Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery

[synchronicity]

Mary Anne Atwood/South-Hermetic Philosophy and Alchemy

Born in England, 1817. By marriage, became Mrs. Mary Anne Atwood. Author of A Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery, 1850. This is the book that enlightened Israel Regardie, once he had decided to plough through its opacities until by dint of sheer concentration he should finally fathom the secret of alchemy. No doubt, however, it was Regardie’s simultaneous study of Jung’s Commentary on the Golden Flower, that provided the key. Mrs. Atwood and her father were dedicated scholars of the occult who got cold feet once A Suggestive Inquiry was published and they tried to prevent its distribution. They felt that its secrets must not be made public. digitalseance.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/mary-anne-atwoodsouth-hermetic-philosophy-and-alchemy/

I am thrilled to bits as I have just received my printed copy of Mary Anne Atwood's A Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery, the 1918 edition, which comes with a 64-page introduction by Walter Leslie Wilsmhurst (who was obviously in awe of her).

You can get a free copy of the book from the Hermetic Library here: www.hermetics.org/doc/Mary_Anne_Atwood_-_Hermetic_Philosophy_and_Alchemy.doc but as it's a big tome (approx. 700 pp.) I wanted a printed copy and Wilsmhurst's introduction was also a decisive factor in my choice: tinyurl.com/3o6277


Questions:

Has anybody here read this book? If so, did you gain any special insights from it?

And, on a lighter note, did you manage to read all of it? ;D

[maat]

Thanks for that Sync - I have run off the first 50 pages and will give it a go. I adore Wilmshurst, so hopefully I can see a little of what he saw. Will report back later.

Maat

PS I think you are a forum treasure. Thank you.

[synchronicity]

Sept 22, 2008 2:11:31 GMT maat said:

I adore Wilmshurst, so hopefully I can see a little of what he saw.

I have just discovered that Wilsmhurst makes several references to Mary Atwood's book in his own book entitled Masonic Initiation, recommending it at every opportunity, so it is obviously a milestone, albeit not a well-known one.

[synchronicity]

Another thing I should have mentioned is that it is a very hard book to read.

In his introduction Wilsmhurst points out that Atwood uses words in a different way to what one may expect.

Frequently she uses words not in their modern, colloquial senses, but according tro their original significance, and after this manner she interpreted the terminology of other exact expressers of ideas and, in particular, the wording of Scripture. For example, 'contrition' colloquially implies penitence; with her it meant 'trituration' (contra or cum tero), the metaphysical rubbing against or together of two unreconciled elements, e.g. the mind's consciousness of transgression, and 'sin' self-revealed in the presence of the divine light made manifest within oneself, would set up such a metaphysical 'condition' of the two as would result in the moral state known as penitence and the physical concomitant of tears. Again, "the stone which the builders rejected"; to each of the italicised words she accorded a far deeper meaning than the superficial reader gives them. With her the phrase meant that the metaphysical essential ens or substrate of life, brought from its diffused state to a consolidated one (a philosophical 'stone') by the enlightened sagacity of those skilled in that secret science (i.e., the 'builders'), was not repudiated but jactitated, literally cast or handed to and fro, (re jacio), by and between them in the course of their Hermetic work; just as, in a less instructed and high-motivated manner, the mesmeric operator does in fact 'reject' and transfer from himself to his patient a subtle fluid for curative or other purposes.

Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery, 'Introduction' by W. L. Wilsmhurst, pp. 19-20.

Pheeew! What have I let myself into??

[maat]

I started reading it yesterday. And yes, it is a 'dedicated' read.

Because it presents some difficulties, I find I am forced to concentrate more. It is a bit like panning for gold.... spend hours, but when you find a speck, it was all worth it.

Well, so far so good...

Maat

[synchronicity]

Maat

I have just found out you can read Wilmshurst's Intro to this book (and the rest of the book) on Google Books.

tinyurl.com/4z6joz

Hope that helps a little.

[synchronicity]

Oct 2, 2008 23:22:50 GMT maat said:

<Mary Anne Atwood's Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery>

I'm not sure I should thank you for this book Syn, I have never worked so hard at reading something in my long life of book reading. 50 pages in I am not sure I am going to complete the task. I am never going to be an alchemist so why work so hard, well that is the question I ask myself ... but then again hidden in each very lengthy obtuse chapter there is a gem... bit like finding the 5 words in the haystack thingy.

