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Encyclopedia of Ancient and Forbidden Secrets Nye
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Abraham, The Jew:
(Alchemist and magician, circa, 1400).Comparatively few biographical facts are forthcoming concerningthis German Jew, who was at once alchemist, magician andphilosopher; and these few facts are mostly derived from a verycurious manuscript, now domiciled in the Archives of theBibliotheque de l'Arsenal, Paris, an institution rich in occultdocuments. This manuscript is couched throughout in French, butpurports to be literally translated from Hebrew, and the style of thehandwriting indicates that the scribe lived at the beginning of theeighteenth century, or possibly somewhat earlier.A distinct illiteracy characterises the French script, thepunctuation being inaccurate, indeed frequently conspicuous byits absence, but an actual description of the document must bewaived till later. Abraham was probably a native of Mayence,having come thence after the exile of the Jews from Spain, andappears to have been born in 1362. We find that his father, Simonby name, was something of a seer and magician, and that the boyaccordingly commenced his occult studies under the parentalguidance, while at a later date he studied under one, Moses, whomhe himself describes as " indeed a good man, but entirely ignorantof The True Mystery, and of The Veritable Magic."Leaving this preceptor, Abraham decided to glean knowledge bytravelling, and along with a friend called Samuel, a Bohemian, bybirth, he wandered through Austria and Hungary into Greece, andthence penetrated to Constantinople, where he remained fully twoyears. He is found next in Arabia, in those days a veritable centreof mystic learning; and from Arabia he went to Palestine, whencebetimes he proceeded to Egypt. Here he had the good fortune tomake the acquaintance of 
 Abra Melin
, the famous Egyptianphilosopher, who, besides entrusting to him certain documents,confided in him by word of mouth a number of invaluable secrets;and armed thus, Abraham left Egypt for Europe, where eventuallyhe settled in Germany, some say at Wurzburg, but better authorities posit Frankfurt.Soon he was deep in alchemistic researches, but these did notprevent him from espousing a wife, who appears to have been hiscousin Matilde Stein; and by her he had three daughters and alsotwo sons, the elder named Joseph and the younger Lamech.He took great pains to instruct both of them in occul affairs, while,on each of his three daughters, he settled a dowry of a hundredthousand golden florins. This considerable sum, together withother vast wealth, he claim to have gained by travelling as analchemist; and whateve the truth of this statement, he certainlywon great fame being summoned to perform acts of magic beforeman rich and influential people, notably the Emperor Sigismun of Germanv, the Bishop of Wurzburg, King Henry VI. of England, theDuke of Bavaria, and Pope John XXIIIThe remainder of Abraham's career is shrouded in mystery whileeven the date of his death is uncertain, but it i commonly supposedto have occurred about 1460. The curious manuscript cited above,and from which the foregoing facts have been culled, is entitledThe Book the,
 Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin
, as delivered byAbraham the Jew unto his son Lamech. The volume was translatedaround 1899 by one of the founders of the modern British GoldenDawn, and long time Imperator of its Paris Lodge, MacGregor (Samuel Liddell) Mathers.This title, however, is rather misleading, and not strictly accurate,for Abra-Melin ha absolutely no hand in the opening part of thework this consisting of some account of Abraham's youth and earlytravels in search of wisdom, along with advice to the young manaspiring to become skilled in occult arts. The second part, on theother hand, is base on the documents which the Egyptian sagehanded the Jew, or at least on the confidences wherewith theformer favoured the latter; and it may be fairly accurately definedas dealing with the first principles of magic in general, the titles of some of the more important chapter being as follows: " How Many,and what are the Classe of Veritable Magic ? " - What we Ought toTake int Consideration before the Undertaking of the Operation, "Concerning the Convocation of the Spirits, " and " I what Manner we ought to Carry out the Operations.Passing to the third and last part, this likewise is most derivedstraight from Abra-Melin; and here the author eschewingtheoretical matter as far as possible, gives information about theactual practice of magic. In the first place he tells how " Toprocure divers Visions, - How one may retain the Familiar Spirits,bound or free in whatsoever form, " and how " To excite Tempests,while in one chapter he treats of raising the dead, anoth he devotesto the topic of transforming oneself into " dive shapes and forms, "and in further pages he descants o flying in the air, on demolishingbuildings, on discovering thefts, and on walking under the water.Then he dilates o the Thaumaturgic healing of leprosy, dropsy,paralysis and various more common ailments such as fever and sesickness, while he offers intelligence on - How to be b loved by aWoman, " and this he supplements by direction for commandingthe favour of popes, emperors, and oth influential people.Finally, he reverts to the question summoning visions, and hispenultimate chapter is titled, " How to cause Armed Men toAppear, " while the concluding pages treat of evoking " Comedies,Opera and all kinds of Music and Dances." It is by employingKabalistic squares of letters that a these things are to be achieved,or at least, almost all them, and lack of space makes it impossibleto deal with the many different signs of this sort, whose use hecounsels.It should be said, in justice to the author that he manifests littleselfishness, and seems to have striven after success in his craftwith a view to using for the benefit of mankind in general. Hiswritings are besides, a firm belief in that higher self existing inman, and a keen desire to develop it.
