Bøker av Gwendolyn Taunton

Everything has a point of origin, and the formation of civilization is no exception. For Western culture, the vestigial epoch of cultural birth in Greece contains the best archaeological heritage of societal development, meticulously preserved by scholars. Equally unprecedented is the spectacular rise of Chanakya/Kautilya and the Mauryan Empire in India, which is one of antiquity's most astonishing political systems and continues to exert an enormous influence worldwide. Both ancient Greek and Indian civilizations have left an enduring legacy through Socrates, Plato, and Chanakya/Kautilya. In the West, Plato (and, by default, Socrates) is regarded as the most influential philosopher in history, so much so that many philosophical concepts are mere 'footnotes to Plato.' No less extensive is the influence of Chanakya, whose ideas are still studied today. In the West, Chanakya is often referred to as the 'Indian Machiavelli' due to his political treatise, the Arthashastra. Accordingly, the book is split into two sections - one of which chronicles the rise and fall of Greek aristocracy and the philosophical concepts this relates to; the principles of areté, timé, and hybris. The second section outlines the concept of sacred kingship in India, which arises from Vedic tradition and is continued by Chanakya, who revitalizes and innovates upon older ideas. Both Socrates and Chanakya have a legendary quality, which at times, borders on being mythological more than mortal, such is the extent of their influence. However, they are also much more complex than a casual glance would imply, exhibiting an extraordinary depth of character and spiritual qualities, which this book will explain.

Friedrich Nietzsche has had an enormous influence on the arts, politics, and even the occult realm. Moreover, this influence has not waned in the contemporary era. Despite this, Nietzsche remains widely misunderstood, primarily when he discusses religion and politics. Nietzsche: The Antichrist & the Antipolitical highlights the finer points of Nietzsche''s opinions on religion, culture, and politics from an unbiased and neutral perspective.The first section of the book explores the specific significance of Dionysus in both Greek mythology and the works of earlier German authors. For Nietzsche, Dionysus is not just a pagan god, but a symbol of the Will, a primordial power that is eternally reborn, which Nietzsche identifies with the Antichrist. Nietzsche: The Antichrist & the Antipolitical then explains how Nietzsche''s portrayal of Dionysus is integral to understanding his opinions on religion and how it has altered Western culture.The second half of the book concentrates on how Nietzsche''s views on religion and mythology extend into political issues, and ultimately, his antipolitical philosophy. Walter Kaufmann once described Nietzsche as an "antipolitical individual who seeks self-perfection far from the modern world." However, Nietzsche''s antipolitical individualism entails much more than merely abstaining from politics and being an individualist. Nietzsche''s antipolitical stance is part of his broader cultural agenda, which Georg Brandes referred to as aristocratic radicalism.

The Path of Shadows escorts the reader deep into the hidden subterranean world of the chthonic traditions of ancient Greece. The word chthonic refers to the interior of the earth, from where life is born and to which it returns in death. The chthonic traditions represent the paradoxical complexity inherent in life itself, which venerate the earth, the afterlife, final judgment, and the occult. The Gods connected to these primordial forces exist in all traditions - sometimes they are represented as benevolent figures, and at other times malevolent ones. The Path of Shadows concentrates on the Hellenic Gods, but also explores their relationships to other religions and cultural influences. Hades is presented as the brother of Zeus, and an Indo-European God who is identical to Yama. He is portrayed as both the King and Judge of the Dead. Although not antagonistic to mortals, the visage Hades presents to humanity is nonetheless terrifying, because he instills in mortals the ultimate fear of the unknown and the existential dread of a dark, fathomless, void without end. Dionysus is revealed not only as the son of Hades, but also as the 'Black Sun' and counterpart to Apollo in both the philosophy of Nietzsche and Greek Myth. Persephone is described as the Queen of the Underworld, and the mother of Dionysus. Persephone reigns as a queen beside her husband Hades, and occupies a prominent role in the Rites of Eleusis, along with her mother Demeter. Together, as a trinity, these deities rule over The Path of Shadows. The Path of Shadows also looks at the forms of the occult which are exclusively chthonic practices. This is introduced first by a brief explanation of the Mantic Tradition, which specializes in all forms of divination, and how it occupied a position of prominence throughout the religions of antiquity. The Path of Shadows then looks at some of the specialized aspects of Hellenic magic, concentrating on oneiromancy (predicting the future through dreams), necromancy (summoning the souls of dead), and curse tablets (utilized for occult purposes), narrating how these practices relate to the chthonic traditions and the hidden aspects of human consciousness.

Primordial Traditions was the winner of the 2009 Ashton Wylie Award for Literary Excellence. This new second edition of the original award winning collection features a selection of essays by Gwendolyn Taunton and other talented authors from the original periodical Primordial Traditions (2006-2010). The new version of Primordial Traditions offers a revised layout and a new binding. This edition also has content not contained in the original publication.The first section of Primordial Traditions deals with aspects of perennial philosophy covering the broader applications of the Primordial Tradition in the modern world. Alchemy, philosophy, civilization, the Kali Yuga, and even the problems afflicting the economy are addressed here from a traditional perspective. This section deals with the nature of the Primordial Tradition and how all True Spiritual Traditions consequently relate to it in this new philosophy of religion.The second section of the book then breaks down Traditions into geographic locations to discuss European, Eastern, Middle Eastern and South American Traditions at an advanced level. Topics covered here include: Tibetan Tantra Sufism Yezidi Tantrism Vedic Mythology Theravada Buddhism Thai Magic Tantrism Oneiromancy Norse Berserkers Runes Celtic Mythology Mithras Hellenic Mythology Mayan Ceremonial AstrologyContent includes the following articles by Gwendolyn Taunton:Sophia Perennis: The Doctrine of Ascension, The Primordial Tradition, The Age of Darkness: Prophecies of the Kali Yuga, Mercury Rising: The Life & Writing of Julius Evola, Ars Regia: The Royal Art Revisited, Tantra: Fifth Veda or Anti-Veda?, Aesthetics of the Divine in Hinduism, Monks & Magic: The Use of Magic by the Sangha in Thailand, Does Practice Make One Perfected? The Role of gTum-mo in the Six Yogas of Naropa, Clarifying the Clear Light, Oneiromancy: Divination by Dreams, Of Wolves and Men: The Berserker and the Vratya, Ancient Goddess or Political Goddess? and The Black Sun: Dionysus in the Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche & Greek Myth.Primordial Traditions also contains articles by Damon Zacharias Lycourinos, Matt Hajduk, Krum Stefanov, Bob Makransky and many more.....