To Those Who Seek- A Guide

This is a beginners guide for the spiritualist, the mystic, the occultist, and help for the depressed and the confused. They're all one in the same, but choose a different label based on the perception of a path one finds suitable. In other words, if one chooses a label then last label is actually the most appropriate, "the confused." But to be confused is not meant to be derogatory or insulting, being confused is simply acknowledging that one doesn't yet know or understand something that is or can be known. (Even that in itself should be uplifting to the depressed)

This thread is to help one not be so confused and be given direction and guidance to understanding life to advanced spiritual/occult/mystical/magick practices.

To those who label themselves as a spiritualist or a mystic, do not confuse New Age mysticism and spirituality with the true teachings of the mystics. By reading Deepak Chopra or Eckhart Tolle you are not as enlightened as they lead you to believe you or they are. To those who wish to dabble in the Occult because they think it is cool; do you really think you can summon a demon without any understanding of universal law, let alone any understanding of yourself? Without knowledge, without grounding, without experience and without being able to control your own body and mind how can you expect to control anything else? Real Magic/k is feeling, experiencing, and knowing what is beautiful and divine. If you want power, then conquer yourself and you will be more mighty than all men. To the depressed, hold your head up high and know that beyond the bodily chemicals that influence you, you can control your own destiny otherwise and bring understanding and peace to your life. Know that you and only you have the power to do so.

Below is a series of book (free PDF links where possible) to a variety of authors who are true authorities on the "occult," "mystical," and the "spiritual." I have placed the books in a specific order because reading one will open the pathway for the next and provide the knowledge necessary to grow. These books, with an open mind, will provide meaning to life, give it joy and understanding and the real knowledge and wisdom that the so-called "mystics," "occultists" and "spiritualists" claim to have. The books will also teach you history and philosophy and introduce you to real peace and real magic/k. To the open minded, to the true seeker, a true philosopher by the definition of Pythagoras, "a lover of wisdom," these set books in this order will help make their search easier and provide one with the elixir of life, which is truth itself- But it is for one's own self to find it within, literally.

1. The Book- by Alan Watts (PDF link HERE)
Preface to the book:

THIS BOOK explores an unrecognized but mighty taboo—our tacit conspiracy to ignore who, or what, we really are. Briefly, the thesis is that the prevalent sensation of oneself as a separate ego enclosed in a bag of skin is a hallucination which accords neither with Western science nor with the experimental philosophy-religions of the East—in particular the central and germinal Vedanta philosophy of Hinduism. This hallucination underlies the misuse of technology for the violent subjugation of man's natural environment and, consequently, itseventual destruction. We are therefore in urgent need of a sense of our own existence which is in accord with the physical facts and which overcomes our feeling of alienation from the universe. For this purpose I have drawn on the insights of Vedanta, stating them, however, in a completely
modern and Western style—so that this volume makes no attempt to be a textbook on or introduction to Vedanta in the ordinary sense. It is rather a cross-fertilization of Western science with an Eastern intuition.

2. No Death, No Fear- by Thich Nhat Hanh (PDF link HERE)
Amazon description of No Death, No Fear:

With hard-won wisdom and refreshing insight, Thich Nhat Hanh confronts a subject that has been contemplated by Buddhist monks and nuns for twenty-five-hundred years—and a question that has been pondered by almost anyone who has ever lived: What is death? In No Death, No Fear, the acclaimed teacher and poet examines our concepts of death, fear, and the very nature of existence. Through Zen parables, guided meditations, and personal stories, he explodes traditional myths of how we live and die. Thich Nhat Hanh shows us a way to live a life unfettered by fear.

3. The Miracle of Mindfulness- By Thich Nhat Hanh (PDF link HERE)
Amazon description of The Miracle of Mindfulness:

In this beautiful and lucid guide, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercise as a means of learning the skills of mindfulness--being awake and fully aware. From washing the dishes to answering the phone to peeling an orange, he reminds us that each moment holds within it an opportunity to work toward greater self-understanding and peacefulness.

4. History of Mysticism- by S. Abhayanada (PDF link HERE)
Except from History of Mysticism preface:

The material contained herein presents no speculative philosophy; it offers no metaphysical hypothesis. Rather, it is the collected legacy of those who have experienced, first-hand, the unitive Truth underlying all existence. It is a record of the voices of the illumined souls of the past, all of whom gave their hearts, their very lives, to sharing their transcendent knowledge with unborn humanity. And so, to the prospective reader, I say: mark well what you read here. This is no ordinary history of people, places and events; it is the secret history of man’s perennial journey on the ultimate Quest, where all the travelers,arriving from widely diverse paths, arrive at the self-same unitive Truth.It is really the greatest, the most thrillingly wonderful, story ever told.May it awaken you and inspire you to join the great Quest.

