What do you think?
Rate this book
THE SECRET TEACHINGS OF ALL AGES [ANNOTATED AND ILLUSTRATED]: AN ENCYCLOPEDIC OUTLINE OF MASONIC, HERMETIC, QABBALISTIC AND ROSICRUCIAN SY
The full complete and unabridged book by Manley P Hall.
The Secret Teachings of All Ages is perhaps the most comprehensive and complete esoteric encyclopedia ever written. The sheer scope and ambition of this book are stunning. In this book Manly P. Hall has successfully distilled the essence of more arcane subjects than one would think possible. He covers Rosicrucianism and other secret societies, alchemy, cryptology, Kabbalah, Tarot, pyramids, the Zodiac, Pythagorean philosophy, Masonry, gemology, Nicholas Flammel, the identity of William Shakespeare, The Life and Teachings of Thoth Hermes Trismegistus, The Qabbalah, The Hiramic Legend, The Tree of the Sephiroth, Mystic Christianity, and there are more than 200 illustrations included here. This is essential reading for anyone wishing to explore esoteric knowledge.
The Secret Teachings of All Ages is perhaps the most comprehensive and complete esoteric encyclopedia ever written. The sheer scope and ambition of this book are stunning. In this book Manly P. Hall has successfully distilled the essence of more arcane subjects than one would think possible. He covers Rosicrucianism and other secret societies, alchemy, cryptology, Kabbalah, Tarot, pyramids, the Zodiac, Pythagorean philosophy, Masonry, gemology, Nicholas Flammel, the identity of William Shakespeare, The Life and Teachings of Thoth Hermes Trismegistus, The Qabbalah, The Hiramic Legend, The Tree of the Sephiroth, Mystic Christianity, and there are more than 200 illustrations included here. This is essential reading for anyone wishing to explore esoteric knowledge.
1153 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1928
4819 people are currently reading
21182 people want to read
About the author
Manly P. Hall
765 books1,127 followersCanadian born, Manly Palmer Hall is the author of over 150 published works, the best known of which are Initiates of the Flame, The Story of Healing, The Divine Art,Aliens Magick and Sorcery The Secret Teachings of All Ages, and An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy.
He was also the author of a masonic curiosity, The Lost Keys of Freemasonry in 1923, more than thirty years before he joined a lodge. The preface of later editions states "At the time I wrote this slender volume, I had just passed my twenty-first birthday, and my only contact with Freemasonry was through a few books commonly available to the public." Later, in 1944, he wrote The Secret Destiny of America which popularized the myth of a masonic purpose for the founding of the USA. In 1950 he weighed in again on the meaning of Freemasonry with his booklet: Masonic Orders of Fraternity.
***
Initiated: June 28, 1954
Passed: September 20, 1954
Raised November 22, 1954
Jewel Lodge No. 374
Source: Grand Lodge of California records ; William R. Denslow, 10,000 Famous Freemasons, vol. ii. Trenton, MO. : Missouri Lodge of Research / Educational Bureau, Royal Arch Mason Magazine, 1958. p. 165.
He was also the author of a masonic curiosity, The Lost Keys of Freemasonry in 1923, more than thirty years before he joined a lodge. The preface of later editions states "At the time I wrote this slender volume, I had just passed my twenty-first birthday, and my only contact with Freemasonry was through a few books commonly available to the public." Later, in 1944, he wrote The Secret Destiny of America which popularized the myth of a masonic purpose for the founding of the USA. In 1950 he weighed in again on the meaning of Freemasonry with his booklet: Masonic Orders of Fraternity.
***
Initiated: June 28, 1954
Passed: September 20, 1954
Raised November 22, 1954
Jewel Lodge No. 374
Source: Grand Lodge of California records ; William R. Denslow, 10,000 Famous Freemasons, vol. ii. Trenton, MO. : Missouri Lodge of Research / Educational Bureau, Royal Arch Mason Magazine, 1958. p. 165.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 327 reviews
January 5, 2013
The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manley P. Hall is fascinating. It is a masterful compendium of esoteric teachings of all time. It is a summation of hidden wisdom from the arcane and mystical teachings of Druidic, Mithraic, Christian, Gnostic, Odinic, Gothic, Eleusinian, Orphic, Bacchic, Dionysian, Platonic, Atlantean, Cabric, Hermetic, Zodiacal, Astrological, Chaldean, Delphic, Orphic, Dodonean, Pythagorean, Numerological, Hiramic, Paracelsian, Mosaic, Qabbalistic, Sephirothic, Rosicrucian, Alchemical, Masonic, Islamic, Native American, Mayan and Neo-Platonic traditions. I learned much from reading this massive work (over 2.5 pounds). But there were four main ideas that I drew from it. First, no philosophy, mythos or religion can stand alone. None came into existence on its own. The later ones evolved from the earlier ones. They all borrowed from or were influenced by the others. Second, none can lay a valid claim to either exclusivity or primacy. Any attempt to do so can only lead to contradiction and confusion. Wisdom is a fabric and all the threads are inseparably woven together. Third, I found there to be a validation of Hamlet's oft quoted observation from Act I, Scene V, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." It is folly to lay claim to a completeness of understanding. There is always much more beyond the cloud of unknowing. Finally, I came away with a greater understanding of the adage, "Those who say, don't know; and those who know, don't say." Understanding has as much to do with the heart as with the head. Much of wisdom has traditionally been hidden, awaiting to be passed on to those who have grown in spiritual preparedness. It seems to be more experiential than cerebral. In the words of Reikichi Kita and Kiichi Nagaya, "To one who has had the experience, there is no need to explain it. To one who has not, there is no way to explain it. What to do but exclaim."
February 10, 2017
Extremely fun, extremely interesting, but fundamentally unreliable. Manly wrote this book in his early twenties. He's obviously well read and very intelligent but this book is written with a pretty significant bias toward his own obvious Masonic leanings, and most of the lore he has absorbed due to this association is accepted by him and presented as unsubstantiated fact. I will admit it lends a certain kind of mystique to the yarns he spins. For instance, I would personally love to believe that some inheritor of the egyption mystery schools living today knows the secret location of the original 42 manuscripts authored by the authentic historical Hermes Trismegistus written on papyrus and saved from the vandals of Alexandria, as he asserts. But I don't and he definitely doesn't go out of his way to give any evidence to validate that wacky claim. So all and all impressive work that should be taken with a huge grain of salt.
January 23, 2024
In 1920s California, there was this guy knocking about with the unlikely name of Manly P. Hall, who was completely batshit insane. If you don't believe me, just have a look at him:
“Look into my eyes, the eyes – not around the eyes, don't look around the eyes, look into my eyes...you're under.”
