Esoteric Disciplines

[Eliberto1]

First, I want to express my apologies: I have tried my best to translate some words. Some of them may not have a proper translation or I do not know the correct term. Furthermore, English is not my first language, so some mistakes in grammar or orthography are probable.

Some may find interesting this post, which is a brief summary of a lesson about the esoteric disciplines given by my teacher.

In esoterism there are 9 main sciences and 9 main arts, and 3 more suppletory sciences and arts. Each one is associated with a type of magic, a world and an upper knowledge. In fact, these disciplines are considered as introductory subjects for magic operations, but they are highly valuable by themselves.

The 12 sciences are:

• Theosophy: the knowledge of gods and sacred things.
• Anabasis: the secret knowledge of ascension to the upper worlds.
• Symbology: the science of symbols and analogy.
• Demonology: the knowledge of demons.
• Cosmosophy: the esoteric knowledge of the world, its structure and its principles.
• Pneumatosophy: the science of human spirits and the subtle anatomy of the body.
• Arithmosophy: the esoteric science of the numbers and figures.
• Astrology: it is also included the doctrine of time cycles.
• Catabasis: the knowledge related to the breath discipline and its applications.
• Angelology: the knowledge of angels.
• Aretosophy (The Science of Virtues): the knowledge of occult signatures, including esoteric medicine.
• Initiatics: the science of initiation rites.

The 12 esoteric arts are:

• Kabbalah: the art related to the interpretation of sacred texts.
• The Science of Letters: the esoteric art related to the letters and sounds.
• Oneiromancy: the art of dreams (interpretation and divination).
• The Science of Spirits: communication with the dead ones and other spirits.
• Alchemy: the art of transformation and purification of substances.
• Etosophy: the science related to the year cycle and live beings.
• Geosophy: the art related to earth mysteries, as telluric energies.
• Science of Prodigies: the esoteric (pre)history of humankind.
• The Art of Memory: the esoteric teachings related to
• The Science of Names: the esoteric art related to the names of power.
• Extatics: the knowledge of upper states of conscience.
• Divination: the techniques to reveal the occult things.

Hope this will be useful.

 

[HoldAll]

Phew, thank whoever for chaos magic!

 

[odrep]

Where this structure comes from?

 

[Robert Ramsay]

I always hated doing exams.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 9:35 AM

Also, why are four of the Arts called Sciences, and another one described as a science?

 

[arkkana]

U said u know this because of your teacher, I didn't know this could be studied profesionally. How did u study that? At least in spain I don't know anything like that

 

[Morell]

Kabbalah...
why there always has to be Kabbalah?

This looks more like university sheet for Ph.D. study program than realistic list of tasks for occult student who wants to practice the learned stuff.

And even than it's so wide that I would doubt that anyone can learn enough on all of those subjects to be able to work with them all effectively. If you learn theory, then maybe, but for practice, I'm very skeptical.

 

[Eliberto1]

Phew, thank whoever for chaos magic!

There was no intent to suggest one must study all subjects, but if you want to work Goetic operations, it is fairly convenient to know about Demonology.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 5:33 PM

Where this structure comes from?

In truth, I cannot say for certain. The origins of these subjects date back to antiquity, but their content was largely standardized during the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries. As for the array, my teacher believed that this structure most likely originated in France around the middle of the nineteenth century.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 5:45 PM

I always hated doing exams.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 9:35 AM

Also, why are four of the Arts called Sciences, and another one described as a science?

The distinction between sciences and arts is subtle. In general, sciences are understood to have a more theoretical foundation, whereas the arts are learned primarily through practice. Some arts are also referred to as sciences (I learned them that way) but this is probably a matter of translation. A more accurate description would be to call them bodies of knowledge or crafts.

 

[Robert Ramsay]

I can imagine that for many of these subjects there would be mind-boggling differences of opinion between practitioners. Plus the demarcation between 'arts' and 'sciences' seems pretty arbitrary. Alan Moore would tell you that art and magic are basically the same thing.

