I think chapters 5-10 are the heart of volume one. Chapters 11-15 deal with further interesting notions. Note also that each chapter has specific elements that contribute to a manifold argument (i.e. each chapter seems to try to blend the first four elements), a very ambitious project:
1- Comparing, critiquing and contrasting ancient and modern science (and rehabilitating the former);
2- Comparing ancient and modern western knowledge with eastern culture;
3- Using the first two points (with wider comparative research) to posit the existence of a universal, perennial wisdom;
4- Using the first 3 points to introduce notions of esoteric philosophy;
5- Using these notions of esoteric philosophy to build a new synthesis of (a)ancient and modern science; (b) eastern and western knowledge; (c) science and religion.
6- Arguing for the idea of India as the cradle of civilization.
7- Critiquing and clarifying spiritualistic phenomena.
Chapter 5 (On the Astral Light) Spirit force and matter, and its relation to creation and human evolution and the theory of the astral light in relation to practical magic and mesmerism
1-Fire and Light Symbolism Ancient and Modern illustrate Universal Force (p.125)
(Universal Ether 128/Chaos 129/World Soul 129/Magnetism 129/Sofia – Holy Ghost 130/Mesmerism 131/Universal Mind 131)
2- Water Symbolism Illustrates Primordial Substance (133)
3- Ether in Magic and Science (135)
(Astral light 135/The will in magic 144)
4-Universal Substance/Force in Ancient Cosmologies (146)
(Egypt 146/Scandinavia 147/Bible 149/ Book of Jasher 149)
5- Evolution in Ancient Myths (152)
(World Tree 153/Pyramid 154/Double-sexed creators 156/Trinity 160/Thor and electricity 161)
Chapter 6 – (Psycho-Physical Phenomena) Paracelsian explanations of supernatural and psychic phenomena
1- Paracelsus as Scientific Pioneer (p. 163)
(Preparation for scientific truths 163/revolution in chemistry 163/Paracelsus rehabilitation 164/defence of Mesmerism 166/occult properties of magnet 168/astral force 168/Paracelsus discovers hydrogen 169/astral nutrition 170/dreams170/sleep 170/sympathy magnetic attraction 171)
2- Mesmer as follower of Paracelsus (173)
(Mesmer restates Paracelsus 173)
3-Further History of Animal Magnetism (173)
(research on animal magnetism 173/mesmeric phenomena 175/trance powers 176)
4- Ancient and Modern Explanations of Animal Magnetism (178)
(Newton on universal magnetic substance 178/two kinds of magnetizations 178/astral light 179/astral light – astral plane 180/Astral body 181)
5- Psychometry (182)
6- Universal Ether and Astral Light (186)
(Bridge between matter and ether 188)
7- Primordial Substances and Universal Solvent (189)
(Alchemy universal solvent alkahest 189-92/water 193)
Chapter 7 (The Elements, Elementals, and Elementaries) Magnetism as Universal Force and source of Magic
1- Survey of Authors on Magnetism (p.206)
Henry More on Subtle bodies 206/ Henry More, René Descartes, Pierre Poiret Naude, Dr. Hufeland, Tenzel Wirdig, Johannes Kepler, Baptista Porta 207-209
2- Universal Attraction (209)
Universal Magnetism 209/Modern Society Detrimental to Spiritual Influences 212/Three Souls 213/Magic Power of Inner Man 213/Occult powers of hidden eastern adepts 214
3- Magnetism and Healing (215)
Healing Powers of Sound 215/Healing requires purity 218
4- Ancient Theories of Spiritualism versus Modern
Porphyry and Iamblichus on the dangers of Spiritualism 218/ Doubtfullness of identity of spirits220/Dogmatism 222
5- Alchemy and Perpetual Lamps (224)
Skepticism and denial of reported testimonies of eastern magic and perpetual lamps by academic scientists. 224/Perpetual Lamps and Alchemy 226
6- Ancient and Modern explanations of Electro-Magnetic Power (232)
Scientific Skepticism 233/Ancient Mysteries Erect-Haired Pan 235/Ancient Knowledge of Electricity 235
7- Ancient knowledge versus Modern (236)
Jowett credits the ancients 239/Defends ancient knowledge 239
