This reading list is intended to serve as a primer and introduction to the broad and diverse field of occult knowledge and spiritual traditions. It is by no means an exhaustive or all-inclusive selection, but rather a curated starting point to help the reader build a foundational understanding of these profound and complex topics.
The texts included here represent a wide range of cultural, historical, and philosophical perspectives, from ancient mythologies to contemporary mystical writings. However, the reader should understand that this list merely scratches the surface of the occult landscape and is meant to inspire further exploration, critical thinking, and personal discovery.
As the reader progresses through this material, they are encouraged to approach the concepts and ideas with an open and inquiring mind. The goal is to cultivate a well-rounded perspective, not to prescribe any single worldview or set of beliefs.
It is important to remember that the occult, by its very nature, is a vast and multifaceted field of study, With this in mind, let us begin our exploration of the occult and its many facets.
"The Hero with a Thousand Faces" by Joseph Campbell
"The Power of Myth" by Joseph Campbell
"The Secret Teachings of All Ages" by Manly P. Hall
"Isis Unveiled" by Helena Blavatsky
"The Secret Doctrine" by Helena Blavatsky
"The Upanishads"
"The Bhagavad Gita"
"The Dhammapada" - a collection of Buddha's teachings
"Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu
"The Way of Zen" by Alan Watts
"The Egyptian Book of the Dead"
"The Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus"
Gnostics, Nag Hammadi Library
"The Epic of Gilgamesh"
"The Conference of the Birds" by Farid ud-Din Attar
SHAMANIC TRADITIONS
The works by authors like Michael Harner, Mircea Eliade, and Jeremy Narby provide a comprehensive understanding of shamanism as a universal human experience, while the Native American, African, and Vodou-focused texts offer insight into the unique cultural expressions of these traditions.
Shamanism and Indigenous Spirituality:
"The Way of the Shaman" by Michael Harner
"Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy" by Mircea Eliade
"Secrets of the Talking Jaguar" by Martín Prechtel
"The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge" by Jeremy Narby
"Ayahuasca Visions: The Religious Iconography of a Peruvian Shaman" by Luis Eduardo Luna
Native American Traditions:
"Black Elk Speaks" by John G. Neihardt
"Coyote Medicine" by Lewis Mehl-Madrona
"Ceremony" by Leslie Marmon Silko
"Braiding Sweetgrass" by Robin Wall Kimmerer
African Spirituality and Vodou:
"The Vodou Quantum Leap" by Mambo Chita Tann
"Vodou Songs in Haitian Creole and English" by Daniel Levin Becker
"The Sacred Arts of Haitian Vodou" edited by Donald J. Cosentino
"Orishas, Santería, and Vodun" edited by Patrick Bellegarde-Smith
Shamanism and Psychedelics:
"Food of the Gods" by Terence McKenna
"The Archaic Revival" by Terence McKenna
"The Cosmic Serpent" by Jeremy Narby
"DMT: The Spirit Molecule" by Rick Strassman
Comparative Mythology and Symbolism:
"The Mythic Dimension" by Joseph Campbell
"The Historical Atlas of World Mythology, Vol. I and II" by Joseph Campbell
"The Masks of God" series by Joseph Campbell
EASTERN TRADITIONS
Works on Hinduism and Tantra, such as "The Tantric Tradition" and "Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy," offer a comprehensive understanding of these powerful and often misunderstood spiritual practices.
The section on Buddhism and Zen explores the depth and nuance of these traditions, from the Heart Sutra and Diamond Sutra to the practical insights of Zen masters like Shunryu Suzuki and Takuan Sōhō.
The Daoist and Chinese esoteric texts, including "Zhuangzi" and "The Secret of the Golden Flower," shed light on the unique worldview and spiritual practices of these ancient Chinese traditions.
The Tibetan Buddhist works, such as "The Tibetan Book of the Dead" and "The Life of Milarepa," provide a window into the rich symbolism, practices, and cosmology of this esoteric stream of the Buddhist tradition.
Finally, the comparative mysticism and esoteric studies texts by authors like Wayne Teasdale and Aldous Huxley offer a holistic perspective on the universal themes and interconnections between these diverse Eastern spiritual traditions.
Ancient Eastern Philosophies and Scriptures:
"The Upanishads"
"The Bhagavad Gita"
"The Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu
"The Analects" by Confucius
"The Dhammapada"
Hinduism and Tantra:
"The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali"
"The Tantric Tradition" by Agehananda Bharati
"Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy" by Georg Feuerstein
"The Serpent Power" by Sir John Woodroffe (Arthur Avalon)
Buddhism and Zen:
"The Heart Sutra"
"The Diamond Sutra"
"Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" by Shunryu Suzuki
"The Unfettered Mind" by Takuan Sōhō
"The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch" by Huineng
Daoism and Chinese Esoterica:
"Zhuangzi" (Also known as "Chuang Tzu")
"The Secret of the Golden Flower" translated by Richard Wilhelm
"Nei-yeh: Taoist Precepts" translated by Harold Roth
Esoteric Tibetan Buddhism:
"The Tibetan Book of the Dead" translated by Karma Lingpa
"The Life of Milarepa" by Tsangnyön Heruka
"The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" by Sogyal Rinpoche
Comparative Mysticism and Esoteric Traditions:
"The Mystic Heart" by Wayne Teasdale
"The Perennial Philosophy" by Aldous Huxley
"Spiritual Traditions for the Contemporary World" edited by Fredrica R. Halligan and John J. Harbison
The advanced practitioner would be expected to have a deep experiential understanding of these practical components, seamlessly integrating them with the theoretical and philosophical frameworks of their respective esoteric traditions. This holistic approach would empower the student to truly embody the teachings and unlock the transformative potential of the esoteric arts.
Pranayama:
Mastery of various Pranayama techniques (e.g., Nadi Shodhana, Kapalabhati, Bhastrika)
Practices for the control and manipulation of the life force (prana)
Integration of breathwork with meditation and spiritual practices
Advanced Vipassana (Insight) meditation techniques
- Mahamudra and Dzogchen practices for the direct realization of the nature of mind
- Kundalini yoga and the awakening of the subtle energy centers (chakras)
- Formless and non-dual awareness meditations
Energy Work and Subtle Body Awareness:
Cultivation of sensitivity to the energetic body and the flow of qi/chi
Practices for the activation and balancing of the chakra system
Techniques for the generation, circulation, and transmutation of subtle energies
Consciousness Exploration:
Practices for lucid dreaming and navigating the dream state
Techniques for out-of-body experiences and astral projection
Methods for exploring the bardos and the nature of consciousness.
Extensive work with the Kabbalistic Tree of Life and its symbolic landscapes
Guided meditations and visualizations for the exploration of inner realms
Techniques for active imagination and the embodiment of archetypes
Alchemical Practices:
Practical work with the alchemical process of inner transformation
Experiments with the purification, transformation, and elevation of consciousness
Symbolic and practical engagement with the Great Work
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