How are you going with it?

Maat

Actually, it's not that bad. As well as Wilmshurst's Intro, I've now also read Atwood's Preface and Chapter 1.

The Preface immediately struck me as much easier to follow than Wilmshurst's Intro, and Chapter 1 is not too bad, although it does get a bit tedious toward the end and many of the quotations are not shown in quotation marks, which if you are trying to read quickly slows you down, because you then have to backtrack and work whether she's saying what you've just read, or someobdy else is.

A major criticism I have is that there are a lot of quotations in Latin and at least one in French that have not been translated. Now, if you have neither Latin nor French, as in my case, that makes it really hard and forces you to do a lot of guess-work.

However, Atwood herself is apologetic in the Preface and admits that the part where she gives the background (I take that to be Ch. 1) is likely to be found hard-going. However, she says she has to give the background, there's no way around it, and then hints it gets better after that.

So now I'm about to start Ch. 2, which is where it gets interesting!



How far have you got?

[synchronicity]

Oct 2, 2008 23:22:50 GMT maat said:

I am never going to be an alchemist so why work so hard

Well, that depends on your definition of alchemy (and incidentally Atwood redefines alchemy in her book!).

Before delving into A Suggestive Inquiry I re-read the Kybalion (for the umpteenth time!) because somehow I felt it would help with this, and I must say my patience has been rewarded, because it does!

At the start of the Kybalion you read that the little book is meant to give the reader a key to understanding other things they may come across. Well, it's absolutely true, including in this case.

For instance, on Ch. 3 of the Kybalion we read this:

"Transmutation" is a term usually employed to designate the ancient art of the transmutation of metals--particularly of the base metals into gold. The word "Transmute" means "to change from one nature, form, or substance, into another; to transform" (Webster). And accordingly, "Mental Transmutation" means the art of changing and transforming mental states, forms, and conditions, into others. So you may see that Mental Transmutation is the "Art of Mental Chemistry," if you like the term--a form of practical Mystic Psychology.

But this means far more than appears on the surface. Transmutation, Alchemy, or Chemistry on the Mental Plane is important enough in its effects, to be sure, and if the art stopped there it would still be one of the most important branches of study known to man. But this is only the beginning. Let us see why!

The first of the Seven Hermetic Principles is the Principle of Mentalism, the axiom of which is "THE ALL is Mind; the Universe is Mental," which means that the Underlying Reality of the Universe is Mind; and the Universe itself is Mental--that is, "existing in the Mind of THE ALL." We shall consider this Principle in succeeding lessons, but let us see the effect of the principle if it be assumed to be true.

If the Universe is Mental in its nature, then Mental Transmutation must be the art of CHANGING THE CONDITIONS OF THE UNIVERSE, along the lines of Matter, Force and mind. So you see, therefore, that Mental Transmutation is really the "Magic" of which the ancient; writers had so much to say in their mystical works, and about which they gave so few practical instructions. If All be Mental, then the art which enables one to transmute mental conditions must render the Master the controller of material conditions as well as those ordinarily called "mental."

Just as in the greater scheme of things sex is only one manifestation of gender, the transmutation of base metals into silver or gold is only one application of the principle of transmutation (and a comparatively minor one at that!).

Remember,

All is Mind

[synchronicity]

Well worth mentioning, of course, is that a while ago our friend Tehuti posted a collection of audio lectures by the unforgettable Manly P. Hall on this board.

You'll be pleased to know that one of the lectures, part of the Landmarks of Esoteric Literature collection, covers precisely Mary Atwood's Suggestive Inquiry!!

Link to Tehuti's post: staffs.proboards37.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=articles&thread=4502&page=1

So you can take a break from the hard work of reading if you wish and just listen to Manly P. Hall's lecture!

