Thanks to the "The Da Vinci Code", millions of enthusiastic readers have been able to discover the secret history of Christianity, and its mysterious filiation dating back to the time of Jesus. Faced with the immense interest in this subject, the contemporary Essene School has decided to transmit certain elements of the true story of John, the beloved disciple of Christ. Thanks to Olivier Manitara's revelations, we discover why Saint John, Mary Magdalene and Jesus (who were childhood friends) left their mark on history and how they have created an unbroken secret filiation to this day. After Jesus' departure, the outer church was entrusted to St. Peter. As for St. John, he then became the bearer of the other face of Christ, of his secret Doctrine. He founded a School of Mysteries in Ephesus with the help of the mother of Jesus, Mary, the great Essene initiate. Through his power of access to the timeless archives of the Essene Tradition, also called the Fifth Gospel, Olivier Manitara allows us to discover all these revelations on the hidden side of Christianity.

The contemporary Essene School has decided to pass on some elements of the true story of Saint John, the beloved disciple of Christ. Thanks to the revelations of Olivier Manitara, one discovers why Saint John, Mary Magdalene, and Jesus, who were childhood friends, have made a mark in history, and how they have engendered a secret affiliation, uninterrupted to the present day. After the passing of Jesus, the external Church was entrusted to Saint Peter. As for Saint John, he became the carrier of Christ’s secret doctrine. He founded a school of Mysteries at Ephesus with the help of Mary, the high Essene initiate.

Humanity has stepped at the beginning of the Water-Carrier Age’s threshold. Its influence is gradually being felt in all areas of life. This is the time for spiritual renewal and the turning point for the shifting of consciousness. Contrary to the period of mental bondage, prejudice, and religious bigotry, which was the Piscean Era characteristic, we are awakening to another chapter of human history, leading to the realization of the Oneness of life and the human race’s interconnectedness. The world is currently undergoing radical socio-economic and political upheavals because we are transitioning from one chapter of human history to another. Some religious leaders and sensationalistic New Age writers have taken these dramatic changes as signs of the end of the world. Contrary to that, this work postulate that the challenging events indicate the close of one chapter of human history and the beginning of a new one. “We embrace and celebrate the coming of a new age of enlightenment, the awareness of human beings’ brotherhood.”

Dr. Albert G. Mackey appears as author of this " Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and its Kindred Sciences," which, being a library in inself, superseded most of the Masonic works which have been tolerated by the craft — chiefly because none better could be obtained. Here is a work which fulfils the hope which sustained the author through ten years' literary labor, that, under one cover he "would furnish every Mason who might consult its pages the means of acquiring a knowledge of all matters connected with the science, the philosophy, and the history of his order." Up to the present time the modern literature of Freemasonry has been diffuse, lumbering, unreliable, and, out of all reasonable proportions. There is, in Mackey's "Encyclopaedia of Masonry," well digested, well arranged, and confined within reasonable limits, all that a Mason can desire to find in a book exclusively devoted to the history, the arts, science, and literature of Masonry. This is volume one out of four and covering the letters A to C.

We are at the threshold of a transitional period from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius. What should we expect from this coming New Era? What are its signs? What is the fate of human spirituality? What will the new concepts of God and of religion be? This book attempts to answer these questions based on well researched sources complemented and endorsed by cosmology, archeology, psychology, religion, Near East studies, and mythology, among other scientific disciplines. The book also intends to clarify the confusion created by some Protestant religious leaders and sensationalistic writers who have misinterpreted the signs of the transitional period as the end of the world. The truth is that we are witnessing a shift of ages, that is, the slow evolution from the Piscean Era to the commencing of a new worldwide social order, a new chapter in human history called the Aquarian dispensation. The huge conspiracy propounded by false prophets and some New Age writers, whether overtly or covertly, feeds the fear and anxiety of ordinary people with unfounded apocalyptic propaganda. This book attempts to give the reader an accurate perspective regarding the planetary transformations that are taking place; it offers hope and inspiration as we approach the Golden Age.