5. The Secret Teachings of All Ages- by Manly P. Hall (TEXT link HERE)
Except from The Secret Teachings of All Ages preface:

NUMEROUS volumes have been written as commentaries upon the secret systems of philosophy existing in the ancient world, but the ageless truths of life, like many of the earth's greatest thinkers, have usually been clothed in shabby garments. The present work is an attempt to supply a tome worthy of those seers and sages whose thoughts are the substance of its pages. To bring about this coalescence of Beauty and Truth has proved most costly, but I believe that the result will produce an effect upon the mind of the reader which will more than justify the expenditure.

(Continued next post)

CONTINUED:

6. Prometheus Rising- by Robert Anton Wilson (PDF link HERE)
Amazon description of Prometheus Rising:

Imagine trying to make sense of an amalgam of Timothy Leary's eight neurological circuits, G.I. Gurdjieff's self-observation exercises, Alfred Korzybski's general semantics, Aleister Crowley's magical theorems, and the several disciplines of Yoga; not to mention Christian Science, relativity, quantum mechanics, and many other approaches to understanding the world around us. That is exactly what Robert Anton Wilson does in Prometheus Rising. In short, this is a book about how the human mind works and what you can do to make the most of yours.

7. How to Know Higher Worlds- by Rudolf Steiner (PDF link HERE)
Amazon description of How to Know Higher Worlds:

In this classic account of the Western esoteric path of initiation, Steiner leads the student from the cultivation of reverence and inner tranquility to the development of inner life through the stages of preparation, illumination, and initiation. Practical exercises in inner and outer observation and moral development are described. By patiently and persistently following these suggestions, new "organs" of soul and spirit begin to form, revealing the contours of higher worlds that had been concealed from us. Here, Rudolf Steiner is available as teacher, counselor, and friend. His advice is practical, clear, and powerful.

8. My Life With the Spirits- Lon Milo DuQuette (No free PDF available)
Amazon description of My Life With the Spirits:

A rare glimpse into the fascinating, sometimes terrifying, sometimes hilarious world of a modern ceremonial magician. Hailed by critics as the most entertaining author and one of the most widely respected members of the magick community, Lon Milo DuQuette provides a beacon for aspiring magicians everywhere.

9. The Holy Science- by Sri Yukteswar Giri (PDF link HERE)
Except from introduction of The Holy Science:

The purpose of this book is to show as clearly as possible that there is an essential unity in all religions; that there is no difference in the truths inculcated by the various faiths; that there is but one method by which the world, both external and internal, has evolved; and that there is but one Goal admitted by all scriptures.

10. Initiation into Hermetics- by Franz Bardon (PDF link HERE)
Amazon description of Initiation into Hermetics:

Self-initiation into the Holy Mysteries with the need of a guru or master. Initiation into Hermetics provides step by step instruction in the form of practical exercises. These exercises lead to the development of body, soul and spirit. The result of the practical exercises is the development of occult abilities which can be of benefit to the student, in as far as he can change his existence for the better.

(Continued next post)

11. Enochian Vision Magick- by Lon Milo DuQuette (No free PDF available) -Amazon link HERE Amazon description of Enochian Vision Magick:

Dr. John Dee (1527-1608) was one of the greatest minds of the Elizabethan Age, and his system of angelic communication was the result of the most dramatic magical operation ever recorded. It has survived to become the cornerstone of the modern ceremonial magician's practice. In 1582 Dee and his clairvoyant partner Edward Kelley made magical contact with a number of spiritual entities who identified themselves as angels -- the same that communicated with Adam, Enoch, and the patriarchs of the Old Testament. Over the next three years they revealed to Dee and Kelley three distinct magical systems of vision magick. The third and last of these incorporated a series of "calls" to be recited in an angelic language in order to raise the consciousness of the magician to a level where angelic contact is possible. Best-selling author and magician, Lon Milo DuQuette, who has practiced Dee's system for over twenty-five years, has seized upon elements of the original Dee material overlooked by adepts of the Golden Dawn, Aleister Crowley, and other modern magicians, and brought them to light in Enochian Vision Magick. DuQuette offers the expert and novice alike the practical means by which they can become attuned in the same simple step-by-step manner that first prepared Dee and Kelley. There has never been a book on Enochian magick like this one.


