Current Periodicals

Alchemy, Hermetic Philosophy,

Esoterism, Mysticism, Rosicrucianism

Published in the Occult Press Review

Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

August 1923

(pages 22-23)

The July-August issue of THE OCCULT REVIEW (London, England), edited by Ralph Shirley, is of particular interest. NOTES OF THE MONTH by the Editor contain two sections (1) Interplanetary Problems; (2) Zoroastrian Polemics. The first of these points out that “From the religious point of view of antiquity our world was the centre of the universe and the only inhabited planet, and the basic ideas of all ancient religions, whether Christian, Roman, Greek, Persian or otherwise, start on the assumption that the Deity, as far as relates to his creation, is concerned alone with this world and its inhabitants. Christianity, for instance, never contemplated the salvation of the inhabitants of innumerable different worlds in innumerable different solar systems, nor did the Persian sunworshippers contemplate the worship of more than one sun, the sun of our solar system. The realization of the fact that these solar systems are legion and that in all probability one or more planets in each of them are inhabited by beings, in many cases more highly developed than our own human race, leads to an entirely fresh orientation of the intellectual outlook, an orientation in which large portions of the old creeds entirely lose their meaning.” This larger outlook is of great importance and represents one of the differences between the old past Aeon and the New. Readers should look out for the article on “The Great Star Goddess” appearing in our next issue,—the thought is evidently “in the air.” . . . ATOMIC ENERGY: ITS SECRET AND MAN, by F. A. Lamprell; speaking of the theories of the possible release of the force of the atom, Mr. Lamprell remarks: ‘“The secret of the disintegration of the atom must be coincident with some knowledge of its cause and effect. . . . I am claiming for the atom an imperceptible something beyond its motion and energy. . . . It appears to me that there are two courses open to man in his search for the atom. One is materialistic, and the other is through his abstract or higher faculties; in other words, through the medium of the Divine link between man and the atom... The forces of nature at his disposal are in proportion to man's knowledge of how to use them. This is inviolable because an absolutely essential law, and it therefore seems to me that the mystery of the atom will not be divulged to the many until the many are ready to understand the responsibility involved in the knowledge. . . . the real knowledge of the atom lies beyond even its wonderful force, and it is to that knowledge that man should direct his thought.” . . . CHATS WITH A PROFESSIONAL MEDIUM, by Stuart Armour, while showing that some mediums are quite genuine and remarkably good kind souls, also indirectly shows the dangers which are likely to beset the best of them. Mrs. Seal in an unguarded moment has a sudden, almost uncontrollable desire to drink a large quantity of brandy; she discovers that a ‘spirit-friend’ is on the lookout for an astral jag. Lots of mediums fail to resist temptations of this sort, and soon go to pieces. Herein lies the danger of lending one's valuable instrument to any Tom, Dick or Harry who desires to use it. The Astral Plane should be controlled, its inhabitants should never control us. Therein lies the difference between true and false "magic." THE ESENCE OF THE PRACTICAL QABALAH, by Frater Achad gives the gist of the Qabalistic System in clear and concise form. This article is also to be found as one of the introductory chapters of “The Egyptian Revival” just published. We regret to note a printer’s error in spelling the Word of the Aeon, which should be ABRAHADABRA, not Abracadabra, as in the article. Such a slight change makes a great difference when dealing with such an important Formula as that whereby Humanity is being Initiated on this planet at the present time. ANCIENT MAN IN BRITAIN, by Lewis Spence; A NIGHTMARE, being a chapter from “The Dreams of Orlow,” SOME THOUGHTS OF OCCULTISM, by R. M. Sidgwick, are all of interest, but space does not permit a detailed review this month. There is some interesting correspondence on PSYCHISM AND OCCULTISM, THE ALLEGED COMMUNICATION FROM MADAME BLAVATSKY, A TILT AGAINST ORTHODOXY, THE AKASHIC RECORDS ONCE MORE, ETC., also the usual Reviews. Our readers should obtain this number, it is worth while!

—C. S. J. [Charles Stansfeld Jones]