The Hermes Paradigm, Book One: First Principles (Modern Magistery)

Softcover. 8vo. 165pp. Modern Magistery series. Stiff card covers with printed inner flaps. Colour and b&w illustrations. Drawing upon many years of rigorous research conducted by dozens of trained individuals, Rubaphilos Salfluere offers a detailed consideration of the core concepts that afford a glimpse at the nature of the philosophy, and its first principles, which lie at the heart of Hermetic science - the source and backbone, yet least understood aspect, of the Western mystery tradition. Beginning with an examination of the history of Hermeticism over the past two millennia, a clear historical and conceptual distinction is made between the body of pure Hermetic knowledge - the secret tradition - and the popular outer tradition, the latter of which is so often mistaken for the former. The much-neglected and misunderstood heart of Hermetic philosophy and its practical expression - the science of Hermetic initiation - is the subject of detailed discussion, as is the central role that alchemy plays in the theory and practical dynamic of Hermeticism. The Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus is dissected in order to provide the reader with an introduction to how natural law provides the blueprint for both the alchemical laboratory tradition and the inner alchemical journey of initiation. Originally trained as a neo-Jungian therapist, Rubaphilos Salfluere began his nine year alchemical apprenticeship in 1988, under the private instruction of the last active New Zealand graduate of Frater Albertus Spagyricus. During the past 20 years, Rubaphilos has been a member of a number of respected esoteric organisations including the Ancient and Mystical Order Rosæ Crucis, the Builders of the Adytum, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the Philosophers of Nature, and the Freemasons.