Mercury's Children - Shamanic and Hermetic Practices: Institute for Hermetic Studies Monograph Series (Volume 5)

Mercury's Children - Shamanic and Hermetic Practices is a thorough overview of the common roots and practices of Shamanism and Hermeticism. Shamanism is the foundation of all religion, magic, initiation, and esotericism. Shamanism is about experiencing the physical world as filled with visible and invisible beings of wisdom and power with whom humans may interact if they chose, but to their detriment, often do not. Shamanism is magic in its most powerful, sensual, erotic and illusive sense. However, many modern Hermetic schools have often ignored their shamanic roots, and have removed themselves from a source of important experiences and power. The influence of shamanism on alchemy, and ceremonial practices of goetia, notions of demon and Elemental lovers, folk magic (Brauche and Pow-Wow of the Pennsylvania Germans), Rosicrucianism, and Freemasonic symbols of initiation and resurrection are explored. An extensive set of suggested methods for students of Hermeticism wishing to integrate Shamanism into their practices are provided.