[LOGODOX]

Sept 20, 2008 9:54:03 GMT synchronicity said:

Mary Anne Atwood/South-Hermetic Philosophy and Alchemy

Born in England, 1817. By marriage, became Mrs. Mary Anne Atwood. Author of A Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery, 1850. This is the book that enlightened Israel Regardie, once he had decided to plough through its opacities until by dint of sheer concentration he should finally fathom the secret of alchemy. No doubt, however, it was Regardie’s simultaneous study of Jung’s Commentary on the Golden Flower, that provided the key. Mrs. Atwood and her father were dedicated scholars of the occult who got cold feet once A Suggestive Inquiry was published and they tried to prevent its distribution. They felt that its secrets must not be made public. digitalseance.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/mary-anne-atwoodsouth-hermetic-philosophy-and-alchemy/

I am thrilled to bits as I have just received my printed copy of Mary Anne Atwood's A Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery, the 1918 edition, which comes with a 64-page introduction by Walter Leslie Wilsmhurst (who was obviously in awe of her).

You can get a free copy of the book from the Hermetic Library here: www.hermetics.org/doc/Mary_Anne_Atwood_-_Hermetic_Philosophy_and_Alchemy.doc but as it's a big tome (approx. 700 pp.) I wanted a printed copy and Wilsmhurst's introduction was also a decisive factor in my choice: tinyurl.com/3o6277


Questions:

Has anybody here read this book? If so, did you gain any special insights from it?

And, on a lighter note, did you manage to read all of it? ;D

[LOGODOX]

Sync,
I am thrilled to bits reading your post Please bear with the following because it may prove me a dullard rather than accomplished if you consider it. Spent 35 years as Rosicrucian and more seeking the mysteries that culminated with Ms. Atwood's wonderful book. Found Yogi Pub. 1960 reprint of the 1918 edition with Wilmshurst's marvelous introduction, the Ms. Atwood's corrections and table talk appendix in a bookstore in Pasadena in 1987 and was immediately astounded by its table of contents! Have read the book EVERY year since 1987 and a little more light from her words comes to me each time. Think that I am so taken by book because of my sense of its authenticity and profound nature. An example of "little more light" is an idea that came on my reading in 2006. It dawned on me that the "aura" circulating around the human body AND the bloodstream circulating within the human body are the Seas of the wise and location where the "jacitation" needs occur. It seems highly probable to me that this book cannot be "understood" in the normal meaning of the word; it can only be experienced in a non-subject/object manner. Sadly, have never convinced any other human being to make it through even the introduction. Probably my background of 23 years before finding it and having some familiarity with Bohme, ancient greeks and metaphysics and philosoply and a teenage study of hypnotism allowed me to "get it" more than some. In answering your post, yes I made it through it completely every time, though confessedly not understanding some parts of it. But then, I doubt A.E. Waite, Colin Wilson et al did either! HeHe, am in good company.

[Tamrin]

Feb 19, 2014 19:33:56 GMT LOGODOX said:

... where the "jacitation" needs occur.

"Jacitation"?

[LOGODOX]

a tossing to and fro or jerking and twitching of the body. Origin of JACTITATION. Late Latin jactitation-, jactitatio, from jactitare, frequentative of Latin jactare to ...

One can definitely gather from Atwood that the "manual work" within the "practice" (praxis) is a back and forth exchange of the "spirit" between one or more operators.  She also mentions in the book that it is a silly thing, of child's play as in "pat a cake."  Not to mention Nosce Teipsum.  <G>   In fact, she quotes IIRC Jacob Bohme (anglisized as Behman) to the effect that one must trust another with "somewhat" which I interpret to mean that it requires at least 2 persons to perform the practice and it cannot  be done alone...

Have also read Madame De Steiger's book "On a Gold Basis" but it does not even begin to elicit the same response with me.  Discovered many years ago that Brown University has about 700 of Mary Atwood's letters but you cannot view them online.  As I hold her in the VERY HIGHEST ESTEEM would love to read them.  She actually had an interior awakening (ie she experienced something of the inner alchemical union) and went on to write her wonderful book about it.  Have read many of Bohme's works but VERY much prefer Atwood.  Jacob is hard for me to understand.  EG in The Aurora which I found in library in Manchester, Eng. he wrote of a fountain of seven parts flowing outward omnisciently and back into itself.  Im thinking that this is inexhaustible flow of the first matter that Ms. Atwood writes about.

