Showing results by narrator "Matthew Schmitz" in All Categories

Heralding from the famed Emerald Tablet, Mead examines the phrase, As Above So Below, and primarily as it pertains to Theosophy.

The Hymns of Hermes examines Hermetic ecstatic hymns, which are songs of a poetic nature used to describe the Gnosis of Hermetic attainment and the ecstatic personal experience of the divine.

The Gods of Pegana is the first book by Anglo-Irish fantasy writer Lord Dunsany, published on a commission basis in 1905. The book is a series of short stories linked by Dunsany's invented pantheon of deities who dwell in Pegana, and was a huge influence on authors such as Lovecraft and Tolkien. This is one of my favorite works of weird fantasy fiction by Lord Dunsany, and is a masterful cosmological piece of indulgent prose that actually contains some sublime wisdom between the lines.

Dreams are part of common experience, yet a mystery that is little understood. Psychologists and others who are ignorant of the human being's true constitution, ranging across several subtle levels, are only groping to learn their significance.

Focusing on often-forgotten moments in history, Manley P. Hall proposes that there was a Great Plan put forth 1000 years before our nation’s founding. Humanistic and mystical organizations wished for the continent to be the location for an experiment in self-government and religious freedom. As one of the leading esoteric scholars of the 20th century, Hall offers an intriguing view of our past, discussing everything from the symbolism of the Great Seal of the US to the prophecy announced at George Washington’s birth.

There are books that speak plainly, and then there are those that conceal their truths behind veils of symbol and secrecy. An Open Entrance to the Closed Palace of the King belongs to the latter—a text written not for the casual listener, but for the seeker, the alchemist, the one who dares to unlock nature’s deepest mysteries. Attributed to the enigmatic adept Eirenaeus Philalethes, this work stands as a beacon in the vast sea of alchemical wisdom.

There are words spoken in the world, and then there are those whispered beyond it—words that do not merely inform but awaken. The Voice of the Silence is such a text, a sacred transmission from realms unseen, a guide for the soul that dares to walk the razor’s edge of enlightenment. It is not merely a book, but a portal—an esoteric key unlocking the path to self-transcendence. Written by Helena Blavatsky and drawn from the sacred wisdom of the East, this work calls to those who seek not mere knowledge, but direct experience of the divine.

Narrated by Matthew Schmitz of Altrusian Grace Media, this English prose version of the Ramayana is told in a story form capturing the true and authentic spirit of the original Sanskrit and which makes it easy and enjoyable to listen to. The Ramayana is one of the greatest epics of ancient literature, a monumental work that has transcended the boundaries of time and culture to become a story cherished across generations and geographies.

The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most revered spiritual and philosophical texts in Hindu tradition, forming a part of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata. It is presented as a dialogue between Lord Krishna and the warrior Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, moments before the start of a great war. Arjuna, faced with the dilemma of fighting against his own relatives and teachers, is overcome by doubt and despair. Seeking guidance, he turns to Krishna, who serves as his charioteer and divine teacher.

The Diary of Alonzo Typer is a haunting story crafted by H.P. Lovecraft in collaboration with writer William Lumley. Written in 1935, it unfolds in the form of a found manuscript—a diary belonging to Alonzo Typer, an investigator who vanishes after exploring an eerie, abandoned mansion steeped in mysterious and occult history. This story combines Lovecraft’s fascination with ancient evils, forbidden knowledge, and crumbling old New England settings with Lumley’s intense interest in mysticism and the supernatural.

The Curse of Yig, a horror tale by H.P. Lovecraft, delves into the folklore and dark superstitions of the American Midwest. The story follows the narrator, an investigator intrigued by tales of a curse surrounding Yig, the snake god of Native American lore. As the narrator delves into the history of this malevolent deity, he encounters unsettling accounts of madness, transformation, and death. Central to the story is the tragic tale of settlers Walker and Audrey Davis, whose fear of snakes and belief in Yig’s curse leads them down a path of terror and doom.

The Evil Clergyman is a brief but chilling work by H.P. Lovecraft, written in 1933 and published posthumously in 1939. Unlike many of Lovecraft's stories that delve into cosmic horror and elaborate mythologies, this tale presents a deeply personal and mysterious vision, drawing readers into an unsettling encounter with the unknown. Originally conceived as a vivid nightmare that Lovecraft recounted in a letter to fellow writer Bernard Austin Dwyer, this story unfolds with an eerie immediacy that reflects its dreamlike origins.

"The Transcendentalist" is an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson that was first published in 1841. In this work, Emerson defines and reflects on the Transcendentalist movement, a philosophical and literary movement that was influential in the United States in the 19th century. Transcendentalism emphasized the importance of individualism, intuition, and a direct connection to the divine, and rejected the materialism and conformity of contemporary society.

Fifty-One Tales is a collection of fantasy short stories by Irish writer Lord Dunsany, considered a major influence on the work of J. R. R. Tolkien, H. P. Lovecraft, Ursula K. Le Guin and others.

The Festival, written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1923 and first published in Weird Tales in 1925, is a dark and atmospheric tale steeped in ancient rituals, ancestral mysteries, and Lovecraft’s signature cosmic horror. Set in the fictional town of Kingsport, Massachusetts, the story exemplifies Lovecraft’s ability to weave together eerie folklore, haunting landscapes, and an overwhelming sense of dread. The narrative follows an unnamed protagonist who journeys to Kingsport to partake in an ancient Yuletide festival at the invitation of his ancestors.

The Thing on the Roof, written by Robert E. Howard in 1932, is a chilling tale that masterfully blends elements of Lovecraftian cosmic horror with Howard’s signature sense of adventure and danger. First published in Weird Tales in 1932, this story exemplifies Howard’s ability to craft narratives that delve into forbidden knowledge, ancient relics, and the inevitable consequences of tampering with forces beyond human comprehension.

The Frost-Giant’s Daughter, written by Robert E. Howard in 1932, is one of the earliest tales of Conan the Barbarian, set in the mythical Hyborian Age. Originally rejected by Weird Tales magazine during Howard’s lifetime, the story was later published posthumously in 1953 in The Coming of Conan. This tale stands out for its dreamlike quality, blending raw, brutal action with haunting, mythic beauty.

The Hyborian Age is Robert E. Howard’s sweeping essay that serves as the mythological and historical backdrop to his legendary Conan the Barbarian stories. Written in 1932 and first published in The Phantagraph in 1936, this work is a vivid tapestry of fictional prehistory, weaving together epic migrations, fallen civilizations, and heroic struggles into a cohesive narrative that breathes life into Howard’s fantastical world.

The Descendant, written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1927, is a brief and tantalizing fragment that hints at a larger, untold story steeped in ancient horrors, forbidden knowledge, and the weight of ancestral guilt. Unpublished during Lovecraft’s lifetime, this unfinished piece explores themes central to his mythos, such as the peril of delving into arcane mysteries and the fragile boundary between human understanding and cosmic terror.

The Cats of Ulthar, written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1920, is a short yet striking tale that showcases his ability to blend dark fantasy with moral allegory. First published in Tryout in 1920, the story is a haunting meditation on justice, retribution, and the mystical bond between cats and the arcane. It occupies a unique place in Lovecraft’s body of work, weaving a fable-like narrative that retains the eerie undertones characteristic of his writing.