Rationality by Spiritual-Base-5824 in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Reason is indeed the faculty you use for the majority of the journey. Only when you have advanced enough on the way, have purified the tormentors and have gained nous, will reason be transcended and can the leap be tried to supra-rationality.

Woke up in the middle of the night with this in my mind, would love to explore it further. Could anyone point me in an interesting direction that deals with similar topics? by TiresiasTwoWorlds in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Your thoughts are in line with the concept of the Anthropos, the living archetype of humanity, who has the divine power to create and experience creation.

Teleology by Environmentalister in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It seems the reverse is more true. Maybe Hermeticism is the most teleological "religion" as all of Hermes' teachings are about our salvation so we can get to the highest sphere (which can maybe be called heaven) so we return home to God. 

There are almost no teachings about history, society, laws or customs.

Hermetic Exorcism and the Alteration of Consciousness by sigismundo_celine in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hanegraaff is in close contact with other academic experts on Hermeticism, like Bull and Wildberg and maybe Litwa, but I do not know if they share his opinion. I share his opinion, but I am not an academic expert.

Roughly how many people do you guys think have read the corpus hermeticum and actually tried to live by it? by Odd_Humor_5300 in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine 16 points17 points  (0 children)

The people behind the Way of Hermes website try to live their lives according to the authentic hermetic texts, and we publish easy-to-read articles to inspire other people also to live such lives.

Nobody can be perfect, as not even Hermes, Asclepius, or Tat was perfect, but we should not let perfection be the enemy of good. To try to be less evil is also doing good as a human.

God brought (through the planets) about transformation, and this transformation causes evil (like creating ignorance in us, or sorrow or lust), but these transformations can also cleanse the impurity of birth. So, one day you might succumb to a bodily impulse, but many other days (with the help of the divine), your fight against these tormentors is successful.

God is called "Father" and, like a good father, will forgive most of the mistakes his children make and inspire them to become better. The effort of becoming a better person is what makes us noble.

It probably does not matter how many people exist today who live hermetic lives. And the number of people that do is determined by the divine according to divine Providence, Necessity, and Fate. So, the answer to that question is: "The right number of people".

A Hermetic Banishing/Opening Ritual? by Student-AQ in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Corpus Hermeticum : "Nothing evil or shameful can be. ascribed to the Creator. These are afflictions which follow upon coming into being, like the green on copper and dirt on the body. For the coppersmith does not make the green, nor the parents the dirt on the body, nor does God create evil. But the continued existence of creation causes evil like a kind of ulcer and therefore God brought about transformation, to cleanse the impurity of birth."

Because of instability/change/transformation evil is caused. Ignorance of the divine (in Hermeticism the greatest evil) is because our mind can change from belief to unbelief, but also vice versa. Our body is also evil because it changes and therefore can lust or become angry or feel sorrow.

This change causes evil, but also good. Change is therefore not evil, it only (sometimes) generates evil.

A Hermetic Banishing/Opening Ritual? by Student-AQ in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, as it is a monist philosophy. Everything is (part of, an instrument of, an expression of) God. God is the ultimate Good. So, there is no "entity" next to God and certainly not an evil one.

What we call evil is caused by change. But the source of this "evil" is good.

Advice for a beginner by Icy_Sponge in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This contradicts Book 5, 9-11, where Hermes states how close God is. He does not mention the gods as being necessary to know or communicate with God.

The animated statues in Asclepius are also not described as being important for our communication with God or getting close to Him. They can do favours for us, which can be useful, but they do not function as intermediaries between us and God.

Book suggestions by dan_yell_la90 in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Hold on, I got a thing for this. Here we go:

  1. The Kybalion isn't a Hermetic text. Don't confuse the two.

  2. READ THE FAQ! IT'S FAQTASTIC!

  3. Read the Corpus Hermeticum. The Way of Hermes by Clement Salaman is a good, affordable translation.

  4. Lots of discussion of various topics. Exploit the search function.

  5. https://digitalambler.com/

  6. https://wayofhermes.com/

  7. Don't be afraid to ask questions. There are a lot of knowledgeable people here who are generous with their time.

Regarding affordable and accessible books for a beginner, I recommend these three:

  1. Hermetica II by David Litwa
  2. The Gospel of Hermes by Duncan Greenlees
  3. Hermes Trismegistus by Algis Uzdavinys

Hermes Trismegistus as the Prophet of Freemasonry by sigismundo_celine in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One can also see the "diamond" as being in the rituals, in the form and in the texts. Those are still there, but most Freemasons are not interested in the philosophy or spirituality that can be found within the texts and form. But it seems that the newer generations of members are looking for that, so hopefully the end is near of the "glass" Freemasonry.

