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Arthur Edward Waite was a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and cocreator of probably the most famous and commonly used tarot deck. He was also a prolific writer and a prominent Freemason. In this short discourse he examined the symbolism of our often-ignored second degree.

There is no symbol more interesting to the masonic student than the Sprig of Acacia—not only on account of its own peculiar import—but also because it introduces us to an extensive and delightful field of research: that, namely, which embraces the symbolism of sacred plants. In all the ancient systems of religion, and Mysteries of initiation, there was always some one plant consecrated, in the minds of the worshippers and participants, by a peculiar symbolism.

William Wynn Westcott was a renowned masonic scholar heavily involved in the occult revival of the 19th century, and organizations like the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, as well as numerous masonic offshoots. He was also Supreme Magus of the Rosicrucian S.R.I.A. Here he takes his knowledge of Rosicrucian history and offers up a lecture for us students of esoteric lore.

A. E. Waite presents a short but informative essay on Pico della Mirandola and how his collection of Kabbalistic conclusions came into existence. The 49 conclusions, which are also presented here, have been often connected to the 50 Gates of Wisdom (Binah) in Kabbalistic studies.

This is a collection of 26 essays on a variety of theosophical, spiritual and esoteric subjects by some of the most notable and prominent names in the history of theosophy. Compiled specifically with the student in mind.

Waite covers a lot of esoteric territory in this work, from mysticism, to alchemy to the Kabbalah, with a spattering of Latin throughout, for those wishing to brush up. The overall theme here being the search for personal adeptship, to which Waite proclaims, "Lift up your eyes." This is the advice that Brother Waite gives the zealous aspirant who may be seeking the secret tradition or the hidden college of the Rosicrucians.

Just as many more sayings and doings of the Lord existed prior to and alongside the canonical Gospels, so were there, prior to and alongside the subsequently selected or canonical acts, many other narratives professing to record the doings and sayings of the apostles and disciples of the Lord. This is one such gnostic text which had been lost for centuries.

Notable theosophical author and colleague of Madame Blavatsky, writer C. De. Leiningen examines the more mystical and transcendental side of a subject that sometimes is approached from too much of a mathematical or analytical viewpoint. He discusses concepts like morality, reasoning, divinity and humanity and how the spiritual experience comes into play with regards to the four Qabalistic parts of the soul.

In lecture given to a Masonic lodge in Dublin in 1857, Robert Longfield muses on a topic many are still debating today, whether or not the noble fraternity of Freemasonry has ancient origins or if those allegations simply are, as Brother Longfield puts it, a “modern invention.” The author offers numerous examples from the ancient world, which seem to support Freemasonry having existed for hundreds or even thousands of years prior.

Generally, when we hear the word “psalm”, we tend to think of the traditional 150 psalms that collectively comprise the Book of Psalms of the Old Testament. Of those 150 psalms, about half of them are traditionally attributed to David. But, King Solomon is also remembered for being a prolific writer, as the author of numerous biblical books: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Wisdom of Solomon, as well as this one. Presented here are King Solomon's lost 18 psalms that make up this apocryphal book.

This translation of the Book of Parables comes to us from notable scholar of apocryphal literature R. H. Charles. A new, lengthy introduction has been added, exploring what the Book of Parables is about, offering assistance to the listener.

Brother Westcott describes karma in a theosophical setting and also touches briefly on Esoteric Christianity while reminding us that we all have potential divinity inside of us. He warns heavily of the perils and pitfalls the neophyte must navigate to avoid becoming a black magician, while exploring what he refers to as the hidden mysteries of nature. Additionally, he reminds us that although every potential Adept must exist on this physical plane, they must also live above it.

Famed masonic and spiritual writer J. D. Buck discusses and examines a lesser-known book called The Great Work: The Constructive Principle of Nature in Individual Life, by John Emmett Richardson. Buck believes that Richardson has uncovered some deeper secrets that relate to the masonic initiations and the lost word, and he wishes to share some of the insight.

Prominent Theosophical writer, Charles Webster Leadbeater, discusses how we are influenced by everything that surrounds us, be it rocks, plants, or other people. Everything we encounter possesses an essence appropriate to its elemental counterpart, which imparts an influence on us. Leadbeater explains how to navigate our environment with this in mind. Written for students of Theosophy.

Arthur Edward Waite examines the classic Legend of San Graal (or the Holy Grail), as it was known in both Great Britain and France. He looks at similarities, writes about Percival, and quotes from Tennyson. He discusses the suppression of the Knights Templar by Pope Clement in 1307. He also looks at what role Christianity plays in all of this. During the course of his exploration, Waite likens the knights' quest for the Holy Grail to the candidate's journey through the initiatory degrees in Freemasonry.

Leadbeater addresses the sorrow, grief, and despair we all sometimes experience in this mortal coil, especially when someone close to us has passed beyond the veil. He explains how our mourning for those who have transitioned beyond a terrestrial life affects those who now exist in spirit form. As well, before we can understand their position there, we must first understand our own here.

Leadbeater describes what a non-member might expect to encounter behind closed doors at a Theosophical Lodge meeting, such as he would have attended in his day, what they may get out of it, what they might give and what is gained by all, through this collective group of individuals coming together. The outcome is likely not all that different from every real occult lodge, not just the theosophical ones.

In a clear and wonderful way, Lord Krishna describes the science of self-realization and the exact process by which a human being can establish their eternal relationship with God. In terms of pure, spiritual knowledge the Bhagavad Gita is incomparable. Its intrinsic beauty is that its knowledge applies to all human beings and does not postulate any sectarian ideology. It is approachable from the sanctified realms of all religions and is glorified as the epitome of all spiritual teachings.

Over 350 years before the British occultist Aleister Crowley was sitting quietly in a Cairo hotel room receiving the text of his Book of the Law, the famous French renaissance author Francois Rabelais was busy writing the second book of his legendary fantasy quintology Gargantua and Pantagruel, which included the story of the founding of the Abbey of Theleme, wherein but one clause was observed: "Do What Thou Wilt"!

William Wynn Westcott was a theosophist, Freemason, and Rosicrucian and one of the cofounders of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. In his own personal spiritual belief system he subscribed to the concept of successive lives in the form of earthly experiences, as was almost universal in the doctrines of the ancient world. Here he examines the changes that occur to an individual upon death (spiritually speaking, of course) and what that means for how a person should choose to live his or her life.