The Dancing Sorcerer

“The present book is dedicated to the magnum opus of the unification of opposites that is necessary for deeper movement into life, the mind, and reality. The magician – the psychopomp who guides others into and through the netherworlds – has always been around, in varying degrees of quality. We walk with that figure; more, we become that figure when we fearlessly face within and engage the process of redemption and ownership of our darker angels.” ~P.T. Mistlberger

The Dancing Sorcerer has been a term used for the past half-century to describe the iconic figure of a 15,000-year-old work of cave art found in present-day southern France. This image, of a man dressed up in animal skins, who appears to be performing a ritual dance, has been offered up by anthropologists as an example of how the real oldest profession has always been that of the shaman, magician, or sorcerer.

The book offers a series of essays commenting on the purpose and function of the magician archetype, using as a focal point what the author broadly defines as the Solomonic and Faustian approaches. The essays herein are concerned mainly with psychological themes, based principally on what Jung termed the mysterious conjunction, the idea that no movement into higher realities is possible without first unifying our lower nature. For this, it is necessary to investigate and even embrace the dark side – which can include such powerful archetypes and themes as dragons, vampires, Goetic demons, pharaonic curses, Enochian spirits, and occult literary frauds – all with the ultimate purpose of redeeming both the personal and collective psyche.

Author:

A collection of ten extended essays on Western esoterica and occultism, with an emphasis on psychospiritual interpretation. The book is designed by Gabriel McCaughry and illustrated by Rowan Cassidy, available in hardback and softcover. The Inner Light was my broad overview of esoteric traditions, whereas The Dancing Sorcerer more closely zooms in on specific branches.

author: P.T. Mistlberger (Sw Prem Teertha)

language: English

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