Canadian by birth, he arrived in Los Angeles as a teenager in 1919 and promptly embedded himself in a circle of ‘Transcendentalists, artists, actors, scholars and ingenues…bohemian visionaries, occult magicians, charismatic charlatans, and barefoot prophets’. Part-showman, part amateur scholar, Hall somehow managed to convince some wealthy heiresses to send him on a global fact-finding jaunt, during which he attempted to absorb the totality of the world's mythology and religion.
When he got back, he synthesised it into this impressive, hubristic, preposterous book. It's basically what Casaubon was writing in Middlemarch – an attempt to harmonise all the various strands of legend and philosophy into one spiritual (and hopefully marketable) whole. It is truly gigantic. The paper purchase alone – over a hundred and fifty miles of a stock called Alexandra Japan, was apparently ‘the largest order placed in America—ever’.
Taschen, who have reproduced this in facsimile, claim to be carbon-neutral thanks to a ‘scientific program of planting and raising saplings’. On the evidence of this behemoth, they must be reforesting half the Amazon basin. I attempted to scan some pages of it to give you an idea. I am now in the market for a new scanner.
Copy of Ulysses for scale
I am not sure whether the acquisition of this book has been more destabilising to my finances, my bookshelves, my marriage or my sanity, but reading it is certainly not a simple thing to take on. You will need a large open space, a lot of patience, and a reliable workout regime.
Hall sees secrets and mysteries everywhere he looks. On chess, for instance:
Perhaps that's what Hans Niemann had in mind when he reached for the anal beads.
At other times, Hall pushes his own pet theories, including such classics as the idea that Francis Bacon wrote the works of Shakespeare:
I hope this is clear.
The best and most enduring feature of the Secret Teachings is the extraordinary illustrations, from fellow Freemason J. Augustus Knapp. Many of these – which have a very striking tone, somewhere between church ceiling and fantasy paperback front-cover – are quite remarkable, especially at the scale at which they're printed here.
Hall's musings, which take on everything from Cabbalistic theory to alchemy to the tarot to Zoroastrianism, are equal parts baffling, provocative, inspiring and infuriating. Certainly to publish something this all-encompassing at the age of just twenty-seven is quite a feat, and it made him world-famous (apparently – I'd never heard of him before, I must say).
He parlayed his celebrity into a career as a public speaker (selling out Carnegie Hall) and as the patriarch of something called the Philosophical Research Society in LA, which has been keeping his legacy going since he died, aged eighty-nine, as recently as 1990. I'm afraid I can't take him remotely seriously; but as an objet d'art, this madcap work of curiosity, research and credulity is one of the most incredible things I've laid my eyes on.
“Look into my eyes, the eyes – not around the eyes, don't look around the eyes, look into my eyes...you're under.”
Canadian by birth, he arrived in Los Angeles as a teenager in 1919 and promptly embedded himself in a circle of ‘Transcendentalists, artists, actors, scholars and ingenues…bohemian visionaries, occult magicians, charismatic charlatans, and barefoot prophets’. Part-showman, part amateur scholar, Hall somehow managed to convince some wealthy heiresses to send him on a global fact-finding jaunt, during which he attempted to absorb the totality of the world's mythology and religion.
When he got back, he synthesised it into this impressive, hubristic, preposterous book. It's basically what Casaubon was writing in Middlemarch – an attempt to harmonise all the various strands of legend and philosophy into one spiritual (and hopefully marketable) whole. It is truly gigantic. The paper purchase alone – over a hundred and fifty miles of a stock called Alexandra Japan, was apparently ‘the largest order placed in America—ever’.
Taschen, who have reproduced this in facsimile, claim to be carbon-neutral thanks to a ‘scientific program of planting and raising saplings’. On the evidence of this behemoth, they must be reforesting half the Amazon basin. I attempted to scan some pages of it to give you an idea. I am now in the market for a new scanner.
Copy of Ulysses for scale
I am not sure whether the acquisition of this book has been more destabilising to my finances, my bookshelves, my marriage or my sanity, but reading it is certainly not a simple thing to take on. You will need a large open space, a lot of patience, and a reliable workout regime.
Hall sees secrets and mysteries everywhere he looks. On chess, for instance:
The chessboard consists of 64 squares alternately black and white and symbolizes the floor of the House of the Mysteries. Upon this field of existence or thought move a number of strangely carved figures, each according to a fixed law. The white king is Ormuzd; the black king, Ahriman; and upon the plains of Cosmos the great war between Light and Darkness is fought through all the ages.
Perhaps that's what Hans Niemann had in mind when he reached for the anal beads.
At other times, Hall pushes his own pet theories, including such classics as the idea that Francis Bacon wrote the works of Shakespeare:
Repeated references to the word hog and the presence of cryptographic statements on page 33 of various contemporary writings demonstrate that the keys to Bacon's ciphers were his own name, words playing upon it, or its numerical equivalent. Notable examples are the famous statement of Mistress Quickly in The Merry Wives of Windsor: “Hang-hog is latten for Bacon, I warrant you”; the title pages of The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia and Edmund Spenser's Faerie Queene; and the emblems appearing in the works of Alciatus and Wither. Furthermore, the word honorificabilitudinitatibus appearing in the fifth act of Love's Labour's Lost is a Rosicrucian signature, as its numerical equivalent (287) indicates.
I hope this is clear.
The best and most enduring feature of the Secret Teachings is the extraordinary illustrations, from fellow Freemason J. Augustus Knapp. Many of these – which have a very striking tone, somewhere between church ceiling and fantasy paperback front-cover – are quite remarkable, especially at the scale at which they're printed here.
Hall's musings, which take on everything from Cabbalistic theory to alchemy to the tarot to Zoroastrianism, are equal parts baffling, provocative, inspiring and infuriating. Certainly to publish something this all-encompassing at the age of just twenty-seven is quite a feat, and it made him world-famous (apparently – I'd never heard of him before, I must say).
He parlayed his celebrity into a career as a public speaker (selling out Carnegie Hall) and as the patriarch of something called the Philosophical Research Society in LA, which has been keeping his legacy going since he died, aged eighty-nine, as recently as 1990. I'm afraid I can't take him remotely seriously; but as an objet d'art, this madcap work of curiosity, research and credulity is one of the most incredible things I've laid my eyes on.
July 19, 2025
A profound, eye-opening, poignant and logical overview to a variety of philosophical and theological concepts, tinted by the occult, from antiquity to modern myths and religions that'll provide superb food for thought for the mindful reader.
Read III: 2021
Read III: 2021
December 4, 2009
Ok this would be one of those rare occasions where I actually type a review on one of my books. My friends have asked me this one question.
Out of all my books on the occult, magick and things that are suppose to elevate the human conscience. What book would I recomend to explain it ALL.
