Perspectives on Initiation by René Guénon

Perspectives on Initiation presents initiation as essentially the transmission, by the appropriate rites of a given tradition, of a 'spiritual influence' which represents the 'beginning' (initium) of the spiritual journey. It is unique in giving a comprehensive account both of the conditions of initiation and of the characteristics of organizations qualified to transmit it.While most of its 48 chapters deal with specific aspects of initiation, others cover an astonishing range of related subjects, among them:Magic and MysticismCeremonial MagicPsychic 'Powers'The Symbolism of the TheaterThe Gift of TonguesGreater and Lesser MysteriesRose-Cross and RosicruciansSome Reflections on HermeticismThe Birth of the AvataraRelated articles are collected in Guénon's Initiation and Spiritual Realization. René Guénon (1886-1951), also known as Abd al-Wahid Yahya, was a French author, traditionalist and perennial philosopher who remains an influential figure in the domain of metaphysics having writt