Customer Reviews

The Way of Hermes: New Translations of The Corpus Hermeticum and The Definitions of Hermes Trismegistus to Asclepius

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The Way of Hermes" is a god send to students of Alexandrian Hermeticism! Taking their cue from the premise that Hermeticism is a living and vital practice as well as philosophy, the translators have given us an updated version that more closely expresses the actual meaning and intention of the principle Hermetic writings than preceding editions. Moving beyond the limits of dogmatic rationalism, "The Way of Hermes" expresses the mystical beauty and transcendental purpose for the very existence of 'The Corpus' - to help humanity to know itself, and to know God. Of exceptional value are the foreword, afterward, and preface in their expression of Hermetic philosophy and its impact on Western thought. The additional English translation of "The Definitions of Hermes Trismegistus to Asclepius" make this a must read volume for students and practitioners of Hermeticism and Western esotericism.

If you have researched books on the Corpus Hermeticum, you know that most of them are written for scholars, with much emphasis put on literal accuracy of translation, even to the point of rendering them sterile of any fathomable esoteric concepts.

Then, there are other books, just a few, that deviate too far from the literal translation in an attempt to shoehorn in the particular author's personal beliefs.

This book fits neither category. It is not perfect, none of the books we have on the Corpus Hemeticum come anywhere near perfection. But, at least, this book is quite readable and does avoid creative re-interpretation by the authors.

This text has some insightful commentary regarding the degree to which the Corpus Hermeticum may or may not reflect Egyptian theory and practice as opposed to the merely Hellenic (which point, being academic, is of no great moment). This new translation, however, should assist those relatively unfamiliar with hermetic literature to begin to see suggestions of praxis within the text whereas many other translations obscure this. The decision to leave technical terms like nous in the text rather than translating them was an excellent one. One might wish that they had provided a few more untranslated technical terms.

The newly translated 'definitions' are valuable for their ability to add depth and clarify points in the main text.

This is the best translation I found. Hermes reveals a secret of success in the Definitions section too, which would normally go overlooked. I haven't read the whole thing but there is no book like it and it is a worthy read in those quiet moments when one is not in the mood for any other esoteric or success author.

This book can change you life. It changed mine. While the selections of the Corpus are excellent, it is the Definitions to Asclepius that are the real treasure.

These aphorisms are powerful logic circuits for awakening.

Enjoy them receptively, and you may see beyond the veil. Reason is the light to the Light. And this small candle is enough.

Hermeticism conjures up a wide variety of images and notions for people and this book goes a long way to dispel any naïve ideas of what Hermeticism is and offer an insight into the original texts that form the Corpus Hermeticum; the body of work composed in Alexandria around the time of Christ. Antoine Faivre, one of the leading scholars in the field of Western esotericism defines Hermetism as directly relating to the Corpus Hermeticum and Hermeticism including that but extending beyond into the realm of alchemy and more modern esoteric thought. This is an important distinction as the two terms are often incorrectly used interchangeably. The Corpus Hermeticum derives its name from Hermes Trismegistus, the supposed author of the Corpus Hermeticum and who until the seventeenth century was believed to be a real historical figure contemporary with Moses. While few still hold to this idea the knowledge contained within the texts is powerful and can be read again and again. The similarity between the description of Christ in the Gospel of John as the Word and the description of Poimandres as Nous in the first book of this work is interesting and points to the popularity of Logos theology in Alexandria at this time. The accusation that the author of the Gospel of John borrowed these terms from Greek philosophy or Hermetism is a contentious one and worth further investigation. Anyway, a great book and while some of the terms are hard to grasp in the beginning it's worth the effort.

The Way of Hermes: New Translations of The Corpus Hermeticum and The Definitions of Hermes Trismegistus to Asclepius is a complete Mythos of an very deep complex subject. This translation is new, it's fresh, and full of life! "If one allows the words of the Corpus too sink into the very depths of their being; the individual Nous can, and will, unite with the universal Nous." Praises too the Corpus Hermeticum!

Hermes is truly important in this seemingly lost literature; his teachings are that of which our Holy Bible has copied and transformed into the Fruitage of the spirit. This is the teaching that should be taught now to our children and people in general. We have gone so far away from moralality and uprightness that mostly everyone is unjust and out for themselves. These words and teaching's are needed today!