I would have to say this book. No question about it. Mr. Hall can put into everyday language the facts. There is no judgement calls in any of his writings. This book was his first and finest. he wrote it in 1927 at the age of 27. It took him 3 years or so. Its laid out perfectly in order of sequence. He takes you step by step through the ages and explains and ties everything together.
I wished I would of bought this book back when I was 14. Would of saved me a bunch of money. lol
Out of all my books on the occult, magick and things that are suppose to elevate the human conscience. What book would I recomend to explain it ALL.
I would have to say this book. No question about it. Mr. Hall can put into everyday language the facts. There is no judgement calls in any of his writings. This book was his first and finest. he wrote it in 1927 at the age of 27. It took him 3 years or so. Its laid out perfectly in order of sequence. He takes you step by step through the ages and explains and ties everything together.
I wished I would of bought this book back when I was 14. Would of saved me a bunch of money. lol
April 11, 2010
The full title on most editions of this book is - "The Secret Teachings of All Ages: An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic and Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy". Which just goes to prove that real books don't have short titles.
This is the great work of Manly Palmer Hall and illustrator J. Augustus Knapp. These two artisans created one of the most important compendiums of its kind in this book. Perhaps the only book to tackle the wide array of cultures, mythologies, and antiquarian histories. It has been the source of controversy within the esoteric communities for almost a century.
This book is both famed in it's own Rosy Crux circles, and at the same time is so little known that there are probably thousands of books that have used it as a reference work (some may not even know that their quotes from other great references are actually taking their inspiration from Hall who dedicated a great deal of his life just to this book's complettion. The earliest editions are nearly three feet tall and come with all 200 illustrations in full color, and it is one of the books I have ever seen that truly can be called a work of art - the traditions of illuninated manuscripts and other post-Christian era occult works. I forewarn the potential reader that this is not an ordinary book. Even getting through a few chapters can take all the concentration a gifted scholar is able to muster. Yet if you take the time to absorb the wealth of knowledge contained herein - you will have a better education in mysticism and the occult than most.
To show the wide acceptance of this book as a reference work - Here is how Publisher's Weekly describes it for the masses: "In 1928, a 20-something Renaissance man named Manly Hall self-published a vast encyclopedia of the occult, believing that "modern" ideas of progress and materialism were displacing more important and ancient modes of knowledge. Hall's text has become a classic reference, dizzying in its breadth: various chapters explore Rosicrucianism, Kabbalah, alchemy, cryptology, Tarot, pyramids, the Zodiac, Pythagorean philosophy, Masonry and gemology, among other topics. This affordably priced edition would be vastly improved by a new foreword, placing the work in some kind of historical and critical context and introducing readers to the basic contours of Hall's sweeping corpus. Instead, we have a disciple's adulatory 1975 foreword, which merely parrots the same themes of mystery and esoterica that are espoused in the book. Readers who are unfamiliar with Hall's work will be at a loss in ferreting out which chapters have stood the test of time and which have been vigorously debunked (like the one on Islam, which actually uses novelist Washington Irving as a primary source on the prophet Muhammad). However, they will also marvel at the sheer scope of Hall's research and imagination, and at J. Augustus Knapp's famous illustrations, including a 16-page color insert. " - Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
For once ole Amazon has a product review that is accurate and useful : "The Secret Teachings of All Ages is perhaps the most comprehensive and complete esoteric encyclopedia ever written. The sheer scope and ambition of this book are stunning. In this book Manly P. Hall has successfully distilled the essence of more arcane subjects than one would think possible. He covers Rosicrucianism and other secret societies, alchemy, cryptology, Kabbalah, Tarot, pyramids, the Zodiac, Pythagorean philosophy, Masonry, gemology, Nicholas Flammel, the identity of William Shakespeare, The Life and Teachings of Thoth Hermes Trismegistus, The Qabbalah, The Hiramic Legend, The Tree of the Sephiroth, Mystic Christianity, and there are more than 200 illustrations included here. This is essential reading for anyone wishing to explore esoteric knowledge." - Amazon product review.
"Into this volume has been compressed the quintessence of a colossal learning. It is a living human document, pulsating with the mental and spiritual vibrations of a profound thinker who takes knowledge for his province and reduces whole libraries to a single tome." - George Barron, Curator of the De Young Museum of San Francisco, in his tribute to this remarkable work.
There is a big difference between this newer edition and manly of the scarce but available older hardcover editions. At the end of this article I have provided a few links to several older editions that collectors may want to consider for purchasing, you can make up your own mind. - My opinion is simple. This newer paperback edition is one of the worst examples of reprint and bastardization of one of the 20th century's masterworks. Yes inevitable as the industry is about selling out to the lowest common dollar, this would not have happened if Hall were alive to see his great book reduced to a college reader text. Trust me even the smaller 80s editions in hardcover will be well worth the couple of extra dollars that may be incurred.
And if you are knowledgeable of Manly P. Hall and this text, you already understand. I have had this for many years in my personal collection. I believe it is one of top ten books you can read before you die, and one of the classics ever written in human literature.
Even modern Publisher Llewelyn has nothing but high praises for 'Secret Teachings'...
"Simply put, this is the most beautiful and complete occult book ever published. It represents a lifetime of research into the mythology, symbolism, and magical practices of countless cultures. From the secrets of Isis to the teachings of mystic Christianity, nearly every occult dogma imaginable is represented here. The book is full of giant illustrations, some of which fold out into a magnificent two-page splendor. This is the definitive guide to secret societies, famous figures, and more a must for every personal library." - Llewellyn New Times
There are editions available on the open retail market these days if you just want a reader copy, and there are older collectable editions that are worth thousands of dollars, that is if you can even acquire one. I hope the listing below gives you a fair crossection to consider.
This is the great work of Manly Palmer Hall and illustrator J. Augustus Knapp. These two artisans created one of the most important compendiums of its kind in this book. Perhaps the only book to tackle the wide array of cultures, mythologies, and antiquarian histories. It has been the source of controversy within the esoteric communities for almost a century.
This book is both famed in it's own Rosy Crux circles, and at the same time is so little known that there are probably thousands of books that have used it as a reference work (some may not even know that their quotes from other great references are actually taking their inspiration from Hall who dedicated a great deal of his life just to this book's complettion. The earliest editions are nearly three feet tall and come with all 200 illustrations in full color, and it is one of the books I have ever seen that truly can be called a work of art - the traditions of illuninated manuscripts and other post-Christian era occult works. I forewarn the potential reader that this is not an ordinary book. Even getting through a few chapters can take all the concentration a gifted scholar is able to muster. Yet if you take the time to absorb the wealth of knowledge contained herein - you will have a better education in mysticism and the occult than most.
