Mărțișor, celebrated on March 1st, is a cherished Romanian tradition, alongside Dragobete and Baba Dochia's days, marking the beginning of spring and the agrarian New Year. The term Mărțișor means little March and refers both to the day itself and to the red-and-white cord traditionally
[caption id="attachment_242" align="alignleft" width="340"] Moina Mathers - The high priestess behind the Golden Dawn[/caption] Moina Mathers was a central creative figure of the British Occult Revival at the turn of the 20th century, whose influence helped shape the Golden Dawn and, by extension, Western esotericism. Fluent
One of the clearest signs of spring is the return of the birds. Their gathering, singing, and mating announce the awakening of nature. In Romanian folklore, this renewal is helped along by fairy beings who guide the world out of its winter sleep. Among the
[caption id="attachment_209" align="alignleft" width="340"] The Great Work - Illustration in Dom Pernety's "Dictionnaire Mytho Hermétique", a seldom remembered book with enormous impact on alchemy and hermetic philosophy[/caption] “Adepts do not run after gold and silver” wrote French polymath Dom Pernety more than 300 years ago, referring to
[caption id="attachment_87" align="aligncenter" width="819"] Frater Ifpas - on Instagram "this_occult_life" in altar robe[/caption] I first noticed Frater Ipafs one year ago on Instagram and started following his quite unique feed, which gives rare and open insights into his strict discipline, rigorous studies and practice of ceremonial
[caption id="attachment_157" align="alignleft" width="340"] Agrippa von Nettesheim, born in Nettesheim near Cologne. Renaissance man, magician and often considered to be the historical Dr. Faust after his death in 18 February 1535[/caption] The Witch's Advocate, Cornelius Agrippa was on a mission to bind man back to the First
[caption id="attachment_113" align="alignleft" width="290"] While a novice in the Dominican convent at Naples, Bruno removed images of the saints from his cell, keeping only a crucifix. He also expressed doubts about the devotion to the Virgin Mary, actions that drew early suspicion of unorthodoxy.[/caption] On Ash
[caption id="attachment_64" align="alignleft" width="350"] Ceremonial magician and influential figure of modern occultism: Éliphas Lévi Zahed, born Alphonse Louis Constant[/caption] Sometime in 1854, Éliphas Lévi traveled to London to give lectures, but his limited English made teaching difficult. To his further dismay, he was also expected to
