Compiled by Andrew Knutson, this section offers literature related to one of our main interests: the relationship between art, the occult, and magical thinking. We also include a bibliography consisting of books and articles on the topic. A number of these works have been summarized to provide more detailed information.
Because of his uniquely crucial role in the Eternal Rest Project, we have created a bibliographic section on Hermes Trismegistus - honored by ancient Egyptian and Greek cultures as the thrice great.
Our pool of research is constantly increasing, and with new findings, we will post any additional resources to this growing section. As you read and learn from the gathered works, we invite you to send us any information you think is relevant to help us create a resource for all.
Because of his uniquely crucial role in the Eternal Rest Project, we have created a bibliographic section on Hermes Trismegistus - honored by ancient Egyptian and Greek cultures as the thrice great.
Our pool of research is constantly increasing, and with new findings, we will post any additional resources to this growing section. As you read and learn from the gathered works, we invite you to send us any information you think is relevant to help us create a resource for all.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
HERMES TRISMEGISTUS BOOKS Ebeling, Florian. The Secret History of Hermes Trismegistus: Hermeticism from Ancient to Modern Times. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2007. Everard, John, trans. Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus. London: JS, 1657. Faivre, Antoine. The Eternal Hermes: From Greek God to Alchemical Magus. Grand Rapids, MI: Phanes Press, 1995. Fowden, Garth. The Egyptian Hermes: A Historical Approach to the Late Pagan Mind. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1993. Hall, Manly Palmer. The Hermetic Marriage: A Study in the Philosophy of the Thrice Greatest Hermes. Los Angeles: Hall Pub Co., 1925. Mead, G.R.S. Thrice-Greatest Hermes: Studies in Hellenistic Theosophy and Gnosis. London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1906. Walter Scott, ed. Hermetica: The Ancient Greek and Latin Writings Which Contain Religious and Philosophical Teachings Ascribed to Hermes Trismegistus. Boston: Shambhala, 1985. ARTICLES Nicholson, Caroline and Oliver. “Lactantius, Hermes Trismegistus and Constantinian Obelisks.” The Journal of Hellenic Studies Vol. 109 (1989), 198-200. Plessner, M. “Hermes Trismegistus and Arab Science.” Studia Islamica, No. 2 (1954), 45-59. Quispel, Gilles. “Hermes Trismegistus and the Origins of Gnosticism.” Vigiliae Christianae Vol. 46 No. 1 (March1992), 1-19. WEBSITES “The Development of Hermes Trismegistus.” Last Modified December 27,1998. http://www.granta.demon.co.uk/arsm/jg/tris.html Hesselink, Katinka. “Hermes Trismegistus. ” http://www.katinkahesselink.net/his/Hermes-Trismegistus.htm Hoeller, Stephan. “On the Trail of the Winged God.” http://www.gnosis.org/hermes.htm GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOKS Aberth, Susan L. Leonora Carrington: Surrealism. Alchemy, and Art. Burlington VT: Ashgate, 2004. Battistini, Matilde. Astrology, Magic, and Alchemy in Art. Trans. Rosanna M. Giammanco Frongia. Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum, 2007. Bogdan, Henrik. Western Esotericism and Rituals of Initiation. Albany, NY: State University of New York, 2007. Chéroux, Clément. The Perfect Medium: Photography and the Occult. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005. Choucha, Nadia. Surrealism and the Occult. Oxford: Mandrake, 1993. Colbert, Charles. Haunted Visions: Spiritualism and American Art. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2011. Couliano. Eros and Magic in the Renaissance. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987. Evola, Julius. The Hermetic Tradition: Symbols and Teachings of the Royal Art. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions International, 1995. Fabricius, Johannes. Alchemy: The Medieval. Alchemists and Their Royal Art. London: Diamond Books, 1994. Flint, Valerie Irene Jane. The Rise of Magic in Early Medieval Europe. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1994. Gettings, Fred. The Occult in Art. New York: Rizzoli, 1979. Gettings, Fred. Secret Symbolism in Occult Art. New York: Harmony Books, 1987. Gettings, Fred. Visions of the Occult: A Visual Panorama of the Worlds of Magic, Divination, and the Occult. London: Rider, 1987. Hall, Manly. The Secret Teachings of All Ages: An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic and Rosicrucian Symbolism. Charleston: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2011. Harris, Eleanor. Ancient Egypt Divination and Magic. Newbury, MA: Red Wheel/Weiser, 1998. Kerr, Howard and Charles L. Crow, eds. The Occult in America: New Historical Perspectives. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1983. Klossowski de Rola, Stanislas. Alchemy: The Secret Art. New York: Avon Books, 1973. Magdalino, Paul. The Occult Sciences in Byzantium. Geneva. Editions de la Pomme d'Or, 2007. Merry, Eleanor C. Art: Its Occult Basis and Healing Value. East Grinstead, UK: New Knowledge Books, 1961. Moffitt, John F. Alchemist of the Avant-Garde: The Case of Marcel Duchamp. New York: State University of New York, 2003. Ophiel. The Art and Practice of the Occult. York Beach, ME: S. Weiser, 1976. Page, Sophie. Magic in Medieval Manuscripts. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2004. Rabinovitch, Celia. Surrealism and the Sacred: Power, Eros, and the Occult in Modern Art. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2002. Roberts, Gareth. The Mirror of Alchemy: Alchemical Ideas and Images in Manuscripts and Books. London: The British Library Publishing Division, 1994. Rob, Alexander. Alchemy & Mysticism: The Hermetic Museum. Trans. Shaun Whiteside. New York: Taschen, 1997. Simic, Charles. Dime-Store Alchemy: The Art of Joseph Cornell. Hopewell, NJ: Ecco Press, 1992. Szulakowska, Urszula. The Alchemy of Light: Geometry and Optics in Late Renaissance Alchemical Illustration. Boston: Leiden, 2000. Thurschwell, Pamela, Carolyn Burdett, et al. The Victorian Supernatural. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Waldo-Schwartz, Paul. Art and the Occult. New York: G. Braziller, 1975. Warlick, M. E. Max Ernst and Alchemy: A Magician in Search of Myth. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2001. Wasserman, James. Art and Symbols of the Occult: Images of Power and Wisdom. Rochester, VT: Destiny Books, 1993. Weller, Alan and Juliana Trotta. Esoteric and Occult Art. Mineola, NY: Dover, 2011. ARTICLES Cosentino, Donald. “Spirit and Image: The Art of Voodoo.” African Arts Vol. 21 No. 1 (November 1987): 71-73. Dalrymple Henderson, Linda. “Mysticism and Occultism in Modern Art.” Art Journal Vol. 46 No. 1, (Spring 1987): 5-8. Fehl, Philipp P.“Hermeticism and Art: Emblem and Allegory in the Work of Bernini.” Artibus et Historiae Vol. 7 No. 14 (1986): 153-189. Hope, Henry R. “Black Magic and Modern Art.” The College Art Journal Vol. 7 No. 2 (Winter 1947-1948): 116-120. Jorgensen, Danny and Lin Jorgensen. “Social Meanings of the Occult.” The Sociological Quarterly Vol. 23 No. 3 (Summer, 1982): 373-389. King, Mike. “Concerning the Spiritual in Twentieth-Century Art and Science.” Leonardo Vol. 31 No. 1 (1998): 21-31. Morrisson, Mark S. “The Periodical Culture of the Occult Revival: Esoteric Wisdom, Modernity and Counter-Public Spheres.” Journal of Modern Literature Vol. 31 No. 2 (Winter, 2008): 1-22. Pereira, Michela. “Alchemy and Hermeticism: An Introduction to this Issue.” Early Science and Medicine Vol. 5 No. 2 (2000): 115-120. Principe, Lawrence. “Alchemy Restored.” Isis Vol. 102 No. 2 (June 2011): 305-312. WEBSITES Armstrong, Hamilton Reed. “Modern Art and the Occult.” http://agdei.com/Occult.html Baudin, Tessel M. “Modern Art Revisted: A Fascination for the Occult; Review: L'Europe des esprits ou la fascination de l'occulte, 1750-1950.” All-Over. Last modified March 2012. http://allover-magazin.com/?p=810 Beyer, Catherine. “Occult Cosmology in the Renaissance: An Earth Centered Universe.” About.com Alternative Religions. http://altreligion.about.com/od/beliefsandcreeds/a/3realms_cosmology.htm Feuilleton. "Wilfried Sätty: Artist of the Occult". Last Modified November 1, 2010. http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2010/11/01/wilfried-satty-artist-of-the-occult/ Frye Art Museum. “Séance: Albert von Keller and the Occult.” http://fryemuseum.org/exhibition/3687/ Gangleri. “The