To show the wide acceptance of this book as a reference work - Here is how Publisher's Weekly describes it for the masses: "In 1928, a 20-something Renaissance man named Manly Hall self-published a vast encyclopedia of the occult, believing that "modern" ideas of progress and materialism were displacing more important and ancient modes of knowledge. Hall's text has become a classic reference, dizzying in its breadth: various chapters explore Rosicrucianism, Kabbalah, alchemy, cryptology, Tarot, pyramids, the Zodiac, Pythagorean philosophy, Masonry and gemology, among other topics. This affordably priced edition would be vastly improved by a new foreword, placing the work in some kind of historical and critical context and introducing readers to the basic contours of Hall's sweeping corpus. Instead, we have a disciple's adulatory 1975 foreword, which merely parrots the same themes of mystery and esoterica that are espoused in the book. Readers who are unfamiliar with Hall's work will be at a loss in ferreting out which chapters have stood the test of time and which have been vigorously debunked (like the one on Islam, which actually uses novelist Washington Irving as a primary source on the prophet Muhammad). However, they will also marvel at the sheer scope of Hall's research and imagination, and at J. Augustus Knapp's famous illustrations, including a 16-page color insert. " - Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
For once ole Amazon has a product review that is accurate and useful : "The Secret Teachings of All Ages is perhaps the most comprehensive and complete esoteric encyclopedia ever written. The sheer scope and ambition of this book are stunning. In this book Manly P. Hall has successfully distilled the essence of more arcane subjects than one would think possible. He covers Rosicrucianism and other secret societies, alchemy, cryptology, Kabbalah, Tarot, pyramids, the Zodiac, Pythagorean philosophy, Masonry, gemology, Nicholas Flammel, the identity of William Shakespeare, The Life and Teachings of Thoth Hermes Trismegistus, The Qabbalah, The Hiramic Legend, The Tree of the Sephiroth, Mystic Christianity, and there are more than 200 illustrations included here. This is essential reading for anyone wishing to explore esoteric knowledge." - Amazon product review.
"Into this volume has been compressed the quintessence of a colossal learning. It is a living human document, pulsating with the mental and spiritual vibrations of a profound thinker who takes knowledge for his province and reduces whole libraries to a single tome." - George Barron, Curator of the De Young Museum of San Francisco, in his tribute to this remarkable work.
There is a big difference between this newer edition and manly of the scarce but available older hardcover editions. At the end of this article I have provided a few links to several older editions that collectors may want to consider for purchasing, you can make up your own mind. - My opinion is simple. This newer paperback edition is one of the worst examples of reprint and bastardization of one of the 20th century's masterworks. Yes inevitable as the industry is about selling out to the lowest common dollar, this would not have happened if Hall were alive to see his great book reduced to a college reader text. Trust me even the smaller 80s editions in hardcover will be well worth the couple of extra dollars that may be incurred.
And if you are knowledgeable of Manly P. Hall and this text, you already understand. I have had this for many years in my personal collection. I believe it is one of top ten books you can read before you die, and one of the classics ever written in human literature.
Even modern Publisher Llewelyn has nothing but high praises for 'Secret Teachings'...
"Simply put, this is the most beautiful and complete occult book ever published. It represents a lifetime of research into the mythology, symbolism, and magical practices of countless cultures. From the secrets of Isis to the teachings of mystic Christianity, nearly every occult dogma imaginable is represented here. The book is full of giant illustrations, some of which fold out into a magnificent two-page splendor. This is the definitive guide to secret societies, famous figures, and more a must for every personal library." - Llewellyn New Times
There are editions available on the open retail market these days if you just want a reader copy, and there are older collectable editions that are worth thousands of dollars, that is if you can even acquire one. I hope the listing below gives you a fair crossection to consider.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2010
I've actually read and re-read this book- in sum and in sections- many, many times. Totally comprehensive, interesting, with an insanely useful bibliography. Good for anyone interested in the supernatural, occult, or secret societies.
October 17, 2012
I was given this book by Genesis P-Orridge in 1990, and it's a treasured possession. It introduced my young mind to exactly what it says in the title. A classic book from the 1920's that really introduced many, many paradigms to people at the time.
August 25, 2016
If a reader is dedicated to reach the end of more than 600 pages of encyclopedic writing, in more than one sense of the word, about esoteric matters, the last words of this book will haunt one's sleep: "The criers of the Mysteries speak again, bidding all men welcome to the House of Light. The great institution of materiality has failed. The false civilization built by man has turned, and like the monster of Frankenstein, is destroying its creator. Religion wanders aimlessly in the maze of theological speculation. Science batters itself impotently against the barriers of the unknown. Only transcendental philosophy knows the path. Only the illumined reason can carry the understanding part of man upward to the light. Only philosophy can teach man to be born well, to live well, to die well, and in perfect measure be born again. Into this band of the elect--those who have chosen the life of knowledge, of virtue, and of utility--the philosophers of the ages invite YOU (632)." Why do these words haunt the reader so? For one, the author takes them quite seriously--this book is a massive discussion of matters of esoteric philosophy from the point of view of an early 20th century defender of the ancient Mystery religions [1] and their contemporary proponents--the sort of people, Masons and Rosicrucians and the like--who are generally considered to be part of the Illuminati. Basically, the closing words of this book are an invitation to someone who has read a lot of very seriously written prose in honor of an allegorical view of holy texts and a love of layered secret writings and codes to consider themselves a member of the Illuminati too. That might haunt the sleep of those far less easily haunted than me.
How did Manly Hall, as a young man, create this masterpiece of contemporary occult reference material? According to Occult America, he went to the local public library to explore the mysteries of the ages, and ended up with the material to make this book. He ended up with a lot of material, which is somewhat haphazardly "organized" in this volume. The materials are at least roughly chronologically organized, starting with ruminations on Atlantis and ancient mysteries and secret societies, looking at the Zodiac, the Hiramic legend, Pythagoras, Thoth Hermes Trismegistus, and Isus, as well as a look at solar worship. Several chapters of the book are devoted to the symbolism of the Pyramid, humankind, and plant and animal worlds, and several more are devoted to Qabbala, the mystery religion of Judaism, as well as a look at Rosicrucian history and doctrine, and alchemy. There are chapters on Bacon that claim him to be the real Shakespeare, as well as chapters on Islam, mystery Christianity, American Indian symbolism, and an ode to the success of heathen mystery religions at infiltrating Christianity and using it as a way of preserving ancient pagan ways in new wineskins. The book contains text, images, and even the occasional copy of ancient texts for curious readers.
