Philosophical Research Society

08/25/2021

Digital Spirituality

Digital Spirituality’ is back by popular demand—registration is open now, and the class begins this Friday!
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This 7-week online course examines the ways that religion and spirituality have steadily migrated into cyberspace. It is designed to invite wisdom seekers to explore themselves and their spiritual lives through digital culture and technology. ⁣⁣
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The class includes a digital copy of instructor Don Iannone’s book, ‘Digital Spirituality.’ ⁣⁣
To register and/or get more info, click the link below. Questions? Email [email protected]

The Philosophical Research Society is a non-profit, on-campus, and online society dedicated to providing opportunities for seekers who wish to study “practical and profound wisdom for the 21st century.”

08/21/2021

SANG BIRD

08/04/2021

While العصر الذهبي للإسلام‎, the “Islamic Golden Age of Science” flourished to the East, Western medicine was languishing in a metaphorical coma. If a medieval doctor was coming to see you, it was likely going to be little more than palliative care and not an actual prognosis-to-cure outcome, unfortunately. Black Plague had left the human landscape permanently scarred. The surviving population in the Middle Ages were poor, undereducated, and highly susceptible to folklore after losing so much so quickly to an imperceptible enemy. Physicians leaned heavily on medical texts written in the year 129 C.E., or if lucky, the year 1029 C.E.
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The son of a Swiss alchemy teacher born in the late 1400’s would soon emerge as our greatest hope for the next evolution in modern medical practice. This boy’s name was Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim.
Young Philippus learned metallurgy in the Austrian mining town where his father taught and his innate love of natural science, affinity for chemistry, and white-hot devotion to the church spurred Philippus’ to begin medical training around age 15.
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No university transcripts exist from this time, but it said that young Philippus showed a superlative talent for “listening to the patient” and miraculously intuiting the proper amount of medicine to cure any part of the body.
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Like any strong thinker ahead of their time, Philippus amassed an army of haters. Dropping his name in lieu of the mononym “PARACELSUS” many decried this hubris as attempt to compare to legendary philosopher Aulus Cornelius Celsus. Other unpopular choices made during his studies were his refusal to speak Latin when discussing medicine, as was the time-honored tradition. He called out the performative language barrier between doctor and patient as an empty smokescreen designed to prevent anyone from seeing how little doctors actually knew.
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07/19/2021

Exciting Announcement from the PRS Bookstore! ⭐️

Manly Hall’s best-loved essays and most-popular transcripts are now getting a much-needed re-print. The new roll-out of softcover books are slimmed down and perfect for travelling as they are made from more durable material than our previous heavy card stock. Scroll through for the parade of current offerings we have now. Stock is constantly replenished so no one will need to wait long for their own copy!
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1. The Philosophy of Astrology 🪐
p. 69 - "Astrology is part of the old esoteric tradition. He must possess in part at least the vision of those masters who saw in the raptured meditation the great order of the worlds. He must hear with Pythagoras the Music of the Spheres.
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2. Paracelsus : His Mystical and Medical Philosophy ⚗️

p. 53 -
“Realizing that the prime purpose of therapy is to supply a particular energy at a particular time to a particular part of the body, Paracelsus did not hesitate to consider magical and sympathetic means of achieving his cures.”
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3. Occult Anatomy of Man 🧿
An enlightening interpretation of the symbolism of the mysteries of the human body by Manly Hall.

p. 5 -- "In Scripture, we are told that God made man in his own image. It is so stated not only in the Christian Bible but also in the holy writings of nearly all enlightened people. This analogy between the finite and the infinite is said to be one of the keys by the aid of which the secrets of Holy Writ are unlocked."
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4. The Mystery and Means of Fire
(AKA - Melchizedek) 🔥

The supreme Arcanum of the ancients was the key to the nature and power of fire.
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5. Sacred Magic of the Qabbalah 🌀
Three doctrines of the rabbis and the Pythagoreans regarding the science of the divine names and the mystery of numbers.

The Science of the Divine Names
I: Keys of the Sacred Wisdom
II: The Mystery of the Numbers
III: The Power of Invocation and the Science of the Sacred Names
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6. Spiritual Centers (in Man)
(AKA - “An Essay on the Fundamental Principles of Operative Occultism" and “Spiritual Centers in Man.")

An illustrated description of the seven spinal chakras and the science of regeneration.