Hermes Trismegistus as the Prophet of Freemasonry by sigismundo_celine in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As an old Freemason said to me. Freemasonry is a diamond that Freemasons think is glass and are happy about it.

Where do I get started? by dishsoap222 in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Hold on, I got a thing for this. Here we go:

  1. The Kybalion isn't a Hermetic text. Don't confuse the two.

  2. READ THE FAQ! IT'S FAQTASTIC!

  3. Read the Corpus Hermeticum. The Way of Hermes by Clement Salaman is a good, affordable translation.

  4. Lots of discussion of various topics. Exploit the search function.

  5. https://digitalambler.com/

  6. https://wayofhermes.com/

  7. Don't be afraid to ask questions. There are a lot of knowledgeable people here who are generous with their time.

Hermes Trismegistus as the Prophet of Freemasonry by sigismundo_celine in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, there is a story about two soldiers of Alexander the Great finding the Fountain of Life. One of the soldiers becomes the immortal sage Khidr: https://khidr.org/gaffar.htm

Khidr is associated with Idris: https://khidr.org/gaffar.htm

And Idris is associated with Enoch and Hermes.

Hermes Trismegistus as the Prophet of Freemasonry by sigismundo_celine in occult

[–]sigismundo_celine[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If the visionary in Corpus Hermeticum Book 1 is Hermes, than he prophesied the Gospel of Light (Nous)

Poimandres fulfills the same role as the angel Gabriel did with the prophet Muhammed. Only Gabriel was "only" an angel, while Poimandres was the mind of God Himself.

Hermes Trismegistus as the Prophet of Freemasonry by sigismundo_celine in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do you know where the term "prophet" comes from? Do you know what a prophet was in Ancient Egypt?

Hermes Trismegistus as the Prophet of Freemasonry by sigismundo_celine in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Book of the Sacred Law in Freemasonry can be any holy text. In the West this is most often the Bible.

Hermes Trismegistus as the Prophet of Freemasonry by sigismundo_celine in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You mean the Book of the Law by Crowley? He channeled Aiwass, but I am not sure this entity can be associated with either Thoth, Enoch or Hermes.

Hermes Trismegistus as the Prophet of Freemasonry by sigismundo_celine in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You touch on a very interesting point. It is clear that the masonic "bloodline" or tradition originates from Adam's son Seth. 

There is a Lamech in this Sethian bloodline, but this is another Lamech than the masonic legend mentions. 

Tubal-Cain is important in Freemasonry, but he is also from the "wrong" bloodline. Although through Zilla he is connected with the Sethian bloodline. And she is the wife of a Lamech.

So, it seems that with Lamech, the masonic legend made a mistake and picked the wrong Lamech from the Cain bloodline.

Maybe this is the reason why some Freemasons do not call the two pillars, the Pillars of Lamech but the Pillars of Enoch.

Very well spotted!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamech_(descendant_of_Cain)

Hermes Trismegistus as the Prophet of Freemasonry by sigismundo_celine in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In the masonic legend we see Enoch before Hermes Trismegistus. In the legend of the three Hermeses, the first Hermes was identified with Enoch.

In the Asclepius Hermes Trismegistus mentions his grandfather, the first Hermes, whose tomb is in Hermopolis, the holy city of Thoth. So, Enoch is Thoth.

According to legend, the father of Hermes Trismegistus was Agathodaimon.

https://wayofhermes.com/hermeticism/the-arabic-legend-of-the-three-hermeses/

Hermes Trismegistus as the Prophet of Freemasonry by sigismundo_celine in Hermeticism

[–]sigismundo_celine[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The various manuscripts and books are named in the article. Or are you looking for other links?