Although few people are likely to read this book, especially to its conclusion, this is a book that has a good deal of value both on its own terms as well as in a larger context of religious reading. The perspective of this book is that of a broadminded author who has a great deal of fellowship with elites of any particular religious tradition but a strong devotion to the point of view of the mystery religions. From an insider's perspective, this book provides at least some of the approach taken by the Illuminati throughout the ages in hiding the insights of their works in layers of ciphers and symbols, the general symbolic approach that disregards historical truth in favor of the truth of a larger ideal pattern that can be applied over and over again, and the way that those who have sought to transform themselves and their worlds in alchemy have struggled to find safety among hostile and uncomprehending masses, keeping their studies secret enough to avoid prying eyes but not too secret that they cannot be passed down generation after generation to like-minded philosophically inclined readers. Quite frankly, it is an exhausting read. One almost feels a sense of sympathy and even compassion for those who have sought to plumb the secrets of the ages. Even given my general antipathy to the approach of this book, at least in its disregard for literal truth, the author's wise advice not to attempt to fool or outsmart dark spirits or court popularity among people are wise pieces of advice that adepts of the occult arts would be wise to listen to, although one cannot imagine too many wise people taking up such arts in the first place, it must be admitted.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
How did Manly Hall, as a young man, create this masterpiece of contemporary occult reference material? According to Occult America, he went to the local public library to explore the mysteries of the ages, and ended up with the material to make this book. He ended up with a lot of material, which is somewhat haphazardly "organized" in this volume. The materials are at least roughly chronologically organized, starting with ruminations on Atlantis and ancient mysteries and secret societies, looking at the Zodiac, the Hiramic legend, Pythagoras, Thoth Hermes Trismegistus, and Isus, as well as a look at solar worship. Several chapters of the book are devoted to the symbolism of the Pyramid, humankind, and plant and animal worlds, and several more are devoted to Qabbala, the mystery religion of Judaism, as well as a look at Rosicrucian history and doctrine, and alchemy. There are chapters on Bacon that claim him to be the real Shakespeare, as well as chapters on Islam, mystery Christianity, American Indian symbolism, and an ode to the success of heathen mystery religions at infiltrating Christianity and using it as a way of preserving ancient pagan ways in new wineskins. The book contains text, images, and even the occasional copy of ancient texts for curious readers.
Although few people are likely to read this book, especially to its conclusion, this is a book that has a good deal of value both on its own terms as well as in a larger context of religious reading. The perspective of this book is that of a broadminded author who has a great deal of fellowship with elites of any particular religious tradition but a strong devotion to the point of view of the mystery religions. From an insider's perspective, this book provides at least some of the approach taken by the Illuminati throughout the ages in hiding the insights of their works in layers of ciphers and symbols, the general symbolic approach that disregards historical truth in favor of the truth of a larger ideal pattern that can be applied over and over again, and the way that those who have sought to transform themselves and their worlds in alchemy have struggled to find safety among hostile and uncomprehending masses, keeping their studies secret enough to avoid prying eyes but not too secret that they cannot be passed down generation after generation to like-minded philosophically inclined readers. Quite frankly, it is an exhausting read. One almost feels a sense of sympathy and even compassion for those who have sought to plumb the secrets of the ages. Even given my general antipathy to the approach of this book, at least in its disregard for literal truth, the author's wise advice not to attempt to fool or outsmart dark spirits or court popularity among people are wise pieces of advice that adepts of the occult arts would be wise to listen to, although one cannot imagine too many wise people taking up such arts in the first place, it must be admitted.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
February 24, 2012
This book was a phenomenal adventure into the realm of humanity's symbols and myths. Written with elegance and poise, the words played a dance in the black box of my mind. And, I became present in the scenes and with the human personalities and divine possibilities he so endearingly paints in each cogently crafted chapter. I highly recommend this book for curious and seasoned philosophers, seekers and mystics alike. It is a resource of knowledge without equal; it is, in fact, the most brilliant book I've ever read. This man is certainly the most egregiously underrated humanist of the previous century. Read it!
July 8, 2013
I'm writing a review on a book at the moment regarding freemasonry amongst other things, and this book of mine came to mind. I'm pleased to see that it is on Goodreads.
If you're an individual who is interested in secret societies of all ages, well then this is an ideal reference book. It is "an encylopedic outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic and Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy" and is fascinating reading, especially the latter, with its symbolism throughout.
If you're an individual who is interested in secret societies of all ages, well then this is an ideal reference book. It is "an encylopedic outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic and Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy" and is fascinating reading, especially the latter, with its symbolism throughout.
August 2, 2020
A lot of this was super interesting but the writer is clearly a Mason and a lot of this comes across as Masonic propaganda. How am I supposed to believe the Freemasons built the pyramids and Taj Mahal and have hidden roots going back to Solomon’s Temple. He states “Atlantean Civilization” as if it is a real thing. The writer seems to be parked in a different frame of reality than I am and my BS detector got tired so I stopped this book halfway through. There’s a lot of really interesting stuff in this book, but around a 1/3 of is completely BS and I got tired of distinguishing between the two.
Also, the writing style was fairly encyclopedic, which I generally find annoying. I wish there was more of a central point being made and more connections woven into history and the rest of culture.
Also, the writing style was fairly encyclopedic, which I generally find annoying. I wish there was more of a central point being made and more connections woven into history and the rest of culture.
May 22, 2012
I marked up this book probably more than any other in my life. This book was my gateway to the "mystery" religions. I don't consider it to be the authoritative "last word" but it contained so many new ideas (to me) that it became my new study agenda for quite a while. From here I studied the use of symbols in religion from the Eleusinians to the Free Masons. I give this book five stars for the sheer volume of great ideas under one cover and for the introduction of the very inspiring and charismatic Manly P. Hall.
My goal in studying this subject was to gain a better understanding of how "secret teachings" have influenced religion throughout history. I still think that this book was is a good place to start
My goal in studying this subject was to gain a better understanding of how "secret teachings" have influenced religion throughout history. I still think that this book was is a good place to start
January 22, 2014
This Book proves an interesting read it is an interpretation of secret messages the author sees as being hidden within rituals, allegories and ancient mysteries through out the ages. Manly P Hall provides indepth accounts and explanations of masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic and Rosicrucian symbolic philosophy. Starting with ancient systems of education, Druidic,and Mithraic mysteries and teachings, you are guided through the ancient mysteries of secret societies, and of manmy countries and cultures world wide. There is something in this book for people interested in, Astrology, Tarot, Geological findings, ancient legends, Mathematics,The begining of world religions, the symbolysim of the human body, Hermetic pharmacology, chemistry and theraputics. This Book is litteraly a Gold Mine of Information which you are able to read front to cover or search for what interests you, though im sure you will read this book many times as the knowledge is vast and you may need to build up your ability to diggest all that is presented within these pages.
June 26, 2021
I started reading this book in October of last year. It's 840 pages of dense nonsense. Once again, I find myself not wanting to perpetuate the mythology of a deeply flawed book.
