Kybalion: The Definitive Edition

Description

It is one of the most mysterious and hotly debated occult works ever written-and without question the most popular and widely influential book of arcane philosophy of the twentieth century: THE KYBALION. Reputedly based on ancient Greek-Egyptian wisdom, THE KYBALION has been credited only to the cryptic "Three Initiates" since its first appearance in 1908. Debate rages over the identity of the Three Initiates, the origin of the book's mysterious title and insights, and the nature of the Hermetic teachings on which it is thought to be based. Now the veil is parted. THE KYBALION presents the first full-scale analysis of this work of practical occult wisdom. It features the complete text of THE KYBALION and the first-ever publication of Atkinson's previously unknown post-Kybalion work: The Seven Cosmic Laws. In an engaging introduction to this unique volume, religious scholar Philip Deslippe surveys the work's context, history, and impact (including as a source of spiritual insight to communities ranging from New Thought to Black Nationalism), and provides a biographical sketch of its elusive author, the New Thought pioneer William Walker Atkinson. As valuable to new fans as it is to longtime readers who crave more knowledge about Atkinson and his work, THE KYBALION illuminates the remarkable history of this long-cherished text. The identity of THREE INITIATES has been the subject of much secrecy and rumour since The Kybalion first appeared in 1908. This comprehensive edition definitively establishes the book's sole author as William Walker Atkinson (1862-1932).

Philip Deslippe-who introduces and annotates this edition-graduated with honours with a B.A. in English from the University of Connecticut in 2001, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in American Religious Culture at the University of Iowa. He is conducting research for the first full-length biography of Atkinson.