Abraxas: (or Abracax
). The Basilidian (q.v., ) sect Gnostics, of thesecond century, claimed Abraxas as the supreme god, and saidthat Jesus Christ was only a phantom sent to earth by him. Theybelieved that his name contained great mysteries, as it wascomposed of the se Greek letters which form the number 363,which is also number of days in a year. Abraxas, they thought,under his command 365 gods, to whom they attrib 365 virtues, onefor each day. The older Mythology placed him among the number of Egyptian gods, demonologists have described him a - a demon,with head of a king and with serpents forming his feet.Represented on ancient amulets, with a whip in his. It is from hisname that the mystic word, Abracad (q.v.) is taken.
Adepts:
Adepts are men who after stern self-denial and by meansof consistent self-development, have fitted themselves to assist inthe ruling of the world. The means by which this position isattained is said to be long and arduous, but in the end theSuccessful one has fulfilled the purpose for which he was createdand transcends his fellows. The activities of Adepts aremultifarious, being concerned with the direction and guidance of 
 
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the activities of the rest of mankind. Their knowledge, like their powers, say Theosophists, far exceeds that of man, and they cancontrol forces both in the spiritual and the physical realm, and aresaid to be able to prolong their lives for centuries.They are also known as the Great White Brotherhood, GreatHermetic Order, Rishis, Rahats, or Mahatmas. Those whoearnestly desire to work for the betterment of the world maybecome apprentices or chelas to Adepts, in which case the latter are known as " masters, " but the apprentice must first havepractised self-denial and self-development in order to becomesufficiently worthy. The master imparts teaching and wisdomotherwise unattainable, and helps the apprentice by communionand inspiration. Madame Blavatsky (q.v.) alleged that she was theapprentice of these masters, and claimed that they dwelt in theTibetan Mountains. The term Adept was also employed bymediaeval magicians and alchemists to denote a master of their sciences.
Adhab-Algal:
The Mohammedan purgatory, where the wicked aretormented by the dark angels Munkir and Nekir.
Adjuration:
A formula of exorcism by which the evil spirit iscommanded, in the name of God, to do or say what the exorcistrequires of him.
Adonai:
A Hebrew word signifying " the Lord, " and used by theHebrews when speaking or writing of Jehovah, the awful andineffable name of the God of Israel. The Jews entertained thedeepest awe for this incommunicable and mysterious name, andthis feeling led them to avoid pronouncing it and to the substitutionof the word Adonai for " Jehovah " in their sacred text. This customstill prevails among the Jews, who attribute to the pronouncementof the Holy Name the power of working miracles. The Jehovah of the Israelites was their invisible protector and king, and no imageof him was made. He was worshipped according to hiscommandments, with an observance of the ritual instituted throughMoses. The term " Jehovah " means. the revealed Absolute Deity, eManifest, Only, Personal, Holy Creator and Redeemer.
Adoptive Masonry:
Masonic societies which adopt women asmembers. Early in the eighteenth century such societies wereestablished in France, and Speedily spread to other countries. Oneof the first to "adopt" women were the Mopses. The Felicitariesexisted in 1742. The Fendeurs or Woodcutters were instituted in1763 by Bauchaine, Master of a Parisian Lodge. It was modelledon the Carbonari, and its popularity led to the establishment of other lodges, notably the Fidelity, the Hatchet, etc. In 1774 theGrand Orient in Lodge of France established a system of degreescalled the Rite of Adoption, and elected the Duchess of Bourbon asGrand Mistress of France.The rite has been generally adopted into Freemasonry, and variousdegrees added from time to time, to the number of about twelve inall. Latin and Greek mysteries were added to the rite by theLadies' Hospitallers of Mount Tabor. The greatest ladies in France joined the French lodges of adoption. The Rite of Mizraim createdlodges for both sexes in 1818, 1821, 1838 and 1853, and the Riteof Memphis in 1839. America founded the Rite of the Eastern Star in five points. In these systems admission is generally confined tothe female relations of Masons. The Order of the Eastern Star andthat of Adoptive Masonry were attempted in Scotland, but withoutsuccess.
