The Serpent Grail: The Truth Behind the Holy Grail, the Philosopher's Stone and the Elixir of Life by Philip Gardiner - 9781842931295 - Compare Prices on New & Used Textbooks, Cheap Textbooks

The truth has been buried for hundreds of years beneath myth, symbolism, and propaganda—but it finally comes to light in these pages and can no longer be denied. This is the story of an extraordinary journey of discovery that uncovers the existence of a serpent-worshipping cult that thrived throughout the world in ancient times and whose influences have permeated all the major religions. The cult’s central rite involved mixing together snake blood and venom in a ceremonial bowl, forging a powerful healing elixir—and the evidence shows that this ritual holds the key to solving such enigmatic mysteries as the Holy Grail, Elixir of Life, Philosopher’s Stone, and the lost city of Atlantis. It’s nothing less than a radical reinterpretation of world history.

		The Serpent Grail: The Truth Behind the Holy Grail, the Philosopher's Stone and the Elixir of Life by Philip Gardiner, Gary Osborn ISBN-10: 9781842931295 ISBN-10: 1-84293-129-6 ISBN-13: 9781842931295 ISBN-13: 978-1-84293-129-5 Hardcover 2005-12-10 Watkins Find Lowest Price
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Product Description The truth has been buried for hundreds of years beneath myth, symbolism, and propaganda—but it finally comes to light in these pages and can no longer be denied. This is the story of an extraordinary journey of discovery that uncovers the existence of a serpent-worshipping cult that thrived throughout the world in ancient times and whose influences have permeated all the major religions. The cult’s central rite involved mixing together snake blood and venom in a ceremonial bowl, forging a powerful healing elixir—and the evidence shows that this ritual holds the key to solving such enigmatic mysteries as the Holy Grail, Elixir of Life, Philosopher’s Stone, and the lost city of Atlantis. It’s nothing less than a radical reinterpretation of world history.
Reviews

Nice research surrounding a weak thesis Choc-a-bloc with esoteric tidbits. There's something for everyone here. The problem lies within the book's central premise - that the gigantic serpent phenomena is all about snakes. So the cosmic ramifications of serpent symbolism, rites and mythology can be reduced to ancient man's appreciation of the medicinal or healing qualities of snake venom and snakeskin. If one can get past this notion, there really is some excellent research here.
Evaluation of The Serpent Grail by Osborn and Gardiner Throughout recorded history, human males have had trouble using their sexuality to benefit themselves and others. Sexual energy and territorial rights have continually been the basis for most wars and human problems, individually and collectively. This book deals with the societies that have learned special ways to sublimate sexual energy. Little boys always have to learn how, what and when to deal with their penis when sexual energy begins to arise and throughout life this is a problem and has always been a problem with all human males--and consequently females. This book is easy to read with few technical terms and the terms are explained. Well written, plain and simple with explanations of events following in logical order. Both writers are personally interested in the topic from a layman's approach. I suspect that both authors at some point in their research, perhaps before then, and joined some branch of one of the secret societies. The authors do not deal with the dark side of secret societies nor do they hint of this anywhere in the book. The Shining Ones refers to those that have gone through an initiation process in which they have learned how to deal with their sexual energies: how to sublimate these energies for social purposes--usually. If the methods are successful, the initiate then becomes an "enlightened or illuminated one"--a Shining One. The Shining One refers mostly to the initiate's inner feeling of energy and enlightenment--a new way of life that was spoken of by Christ and others. The initiate then feels illuminated with new energy; Shining inside, often referred to as the inner light or illumination. Both writers collaborated also on another book, The Shining Ones, which is about some of the members of these secret societies. This book is about how humans have dealt with their sexual energies: how they have sublimated these energies via special, secret methods. The serpent or snake became a model for the human penis and how special methods allowed these initiates to use their sexual energies to help themselves and others. Both of these books are well written and present the concepts that are the origins of all secret societies: how humans, particularly men, learn to harness their sexual energy for social purposes (usually social).
A journey into the imagination This is a book which aims to appeal to people's prejudices and fantasies. Lack of proof and quantum leaps to dubious conclusions mark its arguments. It is a singularly unscholarly work where the diving line between fact and fiction is difficult if not impossible to discern. As a serious work it has little merit as a work pandering to people's superstitions and assumptions it may succeed.
Adventure did not ask, but no harm done Another of the genre, "truth behind everything". The title alone is enough to draw one in, yes? Why not say it is a "secret" revealed and sell a few more? From the beginning of the "secret" of the grail it was said that unless "adventure" asked, one should not speak, or in the nascent case, write about the grail. However, when you have missed the proverbial boat by as far as this work does, it makes no difference. The truth is so simple-and that is the only way it can survive. Be entertained, but don't be fooled, as the dog clips your heal, from beginning to end, it would seem....
Another Modern Gnostic Classic THE SERPENT GRAIL is akin to the translation of the Bible into the vernacular. In the latter case the Bible in the West had only been copied in Latin, a language the common person could not understand. Its seventeenth century translation fueled the Protestant Revolution. THE SERPENT GRAIL makes the deepest levels of occult lore accessible to people today who possess a sincere desire to delve into their innermost Self & ancestral roots. Together Gardiner and Osborn have created their own unique individual and collective version of THE GREAT WORK. Paganism: An Introduction to Earth- Centered Religions History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1) Knights Templar Encyclopedia: The Essential Guide to the People, Places, Events, and Symbols of the Order of the Temple