Biblioteca Arcana

• Theory, History, etc.
• Rituals
• Divination
• Hymns, Poetry, etc.
• Other

Theory, History, etc.

• Ancient Greek Samhain Festivals (including the story of Ariadne and Theseus)

• Seasonal Festivals of the Greeks and Romans

• De Saturno & Jano Tractatus. Ancient philosophical ideas about Saturn and Janus, and why They are especially honored in December and January.

• Construction and Use of Ancient Greek Poppets.  Reprinted in Traditions Magazine, 2005.

• Eoster: Mysteries of the Resurrected Child. Pagan origins of Easter celebrations (with an emphasis on the Hellenic tradition).

• The Pythagorean Pentacle

• Hellenic Neo-Paganism. Published in Green Egg, Vol. 28, No. 109 (Summer 1995), pp. 8-10.

• The Rotation of the Elements. An explanation of this most important alchemical procedure, which has many applications in the material and spiritual worlds. Published in Caduceus, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Winter 1995), pp.2-10.

• Liber de Octo Mutationibus. A discussion of the eight phases that occur in any cycle between opposing poles, and their relation to the eight trigrams of the I Ching.

• The Eigthtfold Year and the Stages of Life. A discussion of ancient Greek and Roman systems of seven and eight seasons (separated by the quarters and cross-quarters), and their correspondence with the lifestages, planets, elements, qualities, etc. (A version without tables is available.)

• The Pentagram and the Elements. How should the elements be associated with the points of the pentagram? (See also the Pythagorean Pentagram.)

• The Pythagorean Theology of Triads and Information on Pythagorean Figured Numbers (Square, Oblong, Triangular, etc.). An introduction to the Pythagorean theology of numbers.

• The Parts of the Soul (A Greek System of Chakras). Did the ancient Greeks recognize a system of seven "energy centers" comparable to the chakras?

• Some Notes on the History of Isopsephia (Gematria). Surveys historical evidence for the history of gematria, from Sumeria, to Greece, and then to the Jews; includes information on the development and dissemination of the alphabet.

• Genetic Correspondences Between the Hebrew, Greek and Roman Alphabets. An annotated table showing corresponding letters on the basis of their derivation from common ancestors - a tool for comparative isopsephia (gematria).

• Objectivity and the Human Sciences. Published in PsychoScience, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Spring-Summer 1995), pp. 39-40.

• The Caduceus, or: Wandering Among the Worlds. A short essay arguing for metaphysical pluralism ("you can't have too many realities"). Published in Widdershins, No. 6, pp. 42-44.

• Ancient Greek Esoteric Doctrine of the Elements Based on a series of articles published in Circle Network News, issues 68-71, 1998-1999.

• The Ancient Greek Sacred Lunar Month

• Greek Esoteric Music Theory A collection of annotated and cross-linked charts to aid the use of Ancient Greek Music for esoteric purposes.

• Axioms of Magic

• A Summary of Pythagorean Theology. 
  
  
• Using Ancient Greek Music for Care of the Soul: Hê Mousikê Therapeia.   Use of the ancient Greek modes for tempering the four humors.   Published in Circle Magazine, issue 92, Winter 2004, pp. 12-14.
  
  
• Apollo’s Demon Dagger. Published in Circle Magazine, issue 108, Spring 2011, pp. 10–12.
  
  
• Meetings with the Maiden. Theurgical revelations from Persephone, published in Queen of the Sacred Way: A Devotional Anthology in Honor of Persephone, edited by Melitta Benu, pp. 190–220. Neos Alexandria, 2012.
  
  
• The Seed and the Fruit. Theurgical revelations from Demeter, published in Potnia: A Devotional Anthology in Honor of Demeter, edited by Melitta Benu & Rebecca Buchanan, pp. 209–256. Neos Alexandria, 2014. 
  
  
• Short Essays

Rituals

• Greater Tool Consecration 

• Lesser Tool Consecration

• Olympic Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.
  An adaptation of the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram to the Graeco-Roman tradition based on the shamanic cosmological principles underlying the original. An older version was published in Caduceus, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Spring 1995), pp. 15-34. (There is postscript for just the spoken text of the older version in English, Latin and Greek [in both Roman and Greek letters].)

• The Orphica Holodemiurgia, a contemplative exercise or practice for aligning the energy centers of the soul and for infusing Divine Energy into them. It is similar to the well-know Middle-Pillar Exercise, but is based on the Greek tradition rather than Cabalistic ideas. A fully annotated version is available, which documents its sources and provides additional commentary.

• Exercise for Unity (Tantra LITE). This exercise aims to dissolve interpersonal boundaries by encouraging openness, trust, compassion, kindness, connection, respect, affection and love. It is based on the Liturgy of Philotetos. To encourage more widespread practice, detailed instructions for facilitators are now available.

• Neoclassical Celebratory Sacrifice. Originally published as "The Way of Neoclassical Sacrifice" in The Lyre, Summer 1995, pp. 19-22.

• Saturnalia Ritual

• Dionysian Meditations:
  • The Rural (or Lesser) Dionysia (early Jan.)
  • The Lenaia (late Jan.)
  • The Anthesteria (late Feb.)
  • The City (or Greater) Dionysia (late March)

• The Triple Dionysia (Ta Triploa Dionysia) - a Dionysian Spring Equinox ritual

• The Labyrinth Ritual (for the Samhain season)

• Rite of Release for a Pet or Familiar

• Dawn Devotions, including information about the Goddess of Dawn

• Astrapsoukhos' Spell for the Favor of Hermes from the Greek Magical Papyrus (London 122)

• Hellenic Magic Ritual: A General Framework

Divination

• The Pythagorean Tarot. A tarot system based on Pythagorean numerology and ancient Mediterranean spirituality.

