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hermeticism

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hermeticism

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Also known as Hermetism, hermetism

Hermeticism, or Hermetism, is a philosophical and religious tradition rooted in the teachings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a syncretic figure combining elements of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. This system encompasses a wide range of esoteric knowledge, including aspects of alchemy, astrology and theurgy, significantly influencing various mystical and occult traditions throughout history. The writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, often referred to as the Hermetica, were produced over a period spanning many centuries () and may be very different in content and sco

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Hermeticism is a philosophical and religious tradition based on teachings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a figure combining Greek and Egyptian deities, that incorporates esoteric knowledge including alchemy, astrology, and ritual magic. It has been historically significant because its writings and ideas have shaped various mystical and occult traditions over many centuries.

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44 sections
Contents
  • Origins and early development
  • Late Antiquity
  • Influence on Early Christianity and Gnosticism
  • Core texts
  • The ''Hermetica''
  • Interpretation and transmission
  • Philosophical and theological concepts
  • Cosmology and theology
  • God as 'the All'
  • ''Prima materia''
  • The nature of divinity
  • ''Prisca theologia''
  • As above, so below
  • The seven heavens
  • Creation, the human condition, and spiritual ascent
  • Cosmogony and the fall of man
  • Good and evil
  • Reincarnation and rebirth
  • Historical development
  • Middle Ages
  • Etymology
  • Renaissance revival
  • Modern period
  • Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
  • Scholarship on the ''Hermetica''
  • Hermetic practices
  • Alchemy
  • Astrology
  • Theurgy
  • Hermetic Qabalah
  • Hermeticism and other religions
  • Criticism and controversies
  • Scholarly debates
  • Reception and criticism in modern times
  • Legacy and influence
  • Influence on Western esotericism
  • Influence on literature and culture
  • See also
  • Notes
  • References
  • Citations
  • Works cited
  • Further reading
  • External links

Hermeticism, or Hermetism, is a philosophical and religious tradition rooted in the teachings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a syncretic figure combining elements of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. This system encompasses a wide range of esoteric knowledge, including aspects of alchemy, astrology and theurgy, significantly influencing various mystical and occult traditions throughout history. The writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, often referred to as the Hermetica, were produced over a period spanning many centuries () and may be very different in content and scope.

One particular form of Hermetic teaching is the religio-philosophical system found in a specific subgroup of Hermetic writings known as the 'religio-philosophical' Hermetica. The most famous of these are the Corpus Hermeticum, a collection of seventeen Greek treatises written between approximately 100 and 300 CE, and the Asclepius, a treatise from the same period, mainly surviving in a Latin translation. This specific historical form of Hermetic philosophy is sometimes more narrowly referred to as Hermetism, to distinguish it from other philosophies inspired by Hermetic writings of different periods and natures.

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