Difference between revisions of "Template:Occult.live:Today's featured article"

no edit summary
 
(23 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:Cards-Reading.jpg|200px|left]]
[[File:Map of Hell.png|200px|left]]
'''[[Divination]]''' is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an [[occult]]ic, standardized process or ritual. Used in various forms throughout history, diviners ascertain their interpretations of how a querent should proceed by reading signs, events, or omens, or through alleged contact with a supernatural agency.
The '''[[Hierarchy of Hell]]''' represents the organizational structure of [[Hell]] as envisioned by [[occult]] authors in their [[grimoire]]s concerning [[demon]]s, especially [[Goetic demon]]s. Depending on the source, different authors ascribe varying ranks and positions to different infernal spirits. The best sources for this information are ''[[The Grand Grimoire]]'' and the ''[[Lesser Key of Solomon]]''. The concept of the hierarchy and the categorization of spirits into various ranks seems to have been a serious preoccupation with the early authors of occult literature. Nearly every book on magic mentions at least a few demons and attempts to assign them a structure analogous to governments common in Europe at the time. They are all monarchical in nature.


Divination was a central component of ancient Mesoamerican religious life. Many Aztec gods, including central creator gods, were described as [[Clairvoyance|diviners]] and were closely associated with sorcery. [[Tezcatlipoca]] is the patron of sorcerers and practitioners of [[ritual magic|magic]]. His name means "smoking mirror," a reference to a device used for divinatory [[scrying]]. In the Mayan Popol Vuh, the creator gods Xmucane and Xpiacoc perform divinatory hand casting during the creation of people.  
In most works dealing with the 72 [[Goetic demon]]s, there is a rigid hierarchical structure for the demons, grouping each of them into ranks of nobility (including a knight and presidents). [[Occultist]] author [[Travis McHenry]] further explored these demonic ranks in his book ''[[The Grimoire of Heaven and Hell]]'', giving the reasons various demons were assigned to their specific class of nobility.


'''([[Divination|Full Article...]])'''
'''([[Hierarchy of Hell|Full Article...]])'''