totally off topic

[space otter]

first let me say that I luv old books..they were my introduction into the world of the weird / occult / imaginative way back when

way back before the internet when you had to haunt libraries and book stores
elbow your way thur stacks of the written word and dust and put up with comments
on whatever you happen to be perusing from others..usually a fun time was had by all.
  but you didn't always find that one volume you wanted.

with age I have learnt that with any book, you have to consider the source.. the writter...
so if you don't have any background on the author you can only guess at the slant of what is in the book
and every author has a slant.. it's only human nature
and then you have to consider  the time frame of the work
or some basic knowledge of what was popular for the time the book was written in
and finally
your own prejudice comes into play as to how the written word pushes your buttons even though you may think you are being educated

on to my fixation on this one.. the one I was never able to find and
flash back to the now and in my mailbox (the real one) comes a book catalog
(really good deals if any of you still collect  words on paper..see below )
and finally an opportunity to get that illusive tome
IT has arrived         and I am so completely entertained that I have to share and I hope you chuckle as you read this  - what little I am about to copy

the original first edition was published by Advanced Publishing Company, Chicago, Il 1918

The Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians     a lost classic  of     Magus Incognito

this of course is a reproduction and I can't qualify it as word for word of the original.
.but still marvelously funny
several pages of info on the chapters..there are thirteen, of course (217 pages)
and a bibliography of William Walker Atkinson and his alter egos

and then the introduction.. which I will only quote a bit so as not to get into copyright stuff.
a paragraph  starting with... I'm about to tell you a secret.
a questions as to  if you want to know the secret or just  read the book
and then this diamond of a sentence
The secret is that some parts of this book are absolute inventions.
paraphrasing here
but he can't tell you which parts and only telling you this
to simply to show you that in some instances, invention is exactly what we need.

every book should have this in the beginning imo

anyway.. that's it.. thanks for indulging me  on a cold saturday morning
when the mail has arrived with joy of reading and I can forget this head cold for a while
I'm going to go get a cuppa something warm and sit and read this treasure I looked for years and years ago





if you are interesting in books I have found a great resource.. they only charge a small fee for
s&h regardless of the amount of stuff you order..
and their selection is worth the time all on it's own
http://www.hamiltonbook.com/online_catalogs

and I see I recommended the site last january here 
http://www.thelivingmoon.com/forum/index.php?topic=6079.0

[Shasta56]

I'm always looking for books and sources for books.  I like the feel of paper and ink on my paws.

Shasta

[zorgon]

I'm about to tell you a secret...

if you want to know the secret or just  read the book...

The secret is that some parts of this book are absolute inventions....

to simply to show you that in some instances, invention is exactly what we need

Consider this...

Everything we know was invented at some point

Consider this...

Rosicrucians strongly believe in and practice... The Secret

One of my first lessons was focusing on a candle flame... until it turned BLUE

[zorgon]

And no  I have not yet mastered levitating a space craft

[space otter]

hey I just got a laugh out of the series of things like the magus incognito and 13 chapters
and that they make up stuff AND tell you about it

and one of my first lessons was also with the candle flame but the goal was splitting it and then reshaping the twin flames...
on the levitation thing...nah not even paper..bwhahahahahahah
BUT
there are sooo many other things to work on.......aren't there 



edit to add.. my lessons weren't thur the rosies

[zorgon]

There are many paths 

As to the levitation  we are either blocked by something or we are too distracted by our modern world to focus

maybe both

[Shasta56]

I levitated an annoying guy one time.   He said I couldn't.   I said I could.   Final score: Shasta 1, annoying guy 0.

Shasta

[Ellirium113]

and one of my first lessons was also with the candle flame but the goal was splitting it and then reshaping the twin flames...

Hah...easily achieved. Cross your eyes and bring them back straight. 

[space otter]

that's good if you are the only one wanting to see it done..
bwhahahahahahahah