Her book is SO DIFFICULT to read and understand EVEN for a LIFELONG searcher of metaphysics and philosophy that it seems beyond incredible that she and her father thought they had revealed too much!!!

[LOGODOX]

Guess I was a few years late to this "Suggestive Inquiry..." party. Sigh.

[samcook]

'Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery' sounds like fine name for an arthouse movie)

[boreades]

There is also a PDF copy of this available from the Forgotten Books website.
Please see : www.forgottenbooks.com/en/books/ASuggestiveInquiryIntotheHermeticMystery_10002275

edit: It may be significant that brethren, despite the great burden of our aged male gender, reviewing the thoughts of a young female, are praising this greatly as offering great insight.

[boreades]

Feb 20, 2014 17:54:37 GMT LOGODOX said:

Have read many of Bohme's works but VERY much prefer Atwood.  Jacob is hard for me to understand.  EG in The Aurora which I found in library in Manchester, Eng. he wrote of a fountain of seven parts flowing outward omnisciently and back into itself. 

Does that equate to the seven chakras of Indian sacred literature?

[peter2]

> fountain of seven parts flowing outward omnisciently and back into itself

That is likely a reference to Deity - breathing out in 7 streams/rays and breathing back in the fruit of the manifested existence.

[r0g]

Sept 20, 2008 9:54:03 GMT synchronicity said:

Mary Anne Atwood/South-Hermetic Philosophy and Alchemy

Born in England, 1817. By marriage, became Mrs. Mary Anne Atwood. Author of A Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery, 1850. This is the book that enlightened Israel Regardie, once he had decided to plough through its opacities until by dint of sheer concentration he should finally fathom the secret of alchemy. No doubt, however, it was Regardie’s simultaneous study of Jung’s Commentary on the Golden Flower, that provided the key. Mrs. Atwood and her father were dedicated scholars of the occult who got cold feet once A Suggestive Inquiry was published and they tried to prevent its distribution. They felt that its secrets must not be made public. digitalseance.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/mary-anne-atwoodsouth-hermetic-philosophy-and-alchemy/

I am thrilled to bits as I have just received my printed copy of Mary Anne Atwood's A Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery, the 1918 edition, which comes with a 64-page introduction by Walter Leslie Wilsmhurst (who was obviously in awe of her).

You can get a free copy of the book from the Hermetic Library here: www.hermetics.org/doc/Mary_Anne_Atwood_-_Hermetic_Philosophy_and_Alchemy.doc but as it's a big tome (approx. 700 pp.) I wanted a printed copy and Wilsmhurst's introduction was also a decisive factor in my choice: tinyurl.com/3o6277


Questions:

Has anybody here read this book? If so, did you gain any special insights from it?

And, on a lighter note, did you manage to read all of it? ;D

[r0g]

Having read this work, I would like to offer a few reflections in the hope they will help illumine your own study.

As a disclaimer, I make no claim to adepthood or to have completed the Great Work, or perhaps even the Lesser Work. I consider myself a student, presumably like you.

There is a great deal of lore about the book, as Wilmshurst discusses in the introduction, namely that the author and her husband made an attempt to buy up all outstanding copies, believing that it came too close to revealing that which would be intemperate to reveal. If my understanding of the Method is correct, and this book does suggest a Method, I must concur in this assessment! This is dangerous stuff! The reason for danger is that attempting the Great Work should presuppose the completion of the Lesser Work, i.e. the sublimation of the ego, the purification of the physical and mental vehicles. Disaster awaits those who decipher and attempt to apply the Method without this necessary purification. Hence, throughout history, alchemy has veiled it's Methods from the unworthy.

However, wishing to be of assistance to those who are duly and truly prepared, I offer the following insights, if they be so, which emerged from my own study and attempts to apply the Methods suggested in the book. There are two.

Firstly, the Method is manual. This hint is repeated often in the book and is important. I dare not say more.

Secondly, the Method relates the transmutation of the energies from whence you derive your being.

In saying this, I am attempting not to completely clarify the Method, for that would be imprudent. It would be better for there to be a stumbling block to the unworthy, but a valuable hint to the wise and earnest seeker of Truth.