Isis Unveiled: chapter I (an axiom of hermetic philosophy)

"Putting aside the purely metaphysical teachings of the Kabala, if one would devote himself but to physical occultism, to the so-called branch of therapeutics, the result might benefit some of our modern sciences; such as chemistry and medicine.   Says Professor Draper: "Sometimes, not without surprise, we meet with ideas which we flatter ourselves originated [...]

Isis Unveiled: chapter I (an axiom of hermetic philosophy)

"The greatest teachers of divinity agree that nearly all ancient books were written symbolically and in a language intelligible only to the initiated. The biographical sketch of Appolonius of Tyana affords an example.   As every Kabalist knows, it embraces the whole of the Hermetic philosophy, being a counterpart in many respects of the traditions [...]

Isis Unveiled: chapter I (an axiom of hermetic philosophy)

"Magic is as old as man. It is as impossible to name the time when it sprang into existence as to indicate on what day the first man himself was born.   Whenever a writer has started with the idea of connecting its first foundation in a country with some historical character, further research has [...]