAL Science and Transcendental Religion-Experiments of modern psychology-Limitations thereof-The old Mystics in possession of a higher illumination-Possibility in this life of a spiritual knowledge of God-Value of Western Mysticism-The two branches of Transcendentalism-Sketch of the phenomenal division-The true Mystic section-Spiritualism unfitted for a basis of religion.
C HAPTER VI.
T HE Mystical Philosophy of Nature-Recurrence to the connection between Agnosticism and Mysticism-Affinity between the two systems and what may be termed the Philosophy of Poetry-Interpretation and the life of Poetry-Poetry and definition of aspiration-The poetic element in Agnostic Philosophy-The mystic standpoint as regards the phenomenal universe-God as the Great Symbolist-The symbolism of Christ-Parabolic nature of the Christ mission-Symbolism of Christian doctrine-Mystic Symbolism-The emblazonment of the Veil-The doctrine of Analogy-Analogy and the poetic method-The ministry of universal symbolism-A new mission and a mystical instruction to the poets-The poet as demiourgos of the life to come-New definition of the Mystic-Correspondence between the phenomenal and noumenal-Who are the chief interpreters of natural symbolism.
C HAPTER VII.
E VOLUTION and Mysticism-Correspondence between Mystic doctrine and the scientific doctrine of development-Antiquity of the evolutionary concept-Evolution in respect of humanity-Four chief points-Mystic teaching in regard to the capacity for improvement-Mysticism, mysteries of corrrespondence, and the law of conditions-How mystic operation sought to assist Nature-Intelligence and consciousness as factors in evolution-Processes of physical Mysticism, or Alchemy-Processes of the spiritual Mystics for the realization of the Ideal Humanity-A law of spiritual evolution existing in the literature of Mysticism-The object of physical evolution-The object of spiritual evolution-How the Mystic regards Man-Aim of the present work-To illustrate a method for the development of physical, intellectual, and aspirational man-Its message and mission-The Ascent of Man.
PART I. THE OUTWARD MAN.
C HAPTER I.
T HE Hermetic Doctrine of Development- I. Evolution in the Light of Mysticism -Man s duty in regard to the law of Evolution-Sources of assistance and lights which lead to Knowledge-The universal aspiration of humanity-The higher faculties of humanity-Historical processes of Amelioration-Necessity of an Appeal to the Mystics-The path of perfection in the light of Hermetic Philosophy-Evolutionary doctrine in mystic literature-The doctrine of development the open secret of the Mystics-Reference to Alchemy- II. Spiritual and physical Alchemy -Spiritual evolution and Christian theology-Magicians and Alchemists-Physical Mysticism-Its principles-The dogma of Hermes-Importance of Alchemical literature-Solidarity between the spiritual and physical processes-Evolution in Alchemy-Proofs of the doctrine- III. Alchemy as a supernatural science -Its fabulous pedigree-A celestial and communicated gift-The Golden Calf-The New Light of Alchemy-The Hermetical Triumph-Figuier and Helvetius-The Gloria Mundi - IV. Importance of Man in the Art -Difficulties of Alchemical symbolism-Typology and cryptograms-The Subject of Art- V. The spiritual interpretation of Alchem