John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age. Brian C. Wilson
I'm reading through "John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age" by Brian C. Wilson.
John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age
follows the spiritual sojourn of John E. Fetzer, a Michigan business
tycoon. Born in 1901 and living most of his life in Kalamazoo, Fetzer
parlayed his first radio station into extensive holdings in broadcasting
and other enterprises, leading to his sole ownership of the Detroit
Tigers in 1961. By the time he died in 1991, Fetzer had been listed in Forbes
magazine as one of the four hundred wealthiest people in America. And
yet, business success was never enough for Fetzer―his deep spiritual
yearnings led him from the Christianity of his youth to a restless
exploration of metaphysical religions and movements ranging from
Spiritualism, Theosophy, Freemasonry, UFOology, and parapsychology, all
the way to the New Age as it blossomed in the 1980s.
Author
Brian C. Wilson demonstrates how Fetzer's quest mirrored those of
thousands of Americans who sought new ways of thinking and being in the
ever-changing spiritual movements of the twentieth century. Over his
lifetime, Fetzer's worldview continuously evolved, combining and
recombining elements from dozens of traditions in a process he called
"freedom of the spirit." Unlike most others who engaged in a similar
process, Fetzer's synthesis can be documented step by step using
extensive archival materials, providing readers with a remarkably rich
and detailed roadmap through metaphysical America. The book also
documents how Fetzer's wealth allowed him to institutionalize his
spiritual vision into a thriving foundation―the Fetzer Institute―which
was designed to carry his insights into the future in hopes that it
would help catalyze a global spiritual transformation.
John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age
offers a window into the rich and complex history of metaphysical
religions in the Midwest and the United States at large. It will be read
with interest by those wishing to learn more about this enigmatic
Michigan figure, as well as those looking for an engaging introduction
into America's rapidly shifting spiritual landscape.
The Lesser Key of Solomon. Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis. Grimoire. Joseph H. Peterson
I'm reading through Joseph H. Peterson's edition of "The Lesser Key of Solomon."
Compiled
from original manuscripts and fragments in the British Museum Library,
Joseph Peterson's new presentation is the most complete and accurate
edition of this famous magical grimoire.
A widely
respected scholar and archivist of occult texts, Peterson goes to great
length to establish the provenance of each part of The Lessor Key of Solomon,
and possible derivative works, including critical analyses of all major
variations, utilizing fresh translations of earlier magical texts such
as Johann Trithemius's Steganographia, The Archidoxes of Magic by Paracelsus, and newly discovered Hebrew manuscripts of the original Key of Solomon.
Abundantly illustrated, Peterson includes reproductions of the original
magical circles, tools, and seals of the spirits with variations of
certain drawings from various sources and notae missing from earlier
editions.
This definitive edition of The Lesser Key of Solomon includes:
Goetia—The ritual invocation of evil spirits and Solomons devices for binding them Theurgia Goetia—Continues the study of spirits that are “partly good and partly evil” Ars Paulina—Outlines the good spirits or angles governing the hours of the day and the signs of the zodiac. The text is purported to have been discovered by the Apostle Paul after he had been snatched up to heaven and includes “The Conjuration of the Holy Guardian Angel.” Ars Almadel—attributed to an Arab of the same name, this text describes twenty beneficial sprits that govern the zodiac Ars Notoria—With roots that go back to the 13th century Latin manuscripts, and probably even early oral traditions, this collection of orations and prayers in interspersed with magical words said to have mystical properties that can impart communion with God and knowledge of divine and human arts and sciences. Appendices, which include addenda found in the Sloan Manuscript 2731, Johan Weyer’s Psuedomonarchia demonum List of Sources Index