Dr. Albert G. Mackey, also the author of The Lexicon of Freemasonry appears as author of this " Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and its Kindred Sciences," which, being a library in inself, superseded most of the Masonic works which have been tolerated by the craft—chiefly because none better could be obtained. Here, in one giant volume is a work which fulfils the hope which sustained the author through ten years' literary labor, that, under one cover he "would furnish every Mason who might consult its pages the means of acquiring a knowledge of all matters connected with the science, the philosophy, and the history of his order." For more than thirty years Dr. Mackey has devoted earnest and constant study and research to the history, the objects, and the condition of Masonry. In the present work, the crowning and successful result of a life's labors, he has received no assistance from any one. He says, " Every article was written by myself," and he adds, which would extenuate errors, had he fallen into any, "For twelve months, too, of the time occupied upon this work, I suffered from an affection of the sight, which forbade all use of the eyes for purposes of study. During that time, now happily passed, all authorities were consulted by the willing eyes of my daughters—all writing was done by their hands. I realized for a time the picture so often painted of the blind bard dictating his sublime verses to his daughters," and his preface closes with the words, "Were I to dedicate this work at all, my dedication should be—To Filial Affection." Up to the present time the modern literature of Freemasonry has been diffuse, lumbering, unreliable, and, out of all reasonable proportions.

Throughout the ages, the Essenes have been a people across all peoples, a family of souls that has kept alive the religion of Light on earth. Religion is the bond of life that unites man to the divine world, that allows him to know himself, to weave good relations with his family and with all the kingdoms of nature. The religion of the Light, or Essene religion, does not belong to any people; it is only divine. It is the superior intelligence that guides men in wisdom and true royalty.

The story of Santo Daime--a new religion that blends elements of Christianity with older Amazonian indigenous spiritual practices--and the ecologically sound and spiritually centered utopian community it has inspired - A true story of a classical spiritual encounter, as well as an intimate account of the genesis of an important religious tradition that continues to grow worldwide - Edited and Introduced by Stephen Larsen, author of "The Shaman's Doorway" Alex Polari de Alverga spent years as a political prisoner during the rule of the military junta in Brazil, enduring torture, brutality, and deprivation. On his release from captivity and in search of something to restore his spiritual connection to life, he had a transformative encounter with one of the two revered founders of Santo Daime, Padrinho Sebastiao Mota de Mela. Santo Daime--an Amazonian religion, born out of jungle entheogens, mediumship, and healing, that is a potent and unique synthesis of Christianity and indigenous practices--provided Alverga with an alternative to his disillusionment with modern society. His quest for spiritual initiation eventually led him deep into the heart of the rainforest to Mapia, one of the spiritual centers of Santo Daime, where he became a teacher and leader of the Daime community. "Forest of Visions" is a story of a classic spiritual encounter comparable to the Tibetan Saint Milarepa's search for his teacher Marpa. It is also an intimate account of the genesis of an important religious tradition that from modest beginnings in Brazil has now spread throughout the world and continues to grow. It provides an inside look at the spiritually centered village of Mapia, a model for communities in the 21st century.

Meet the real John the Baptist. For many, John the Baptist is a footnote in the gospels—Jesus’s unkempt forerunner. But if we look closer, John emerges as a fascinating and influential religious leader in his own right. Esteemed New Testament scholar James F. McGrath turns his critical eye to overlooked details in Scripture and long-neglected sources to discover who John the Baptist really was. McGrath covers the well-known events of John’s life, from his miraculous conception to his execution at the hands of Herod Antipas. Along the way, he introduces key context about John’s social and religious world that fleshes out John’s character. John becomes a rebel son of a priest. An innovator of ritual. A mentor of Jesus. McGrath also explores John’s far-reaching impact on the history of religion. Aside from his influence on Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, John is also revered by the Mandaeans, the last extant gnostic sect, who consider themselves John’s faithful disciples. This fresh look at the life of John the Baptist will fascinate any reader interested in John, Jesus, and their dynamic world.