12. Low Magick- by Lon Milo DuQuette (No free PDF available)- Amazon link HERE
Amazon description of Low Magick:

Take a fascinating journey into the life of one of the most respected, sought-after, and renowned magicians alive today: Lon Milo DuQuette. In this follow-up to his popular autobiography, My Life with the Spirits, DuQuette tells how a friend was cursed by a well-known foreign filmmaker and how they removed that curse with a little help from Shakespeare. He explains how, as a six-year-old, he used the Law of Attraction to get a date with Linda Kaufman, the most beautiful girl in first-grade. DuQuette also reveals the ins and outs of working with demons and provides a compelling account of performing an exorcism at a private Catholic high school.
As entertaining as they are informative, the true stories in this memoir contain authentic magical theory and invaluable technical information.

13. Practice of Magical Evocation- by Franz Bardon (PDF link HERE)
Amazon description of Practice of Magical Evocation:

In magical terms, the book is a practical guide to the proper evocation of and communication with spiritual, magical and divine entities. It is perhaps the only truly significant modern study of direct contact with the universal teachers -- the other major works in the field are products of the Medieval, Renaissance, and Reformation periods. But beyond that, there is a fascinating glimpse into a complete magical universe. Bardon outlines a totally new and original hierarchy of magic, from the spirits of the four elements to those of the various planets, and even to each degree of the zodiac. Included with the names and descriptions of the various entities are a collection of previously unknown magical sigils, as well as a true account of ancient astrology.

14. The Chicken Qabalah- by Lon Milo DuQuette (No free PDF available) -Amazon link HERE
Amazon description of The Chicken Qabalah:

A unique and humorous -- and also practical -- approach to the increasingly popular study of Qabalah. This is a seriously funny book! Traditional Qabalistic (or Cabalistic, or, indeed, Kabbalistic -- read this book to find out what the difference is...we know you've always wondered) sources tend to be a bit, er, dry. DuQuette spices up the Qabalah and makes it come alive, restoring the joy of learning the fundamentals of this admittedly arcane system by using simple, amusing anecdotes and metaphors. This account, written psuedepigraphically (fictitiously attributed to a supposed authority), allows DuQuette as Rabbi Lamed Ben Clifford to soar to outrageous heights and, when necessary, stand apart from the silliness to highlight the golden eggs of Qabalistic wisdom nested therein. Sure to be a revelation to those who think that learning about the Qabalah needs to be tedious and serious, DuQuette shows that great truths can be transmitted through the medium of laughter. * A Dilettante's Guide to What You Do and Do Not Need to Know to Become a Qabalist .


15. The Key to Solomon's Key- by Lon Milo DuQuette (PDF link HERE)
Amazon description of The Key to Solomon's Key:

Sketching out a fascinating network of historic figures, cults, and Christendom, this book by an occult-studies expert and respected authority on magic and sorcery takes Western spiritual traditions seriously—but examines them with common sense and self-effacing humor. Working backward from the Freemasons to one of their original orders, the 14th-century Knights Templar, the account considers sorcery, heresy, and intrigues; explores the legend that the Knights possessed a powerful secret dangerous to the Church of Rome; and finds an essential clue to the order's practices in their connection to the biblical Solomon, king of Israel in the 10th century BC.


The End.

Other useful and interesting additional reading:
Occult Anatomy of Man- by Manly P. Hall
Tertium Organum- by PD Ouspensky
Beyond the Physical, Synthesis of Science and Occult- Donald J. DeGracia
Zen and Japanese Culture- DT Suzuki

edit on 24-4-2014 by Ouroboros21 because: (no reason given)

edit on 24-4-2014 by Ouroboros21 because: (no reason given)

edit on 24-4-2014 by Ouroboros21 because: (no reason given)

Thanks for the references, this will be a great thread to bookmark.

Very nice presentation, a useful list.

I've read many of the authors cited...(see signature).

Some more I'd like to add:

Secret Splendor: The Journey Within by Charles Essert

No free pdf but the description from the above Amazon link says this:

Who was Charles Essert? Passionate adventurer, non-conformist, traveling with carnivals and circuses, working in factories and on farms, selling, playing music, building: a citizen of the world. He was a soldier in combat, who, when he left the service became the seeker who would journey around the world--- searching, reading, pondering, asking, is there a reality behind this world?

