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dictionary of spiritualism
This enencyclopedic work surveys a wide variety of supernatural phenomena, ranging from the cosmogonies of the earliest mythmakers to the esoteric practices of present-day gurus. A handy reference work for the scholar and those who approach the Age of Aquarius with an open mind.
390 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1971
About the author
Harry E. Wedeck
50 books4 followersHarry Ezekiel Wedeck was a linguist and classical scholar who served as chairman of the department of classical languages at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn from 1935 to 1950 and then taught the classics at Brooklyn College until 1968. Afterward he lectured on medieval studies at the New School for Social Research, until 1974.
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August 16, 2024
A CLASSICAL SCHOLAR DEFINES A VARIETY OF METAPHYSICAL TERMS
Harry Wedeck (1894-1996) taught the classics at Brooklyn College until 1968, then lectured on medieval studies at the New School for Social Research until 1974. He wrote other books such as 'A Treasury of Witchcraft,' 'Triumph of Satan,' etc.
He said in the Introduction to this 1971 book, "This book surveys, in a strictly academic and objective sense, phenomena, trends, attitudes and views and personalities associated through the sequence of human history with such supernatural facts as are unexplainable in terms of normal human experience. Beginning with antiquity and continuing into the present, the survey ranges over the continents, touching on a multiplicity of ethnic legends, beliefs, and supernatural situations that fall outside the periphery of man's experience." (Pg. vi)
The book contains hundreds of (usually) relatively brief definitions: e.g., "ALCHEMY: The art of alchemy, in its experimental sense, was a forerunner of modern chemistry. Alchemy was based partly on mysticism and partly on experimentation" [pg. 14]; "ATLANTIS: The island or, as some say, the continent of Atlantis, situated in the Western Sea or in the Mediterranean, was, according to ancient tradition, submerged in proto-historical times by a Great Flood or an earthquake. Atlantis is mentioned by the Greek philosopher Plato..." [pg. 41]; "BROTHERS OF THE SHADOW: In the occult arts this expression refers to the adherents of the Left-hand Path. They were the adepts in Black magic" [pg. 63]; "DEJA VU: A french expression meaning already seen. The term refers to the feeling that a person, place, or object has been seen in the past, despite its impossibility" [pg. 100]; "LORDS OF THE FLAME: In theosophical mysticism these are messengers sent from the planet Venus to guide the evolutionary process on earth" [pg. 210]; "NAGUAL: In Mexico and Central America, the nagual is a personal guardian spirit, thought to dwell in the body of an animal" [pg. 241]; "POLTERGEIST: A poltergeist is a being that makes its presence felt by presumably psychic persons by creating noises and disturbances, such as... throwing furniture around a room" [pg. 278]; "SEANCE: A meeting of spiritualists held for the purpose of communicating with the dead" [pg. 310]; "THEOMANCY: A form of divination by oracular utterances" [pg. 340]; "ZODIAC ASPECTS: In astrology, those measured in degrees along the Ecliptic" [pg. 373].
This dictionary goes far, far beyond simply "spiritualism"; it encompasses terms used in classical literature, world religions, philosophy, and many other topics. Unfortunately it has no footnotes [containing specific sources] or a Bibliography, but it may still be a handy reference for persons looking for a "quick answer."
Harry Wedeck (1894-1996) taught the classics at Brooklyn College until 1968, then lectured on medieval studies at the New School for Social Research until 1974. He wrote other books such as 'A Treasury of Witchcraft,' 'Triumph of Satan,' etc.
He said in the Introduction to this 1971 book, "This book surveys, in a strictly academic and objective sense, phenomena, trends, attitudes and views and personalities associated through the sequence of human history with such supernatural facts as are unexplainable in terms of normal human experience. Beginning with antiquity and continuing into the present, the survey ranges over the continents, touching on a multiplicity of ethnic legends, beliefs, and supernatural situations that fall outside the periphery of man's experience." (Pg. vi)
The book contains hundreds of (usually) relatively brief definitions: e.g., "ALCHEMY: The art of alchemy, in its experimental sense, was a forerunner of modern chemistry. Alchemy was based partly on mysticism and partly on experimentation" [pg. 14]; "ATLANTIS: The island or, as some say, the continent of Atlantis, situated in the Western Sea or in the Mediterranean, was, according to ancient tradition, submerged in proto-historical times by a Great Flood or an earthquake. Atlantis is mentioned by the Greek philosopher Plato..." [pg. 41]; "BROTHERS OF THE SHADOW: In the occult arts this expression refers to the adherents of the Left-hand Path. They were the adepts in Black magic" [pg. 63]; "DEJA VU: A french expression meaning already seen. The term refers to the feeling that a person, place, or object has been seen in the past, despite its impossibility" [pg. 100]; "LORDS OF THE FLAME: In theosophical mysticism these are messengers sent from the planet Venus to guide the evolutionary process on earth" [pg. 210]; "NAGUAL: In Mexico and Central America, the nagual is a personal guardian spirit, thought to dwell in the body of an animal" [pg. 241]; "POLTERGEIST: A poltergeist is a being that makes its presence felt by presumably psychic persons by creating noises and disturbances, such as... throwing furniture around a room" [pg. 278]; "SEANCE: A meeting of spiritualists held for the purpose of communicating with the dead" [pg. 310]; "THEOMANCY: A form of divination by oracular utterances" [pg. 340]; "ZODIAC ASPECTS: In astrology, those measured in degrees along the Ecliptic" [pg. 373].
This dictionary goes far, far beyond simply "spiritualism"; it encompasses terms used in classical literature, world religions, philosophy, and many other topics. Unfortunately it has no footnotes [containing specific sources] or a Bibliography, but it may still be a handy reference for persons looking for a "quick answer."
Displaying 1 of 1 review