Original Magic: The Rituals and Initiations of the Persian Magi
Autor Stephen E. Flowers Ph. D.en Limba Engleză Paperback – 16 noi 2017
Stephen E. Flowers Ph. D. abordează misticismul dintr-o perspectivă rară în peisajul editorial actual: cea a savantului-practicant care refuză să separe rigoarea academică de experiența ritualică. În Original Magic, autorul ne propune o incursiune în sistemul original al magilor persani, acei „Magi” al căror renume a fost atât de puternic încât numele lor a devenit sinonimul universal pentru arta magiei. Reținem faptul că această lucrare nu este doar un tratat istoric, ci un manual practic ce urmărește reformularea sistemului mazdan pentru căutătorul modern.
Putem afirma că stilul lui Flowers este unul de o precizie chirurgicală, analizând modul în care tradiția Zoroastriană a influențat aproape toate sistemele oculte occidentale ulterioare. Ca și Practical Babylonian Magic, volumul pune accent pe puterea sistemelor primordiale din Orientul Apropiat, dar se diferențiază printr-un stil propriu de organizare a progresiei spirituale, axat pe calendarul sacru și pe o etică a dezvoltării de sine orientată spre binele colectiv. Dacă în alte lucrări ale sale, precum The Magian Tarok sau Icelandic Magic, Flowers explora simbolismul esoteric sau tradițiile nordice, aici el se întoarce la rădăcina absolută a tehnologiei magice.
Structura cărții este concepută ca un parcurs inițiatic clar. După o analiză a modului în care anticii percepeau magia iraniană, autorul trece rapid la teorie și, cel mai important, la practica propriu-zisă. Capitolele dedicate inițierii și ritualurilor sunt completate de anexe tehnice esențiale, precum ghidul de pronunție pentru limba avestică și analiza manthrelor, oferind cititorului instrumentele necesare pentru o practică autentică. Nu este doar o lectură despre istorie, ci o metodologie pentru atingerea stării de 'ushta' sau fericirea iluminată.
Preț: 74.49 lei
Preț vechi: 99.36 lei
-25%
Carte disponibilă
Livrare economică 26 iunie-08 iulie
Livrare express 05-11 iunie pentru 49.37 lei
Specificații
ISBN-10: 1620556448
Pagini: 192
Ilustrații: 12 b&w illustrations
Dimensiuni: 152 x 229 x 15 mm
Greutate: 0.32 kg
Editura: Inner Traditions/Bear & Company
Colecția Inner Traditions
De ce să citești această carte
Această carte se adresează celor care doresc să descopere rădăcinile autentice ale magiei, dincolo de interpretările moderne simplificate. Veți câștiga acces la un sistem de inițiere riguros, vechi de milenii, care îmbină disciplina spirituală cu exerciții practice zilnice. Este o resursă valoroasă pentru oricine este interesat de istoria religiilor, Zoroastrianism sau de aplicarea tehnicilor arhaice de invocare și meditație pentru atingerea echilibrului interior și a clarității mentale.
Despre autor
Stephen E. Flowers Ph. D. este un autor și cercetător american de renume, doctor în limbi și studii germanice la Universitatea din Texas, Austin. Este recunoscut la nivel internațional ca o autoritate de vârf în domeniul runologiei și al tradițiilor esoterice occidentale. Cariera sa se distinge prin capacitatea unică de a îmbina cercetarea academică solidă cu practica ezoterică, fiind autorul a peste două duzini de cărți. În lucrările sale, Flowers explorează adesea intersecția dintre lingvistică, filozofie și magie, oferind perspective noi asupra unor tradiții considerate pierdute sau obscure, de la magia islandeză la misterele persane.
Descriere scurtă
• Provides a complete curriculum of magical study and initiation centered on exercises keyed to the sacred Zoroastrian calendar
• Details advanced magical rituals and practices based on archaic Persian formulas, including fire rituals and divine invocations
Stephen Flowers explores the history, theory, practice, rituals, and initiations of the Mazdan magical system practiced by the Magi of ancient Persia, who were so skilled and famed for their effectiveness that their name came to mean what we today call “magic.”