Agathodemon:
A good demon, worshipped by the Egyptians under the shape of a serpent with a human head. The dragons or flyingserpents venerated by the ancients were also calledAgathodemons, or good genies.
Agla:
A kabalistic word used by the rabbis for the exorcisms of theevil spirit. It is made up of the initial letters of the Hebrew words,Athah gabor leolam, Ado-nai, meaning, " Thou art powerful andeternal, Lord." Not only among the Jews was this word employed,but among the more superstitious Christians it was a favouriteweapon with which to combat the evil one, even so late as thesixteenth century. It is also to be found in many books on magic,notablv in the
 Enchiridion
of Pope Leo III.
Agrippa von Nettesheim, Henry Cornelius (1486-1535):
CorneliusAgrippa - A German soldier and physician, and an adept inalchemy, astrology and magic. He was born at Cologne on the 14thof September, 1486, and educated at the University of Cologne.While still a youth he served under Maximilian 1. of Germany. Inthe early 16
th
century he lectured at the University of Dole, but acharge of heresy brought against him by a monk named Catilinetcompelled him to leave Dole, and he resumed his former occupation of soldier. In the following year he was sent on adiplomatic mission to England, and on his return followedMaximilian to Italy, where he passed seven years, now serving onenoble patron, now another. Thereafter he held a post at Metz,returned to Cologne, practised medicine at Geneva, and wasappointed physician to Louise of Savoy, mother of Francis 1.; but,on being given some task which he found irksome, he left theservice of his patroness and denounced her bitterly.He then accepted a post offered him by Margaret, Duchess of Savoy, Regent of the Netherlands. On her death he repaired toCologne and Bonn, and thence to France, where he was arrestedfor some slighting mention of the Queen Mother, Louise of Savoy.He was soon released, however, and died at Grenoble in 1535.Agrippa was a man of great talent and varied attainments. He wasacquainted with eight languages, and was evidently a physician of no mean ability, as well as a soldier and a theologian. He had,moreover, many noble patrons. Yet, notwithstanding theseadvantages, he never seemed to be free from misfortune;persecution and financial difficulties dogged his footsteps, and inBrussels he suffered imprisonment for debt.He himself was in a measure responsible for his. troubles. He was,in fact, an adept in the gentle art of making enemies, and thepersecution of the monks with whom he frequently came intoconflict was bitter and increasing. His principal works were adefence of magic, entitled
 De occulta philosophia
, which was notpublished until 1531, though it was written some twenty yearsearlier, and a satirical attack on the scientific pretensions of hisday
, De incertitudine et Vanitate Scientiarum et Artium atque Excellentia Verbi Dei Declamatio
, also published at Antwerp in1531.
Ahnernerbe, S.S. – Reich Ancestral Heritage Office:
Unlike other states in which Occultists are accorded little respect, NaziGermany has made certain occult operations a part of the state,while repressing others with strict brutality. The S.S. itself has anetwork of Thule Society ritual which replaces Christian religionfor S.S. Officers. Based in Old Prussian Paganism, with Nordic
 
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colorings, the S.S. has its own rites, festivals, rituals and burialcustoms. The “spiritual center” of the S.S. – dedicated entirely tothe development of these and other public rituals, is the AncestralHeritage Office.
 
Reichsfuhrer S.S., Himmler, is an avid student of the occult. An SSoccult research department, the Ahnernerbe (Ancestral Heritage)was established in 1935 with SS Colonel Wolfram von Sievers atits head. Occult research took SS researchers as far afield as Tibet.As soon as the Nazi movement had sufficient funds, it began toorganize a number of expeditions to Tibet and these succeeded oneanother practically without interruption through the present day. Itis conjectured that the Nazis wish to find Shambala, an ancientcenter of power which is said to be accessible through hiddentunnels in Tibet.The strongest influence on Hitler in this regard was DietrichEckart (1868-1923). Most biographers have underestimated theinfluence that Eckart exerted on Hitler. He was the wealthypublisher and editor-in-chief of an anti-semitic journal which hecalled
 In Plain German
. Eckart was also a committed occultist anda master of magic. As an initiate, Eckart belonged to the inner circle of the Thule Society as well as other esoteric orders.There can be no doubt that Eckart - who had been alerted to Hitler by other Thulists - trained Hitler in techniques of self confidence,self projection, persuasive oratory, body language and discursivesophistry. With these tools, in a short period of time he was able tomove the obscure workers party from the club and beer hallatmosphere to a mass movement. The emotion charged lay speaker became an expert orator, capable of mesmerizing a vast audience.One should not underestimate occultism's influence on Hitler. Hissubsequent rejection of Free Masons and esoteric movements, of Theosophy, of Anthrosophy, does not necessarily mean otherwise.Occult circles have long been known as covers for espionage andinfluence peddling.
