Customer Reviews

The Western Mysteries: An Encyclopedic Guide to the Sacred Languages & Magickal Systems of the World- The Key of It All, Book 2 (Llewellyn Sourcebook Series)

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"The Western Mysteries", though a companion volume to "The Eastern Mysteries", was originally part of one larger work entitled "The Key of It All". When I first submitted my manuscript to Llewellyn Publishing in the late 1980's, it totalled over 1400 pages. One section was deleted from the beginning which dealt exclusively with the Qabalah found in Aleister Crowley's "The Book of the Law". But the remaining 13 chapters were faithfully typeset with little changes to the original manuscript. However as the book was typeset my editor, David Godwin, discovered that the book was larger than expected. So at the end of the 6th chapter dealing with the mystical nature of Chinese and the I Ching, the book was abruptly put to press, and divided into two parts, the first subtitled "The Eastern Mysteries" and the second being "The Western Mysteries". This caused a few minor problems for me. One, the introduction written for the whole book, depended on the 7th key, Greek, to make sense. But now it would have to serve as an introduction to the first of two volumes. Second, the remaining pages forming the second volume would not be large enough to justify a second book. So from the period of the winter of 1993 to the summer of 1994, I created almost half of the second volume as it now stands. Among the last minute additions were the Christian Number symbolism found in "The New Testament", the ancient key to the Egyptian Hieroglyphics found in the writings of Horapollo, the analysis of the Qabalistic symbols found in the Waite Tarot deck, and a new introduction of over 100 pages that would include the Aztec and Mayan calender systems, the esoteric nature of astrology, the art of geomancy, and the Masonic tradition of the lost word. What was intended for this second volume was a complete analysis of the Cube of Space, but that would eventually see print as a separate volume (just published by Samuel Weiser, Inc. as "New Dimensions for the Cube of Space"). One other section was intended for the last key on English, and that was a complete analysis of Modern Numerology. This, instead, became a separate booklet published by Llewellyn under the title "The Truth About Numerology". In the end, dividing my original work titled "The Key of It All", into two volumes that would eventually become "The Eastern Mysteries" and "The Western Mysteries", improved the scope and depth of the most detailed study yet in regards to the sacred symbolism of numbers as concealed in the alphabets of the ancient world, both East and West.

I've got both the "Eastern" and "Western" mysteries and while I won't pretend to understand half of what was written in each, both are outstanding reference books that one can grasp even if one doesn't have much knowledge of the occult.

I found it useful for looking up symbols and seeing more similarities between cultures than I had previously thought.

This is an excellent book, both for reading and as a resource. Hulse gives an incredible amount of information in an easy to understand format. This book is invaluable in helping to understand the connections between various cultures and their methods.

Western and Eastern Mysteries (Key of It All) Comparative Cultural Numerology Mysteries Encyclopedia will connect those who are still searching for the complete comparative "opus," which is the backbone of the numerology mysteries.

Chapter 13 of the English Language numerology, in the "Western Mysteries," is the door through which one can enter, to complete the key through which universal understanding and connection can be earned. Through translating (words) tongues into the English language alphabet words, and further, into their simple English numbers, the inner eye expands its understanding.

The serious numbers student, through the simple numbers method, mentioned in Chapter 13, of Western Mysteries, can further verify their own destiny through their name and birthdate numbers, by further understanding that there is a nine-year cycle for each letter of one's name. Each nine-year name-alphabet letter number will be the individual "law of attraction," by attracting to one experiences.

Hulse confirmed his experiences through "alphabet numbers." Which you can do as well. The secret for positive experiences is to use positive words and their numerological correlation.

Further, within the 9-year cycle, Each person has "tri-mester numbers," which can be verified through the numerology of names, addresses, and experiences correlating in a particular period with synchonistic numbers.

As Hulse has stated in "Western Mysteries," the English language and its simple numbers from 1-9, allows the serious student to develop the inner eye to verify and see how it is that the macro and micro metaphysics connect with the physics of macro and micro experiences.

Both Western and Eastern Mysteries (The Key to It All), provides the connection the earnest student of numbers wisdom has earned.

David Hulse is my favorite living adept, he is an absolute genius. I first found his two Mysteries volumes in 1996 when attending college. They furthered my understanding of esoteric philosophy to such a high degree when they came out I may never thank him enough. Their knowledge and extreme clarity along with personal correspondence allowed me to comprehend the magickal universe to such a great extent I was propelled across the abyss in 2008. I may never be able to reciprocate the blessing I received from the magickal force that is David Hulse.

There is a ton of new material in the series: I am continually in awe with the Sanskrit chapter. It is a beautiful contribution to the magickal tradition as a whole, particularly in regards number philosophy and grammatometria, it abounds in correlations. The sheer breadth of these volumes is commendable, I only regret they are not available in a hardbound edition!

we can't really say we've read this book...
dear esotericists...
... or its companion volume, but that is because this is not that kind of book. It is, instead, one of our favorite sorts of books, a living book, or a reference book, that is not read once and discarded, or put to sleep for ages on one's bookshelf, but rather a resource that can be used again and again. These two books are filled with useful information for the practicing magician, wizard, sorcerer, esotericist, occultist, etc. It is invaluable.
kyela,
the silver elves

This book and its companion: "The Eastern Mysteries" provide a wonderful compendium of cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary information. They make it possible to understand the deep connections between all peoples of the world.

Definitely a "must-have," whether novice or expert.