The Secret Teachings of All Ages is a recitaiton of Albert Pike and HP Blavatsky's previous works. As nearly as I can tell, those two are the only constantly referenced material that can be found in Hall's body of work here. Sure there are many other books that he references, but time and time again, Hall returns to those two authors in particular to find and rest his commentary on. Knowing this saves me from deeper dives into their bodies of work. I purchased ISIS Unveiled on my Nook and it's more than 2,000 pages long. I'll take Hall's book report here as a decent enough summation.
This body of work over-emphasizes the importance of Freemasons on history at large. It dives deeply into the various esoteric mysteries and religions, and always seems to find a way to connect them back to the Masonic rituals, symbols, or myths. If he'd perhaps focused on the parallels of the myseries, as have many authors since, it would stand the test of time better.
That being said, Hall has a knack for delivering the ocassional paragaph that just sort of leaves you floored. Maybe it's the constant spooling of dry material that feels incredibly poorly organized, that makes those paragraphs all the sweeter. I enjoyed his commentary on faith and philosophy more than I did his odd summations of Mayan, Egyptian, and Grecian mythology. He even drops handfuls of analytical gems that really change the way I looked at certain types of myths or symbols, but they're so rare that I struggle to recommend this book to any but the most esoterically obsessed.
I'm going to leave a handful of quotes that I found to be particularly worthy of consideration. I made 74 annotations across 840 pages. That's roughly half of what I made for the slightly shorter Nag Hammadi Scriptures, the other great body of work I've managed to work through this year. This is content I'm eagerly interested in consuming, and I found Hall's body of work to be largely poorly fertilized.
And now the gems.
"Philosophy reveals to man his kinship with the All. It shows him that he is a brother to the suns which dot the firmament; it lifts him from a taxpayer on a whirling atom to a citizen of Cosmos. It teaches him that while physically bound to earth (of which his blood and bones are part), there is nevertheless within him a spiritual power, a diviner Self, through which he is one with the symphony of the Whole."
"The preeminence of any philosophical system can be determined only by the excellence of its products. The Mysteries have demonstrated the superiority of their culture by giving to the world minds of such overwhelming greatness, souls of such beatific vision, and lives of such outstanding impeccability that even after the lapse of ages the teachings of these individuals constitute the present spiritual, intellectual, and ethical standards of the race."
"When the mob governs, man is ruled by ignorance; when the church governs, he is ruled by superstition; and when the state governs, he is ruled by fear. Before men can live together in harmony and understanding, ignorance must be transmuted into wisdom, superstition into an illumined faith, and fear into love."
The Secret Teachings of All Ages is a recitaiton of Albert Pike and HP Blavatsky's previous works. As nearly as I can tell, those two are the only constantly referenced material that can be found in Hall's body of work here. Sure there are many other books that he references, but time and time again, Hall returns to those two authors in particular to find and rest his commentary on. Knowing this saves me from deeper dives into their bodies of work. I purchased ISIS Unveiled on my Nook and it's more than 2,000 pages long. I'll take Hall's book report here as a decent enough summation.
This body of work over-emphasizes the importance of Freemasons on history at large. It dives deeply into the various esoteric mysteries and religions, and always seems to find a way to connect them back to the Masonic rituals, symbols, or myths. If he'd perhaps focused on the parallels of the myseries, as have many authors since, it would stand the test of time better.
That being said, Hall has a knack for delivering the ocassional paragaph that just sort of leaves you floored. Maybe it's the constant spooling of dry material that feels incredibly poorly organized, that makes those paragraphs all the sweeter. I enjoyed his commentary on faith and philosophy more than I did his odd summations of Mayan, Egyptian, and Grecian mythology. He even drops handfuls of analytical gems that really change the way I looked at certain types of myths or symbols, but they're so rare that I struggle to recommend this book to any but the most esoterically obsessed.
I'm going to leave a handful of quotes that I found to be particularly worthy of consideration. I made 74 annotations across 840 pages. That's roughly half of what I made for the slightly shorter Nag Hammadi Scriptures, the other great body of work I've managed to work through this year. This is content I'm eagerly interested in consuming, and I found Hall's body of work to be largely poorly fertilized.
And now the gems.
"Philosophy reveals to man his kinship with the All. It shows him that he is a brother to the suns which dot the firmament; it lifts him from a taxpayer on a whirling atom to a citizen of Cosmos. It teaches him that while physically bound to earth (of which his blood and bones are part), there is nevertheless within him a spiritual power, a diviner Self, through which he is one with the symphony of the Whole."
"The preeminence of any philosophical system can be determined only by the excellence of its products. The Mysteries have demonstrated the superiority of their culture by giving to the world minds of such overwhelming greatness, souls of such beatific vision, and lives of such outstanding impeccability that even after the lapse of ages the teachings of these individuals constitute the present spiritual, intellectual, and ethical standards of the race."
"When the mob governs, man is ruled by ignorance; when the church governs, he is ruled by superstition; and when the state governs, he is ruled by fear. Before men can live together in harmony and understanding, ignorance must be transmuted into wisdom, superstition into an illumined faith, and fear into love."
December 27, 2014
The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manly P. Hall languished in my to-be-read pile for several years. I didn't really expect to find any secrets revealed. I bought it because I find belief systems and their origins fascinating. The Secret Teachings of All Ages doesn't so much reveal "secret teachings" as draw connections between current belief systems and ancient belief systems. While there is some supposition that what is being presented obscures the secret teachings, it feels like the books tries too hard to connect ancient mythologies, scientific discovery, and religion. The Secret Teachings of All Time uses stories of gods and goddesses as well as scientific and mathematical discoveries to show the development of modern day religion. Often as I read, I felt like the book disproved the theories it attempted to support. Overall, Hall provides an interesting assembly of teachings through the ages that will have readers questioning what they have long been sure they know for sure. Basically, I would describe The Secret Teachings of All Ages as attempting to document the evolution of religion in the world. Parts of The Secret Teachings of All Ages were certainly interesting making it worth the read, but it failed to convince me it revealed any true secrets of which the world is unaware.
September 21, 2016
I have the Golden Anniversary Edition of this book and had formerly considered reading it as a whole. Since then I have changed my opinion - realizing that the book serves better as an encyclopaedia of sorts rather than a front-to-back read. I inherited my copy from my grandfather and I hold it quite dear. The edition is quite huge and I imagine that in the future it will occupy an honorary station in my study for all who enter to envy. Since I haven't completed it, and doubt that I ever will, I won't mark it as complete in this year so as not to make it count towards my reading challenge.
February 17, 2013
This is one of the books that got me into researching and studying Esoterism/Hermetics/Mystery School Traditions/Etc... I have two copies stationed at different parts of my house because at any time I can pick it up, flip to any page and start reading and gain some new knowledge that I haven't acquired yet.
