At the core of any legend, there’s a dream. Such as a dream to turn any metal into gold, whether by touch or by other means, and the dream to live for as long as it is possible. But Nicholas Flamel’s dream was different. He did not dream of gold and immortality. Instead, he dreamt […]
Moina Mathers, The High Priestess and Mother of the Golden Dawn
Moina Mathers is often seen as the “strong woman behind the great man”. The unconventional beauty of her time, with her unruly dark-brown hair, blue eyes, and slightly dark skin complexion, who was fluent in French, German, and English, was considered by many as kind and charming, yet highly intelligent. Her dream was to become […]
Antoine-Joseph Pernety, The Illuminates of Avignon and the Quest for the Philosopher’s Stone
“Adepts do not run after gold and silver” wrote French polymath Dom Pernety more than 300 years ago, referring to a legend popular in alchemy set in the 7th century. King Calid, the Latin name for Umayyad prince Khalid ibn Yazid, “found many books which treated of Hermetic Science, and being able to comprehend nothing of […]
Eliphas Lévi and the Sphinx of the Occult Sciences
One of the stories I like to tell when showcasing how I feel about the way occult practice is perceived even today is that of Éliphas Lévi’s visit to London in 1854. He went there to teach, but Lévi couldn’t really speak English so his ability to teach anything was limited. Much to his dismay, […]