The author explains how the religious branch of the Mazdan magical system, founded by the Prophet Zarathustra, is known in the West under the name Zoroastrianism. The author reveals how all other known systems of magic have borrowed from this tradition, providing the clues that enabled him to reformulate the original Mazdan system. He reviews what the Greeks, Romans, Hebrews, Christians, and Chinese said about the Iranian-Persian tradition of the Mazdans and their invention of a magical technology. He explains how the ultimate aim of the original form of magic was not only individual wisdom, self-development, and empowerment, but also the overall betterment of the world.
The author details a complete curriculum of magical study and initiation based on a series of graded exercises keyed to the sacred Zoroastrian calendar. Providing a manual for the original magical system used by the members of the Great Fellowship, this book guides you toward the comprehensive practice of the Mazdan philosophy, the ultimate outcome of which is ushta: Happiness.
Notă biografică
Extras
Rituals of Mazdan Magic
In this chapter we will present a series of rituals or magical operations. These rituals exist either as whole workings or as frameworks for individual workings. During the training outlined in chapter 4 you learned the most basic form of magical ritual. Here we will consider some traditional ways that this format can be expanded and tailored to individual needs.
It is possible to perform the rituals of original magic using English only. However, results will be more forceful with the use of the sacred manthras in Avestan and the use of Pahlavi in certain formulas. In general it can be said that the Avestan manthras and the Pahlavi formulas fuel the fire and open the gateway to the realm of menog, thus making the specific working of the individual more effective. Avestan manthras are to be spoken aloud in a clear and ringing voice, the Pahlavi formulas are recited in a lower voice, while English words are to be whispered or merely thought. In general it might be said that the old sacred languages are magical vehicles for the transmission of the will of the fravashi from the soul to the upper creative realms in menog.
An important difference between most rituals of a purely religious nature and those of a magical one is that it is extremely important for the mind and will of the magician to be fully engaged and in synch with the realms of menog and getig in order for the ritual to work. When performing the opening segments of the ritual it is sometimes necessary to repeat the rites and manthras several times until the magician feels that certain something, which tells him or her that the gate is open and the channel of communication has been established.
Operating Environment
In the performance of magic the environment in which the work takes place can be of great importance.
Generally the most suitable places for magical operations are 1) significant locations in nature, 2) at the home altar, 3) in a sanctified temple of the Mazdan Way, 4) in a garden space.
In the most archaic age of the religion founded by Zarathustra, people did not worship in temples at all. Yasnas and other holy work were done in places in nature marked by their beauty and sacred feeling. For our purposes you should find such places close by where it would be possible to conduct your workings.
Of course you should have a home-altar, which can be in any room of the house, or better yet have a room dedicated to holy purposes. Over time the environment will take on its own sacred character shielded from all profane and daevic forces.
If there is a local Occidental Temple of the Wise Lord, the presiding clergy should always make the temple space and fire available to any dedicated Mazdan for spiritual work.
One of the most powerful environments for magical work is the traditional Persian or One of the most powerful environments for magical work is the traditional Persian or Mazdan garden.
Rite of Self-Initiatory Dedication
The first phase of magical initiation takes place in the process of daily training. It is a progressive series of working events. At some time around the ninth month of this curriculum you may feel the need to take another step in the process of dedication, and you will want to move on. Only your conscience will guide you here.
Items Needed for the Initiatory Self-Dedication
1. A loose-fitting white shirt. A white cotton t-shirt will do. It should be new and never used for any other purpose than magical ritual. The significance of the color white is that it reflects all colors; it is a real and symbolic breastplate for the spiritual warrior.
