The Inner Light

The Inner Light

The Inner Light: Self-Realization via the Western Esoteric Tradition, is my fourth published book, released by Axis Mundi Books in March 2014 and available for order on Amazon. The book runs close to 600 pages and took me about a year and a half to write. It began as a manual I'd written for a class I taught on the Western Esoteric tradition back in 2007. When the time came to shape it into a book, I realized that many of the topics needed considerable fleshing out, which I then set about to do. Accordingly it contains plenty of material on history and theory. The practical sections are condensed, offering methods for transformational disciplines but avoiding lengthy technical 'how to' sections. The strength of the book probably lies in its overview of theory and history, alongside some practical work. It would work well as a complementary text to more practically oriented manuals.

The book has an ambitious scope, attempting a very broad sweep without sacrificing depth. This inevitably meant a long book (over 180,000 words) . Still, at the end, I felt that I'd not written enough, especially lamenting lack of space to deal with astrology and 'sacred' mathematics and geometry. That said, many of the main elements of Western esoterica are well covered, in particular alchemy, the Kabbalah, angelology and demonology, sex magick and tantra, along with the history of psychotherapy and elements of Western philosophy (including Romanticism) and how these have interfaced with Western esoterica. Also covered are the modern schools of Transpersonal and Integral psychology. The practical sections deal with meditations, the elements of practical magic (thaumaturgy, or manifesting), and lucid dream-work. There are three chapters I wrote at the end ('Lore') that contain some especially interesting material, covering topics such as the so-called 'Body of Light' as well as the histories of Witchcraft, Lycanthropy, 'shapeshifting' and the 'assumption of god-forms'. Four appendices touch on a broad range of interrelated material.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part I: History and Theory

Chapter 1: The Essence of the Western Esoteric Path

Chapter 2: Introduction to Spiritual Alchemy

Chapter 3: Essentials of the Kabbalah

Chapter 4: Angels, Demons, and the Abyss

Chapter 5: Psychotherapy and the Western Esoteric Tradition

Chapter 6: Tantra and the Fundamentals of Sex Magick

Chapter 7: Philosophy and the Western Esoteric Tradition

Chapter 8: Transcendentalism, New Thought, New Age

Part II: Practice: The Technology of Transformation

Chapter 9: The Fundamentals of Spiritual Psychology (Part I)

Chapter 10: The Fundamentals of Spiritual Psychology (Part II)

Chapter 11: Meditation and Self-Realization

Chapter 12: Magic and Manifestation

Chapter 13: Inner Planes Work: Lucid Dreaming, Dream Yoga, Astral Travel

Part III: Lore

Chapter 14: The Body of Light

Chapter 15: A Brief History of Witchcraft

Chapter 16: Lycanthropy, Shapeshifting, and the Assumption of God-forms

Appendices

Appendix I: Ancient Egypt, Hermeticism, Rosicrucians, and the Kybalion

Appendix II: The ‘Fall’ According to Eight Traditions

Appendix III: The Chief Grimoires of Magic

Appendix IV: A Note on the Tarot and Experiential Astrology
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgments
About the Author

P.T. Mistlberger’s The Inner Light is a stupendous accomplishment, linking spiritual, psychological, and magickal traditions into a coherent whole. Its focus on history is kept fascinating by revealing the interplay and interdependence between the seemingly disparate threads of Eastern and Western spiritual traditions and what has evolved into modern psychological theories and practices. This weaving of systems, combined with practical techniques, will bring new insights to students and practitioners in many fields as well as increasing respect and understanding. — Donald Michael Kraig, Author of Modern Magick

A mightily impressive work! A comprehensive and easy to follow guide through and around the Western Esoteric Tradition. I learned a lot from it and no doubt shall continue to do so. One to keep by you for constant reference! -- Gareth Knight, author of A History of White Magic and Experience of the Inner Worlds

An immensely enjoyable book. This well written and insightful work is a must read for everyone interested in the history and development of the Western Esoteric Tradition and its varied perspectives on spiritual development and their practical applications. -- Will Parfitt, author of The Complete Guide to the Kabbalah

A comprehensive book, comprising a well-researched and annotated reference text of the history, components, and better-known personalities of the Western Esoteric Tradition. Some of the inclusions surprised me, not because they were inappropriate, but because the author does us a great service by placing them in true context; his understanding of the difference between popular neo-Eastern practices and genuine Eastern traditions, for example, is used in places to elucidate the content of Western esotericism. Especially impressive is the author's understanding of the interaction between the many streams that merge and flow as the broad river of the Western Esoteric Tradition. P.T. Mistlberger has made the wise choice not to include many examples of methods, but to offer us the sources of many related methods to research and pursue for ourselves. I will recommend this book to my students. -- R.J. Stewart, author of Advanced Magical Arts and The Underworld Initiation

The Inner Light: Self Realization via the Western Esoteric Tradition is a worthy addition to a growing corpus of literature that attempts to bridge the gap between the theoretical elucidation and practical application of the fundamentals of what used to be considered as “rejected knowledge” in Western culture. Although not an academic study per se, Mistlberger’s book is an erudite overview of some of the major currents that comprise Western esoteric traditions, in addition to being an account of some relevant Eastern and modern psychoanalytic teachings and techniques equally concerned with the task of self-realization. The practical instructions suggested in the book contextualize these esoteric teachings and provide a possible framework of actualizing their theoretical propositions and implications. The Inner Light will be of value both to those interested in the historical and thematic overview of some major trends in Western esotericism as well as to those who are intent in applying these teachings to practical use. — Gordan Djurdjevic, Ph.D., Sessional Instructor, Department of Humanities, Simon Fraser University, and author of Masters of Magical Powers and India and the Occult

An engaging and wide-ranging introduction to esotericism in theory and practice, interwoven with thoughtful psychological commentary. -- Owen Davies, professor of Social History at the University of Hertfordshire, and author of Grimoires: A History of Magic Books