Travis Simpkins: "Entering the Chain of Union" by Timothy Hogan

Entering the Chain of Union

by Timothy Hogan

2012

Brief Review by Travis Simpkins

Timothy Hogan is at the forefront of authors and scribes that focus on interpreting complex esoteric subjects. Himself a Freemason, Grand Master of the Knights Templar and President of CIRCES International, Hogan knows the mystical topics very well and presents them in a relatable way that is accessible to all open-minded readers. In Entering the Chain of Union, Hogan seeks to explore the common undercurrent that unites the world's varied esoteric traditions. Going back to ancient Egyptian roots, he notes that "there has indeed been an esoteric doctrine passed down, and that many relatively more recent fraternal organizations do, in fact, owe the origins of their rituals and doctrines to even older traditions that came before them."

Of particular note is the ongoing and omnipresent concept of Gnosis: "The goal of Masonic initiation is the attainment of integral knowledge, which is Gnosis in the true sense of the word. It is precisely this Gnosis that, properly speaking, constitutes the Masonic secret, which is why this secret is essentially incommunicable."

Related themes in Buddhism and Islam are illustrated in depth, with anecdotes and philosophies derived from the author's travels amongst the Tibetans, the Sufi and descendants of the Maya. I especially enjoyed the way in which commonalities and ideas flourish across time and distance. Clear ties between Hermeticism and Christianity exist when considering that "the famous Hermetic axiom of 'As Above, So Below' can be seen in such phraseology as the Lord's Prayer emphasizing 'on earth as it is in heaven.'"

Well worth the cover price, Timothy Hogan's work is compelling and leaves room for serious thought and self-reflection.