07/19/2021

We are pleased to welcome Elizabeth T. Vazquez as one of our Artists-In-Residence at Philosophical Research Society and are so excited to invite you all to join their reading and discussion group once monthly to discuss the reading. This will be an outdoor gathering held in the open courtyard behind the walls of PRS. There is free parking in two separate parking lots at 3910 Los Feliz Blvd or 3341 Griffith Park Blvd. Access to facilities and refreshment of course provided.
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July 21 2021 - Mark Fisher’s “Postcapitalist Desire”

We kick off the discussion group with a collection of transcripts from Mark Fisher's final series of lectures at Goldsmiths, University of London, in late 2016.
Beginning with that most fundamental of questions -- "Do we really want what we say we want?" -- Fisher explores the relationship between desire and capitalism, and wonders what new forms of desire we might still excavate from the past, present, and future. For Fisher, this process of consciousness raising was always, fundamentally, psychedelic -- just not in the way that we might think...
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August 2021 - Gilles Deleuze + Félix Guattari
“Anti-Oedipus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia”

When it first appeared in France, ‘Anti-Oedipus’ was hailed as a masterpiece by some and "a work of heretical madness" by others. In it, Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari set forth the following theory: Western society's innate herd instinct has allowed the government, the media, and even the principles of economics to take advantage of each person's unwillingness to be cut off from the group.
What's more, those who suffer from mental disorders may not be insane, but could be individuals in the purest sense, because they are by nature isolated from society.
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September 2021 - Gloria Anzaldúa’s “Light in the Dark: Rewriting Identity, Spirituality, Reality”

Light in the Dark is the culmination of Gloria E. Anzaldúa's mature thought and the most comprehensive presentation of her philosophy. Focusing on aesthetics, ontology, epistemology, and ethics, it contains several developments in her many important theoretical contributions.
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05/17/2021

🔵🔷🔹Recommended Reads !

@i_am_satya_indra first arrived at PRS several years ago to sit in on the Tuesday night President’s Lecture Series with Dr. Greg Salyer. His insightful questions and philosophical stances spurred many a deep discussion every week and we recently reached out to him to find out what his top reading recommendations were. PRS Bookstore is pleased to share his top three titles with our curious followers.
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1. CEREMONY by Leslie Marmon Silko
Published in 1977 - This book defies categorizing. It’s less of a traditional novel and more of a poetic prose. Themes cover veteran mental health and PTSD, matriarchal culture, spiritual healing ceremonies, native and mixed-race identities. Author Leslie Marmon Silko received the American Book Award for this title in 1980 and it continues to be integral in multiple Native American academic courses.

2. THE SECRET DOCTRINE by Mme. Helena P. Blavatsky
Published in 1888 - Its arrival likely kicked off the Spiritualism Movement of the late nineteenth century and, despite its controversial topic (and author) has undoubtedly shifted the collective consciousness of occult philosophers and esoteric thinkers over the last 130 years. Themes covered within are the origin of the universe, spiritual and physical evolution of mankind, and Hindu theory of vast time cycles. Blavatsky told her many detractors that the ideas she wrote about were not “known” to her, but rather came through to her via a trance-like state. She named her several sources as long-dead mystics, teachers, and guardians of occult lore. Modern science has since disproven her theories on evolution, but still a powerful book despite the outdated viewpoints.

3. THE SECRET TEACHINGS OF ALL AGES by Manly P. Hall
Published in 1927 - Considered the first true esoteric encyclopedia of eastern and western wisdom traditions. At age 27, Hall had focused his attention on completing the Herculean task originally set out by the Age of Enlightenment philosophers. - “Lé Encyclopédia” - the book of all human knowledge. Themes covered are similarities between world religions past and present and the use of color and shape as code in esoteric storytelling.
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04/12/2021

🐏 New Moon in fiery Aries 🔥

Plant your seed
Make your wish
Set your intention
Rest and detox

What is so magical about a new moon, exactly? The earth stands in the way of the sun’s rays casting a black cloak over our perennial satellite, the moon. The moon is still present, but camouflaged in the inky night sky.
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This is, cosmically speaking, a blank canvas. A spiritual ‘carte blanche’ to impress onto this fertile soil intentions for future growth and good fortune to harvest. Prepare the soil of your life by simply decluttering, burning incense or lighting a candle to cleanse the air, but do it all with intention.

Earth’s natural cycles follow a cosmic pattern handed down to us by those who reflected long enough to read the night sky. Shepards who stood vigil over flocks at night, holy men who sat high on stone perches to contemplate the mysteries, and sailors from all walks of life in the ancient civilizations all followed the supernatural advice given by the stars.
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These cryptic messages from beyond could only be unfurled by the patient, mathematically-gifted (and possibly insomnia-suffering) star gazer. Before computers could calculate the heavens astronomers were made to do battle using trigonometry and an assortment of precisely-crafted measuring tools.
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Like a negative photograph, the stars, seemingly random, but deliberate sparks of light, show the viewer past, present, and future. Portents and events whose tales would only come out at night lent themselves to the term “occult”, or hidden.
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Even in modern times, pIcking up a farmers almanac will substantiate that most crops planted during the new moon will reap the most bounty during harvest.
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Yes, free will is still within grasp - you can choose to plant seeds whenever you like, but statistically speaking the odds are in your favor during a new moon.
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Aries is considered the first and most pioneering zodiac sign, a nature charismatic leader blazing trails through uncharted lands by their sheer zest for life and energy to battle obstacles — head on.

