The Arcane Collection: The three books.
This volume contains the three volumes that make the "Arcane Collection", by William Walker Atkinson, conveniently put together in one book: The Arcane Teaching, The Arcane Formulas, and Vril: Vital Magnetism.
In the Arcane Teaching, Atkinson gives us the story and content of what he calls "wisdom of the ages". As he says, "The Arcane Teaching has come down to the present age through the corridors of time, from the dim ages of past eras, races, and schools of thought. Even those highest in the councils of “The Custodians of The Scroll,” are unable to trace the Teaching, in an unbroken direct line, further back than the time of Pythagoras (about 500 b. c.), and a little later in Ancient Greece, although they find many references to, and extracts from, the teachings of ancient Egypt and Chaldea, which serve to show that the Pythagorean and Ancient Grecian Arcane Schools were founded on occult instruction still more remote, received in a direct line of succession of teachers and pupils extending over centuries..."
Book two, the Arcane Formulas, is a supplementary text to the Arcane Teachings, and is a practical manual on exercises to achieve illumination by establishing and controlling the Ego, mastering the opposites, neutralizing rhythm and others.
Book Three, Vril: Vital Magnetism, the author analyzes VRIL, the universal principle of vital-energy or life-force. Many ancient occult treatises refer to “Vril” both in this sense of "vital energy", but also as what we know as “human magnetism”.
This volume contains the three volumes that make the "Arcane Collection", by William Walker Atkinson, conveniently put together in one book: The Arcane Teaching, The Arcane Formulas, and Vril: Vital Magnetism.
In the Arcane Teaching, Atkinson gives us the story and content of what he calls "wisdom of the ages". As he says, "The Arcane Teaching has come down to the present age through the corridors of time, from the dim ages of past eras, races, and schools of thought. Even those highest in the councils of “The Custodians of The Scroll,” are unable to trace the Teaching, in an unbroken direct line, further back than the time of Pythagoras (about 500 b. c.), and a little later in Ancient Greece, although they find many references to, and extracts from, the teachings of ancient Egypt and Chaldea, which serve to show that the Pythagorean and Ancient Grecian Arcane Schools were founded on occult instruction still more remote, received in a direct line of succession of teachers and pupils extending over centuries..."
Book two, the Arcane Formulas, is a supplementary text to the Arcane Teachings, and is a practical manual on exercises to achieve illumination by establishing and controlling the Ego, mastering the opposites, neutralizing rhythm and others.
Book Three, Vril: Vital Magnetism, the author analyzes VRIL, the universal principle of vital-energy or life-force. Many ancient occult treatises refer to “Vril” both in this sense of "vital energy", but also as what we know as “human magnetism”.