January 27, 2009
This is a book that I could probably read and re-read for the rest of my life. It is very informative with a different perspective then the norm. It looks at history with a different light but it is not for everyone. It is full of variety of ancient knowledge
February 5, 2015
This review is for the 'Diamond Jubilee Edition' of "Secret Teachings of All Ages" paperback issued by the Philosophical Research Society in 1989 (1st pb edition - all b&w) and reprinted in 2000 (54 illustrations are in color - the rest in b&w). This is the best trade edition available of this incredible book. This edition has all of the illustrations from the original text reproduced in good quality (all in b&w in the 1989 edition - 54 illustrations in color and the rest in b&w for the 2000 PB edition). It also includes a couple of foldouts and a vellum overlay.
There are many facsimile editions out currently with no illustrations, or with poor reproductions of them. If you want to truly enjoy this book, seek out one of the authorized editions that made an effort to reproduce the text with the incredible illustrations intact. The original hardcover limited edition is a few feet tall. The edition that I saw was hand-bound and hand-colored, apparently intended for a Masonic library. It would break your coffee table. It was issued in 'reduced size' - still not a small book - in hardcover and in this paperback edition from the Philosophical Research Society. These are the editions that faithfully reproduce the original. I can not speak for the other editions, but I've seen enough complaints to want to advise buyers to seek out these authorized editions from Philosophical Research Society, and to avoid the rest.
Philosophical Research Society's Diamond Jubilee Authorized pb edition ISBN is: 0-89314-830-X
(ask the bookseller to check the ISBN if the listing isn't clear about the edition - don't get fooled into buying a bad facsimile!)
These are some of the authorized HC reprint editions issued by PRS over the years, any of which are worth buying. I've not seen each edition, but it seems they have color illustrations that are reprinted in b&w in the 1989 pb 'Diamond Jubilee Edition':
1977 Hardcover Edition (13 x 2 x 23 inches) from Philosophical Research Society ISBN is: 0-89314-538-6
1978 Golden Anniversary HC edition from Philosophical Research Society ISBN is: 0-89314-539-4
2008 reprint HC edition (12.8 x 1.8 x 18.5 inches) from Philosophical Research Society ISBN is: 0-89314-546-7
AVOID THE CREATE-SPACE EDITION (ISBN: 1-46101-313-5)! It is really bad, full of typos and the few pictures that are included look awful. The 'reader's guide edition' in PB from Tarcher (ISBN: 1-58542-250-9) only has half of the original illustrations, but has the unabridged text. There are a few other editions available that I have not reviewed.
So, if you are ordering online, ask the bookseller who the publisher is and check the ISBN before purchasing. This book is available in many, many editions, some are humungous and gorgeous books- some are poorly reproduced and edited.
There are many facsimile editions out currently with no illustrations, or with poor reproductions of them. If you want to truly enjoy this book, seek out one of the authorized editions that made an effort to reproduce the text with the incredible illustrations intact. The original hardcover limited edition is a few feet tall. The edition that I saw was hand-bound and hand-colored, apparently intended for a Masonic library. It would break your coffee table. It was issued in 'reduced size' - still not a small book - in hardcover and in this paperback edition from the Philosophical Research Society. These are the editions that faithfully reproduce the original. I can not speak for the other editions, but I've seen enough complaints to want to advise buyers to seek out these authorized editions from Philosophical Research Society, and to avoid the rest.
Philosophical Research Society's Diamond Jubilee Authorized pb edition ISBN is: 0-89314-830-X
(ask the bookseller to check the ISBN if the listing isn't clear about the edition - don't get fooled into buying a bad facsimile!)
These are some of the authorized HC reprint editions issued by PRS over the years, any of which are worth buying. I've not seen each edition, but it seems they have color illustrations that are reprinted in b&w in the 1989 pb 'Diamond Jubilee Edition':
1977 Hardcover Edition (13 x 2 x 23 inches) from Philosophical Research Society ISBN is: 0-89314-538-6
1978 Golden Anniversary HC edition from Philosophical Research Society ISBN is: 0-89314-539-4
2008 reprint HC edition (12.8 x 1.8 x 18.5 inches) from Philosophical Research Society ISBN is: 0-89314-546-7
AVOID THE CREATE-SPACE EDITION (ISBN: 1-46101-313-5)! It is really bad, full of typos and the few pictures that are included look awful. The 'reader's guide edition' in PB from Tarcher (ISBN: 1-58542-250-9) only has half of the original illustrations, but has the unabridged text. There are a few other editions available that I have not reviewed.
So, if you are ordering online, ask the bookseller who the publisher is and check the ISBN before purchasing. This book is available in many, many editions, some are humungous and gorgeous books- some are poorly reproduced and edited.
July 23, 2025
Manly P. Hall’s book feels like a great treasury of hidden wisdom. It moves through many worlds: the Tarot, the Bembine Tablet of Isis, alchemy, sacred myths, and the timeless teachings of Plato and Pythagoras.
The Bembine Tablet of Isis
Hall’s chapter on the Bembine Tablet of Isis stands out. This ancient bronze tablet, filled with Egyptian images, holds secrets of creation, the zodiac, and the alchemical first matter..
Tarot, and the Tree of Life
The Tarot becomes in Hall’s telling a soul’s map—each card marking a step of spiritual growth. He links the cards to the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, showing how numbers, paths, and letters form a hidden architecture of the universe.
Pythagoras himself appears not just as a mathematician but as a mystic: the Tetractys, the golden ratios, and the geometry of harmony are shown as keys to understanding the order of existence.
The Mystery Schools: Freemasons and Rosicrucians
Hall spends much time on Freemasonry and the Rosicrucians, seeing them as heirs of ancient mystery schools. He describes eleven figures—philosophers, alchemists, and seekers—who, in his view, kept the flame of secret wisdom alive through the centuries. Their stories, half history and half legend, give the book its aura of timeless brotherhood.
Plato, the Great Year, and Myths of the Americas
Hall honors Plato and Socrates as guardians of the philosophic life, and he explains the Great Platonic Year, the vast cosmic cycle marking the rise and fall of civilizations. He also steps beyond Europe, sharing the myths of Latin America,.
Where it falters
Not every part holds the same depth. His section on Islamic mysticism feels rushed and does not capture the true richness of Sufi philosophy.
it feels notably underdeveloped. While Hall references Sufism and the Prophet’s sayings, his treatment lacks the depth and nuance that characterize his discussions of Egyptian, Greek, or Kabbalistic traditions. Readers seeking a richer engagement with Islamic esotericism may find this aspect unsatisfying.
Overall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages remains a timeless treasury of symbolic wisdom. It challenges the reader to look beyond material illusions and rediscover the perennial philosophy that links all sacred traditions. For those interested in the deeper layers of myth, philosophy, and symbolism, this book offers an inexhaustible well of insight.
