The Gnostic Circle: A Synthesis in the Harmonies of the Cosmos (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9789389530858)

In ancient times the zodiac - astrology's basic alphabet - conveyed a body of higher knowledge, hence it formed part of the sacred sciences, not only in India but in all the Mystery Schools of the ancient world... (Patrizia Norelli Bachelet, 2014)

For millennia wisemen of all traditions have searched for a key of knowledge which would unlock the mysteries of the universe. The Alchemists called this universal key, 'the Philosopher's Stone' and revealed that it was based upon the structure and harmonies of the Cosmos. This legendary 'stone' or Lapis Philosophorum was believed to be a magical object having the power to change base metals into gold, but, in a deeper sense, it symbolized the final goal of the initiation process which was the attainment of the highest wisdom. Possession of the 'Philosopher's Stone' was the coveted condition resulting from the realization of 'Gnosis', an enlightened state in which one knows with a certainty that one knows and sees with an understanding which can be infinitely extended to all situations.

Over the centuries, the system of knowledge which emerged from the alchemical tradition represented the pinnacle of enlightened thought. It was based upon the known universe which then consisted of six planets and the central Sun. But it was not until the 20th century, following the discovery of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, that the complete key of knowledge could be revealed and man's integral transformation fully understood. The Gnostic Circle is that key and contains the highest wisdom of our age.