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facie REVIEWS Sy | L Ll U M I N AT I THE SERPENT GRAIL found in magickal rituals and the tarot deck. OVO - Volo 1 by Philip Gardiner with Gary Osborn The Serpent Grail is a challenging thesis tealuring Watkins Publishing, London, 2005 that may force a re-examination of traditions ISBN 1-84293-129-6 (334pp tob) we've perhaps taken too literally. Availability: http://www.watkinspublish- ing.com; Australia—Simon & Schuster THE SHADOW OF SOLOMON ihe search for the Holy Grail takes a sur- by Laurence Gardner prising twist in this compelling book by — Thorsons/Element, London, 2005 Philip Gardiner with Gary Osborn, a fellow _ ISBN 0-00-720760-3 (413pp hc) researcher of mystery traditions. While the Availability: ThorsonsElement.com ICKE * |. HILDER romantic tales of Arthurian legend and the aurence Gardner was an active Master fabulous stories of Middle Ages alchemical (Mason with the City of London lodge feats retain some of the original truths, much from 1966 until the mid-1980s, when he of their factual detail has become lost in resigned due to potential conflicts with his allegory and metaphor over time. The intre- _ growing career as an independent researcher pid authors felt they had to go further back, (which in recent years has produced a verita- even beyond what historians regard as the ble wealth of tomes from Bloodline of the first great civilisation, the Sumerian. What Holy Grail to The Magdalene Legacy; see they found was a Grail heritage common to NEXUS 4/01 and 12/03). In the meantime prehistoric cultures across the globe. And he has continued his studies into the history, that heritage involved a serpent- or snake- structure and practices of freemasonry, and worshipping cult that even today has reso- now has written a comprehensive and nances in the major world religions. intriguing "life" of this secretive fraternity. Actually, many of the ancient records were lost during the days of Cromwell's rampage and in the Great Fire of London, and from his experience Gardner could see that some masonic rites had become more steeped in allegory and pageantry than fact. Records were also lost in AD 391 when the Church burnt down the Library of Alexandria, and some were found by the Knights Templars when they excavated the Jerusalem Temple vaults after the First Crusade. These trea- sures ended up in France and later in Scotland following the banning of the Order in the early 14th century. also lealures JORDAN MAXWELL CHRIS EVERARD TED GUNDERSON rd Seep bela darer) Chamaey . . hat Beery —— Bake LCT LCT! berry . oe . In his eminently readable way, Gardner Their research, taking in ancient myths, traces the ancient roots of the masonic tradi- ot Mi NID RB LOWING y"" alchemy, anthropology, archaeology, ety- : F F : i iJ i a i tion, with a particular emphasis on the SEALS MAL ASIST mology, mysticism, religion and more, Egyptian/Hebrew connection, right up to reveals secrets about a triad of mystery: the F : ES EUCAL LEER | Holy Grail, seeped in the physical realm; Sent science and esate some of What he itr Sele lee) |i ie | the Elixir of Life, bound up in the mental; uncovered in Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark 1 ee CR and the Philosopher's Stone, the attainment 10/03) ab he ical, anti ‘tational of the spiritual state of enlightenment— (10/03) a on ie me > Tt “AN EXPLOSIVE EXPOSU RY superconsciousness itself. This triad has its ope Cavenant ae ee ite awcane for. oF The Benin Rov Al FAMILY" oe Shamanism, where mysterious to burning pure gold to create the powder and THES TO NAZIS, BLACK P . ° . was the receptacle; and being so heavy, it other planes of consciousness. ae Alacer & /ONrsT, OU ABALISTIC T ohnediuum, suggest the authors, was a could only be transported by levitation. It SECRET SOCITIES. QUITE mixture of snake venom and blood that in Wad the responsivity of the eres to ASTOUNDING!” combination was not poisonous but pro- uni eat ry this i ‘i e ane hi ed ‘awe to TTY Pid BALD duced intense visionary experiences and had ae ae teanlled in thea rons shat Masons eT rere Tg | 22ling properties. The snake was venerated 0..'f5 this day. Gardner believes that this inc. Airmad Deivery for these qualities, and its ability to shed its "nowder of y- tion" is at the heart of the ee ee @ | skin symbolised rebirth. The ingredients powcer 0 a ion, ton Ra 1A i onthe ee | were extracted using utensils such as a staff masonic tradition, as 1s Roya! Arc : : Freemasonry, which is a Chapter attached to to collect the drips of venom, a knife to cut y P' : ee nthe snake's head, a bow! (perhaps a skull the 3rd degree of the Craft. It has nothing to ee cap) to collect the venom and blood, and a do with the ritual of Hiram Abiff but with ; Frontier Scrences plate to hold the dead snake. More recent the Royal Art: the Philosopher's Stone, levi- wwe inl esoteric traditions symbolise these artefacts tation and enlightenment via the zero point. in ritual wands, swords, cups and discs At last, frontier science is catching up with Add Se PHE-ST oe ROE ancient knowledge, Gardner can report. 70 * NEXUS found in magickal rituals and the tarot deck. The Serpent Grail is a challenging thesis that may force a re-examination of traditions we've perhaps taken too literally. THE SHADOW OF SOLOMON by Laurence Gardner Thorsons/Element, London, 2005 SBN 0-00-720760-3 (413pp he) Availability: ThorsonsElement.com aurence Gardner was an active Master (Mason with the City of London lodge rom 1966 until the mid-1980s, when he resigned due to potential conflicts with his growing career as an independent researcher (which in recent years has produced a verita- ble wealth of tomes from Bloodline of the Holy Grail to The Magdalene Legacy; see NEXUS 4/01 and 12/03). In the meantime e has continued his studies into the history, structure and practices of freemasonry, and now has written a comprehensive and intriguing "life" of this secretive fraternity. Actually, many of the ancient records were lost during the days of Cromwell's rampage and in the Great Fire of London, and from his experience Gardner could see that some masonic rites had become more steeped in allegory and pageantry than fact. Records were also lost in AD 391 when the Church burnt down the Library of Alexandria, and some were found by the Knights Templars when they excavated the Jerusalem Temple vaults after the First Crusade. These trea- sures ended up in France and later in Scotland following the banning of the Order in the early 14th century. In his eminently readable way, Gardner traces the ancient roots of the masonic tradi- tion, with a particular emphasis on the Egyptian/Hebrew connection, right up to modern times. He also goes in search of ancient science and restates some of what he uncovered in Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark (10/03) about the mystical, antigravitational properties of white powder gold. The Ark of the Covenant was both the means for burning pure gold to create the powder and was the receptacle; and being so heavy, it could only be transported by levitation. It was the responsibility of the Levites to undertake this task; the aprons they wore to protect themselves from the high-voltage Ark are recalled in the aprons that Masons wear to this day. Gardner believes that this "powder of projection" is at the heart of the masonic tradition, as is Royal Arch Freemasonry, which is a Chapter attached to the 3rd degree of the Craft. It has nothing to do with the ritual of Hiram Abiff but with the Royal Art: the Philosopher's Stone, levi- tation and enlightenment via the zero point. At last, frontier science is catching up with ancient knowledge, Gardner can report. www.nexusmagazine.com OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2005