Philosophy Now Forum

can anyone please explain what is Hermetic and who is Hermes? im so confused.. i've been reading about this and what i can conclude is that they are an occult teaching, originated from the concept of alchemist, who try to turn stones into gold; same concept as other mystical religion teaching..

Knut wrote:can anyone please explain what is Hermetic and who is Hermes? im so confused.. i've been reading about this and what i can conclude is that they are an occult teaching, originated from the concept of alchemist, who try to turn stones into gold; same concept as other mystical religion teaching..

I've got a better question: Who is Knut? Oh, yeah, he's the guy who's knuts!

Knut wrote:can anyone please explain what is Hermetic and who is Hermes? im so confused.. i've been reading about this and what i can conclude is that they are an occult teaching, originated from the concept of alchemist, who try to turn stones into gold; same concept as other mystical religion teaching..

In ancient Greece there was the Hermetic tradition of the mystery cults. Classicists and archeologists believe that there was copious drug taking to achieve states of communication with the divine. Hermes were also short columns usually with phalluses on them. There was a connection between the phallus and a psychotropic mushroom with a phallic shape.

Hermes was the messenger of the gods, otherwise known the the Romans as Mercury. It is possible that getting a message from the gods could be achieved with taking phallic mushrooms. All of this is highly speculative because the "mystery cults" were (obviously) secret.

Hermeticism, is a medieval cult attributed to semi-mythical Hermes Trismegistus of the 3rd C AD, and has no direct connection with 'hermetic' or Hermes. So the meaning has become confused by the individual interpretation of medieval thinkers whose knowledge of ancient times was limited. It's al a bit confused and is due to a translation of the late 16thC AD.

It's all bollocks and is nothing more than mysticism. There is a good reason why you might be confused - none of it makes much sense.