Also, how long are you given to learn this lot? Looks like more than a three year course

Do you get a certificate?

 

[Eliberto1]

U said u know this because of your teacher, I didn't know this could be studied profesionally. How did u study that? At least in spain I don't know anything like that

I'm afraid I have to disappoint you. As far as I know, the Academy doesn't offer courses of that kind, at least not with a practical focus. My teacher wasn't affiliated with any such organizations.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 6:15 PM

I can imagine that for many of these subjects there would be mind-boggling differences of opinion between practitioners. Plus the demarcation between 'arts' and 'sciences' seems pretty arbitrary. Alan Moore would tell you that art and magic are basically the same thing.

Also, how long are you given to learn this lot? Looks like more than a three year course

Do you get a certificate?

I do not claim to have mastered all of these subjects. In my experience, achieving true mastery in even one of them is a lifelong pursuit. However, acquiring a basic understanding of several disciplines can give the student a deeper understanding of esoteric practices.

I believe that the differences between (true) schools or teachers may appear quite significant, but they are not substantial enough to alter the core teachings.

In my view, Magic is founded upon both science and art, yet it ultimately transcends them.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 7:38 PM

Kabbalah...
why there always has to be Kabbalah?

This looks more like university sheet for Ph.D. study program than realistic list of tasks for occult student who wants to practice the learned stuff.

And even than it's so wide that I would doubt that anyone can learn enough on all of those subjects to be able to work with them all effectively. If you learn theory, then maybe, but for practice, I'm very skeptical.

As I said, the objective is not to know every subject, which may be quite unfeasible. You can learn a bit of several disciplines, but the idea is to pursuit two in depth. The ones with which you feel the greatest affinity.

For me Kabbalah is one the best starting points, as the metaphysical realities are grasped exceptionally well by its study. Moreover, Kabbalah has a very direct pipeline with some powerful forms of magic.

 

[lightning]

First, I want to express my apologies: I have tried my best to translate some words. Some of them may not have a proper translation or I do not know the correct term. Furthermore, English is not my first language, so some mistakes in grammar or orthography are probable.

Some may find interesting this post, which is a brief summary of a lesson about the esoteric disciplines given by my teacher.

In esoterism there are 9 main sciences and 9 main arts, and 3 more suppletory sciences and arts. Each one is associated with a type of magic, a world and an upper knowledge. In fact, these disciplines are considered as introductory subjects for magic operations, but they are highly valuable by themselves.

The 12 sciences are:

• Theosophy: the knowledge of gods and sacred things.
• Anabasis: the secret knowledge of ascension to the upper worlds.
• Symbology: the science of symbols and analogy.
• Demonology: the knowledge of demons.
• Cosmosophy: the esoteric knowledge of the world, its structure and its principles.
• Pneumatosophy: the science of human spirits and the subtle anatomy of the body.
• Arithmosophy: the esoteric science of the numbers and figures.
• Astrology: it is also included the doctrine of time cycles.
• Catabasis: the knowledge related to the breath discipline and its applications.
• Angelology: the knowledge of angels.
• Aretosophy (The Science of Virtues): the knowledge of occult signatures, including esoteric medicine.
• Initiatics: the science of initiation rites.

The 12 esoteric arts are:

• Kabbalah: the art related to the interpretation of sacred texts.
• The Science of Letters: the esoteric art related to the letters and sounds.
• Oneiromancy: the art of dreams (interpretation and divination).
• The Science of Spirits: communication with the dead ones and other spirits.
• Alchemy: the art of transformation and purification of substances.
• Etosophy: the science related to the year cycle and live beings.
• Geosophy: the art related to earth mysteries, as telluric energies.
• Science of Prodigies: the esoteric (pre)history of humankind.
• The Art of Memory: the esoteric teachings related to
• The Science of Names: the esoteric art related to the names of power.
• Extatics: the knowledge of upper states of conscience.
• Divination: the techniques to reveal the occult things.

