Showing results by narrator "Matthew Schmitz" in All Categories

Songs of Kabir is a book from 1915 consisting of 100 poems of Kabir, the 15th century Indian poet and mystic, translated to English by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

This was a key work of 17th-century alchemy. It was written in Latin by Jean d'Espagnet as Enchiridion Physicae Restitutae, and the first edition was issued at Paris in 1623.

The Burden of Isis, being the laments of Isis and Nephthys, translated from the Egyptian by James Teackle Dennis, was first published in 1910. This edition is from a reprint in 1918. Includes "The Laments of Isis and Nephthys", "The Chants", and "Hymn to Osiris-Sokar".

The Kybalion is a book originally published in 1908 by "Three Initiates" that purports to convey the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus. A modern Hermetic tract, it has been widely influential in New Age circles since the 20th century. A central concept in the book is that there are "seven Hermetic principles, upon which the entire Hermetic philosophy is based".

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.

Dated to the late 18th century, the book is divided into 12 sections representing the 12 zodiacal signs. The veiled content is said to refer to an allegorical initiation, detailing many Kabbalistic, alchemical, and masonic mysteries.

The subject of my discourses I have called "The Laws of the Higher Life", because so many people in dealing with religion that has to do with the Higher Life seem inclined to remove it from the realm of law, bringing it into some strange region of arbitrary whim and results without endeavor, of failure without weakness.

The Conference of the Birds or Speech of the Birds is a Persian poem by Sufi poet Farid ud-Din Attar, commonly known as Attar of Nishapur. The title is taken directly from the Qur'an, 27:16, where Sulayman and Dāwūd are said to have been taught the language, or speech, of the birds.

Five fantastical tales from the mind of H. P. Lovecraft that center around a theme of illicit substances: some used to transcend the veil of reality, some used to keep one's sanity in check. All of the stories are quite psychedelic and unreal, quite mystical, and quite frightening.

One of the best-known Arthurian stories—adapted many times into verse, prose, games, and film. It recounts an adventure undertaken by King Arthur’s famous nephew, Sir Gawain, who is brave and the model of knightly grace. When a mysterious knight in green armor issues a challenge to the Round Table, the gallant Gawain volunteers to do battle for his king, beginning an adventure that explores chivalric tradition, loyalty, and the virtue of forgiveness, as well as alchemical symbolism and the psychological process of individuation.

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 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.

The Doom That Came to Sarnath, written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1919 and first published in The Scot in 1920, is a haunting tale of arrogance, hubris, and cosmic retribution. Set in Lovecraft’s fictional dreamland, the story weaves a narrative of an ancient city’s rise and catastrophic fall, showcasing his talent for crafting rich, otherworldly settings imbued with mystery and terror.

Cool Air, written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1926, is a chilling tale that masterfully blends gothic horror with the scientific and psychological themes characteristic of Lovecraft's work. First published in Tales of Magic and Mystery in 1928, this story explores the fragility of human life and the lengths to which one might go to preserve it, set against the backdrop of a decaying New York City apartment.

The Alchemist, written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1908, is one of his earliest works, showcasing his budding talent for atmospheric storytelling and his lifelong fascination with themes of ancestral guilt, curses, and the occult. Set in a decaying, isolated castle in the heart of medieval France, this gothic tale is steeped in the dark traditions of vengeance and supernatural retribution.

The Beast in the Cave, written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1905 when he was just 14 years old, is one of his earliest forays into the world of macabre fiction. Despite its brevity and the youthfulness of its author, this tale demonstrates Lovecraft's early talent for crafting an atmosphere of suspense and his fascination with the grotesque and the unknown.

The Book is an enigmatic and fragmentary story written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1933, left incomplete and unpublished during his lifetime. It stands as a tantalizing glimpse into the core of Lovecraft’s mythos, where forbidden knowledge and ancient horrors intertwine to create a sense of cosmic dread. Though brief, the piece carries the essence of Lovecraft's obsession with the dangers of delving into mysteries beyond human comprehension.

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.