An approach to Hermetic and Alchemical Traditions

Chthonios Books focuses on scholarly research in western esoteric traditions. You might want to go directly to our Homepage, where you can find out about the best books in this and other fields, as well as read some online research and translations. Or browse awhile below.…

This page gives some background material and explains Chthonios’ approach to the Hermetic and Alchemical traditions. Other pages look at Ancient Philosophy and Neoplatonism I Ancient Religion and Paganism I Theurgy I Early Christianity and Gnosticism I Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism I Magic I Mediaeval & Renaissance Esotericism I Esoteric Traditions.

Esotericism

Esotericism is often thought of as a ‘third force’ in western thought, in contrast to biblical faith and Greek philosophy (particularly that of Aristotle). Traditions in thought and religion can be defined as ‘esoteric’ in three ways :
I) In a general way they can be defined as special teachings or experiences reserved for an inner circle of initiates.
II) Another important perspective sees esoteric traditions as undercurrents in western thought and religion. Historically, the most important early streams here are the teachings of Pythagoras and Plato and their followers. Once dominant in Greco-Roman thought, they were pushed to the margins by the rise of Christian orthodoxy.
III) A third way of seeing western esotericism looks at the heterodox, unorthodox and heretical streams which flourished beneath the domination of Christian orthodoxy and normative Judaism.

Esotericism and the Hermetic & Alchemical traditions

This page is under construction....come back in a couple of weeks for an informative essay on Hermetic and Alchemical traditions.

For more on ancient Neoplatonism, which reflects Middle-Platonism, like the Hermetic traditions, see now our online translations and commentaries on ancient texts.

Key concepts and people

Below is a list of some important terms and people (with variant forms) from Hermetic and Alchemical traditions which Chthonios specialises in. See also Ancient Philosophy and Neoplatonism I Ancient Religion and Paganism I Mediaeval & Renaissance Esotericism

Hermetica — hermetic, hermeticism, Corpus Hermeticum, Hermes Trismegistus, Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Thoth, Agathodaimon, Horapollo of Nilous, Stobaeus, Poimandres, Asclepius, Cyranides, Alchemy — alchemists, alchemical, Emerald Tablet, Chemical Wedding, emblem books, emblemata, philosophers stone, Zosimos of Panopolis, Ostanes, Maria the Jewess, Albertus Magnus, Geber, Ramon Lull, Paracelsus, Thomas Vaughan, Fulcanelli, origins of alchemy, C.G. Jung, symbolism, Egypt, China.