2. A white cord made of organic material (cotton or wool). It should be from between 2/16 and 4/16 inch thick, and the length should be customized to the waist of the initiate. It should be able to fit loosely around the waist winding around the body three times with extra length to accommodate three reef knots and some few inches hanging down in the back. The cord is a complex symbol and also a guidance device in life to help the magician keep his or her consciousness and unconscious mind focused on willed aims and goals.
The Ritual
1. Prepare your altar or khwan as usual. Have the new white shirt and cord on the khwan.
2. Prepare yourself by dressing all in white. Wash all exposed areas of skin in spring water.
3. Stand before the khwan and ignite the flame. As you light the flame say, Yazdân ni Yâd, and when the fire is alight and burning brightly say, Nemase te Atarsh Mazdao. Then recite three Ashem Vohus and three Ahunvars.
4. Pause and meditate for a time upon Atar while you realize a sense of dedication, transformation, and a determination to transform yourself and the world around you into a better place.
5. Now put on the new white shirt. Then begin to tie the cord around your waist as shown in the diagram. While tying the front knot, recite two Ahunvars, then as you tie the back two knots recite an Ashem Vohu.
6. Now stand and face Atar and speak a formula that reflects the magical warrior spirit:
O Ahura Mazda, may Angra Mainyu be stricken and removed.
Crush and smite all liars, tyrants, and wicked ones!
May evil rulers be without sovereignty.
I recognize and reject all my past thoughts, words, and deeds born of ignorance, weakness. and despair and resolve henceforth to think only wise thoughts, speak effective words, and do noble deeds both in this world and that beyond.
Conclude with the Avestan manthra:
Khshnaothra Ahurahe_ Mazda_o_!
Taro_idite_ Angrahe_ Mainye_ush!
(Satisfaction for Lord-Wisdom! Scorn for the hostile spirit!)
Cuprins
Abbreviations
Preface
Introduction
The Time Has Come to Lift the Ban
A Note on the Languages and Texts of the Mazdan Tradition
1 Iranian Magic as the Ancients Saw It
2 The History of Iranian Magic
3 Theories of Mazdan Magic
4 Initiation into Magic
5 Rituals of Mazdan Magic
Appendix A
A Brief History of Eranshahr
Appendix B
Guide to Pronunciation of Avestan
Appendix C
The Analysis of Three Major Avestan Manthras
Appendix D
The One Hundred and One Names of God
Appendix E
Basic Mazdan Astrological Lore
Appendix F
Resources
Glossary
Notes
Bibliography and Reading List
Index
Recenzii
“Since the very word ‘magic’ comes from ancient Persia, it is remarkable how much that tradition has been ignored by modern magicians and pagans. In this book, Stephen Flowers, Ph.D., fills that gap, using both his academic prowess and his magical experience to provide a workable system of magical initiation and training based on both the original sources and what can be reconstructed from modern Iranian practice. The result is a system that will bring about deep spiritual change in its practitioners.”
“Unlike works on esoteric praxis that seek to cultivate an air of mystification, Stephen Flowers’s Original Magic allows the ancient and genuine tradition of Mazdan spirituality to reveal itself in radiant clarity. The result is a challenging but thoroughly workable curriculum for self-initiation into one of our oldest living religious and philosophical currents. Although it shares Indo-European roots with the more familiar pagan traditions of the West, the flame that fuels the Mazdan way has never been stifled or snuffed out by the vicissitudes of history. And in stark contrast to systems of sorcery based in a cynical paradigm, Original Magic offers more than just a path toward wisdom and betterment for the individual--its goal is a truly enlightened world.”
“Stephen Flowers changed magical research and practice by bringing scholarship and actual practice into a complementary whole. Original Magic will be a game-changer in the esoteric and scholarly worlds. It returns magic to its roots and restores the original symbol of the mind as a flame. It is a most powerful work.”
“The foremost authority of rune magi is Stephen Flowers, both as a practitioner and as scholar. As in all of Flowers's books, Original Magic contains both pioneering perspectives as well as roots in historical sources and solid academic research.”