• A Greek Alphabet Oracle. An authentic ancient Greek alphabet oracle, translated and interpreted. Published in Circle Network News (issue 57, Fall 1995, pp. 12-13), Mythos (Spring 1996), and Manteia: A Magazine for the Mantic Arts (No. 16, Spring 1997, pp. 54-56). Italian translation, "Un Oracolo dell' Alfabeto Greco," published in Mercurio: Pubblicazione Interna della Federazione Pagana (num. 4 (Beltane), 1996, pp. 5-8).
  

• Calculators for Isopsephia (Gematria) in Greek, Roman and Hebrew alphabets, and for the related Thesis system. Also available: a Generalized Isopsephia calculator, which allows you to anter whatever numerical values you like for the Greek or Roman alphabets. See also the accompanying Alphabet Charts.

• Ars Haruspicina (modernized Etruscan divination), and a sample reading. Haruspicy was the ancient Etruscan art of reading the liver of a sacrificial victim. Here the ancient principles of haruspicy are applied to a raw egg. "The Art of Haruspicy, which is The Etruscan Discipline" was published in Harvest (later Tides), Vol. 11 (1991), No. 4, 22-24 (part I); No. 5, 11-14 (part II); No. 6, 13-15 (part III).

Hymns, Poetry, etc.

• Gallery of Esoteric Art by John Opsopaus (under construction, but open!)
  
  
• Hymn to Athena. Published in Green Egg, Vol. 27, No. 104 (Spring 1994), pp. 8-9.

• Hymn and Invocation of Aphrodite in hypertext and postscript form. Published in Green Egg, Vol. 28, No. 109 (Summer 1995), pp. 32-3.

• The Liturgy of Love; see also the "executive summary". The "Liturgia Philotetos of Epaphroditus" has been partly serialized, part I in The Golden Apple and the remaining parts in its successor, Agape (now inactive). The Goddess Philotês, daughter of Aphrodite, explains Her four sacraments and initiates Epaphroditus into Her order. The Exercise for Unity is based on Her teachings, and includes a summary of Empedocles' teachings about Her.

• Sophia Abscondita (The Month of the Fishes: A Parable of Our Times). A prophetic modern gnostic myth about how Sophia (female wisdom) leads the old Gods to retake Olympus.

• The Yew Demon (a shamanic "sword & sorcery" story). Published in Pagan Review, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Spring 1995), pp. 21-28.

• Vaticinatio de Cometae (for the collision of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter, July 16, 1994). Interprets the collision as an omen of the return of the Old Gods.

• Select Homeric Hymns. "To Hera," "To Gaia, Mother of All" and "To the Mother of the Gods" published in The Lyre, Summer 1993, p. 15. Also appear with "To Hestia," in Alexandria 3, 1995. Also, two hymns to Aphrodite, hymns to the Muses and Apollo, hymns to Zeus, Hephaistos, Artemis, Poseidon, Athena, Demeter and Aesculapius.

• Mesomedes' "Hymn to the Muse," translated and set to the original (ancient) music (now with MP3 files). Published in Mythos, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Sept. 1995), p. 11.  
  

• Selected Charms from the Carmina Gadelica, translated and "reheathened" (i.e., reconstructed possible pre-Christian forms). Published in Circle Network News, Issue 58 (Winter 95/96), p. 14.

• The Janid: Historia Sacra Janarum. Mythic history of the Sardinian Gianae from 23,800 BCE.

• Ariel Psychopompos - an alchemical poem, published in The Terminal Journal, Fall 1997, pp. 12-13.

Other

• The Stele: homepage of Omphalos, the networking service for Graeco-Roman Neopagans.
  
  
• Ordo Viridis Orbis - The Laws of the Order.
  
  
• Anecdota Vergilii - The Secret History of Virgil

• Pauca Anecdota Neapolitana (A Few Anecdotes of Naples). Featered under "Visiting Friends & Scholars" on novelist Katherine Neville's Home Page.

• Description of Ta Rat', the Subterranean Temple of the Giane

• Necronomicon Novum. A "Necronomicon," in the spirit of H. P. Lovecraft, but based on authentic ancient sources. Published as "Necronomicon Conjecturale" in Mythos, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Nov. 1995), pp. 4-7.

• Biography of Apollonius Sophistes (John Opsopaus). To put this in context, see also The Role of History in Practical Occultism.

• Glaukidai: The Myth of Glaucus and his Descendants, the Blue Men Published in Circle Network News, Issue 66 (Winter 97/98), pp. 18-19.

• Useful Ancient Greek Phrases in Greek and Roman transcription (hypertext) and in Greek alphabet (postscript)
  
  
• Searchable Indices of Spells in the Greek Magical Papyri and other sources.
  
  
• Selections from the Greek Magical Papyri, Books I, II and III

• Interpretations of Magical Herbs. When an ancient spell tells you to use "snake's blood," it doesn't necessarily mean the blood of a snake. Here is an ancient key to arcane ingredients from the Greek Magical Papyri.

• Goethe's Pagan Poetry. Many of Goethe's poems are sympathetic to Paganism.

• Wotan's Invocation of Erda from Wagner's Siegfried

• Samples of the mysterious Rydumy language

• The Centaur Skeleton from Volos. See also my report on The Cave of the Centaur 

• Review of Burkert's Homo Necans

• Review of Kingsley's Ancient Philosophy, Mystery and Magic (published in Caduceus, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Spring, 1997), pp. 37-9)

• A Brief Guide to Ancient Greek Pronunciation

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Last update: 2015-01-05.