Occult Renaissance.” Last modified May 23, 2007. http://www.gangleri.nl/articles/51/the-occult-renaissance/ Holmstrom, Laurel. “Self-Identification with Deity and Voces Magicae in Ancient Egyptian and Greek Magic. http://www.sonoma.edu/users/h/holmstrl/EGmagic.html Jones, Jonathan. “A Curse on All Your Paintings: The Secret Magic of Renaissance Art.” The Guardian. November 4, 2010. http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2010/nov/04/secret-magic-renaissance-art-botticelli The Juggler. “Agrippa’s Occult Philosophy.” Last modified July 26, 2012. http://culture.pagannewswirecollective.com/2012/07/agrippas-occult-philosophy/ Magic Spell Casters Association of Egypt. “Egyptian Pharaonic Magic.” http://www.mcaegypt.org/egyptianmagic.html Magic Spell Casters Association of Egypt. “Old World Egyptian Magic.” http://www.mcaegypt.org/oldworldmagic.html Mueller, Eric. “Review: Hermeticism and the Renaissance: Intellectual History and the Occult in Early Modern Europe. Eds. A. Debus and I. Merkel. Last modified 1997. http://courses.unt.edu/rdecarvalho/h5040/StudentPapers/Debus&Merkel.html New Age Village. “Occultism in Rome.” Last modified 2004. http://www.newagevillage.com/psychic/rome.html Res Obscura. “Alchemists at Home.” Last modified January 12, 2011. http://resobscura.blogspot.com/2011/01/alchemists-at-home.html Ruickbie, Leo. “Reinventing the Renaissance Occult in Modern and Postmodern Culture.” Journal of Western Mystery. Vernal Equinox 2011. http://jwmt.org/v2n20/reinventing.html Ryder, Edmund C. “Popular Religion: Magical Uses of Imagery in Byzantine Art.” Last modified September 2008. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/popu/hd_popu.htm Salling-Pederson, Bjarne. “Arts and the Occult: An Interview with Michael Bertiaux.” http://fulgur.co.uk/artists/michael-bertiaux/arts-and-the-occult-an-interview-with-michael-bertiaux/ Simanek, Donald. “Arthur Conan Doyle, Spiritualism, and Fairies.” Last modified January 2009. http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/doyle.htm William James Bookstore. “Medieval Explorations of Consciousness.” http://www.williamjames.com/History/MEDIEVAL.htm |
SUMMARIES
Egyptian Pharaonic Magic by Magic Spell Casters Association of Egypt
When most of us think of Ancient Egypt, we think of the marvelous architectural and artistic accomplishments. “Egyptian Pharaonic Magic” asks us to rethink these large scale works of art and consider the role of magic in the culture. From wearing specially designed amulets to attempting to achieve immortality, the magic was an art form in Egypt that ruled the way that one lived life. To read the full text, visit: http://www.mcaegypt.org/egyptianmagic.html Self-Identification with Deity and Voces Magicae in Ancient Egyptian and Greek Magic by Laurel Holmstrom. Ancient Egypt and Greece are two of the most well-known civilizations to have ever existed. While not often thought of as carrying similar artistic or religious traditions, Laurel Holmstrom offers an interesting parallel between the two civilizations via magic. By using the example of the Papryi Graecae Magicae, Holmstrom explores the way that magic and writing unifies cultures throughout the Mediterranean. For the full article: http://www.sonoma.edu/users/h/holmstrl/EGmagic.html Medieval Explorations of Consciousness by William James Bookstore Medieval Europe was a time of tumultuous change. While Christianity was starting to heavily influence the continent, many philosophers turned to other sources of inspiration. “Medieval Explorations of Consciousness” examines key figures and groups in Medieval and Renaissance Europe. Many of these figures had extensive knowledge of science, but they were also greatly interested in the connection of the occult to the advancement of learning and artistic processes. This article’s analysis of the relationship between science and magic provides innovative understanding of the periods. “Medieval Explorations” can be found at: http://www.williamjames.com/History/MEDIEVAL.htm A Curse on All Your Paintings: The Secret Magic of Renaissance Art by Jonathan Jones The Renaissance is widely regarded as a period of learning and rationality, but Jonathan Jones suggests that we re-imagine the rationality in favor of magic. While perfecting perspective