Akashic Record:
the idea that all of the experiences and memoriesof every living being are contained in the substance of the ether.Advanced magicians develop the ability to recover details of pastevents by "reading the Akashic Records."
Akiba:
A Jewish rabbi of the first century, who, from being asimple shepherd, became a learned scholar, spurred by the hope of winning the hand of a young lady he greatly admired. The Jews saythat he was taught by the elemental spirits, that he was a conjurer,and that, in his best days, he had as many as 24, 000 disciples. Heis said to be the author of a famous work, entitled, Yelzirah (q.v.,On the Creation), which is by some ascribed to Abraham, and evento Adam. It was first printed at Paris in 1552. The historic Akibawas a formative influence on Judaism during the post-Diasporaperiod.
Albagensianism:
A neo-Manichæan (Gnostic) sect that flourishedin southern France in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Amongrecent historians there is a pronounced tendency to look upon theCathari as the lineal descendants of the Manichæans. Thedoctrine, organization, and liturgy of the former, in many points,reproduce the doctrine, organization, and liturgy of the earlydisciples of Manes. The successive appearance of thePriscillianists, the Paulicians, and the Bogomili, representatives tosome extent of similar principles, fairly establishes the historicalcontinuity between the two extreme links of the chain -- theManichæans of the third, and the Cathari of the eleventh, century.The Albigensians may also have some relation to the Arian Heresy,which flourished in southern France in the fifth century, before itwas repressed by the Frankish King Clovis, the leader of theMerovingian Dynasty. The Arians denied that Jesus was divine.The name Albigenses, given to the Southern French sect by theCouncil of Tours (1163) prevailed towards the end of the twelfthcentury and was for a long time applied to all the heretics of thesouth of France. They were also called Catharists (katharos, pure),though in reality they were only a branch of the Catharisticmovement. The rise and spread of the new doctrine in southernFrance was favoured by various circumstances, among which maybe mentioned: the fascination exercised by the readily-graspeddualistic principle; the remnant of Jewish and Mohammedandoctrinal elements; the wealth, leisure, and imaginative mind of the inhabitants of Languedoc; their contempt for the Catholicclergy, caused by the ignorance and the worldly, too frequentlyscandalous, lives of the latter; the protection of an overwhelmingmajority of the nobility, and the intimate local blending of nationalaspirations and religious sentiment.
What the Albigensians are supposed to have believed
Relatively little is known about the Albigensian beliefs, since thesect was repressed, and most evidence destroyed. What is knownlargely comes from their opponents. However some picture can bedrawn.The Albigenses asserted the co-existence of two mutually opposedprinciples, one good, the other evil. The former is the creator of thespiritual, the latter of the material world. The bad principle is thesource of all evil; natural phenomena, either ordinary like thegrowth of plants, or extraordinary as earthquakes, likewise oraldisorders (war), must be attributed to him. He created the humanbody and is the author of sin, which springs from matter and notfrom the spirit. The Old Testament must be either partly or entirely ascribed to him; whereas the New Testament is therevelation of the beneficent God. The latter is the creator of human souls, which the bad principle imprisoned in materialbodies after he had deceived them into leaving the kingdom of light. This earth is a place of punishment, the only hell that existsfor the human soul.Punishment, however, is not everlasting; for all souls, beingDivine in nature, must eventually be liberated. To accomplish thisdeliverance God sent upon earth Jesus Christ, who, although veryperfect, like the Holy Ghost, is still a mere creature. TheRedeemer could not take on a genuine human body, because hewould thereby have come under the control of the evil principle.His body was, therefore, of celestial essence, and with it Hepenetrated the ear of Mary. It was only apparently that He wasborn from her and only apparently that He suffered. Hisredemption was not operative, but solely instructive. To enjoy itsbenefits, one must become a member of the Church of Christ (theAlbigenses). Here below, it is not the Catholic sacraments but thepeculiar ceremony of the Albigenses known as theconsolamentum, or "consolation," that purifies the soul from all sinand ensures its immediate return to heaven. The resurrection of the body will not take place, since by its nature all flesh is evil.
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