November 9, 2018
This book is a philosophical master piece. If you love the secret knowledge passed down via the ancient mystery schools and if you love philosophy then I recommend this book. Not only does Mr. Hall cover every philosopher in the pre-Socratic era and post-Socratic era but he gives a brief description of the philosophy and doctrines they taught. In addition, he covers Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, alchemy, the Kabbalah, the Qabbalah, The life and teachings of Thoth Hermes Trismegistus, the tarot, the zodiac, the pyramids, cryptology, and Mystic Christianity to name a few. As Hall stated, “The entire theory of the book is diametrically opposed to the modern method of thinking, for it is concerned with subjects openly ridiculed by the sophists of the twentieth century. Its true purpose is to introduce the mind of the reader to a hypothesis of living wholly beyond the pale of materialistic theology, philosophy, or science”.
An ancient philosopher once said: “He who has not even a knowledge of common things is a brute among men. He who has an accurate knowledge of human concerns alone is a man among brutes. Be he who knows all that can be known by intellectual energy, is a God among men.” Man’s status in the natural world is determined, therefore, by the quality of his thinking. He whose mind is enslaved to his bestial instincts is philosophically not superior to the brute, he whose rational faculties ponder human affairs is a man; and he whose intellect is elevated to the consideration of divine realities is already a demigod, or his being partakes of the luminosity with which his reason has brought him into proximity – Manly P. Hall
An ancient philosopher once said: “He who has not even a knowledge of common things is a brute among men. He who has an accurate knowledge of human concerns alone is a man among brutes. Be he who knows all that can be known by intellectual energy, is a God among men.” Man’s status in the natural world is determined, therefore, by the quality of his thinking. He whose mind is enslaved to his bestial instincts is philosophically not superior to the brute, he whose rational faculties ponder human affairs is a man; and he whose intellect is elevated to the consideration of divine realities is already a demigod, or his being partakes of the luminosity with which his reason has brought him into proximity – Manly P. Hall
March 31, 2018
Finally I'm done with this book, utter rubbish is how I found it, it's no wonder these teachings had to be secretive, they had to be tailored to the esoteric few who had enough stupidity to gobble down such nonsense.
You're probably thinking "calm down dude, why are you so angry?" to which I'd reply that I care so much about truth, it's what I always sought after in economics, politics, music, gym...etc I want things that are A. real and that B. work, and when it comes to spiritual matters the desire for truth is amplified.
Some chapters of this book objectively tell the traditions, albeit in a dull lifeless matter, but other parts you find the author actively taking sides claiming such enlightenment statements like "of course Shakespeare was Bacon, can you tell of any artistic genius who made great art without having proper education? (Ehm ehm eminem), or when he tries to deny the authenticity Christianity with arguments weaker than my grandfather's kidney, so yes I have all the right to be angry, there is no bigger sin a man can commit than to obscure the truth from his fellow man.
You're probably thinking "calm down dude, why are you so angry?" to which I'd reply that I care so much about truth, it's what I always sought after in economics, politics, music, gym...etc I want things that are A. real and that B. work, and when it comes to spiritual matters the desire for truth is amplified.
Some chapters of this book objectively tell the traditions, albeit in a dull lifeless matter, but other parts you find the author actively taking sides claiming such enlightenment statements like "of course Shakespeare was Bacon, can you tell of any artistic genius who made great art without having proper education? (Ehm ehm eminem), or when he tries to deny the authenticity Christianity with arguments weaker than my grandfather's kidney, so yes I have all the right to be angry, there is no bigger sin a man can commit than to obscure the truth from his fellow man.
March 5, 2023
I should have found this book a long time ago. It answered more questions then I knew I had.
September 5, 2024
Compiled with complete academic outlines of Mystical knowledge and symbolism.
Dig deep into a diverse spiritual journey.
Have a pen and pad at hand.
Dig deep into a diverse spiritual journey.
Have a pen and pad at hand.
May 29, 2024
This is not only an incredible book, but is also such an impressive undertaking, standing as a landmark of the revival of western occultism and an encyclopedic reference for esoteric traditions from all of human history and their transmission through time. Thumbs up
August 12, 2021
Admittedly, I came across this ancient, secret, hidden knowledge far too late in life. For instance had I understood the law of Polarity I never would have married wife number two and three. Had I understood the Law of Consequence I never would have gotten arrested at that Phish concert holding just about everything. Now, at my prime, when I actually have something to offer to employers no one will hire me due to this three year old charge. As a 50 year old mystic the day labor I have done for three years is no longer an option. The Law of Consequence works even when you’re doing good things, but a 50 year old body can only handle 1200 squats per day for so long. Unfortunately I also came upon this knowledge and learned apophatically right from wrong in the midst of World War Three. Tragically not a shot has been fired back at the enemy; which appears to be every government on earth. Oh sure, four African Presidents stood up to the global medical tyranny, but all of them died mysteriously this year. In America, we call it Arkancide based on the 49 close associates to the Clintons who either Sui’d or died of mysterious circumstances much like Jeffrey Epstein. Interesting tidbit, the Ian Fleming style villain, Bill Gates, pushing vaccines and global depopulation for 20 years received divorce papers this year from fellow Luciferian, Melinda, after she saw on the news how many times he went to Pedo-Island with Epstein. Once again, like the neurotic response to 9-11, so too the response to the Wuhan Lab Virus is far worse than the problem. I tease the girls at the tanning salon where I receive infrared treatment due to day labor pains and tell them I have to unplug the musack because I like to astral project in there. I tell them them different esoteric lies every time I leave. Once I said, “I met God and guess what, She is Black.” The next time I told them, “Hey, I talked to God again today and she said, ‘Don’t get the vaccine.’” One young lady responded, “Don’t worry I got a religious exemption for the University of Colorado (Sko Buffs) and my parents told me they would disown me if I got it.” This bitch was raised right.
June 6, 2008
Wow! Manly Hall's ability to gather, explain and present these complex and ancient traditions in one comprehensive book is amazing. He has helped me to understand how important the mystery schools and their proponents were in establishing the foundation for our current cultural imprint. Though most of their rituals, messages and doctrines have been visually hidden from the "everyman," they are nonetheless imbedded in our psyche and are being activated into consciousness by the current thrust of empowered people who are seeking a oneness with all.
December 28, 2014
I've only read bits here and there, as it's more of a reference book than something to be read from start to finish. Having said that, the book is very impressive in its detailed analysis of esoteric and mystical traditions found throughout history, and around the world. The subjects are very varied - you can read about ancient Greek oracles, religion in ancient Egypt, black magic, the Kabbalah, the philosophy of alchemy, the pagan origins of Christianity, archetypes found in the world religions, and so on.
What's even more impressive is that Manly P. Hall wrote this when he was just 25!
What's even more impressive is that Manly P. Hall wrote this when he was just 25!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 327 reviews