04/01/2021

Dr. Yolanda Robinson says in “The Revised New Art Tarot” that The Fool is the cosmic madman, the blindfolded buffoon, the Divine Idiot.
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The Fool is represented by the number zero, which is in itself an enigma. Zero is neither here nor there, yet teetering on the precipice of creation.
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Today on April 1st we honor our friend, Le Fou, and ponder his impetus to move forward knowing nothing, yet trusting The Universe has his back.
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Spring, the time of renewal, is an excellent time to, like The Fool, step into Typhon’s realm of rebirth and ignore the fearful protests of our primal animal voice that wishes to hold us back. Leave behind the deceptions of the Ego and choose to brave the path of The Mysteries.
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“Once we realize that we are no-thing, the Tarot will render its last secret.”
— Oswald Wirth

Our tarot deck, created by Manly Hall and illustrated by J. Augustus Knapp, are currently in stock on PRS.org/shop as well as the comprehensive publication, “The Revised New Art Tarot: Mysticism and Qabalah in the Knapp-Hall Tarot” by Yolanda Robinson, PhD.
Posters and prints of “A Layout of Major Trumps” illustrated by J. Augustus Knapp are currently available in two sizes.

03/27/2021

"I didn't have time to be anyone's muse...I was too busy rebelling against my family and learning to be an artist.”
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What better way to kick off Aries season than to celebrate the life and art of Aries woman Leonora Carrington. Philosophical Research Society is deeply honored to have professor of Art History and Visual Culture Program Susan L. Aberth from Bard College speak about Leonora’s impact on Leonora’s actual birthday, April 6th.
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Embracing the surrealist movement in the 1930’s while eschewing the patriarchal influences, Leonora’s work was rich in esoteric symbolism and sought to re-center women in the artistic process - though her work was admittedly not intended for any audience but the artist herself.
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Expelled from two schools for rebellious behavior, Leonora further defied her father by pursuing art and trained in Italy. She discovered Aldous Huxley’s writing and met artist Max Ernst in London. They settled together in Paris. After losing Max to America (where he fled from his life from the N***s) Leonora fled to Spain, Leonora experienced a life-altering psychotic break. She then experienced the debilitatingly brutal treatment of asylums and escaped from her caregiver while on the trip to her South African asylum and married a Mexican diplomat to start her life anew.
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Here is where Leonora’s odyssey through occultism and color truly begins.

Tickets are on Eventbrite- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/happy-birthday-leonora-carrington-the-life-of-a-surrealist-sorceress-tickets-142738433497?ref=ecal

Happy Birthday Leonora Carrington: A Celebration of the Life and Work of a Surrealist Sorceress
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Joining us for a special introduction is editor of The Library of Esoterica, TASCHEN book series Jessica Hundley.

Special thanks to Eliza Swann and The Golden Dome School! 🙏🏻

03/17/2021

The Basic Keys to 'The Secret Teachings of All Ages'

Registration is open again for one of our most popular online courses! ‘The Basic Keys to The Secret Teachings of All Ages’ is designed for students who want to delve into esoteric philosophy and/or cultivate a deeper understanding of Manly Hall’s masterpiece. ⁣⁣
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The course begins this Friday, 3/19 and will run for 7 weeks. 10% off for the first 10 participants to register! ⁣
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Registration/more info at the link below. Questions? Email [email protected].

The Philosophical Research Society is a non-profit, on-campus, and online society dedicated to providing opportunities for seekers who wish to study “practical and profound wisdom for the 21st century.”

03/13/2021

Happy New Moon in Pisces!

At 2:21am PST this Saturday morning, the New Moon reached its apex in Pisces at 23 degrees. For many of us in the U.S., our "manifestation work" was being done unconsciously as we lay ourselves to rest and dissolved into our dreams. This dissolution, whether unconscious or conscious, is what defines Pisces energy. When boundaries are blurred and attachments disappear, Pisces teaches us one of our hardest lessons in this human experience: surrendering.

Although New Moons are generally seen as a time to call in and plan for the future after a time of releasing under the Full and Waning Moon, the Pisces New Moon presents us an opportunity to take our foot off the gas and let the Universe take the wheel.

With Venus exalted in Pisces, and Neptune as its modern rulling planet, the Sun and Moon swimming through these ethereal waters merge with Venus and Neptune's shared romanticism and openness to spirit. As the Sun, Venus and Neptune continue to co-mingle, our heartfelt and emotional sense of possibility takes precedent over our immediate reality. We are reminded of the importance of vulnerability, rest, and dreaming for our holistic health.

Before we can manifest anything new into our lives, we must free ourselves from our past narratives as well as our desire to control future outcomes. Pisces teaches us to embrace loss before letting it go too. Our surrendering is forgiveness in action. If we are not able let go then we can forgive ourselves for not letting go. The compassion that emerges out of this is what it's all about.

Be clear about the world you want to live in but don't worry about the details of how your vision of a future will become a reality right now. Instead, hold trust and faith in your heart that your vision will unfold exactly as it should.

Written by Liz Vazquez, @stripmalldreams