Hope this will be useful.

Thank you for the post, in my case i just test things and what works works i do not follow specific paths

 

[mikastophiel]

I'm left to wonder if this still works across cultures, as it seems mostly suited for describing western/European esotericism?

 

[FireBorn]

I can respect the list and those who yearn to learn, nothing in the world wrong with any of that, but let me ask, has learning any of the topics listed added to your abilities in magick or in the occult in general? How has any of that learning moved the needle for you personally, and/or experientially?

 

[Darkat]

Very much agree with Fireborn on this. I have read hundreds of books over the years and found interesting stuff in most of them, but there is no substitute for getting in there and practicing real magick.
Studying is all well and good, but putting magick into practice is the only way to learn.

 

[Eliberto1]

I'm left to wonder if this still works across cultures, as it seems mostly suited for describing western/European esotericism?

You are absolutely correct. This list are based in European esotericism. However, similar teachings are found in other cultures. For example in the islamic world these 12 arts are referred as: asraar alkhalq, alhhuruf, arruya, istihdar al'arwah, alkimiya, asraar alfalkiya, arrami, altaarikh asirii, fan aldhaakira, al'armaa', 'ilm alwajd, alkahhanat. In fact, I believe many of the actual contents came from antiquity through the Islamic esotericism. Also in India there are similar sciences, but I cannot specify more.

 

[AbammonTheGreat]

Kabbalah...
why there always has to be Kabbalah?

This looks more like university sheet for Ph.D. study program than realistic list of tasks for occult student who wants to practice the learned stuff.

And even than it's so wide that I would doubt that anyone can learn enough on all of those subjects to be able to work with them all effectively. If you learn theory, then maybe, but for practice, I'm very skeptical.

It might seem overwhelming to the beginner but the occult path goes by in an instant. Ten years down the line it is entirely reasonable to think someone who practices and studies regularly will have an intermediate understanding of these subjects on a practical and theoretical level. On top of this we are magicians, accelerated learning and mastery of subjects is entirely within the wheel house of ritual magic. Plenty of entities teach these subjects, the ars notoria is a 4 month ritual specifically for learning a lot of these things, and you can always approach Thoth/Hermes/Mercury for help with any subject. I specifically recall an extended period of working with Jupiter in which classical philosophy stopped reading like circular nonsense and I was finally able to follow it.

 

[Eliberto1]

I can respect the list and those who yearn to learn, nothing in the world wrong with any of that, but let me ask, has learning any of the topics listed added to your abilities in magick or in the occult in general? How has any of that learning moved the needle for you personally, and/or experientially?

That is a difficult question to answer. All knowledge leaves a mark in oneself, and it is difficult to think what if I had not known the things I know. I can say that more knowledge never hurt my practices, but it expanded them, some minor pieces of knowledge suddenly can improve the rituals or generate new ones as an epiphany. Personally, I think that knowledge is a path (not the only one) for wisdom, i.e. to connect with your highest and true self.

Post automatically merged: 15 minutes ago

Very much agree with Fireborn on this. I have read hundreds of books over the years and found interesting stuff in most of them, but there is no substitute for getting in there and practicing real magick.
Studying is all well and good, but putting magick into practice is the only way to learn.

I mostly agree with you: Magic is a discipline by itself, and to practice Magic you have to learn Magic. However, when you learn some type of Magic you learn a lot of extra stuff. For example, in the Evocation of Entities, you have to know: the names of angels or demons, their attributes and capacities, their position in the hierarchy, the progression of the rite, the concentration of energy in the words of power, the adequate state of mind, the correspondences of colors, incenses, symbols, directions, tools, etc. All this knowledge has to be previously studied before the operation takes place. And finally, to practice Magic implies a certain cosmovision of why and how it works. One does not necessarily call this extra stuff angelology, hierosophy, symbology, etc. But, in my opinion, they are the foundations of every magic work, whereas Magic is an integrative superstructure of all these pieces of knowledge.