8-Magnetism and the Theory of Force Correlation (242)
Matter-Force correlation 242/Primordial point 242/ABC of Occultism – electricity 242/
Gravitation 244/Scientist bullied into silence 246/Universal Sympathy 246
9-Universal Belief in Magic (247)
Epidemic of Unbelief 247/Astral Cycles 247/Commonality of customs 247Ideas 248/Epicurus Mutton Protoplasm 252
Chapter 8 – (Some Mysteries of Nature) – Spiritual Aspects of Cosmology, Astronomy, and Astrology
1- Modern Scientific Theories in Ancient Texts (p.253)
Creation of the Universe according to the Hermetica 255/ Evolution according to the Hermetica 257/ Substantial Monism 258/ Metaphysics of Light 258
2- Astrology as a Science (259)
Astrology as a science 260 / Prophecy of Nostradamus explained 260 / Chaldeans knew of Saturn three rings and Jupiter’s Four Satellites 261 / Ancient myths explain astronomy 262 / Neoplatonic Demiurgical Trinity – Zeus 263 / Diana Moon Goddess Symbolism 264 / Universal beliefs concerning the Sapphire 264 / Symbolism of Diana and the Moon 266 / Astrology – Fables of the Twelve Houses 268
3- Solar Magnetism (270)
Light in Genesis 270 / No Heat or Gravitation in the Sun 271 / Kabalistic theory of heat and gravitation 272 / Effects of the Moon 273
4- Cosmic Nature of Epidemics (274)
Esoteric Aspects of Epidemics 274
5- Cosmic Aspects of Universal Magnetism (p. 280)
Universal Fluid 280 / Magnetism, gravity, nature of light 282 / Magnetism 282
6- Elementals and Universal Ether (284)
7- Buddhist Cosmology (288)
Chapter 9 (Cyclical Phenomena) –The evolution of the soul , the after-life and Spiritualism
- Cycles and Human Evolution (293)
Coats of skin in Genesis 294 / The mind and evolution 294 / Esoteric evolution 296
- Esoteric interpretation of the Fall of Man and evolution (297)
Esoteric cycles and Egypt 297 / Genesis and evolution 297 / Anthropos primal man 298 /The fall of man 299
3- The Ginza, the Book of Genesis and Human Evolution (303)
Esoteric explanation of the Ginza 300 / Genesis and Giants 303 / Giant bones in Missouri 304 / Giants in Enoch 305 / Prophecy 306 / Swedenborg, Alchemy and Genesis 306 Esoteric and esoteric religion 308 / Man – object of Alchemy 309
4- Elementals and Evolution (307)
Elementals 309
5- The Evolution of the Human Soul (315)
The soul and evolution 315 / Nature, immortality and pre-existence of the soul 316 / loss of soul 318
6- Elementals, Nature of disembodied spirits, and spiritualism (320)
Elementals 319
7- The Soul and the After-Life (327)
8- Psychometry, Theurgy, and Spiritualism (331)
Chapter 10 – (The Inner and Outer Man) The Body/Soul Relationship – Elementals, Spiritualism and Reincarnation
1- Mystery and Science (p. 336)
Science and the Mysteries of Birth and Death 336/Achilles Heel of Science – things that they confess they do not know 337/a series of sermons by F. Felix, of Notre Dame, entitled Mystery and Science. 337/Attraction and Matter 340
2- Metaphysics of the Soul (341)
Creation Myths – Mind and Matter – Hermias 341 / Spirit, matter and ideal abstaction 342 / Elementals 342
3- Reincarnation and Transmigration (345)
Apuleuis on the after-life 345 / Buddhism karma , reincarnation, nidanas, nirvana 347 / Cosmology of the Vedas 347 / Pythagoras and India 348 / Blavatsky describes Tantric cosmological image 348 / The ruins of the ancient city of Aurungabad are not very far from these caves 350 / Reincarnation of astral monad exceptional 351
4- Witchraft, spiritualism, and elementals (353)
Witchcraft 354 / Invocation of the guardian angel 358 / Mediumship 360 / Phenomena of Re-percussion and bi-location 361 / Proclus on post-mortem revivals 366 /
5- Mediumship and Magic (366)
Universality of magic, difference between sorcerer and magician. 366 / Physical and spiritual mediumship 367 / Psychography – art-magic 368 /Spiritual and physical magic 369
6- Epidemics of Spiritual Phenomena (369)
Convulsionnaires of Cevennes 370
