The episode offers an extensive historical and philosophical overview of Hermeticism, an influential Western esoteric tradition. It traces the tradition's origins to Hellenistic Egypt, particularly Alexandria, where the Greek god Hermes was syncretized with the Egyptian god Thoth to create the mythical sage Hermes Trismegistus. The text explains that while the tradition was once believed to predate Moses, modern scholarship dates key texts like the Corpus Hermeticum to the 2nd–3rd centuries CE. Furthermore, the overview discusses Hermeticism's core teachings, which emphasize spiritual enlightenment, the unity of the cosmos ("As above, so below"), and the pursuit of gnosis (divine knowledge). Finally, it details the profound impact of Hermeticism on philosophy, alchemy, and occult movements, especially during its Renaissance revival.

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An excerpt from Edgar Cayce and the Kabbalah: A Resource for Soulful Living By John Van Auken From a human perspective, the information you are about to read is perplexing. It does not fit with the ev...

Series: 12 Weird Nights Episode: 7 of 12 Tonight, we dive into one of the most enduring mysteries of alchemy: the Twin Treasures at the heart of the Great Work.  From Taoist internal alchemy to Hermetic symbolism, from Paracelsian medicine to Jungian psychology, cultures across the world preserved the same pattern, a White Treasure that purifies… and a Red Treasure that transforms. In this episode, we unravel how these two forces appear in ancient texts, medieval manuscripts, and global mythologies and why alchemists believed you cannot reach illumination without first achieving clarity. We also explore a modern parallel to this ancient journey through Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, a story that reveals the same truth the old alchemists guarded:  that sometimes the treasure you cross the world to find has always been waiting where you first began. 🌙 SHOW NOTES In this episode: - The White Stone and the Red Stone: lunar purification and solar transformation - Taoist Neidan’s True Lead & True Mercury - Western Hermeticism and the stages of the Great Work - The Red King and White Queen in the Chemical Wedding - Paracelsus and the medicinal White and Red Elixirs - Jung’s psychological interpretation of the Two Treasures - Global echoes of twin symbols—from India to medieval lapidaries - How The Alchemist mirrors the entire journey of the Great Work Plus: A short reflection on balance, transformation, and the treasures hidden within us 🌙 RECOMMENDED BOOKS (FURTHER READING) Alchemy & Esoteric Traditions - https://bookshop.org/a/118908/9780063442467 - https://bookshop.org/a/118908/9781782204510 - https://bookshop.org/a/118908/9780415034524 - https://bookshop.org/a/118908/9780892814510 - https://bookshop.org/a/118908/9781639233779 - https://amzn.to/3Y5me7r (Anonymous, classic alchemical text) Mythology, Symbolism & World Traditions - https://bookshop.org/a/118908/9780613190732 - https://bookshop.org/a/118908/9781577315933 - https://bookshop.org/a/118908/9780486471433 Alchemy-Inspired Fiction - https://bookshop.org/a/118908/9780063442467 These books deepen the exploration of symbolic languages, inner transformation, and the universal motifs found in alchemy and mythology. If this episode sparked your curiosity, made you feel a little more enchanted, or reminded you of the stories hiding in plain sight—I’d love for you to stay connected with the LilWeird Universe. You can support the podcast, explore more curious content, and help keep this little world growing, glowing, and wonderfully weird. Thank you for listening—and for keeping wonder alive. Stay curious. Keep your wonder close. 🌙✨ 🌙 Affiliate Disclaimer Some of the links provided may be affiliate links through Bookshop.org and Amazon.com. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the LilWeird Podcast and keeps the stories coming. Thank you for your support!