Avatars, sages, and mystics throughout the ages pass down techniques and methods for transcending the human scene into the fourth dimension --- principles for attaining enlightenment. Yet all who reach this rarefied dimension universally acknowledge that the experience itself is something beyond words and thoughts--that it is virtually indescribable. In this remarkable book, Charles Essert not only points the way to enlightened consciousness, he has been able to describe the indescribable in words of profound clarity.

I lent my copy to my kid 6 months ago - I need to get it back so I can read it again.

And then, of course, there is The Celestine Prophecy: An Adventure by James Redfield.

In the rain forests of Peru, an ancient manuscript has been discovered. Within its pages are 9 key insights into life itself -- insights each human being is predicted to grasp sequentially; one insight, then another, as we move toward a completely spiritual culture on Earth. Drawing on ancient wisdom, it tells you how to make connections among the events happening in your life right now and lets you see what is going to happen to you in the years to come. The story it tells is a gripping one of adventure and discovery, but it is also a guidebook that has the power to crystallize your perceptions of why you are where you are in life and to direct your steps with a new energy and optimisim as you head into tomorrow.

It's a novel, but contains fabulous insights. I think I lent mine to someone and never got it back. Time to reorder it!
Redfield has his own website as well: www.celestinevision.com...
on that link you will find a lot of information (go to the home page); here is a summary of the Twelve insights.

He has other books now as well. The latest is The Twelfth Insight, which he introduces with this message:

...a new clarity about the nature of the universe, and how we, as individuals, can put spiritual knowledge into very practical application to find a higher path through life. Think about it. We have been pursuing spiritual knowledge in a mass way for decades. And finally we've reached the clarity to put it into action, to live it everyday!

As we act individually, we create together a new cultural approach to life that is the key to solving all the problems facing human society. I believe we can already sense what is occurring. There is a new call for civility and honesty in politics and business. It's the new urge we feel to live a more authentic life of integrity.

The emerging Twelfth Insight represents a spiritual life that the best of every religious tradition has always held true, and that, in fact, points the way toward peace. There has never been a more exciting time to be alive. In spite of all our problems, this new awareness can be contagious, moving from person to person and can resolve everything. We just have to consciously share the truth of what we are doing. Remember, it's not the end times. We're just beginning. It's morning in the world!

Now THAT is some good news.


Think I'll order them all right now. Need some spirit-food.

a reply to: BuzzyWigs

Thanks for adding your own additions BuzzyWigs. What resonates with one may not always resonate with another. Every one has their own way of thinking and every way needs a way to be communicated to!

What is your take on the work of Seth (Jane Roberts)?

Looks like I have a lot of future reading material. Thanks for that! S&F for bringing a quality thread to ATS. If I didn't welcome you in the Introductions forum....welcome!

Quite a bit to digest here! You never know what might spark the soul into recognition. I'll just keep plugging.
Thanks for the list, very helpful!!!

Wow thank you for the pdf links and for ordering them for beginners. Starting with Alan Watts is a good choice, I find his philosophy very agreeable and grounded and he presents it in an inspiring and entertaining fashion.

a reply to: kauskau

I read Seth Speaks when I was in middle school and it did get some wheels turning for me at a young age. But I don't think there is anything very special about the text that you can't find presented better elsewhere. However, with that being said it's been too long (12 years?) for me to make any comment worth a good conversation. I have to let you down, sorry brah.

a reply to: Rosinitiate

I'll take a welcome at anytime. Hope you enjoy the material.

Edit: You did welcome me, so thank you twice!

After watching a short video about Alan Watts posted in a different thread, I decided to give his book a shot. I have read the first two chapters, and needless to say it is truly fascinating so far. His understanding of the world is WAY ahead of it's time.

There is a whole world of philosophical exploration I had barely even began to conceptualize! This is the guidance I didn't even know I needed.

Thank you for this list.

a reply to: Attentionwandered

No problem, I'm glad you enjoy Alan Watts. He has a way of opening people up, philosophy and understandings aside, his charm and energy alone can do it for one. And sometimes, that's exactly what one needs more so than words or books.

a reply to: Ouroboros21

Thanks Ouroboros21.

I haven't the time to read all of this thread now, for I am at work.

Starred & Flagged though for future reference though. I imagine I will enjoy, immensely, the book references you have provided. I shall, as instructed, read them in chronological order.

Regards.