and the rendering of forms, many Renaissance artists were also making art specifically for “magical” purposes. This reevaluation of Renaissance art offers an unconventional viewpoint in which to consider these works. Jones’ article can be accessed from The Guardian online at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2010/nov/04/secret-magic-renaissance-art-botticelli Modern Art and the Occult by Hamilton Reed Armstrong Modern art has yet to find complete approval by the general public. The departures from traditional depictions of form can be difficult to understand. Hamilton Reed Armstrong’s “Modern Art and the Occult” reconsiders the artists and their sources of inspiration. By taking into account the role of the occult, Armstrong suggests new way to comprehend Modern art by looking beyond the surface. Armstrong’s text is available online: http://agdei.com/Occult.html Arts and the Occult: An Interview with Michael Bertiaux by Bjarne Salling Pedersen Bjarne Salling Pedersen’s interview “Arts and the Occult” with Michael Bertiaux explores the role of the occult in the art-making process. Bertiaux is well-known for his book Lucky Hoodoo and devotion to the practices of Voodoo. Bertiaux illustrates the connection of Haitian spiritual traditions and art based on the expression of emotions and thoughts unattainable through language alone. These expressions can manifest themselves in various ways like in Voodoo practice or the creation of ‘spirit paintings.’ Any manifestation assists in transcending the physical world into a religious universe. Bertiaux encourages the reader to suspend preconceived judgements of the occult in order to open up opportunities and allow energies to flow freely. To read the complete interview, please visit: http://www.fulgur.co.uk/authors/bertiaux/articles/pedersen/ Wilfried Sätty: Artist of the Occult Wilfried Sätty is widely known for his work in poster designs and illustrations, but his interest in the occult adds yet another layer of interest to his dynamic works. In this 1970 interview from Man, Myth & Magic, Sätty explains his beliefs in alchemy and mysticism. Alchemy has long been considered a process of turning a base metal into gold. While this concept has been widely debunked, Sätty believes that alchemy is more a transformation of mind than materials. Alchemy is directly tied into his thoughts on mysticism. The sacred elements, derived from the unconscious, have given him the status of a modern artist-visionary. For the full interview and to view a selection of Sätty’s work, access: http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2010/11/01/wilfried-satty-artist-of-the-occult/ Arthur Conan Doyle, Spiritualism, and Fairies by Donald E. Simanek Donald Simanek’s essay entitled “Arthur Conan Doyle, Spiritualism, and Fairies” explores Doyle’s interests in literature, photography, and spiritualism. “Modern” Spiritualism as we know it today started in New York state in the mid-19th Century. With passionate beliefs in the now infamous spirit talkers the Fox Sisters or fairy photographs, Simanek asks the reader to investigate this literary figure in a new, often forgotten, spiritual light. The complete text of this article is available at: http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/doyle.htm Surrealism and the Occult by Nadia Choucha Surrealism is one of the standout artistic movements of the 20th Century. The focus on the unconscious imagination still captivates viewers today. Nadia Choucha’s Surrealism and the Occult attempts to reestablish the Surrealists and their predecessors from a new standpoint. This stimulating book connects luminaries like Picasso, Dali, and Ernst to sorcery, alchemy, and shamanism offering an insight into their processes studied rarely before. Alchemist of the Avant-Garde: The Case of Marcel Duchamp by John F. Moffitt Marcel Duchamp is one of the most enigmatic Modern artists. His works ranging from Futurist-like painting to the now famous readymades have inspired numerous artists throughout the years, but what influenced Duchamp? John F. Moffitt suggests that his works post-1910 are heavily based in alchemy and esoteric tradition. Using Duchamp’s historical events and interests, Moffitt will drive you to reevaluate this avant-garde master. |