Encyclopedia

Jacob

A biblical patriarch whose ladder and struggle with an angel became central motifs in mystical interpretations of the soul's ascent and divine encounter.

102 books · 3349 mentions

Jupiter

The Roman king of gods and the planet associated with tin, expansion, authority, and the 'jovial' temperament in astrological medicine.

81 books · 2056 mentions

Job

The central figure of the biblical Book of Job, often invoked in mystical and theological texts as a model of suffering, patience, and the hidden providence of God.

74 books · 1715 mentions

Julius Caesar

Roman general and statesman whose reform of the calendar (the Julian calendar) made him a significant figure in the history of astronomy and timekeeping within early modern texts.

67 books · 1953 mentions

Joseph

A biblical patriarch and son of Jacob, often interpreted in esoteric traditions as a figure of divine providence and a master of dreams and divination.

66 books · 1521 mentions

Judea

The mountainous southern part of the Land of Israel, historically significant as the center of the Jewish kingdoms and the setting for many biblical events.

60 books · 1367 mentions

Jeremiah

A major Hebrew prophet whose lamentations and prophecies are frequently cited in Christian and Kabbalistic texts to illustrate divine judgment and the restoration of the soul.

56 books · 1178 mentions

John

A major biblical figure, typically referring to John the Apostle or John the Baptist, frequently cited in esoteric texts for their visionary and mystical significance.

56 books · 1061 mentions

Joshua

The biblical successor to Moses who led the Israelites into Canaan, often viewed in esoteric typology as a figure of the conquering spirit or a precursor to Christ.

53 books · 1212 mentions

John the Baptist

A Jewish itinerant preacher and major religious figure in Christianity and Islam, often revered in esoteric traditions as a master of initiation and the 'forerunner.'

53 books · 1191 mentions

Jordan River

A significant river in the Levant, prominent in biblical history for the baptism of Jesus and the crossing of the Israelites, often used as a symbol of spiritual transition and purification.

50 books · 1042 mentions

Jammu

A historic city and region in the northern Indian subcontinent, significant in the context of Kashmiri Shaivism and the transmission of Tantric manuscripts.

47 books · 2160 mentions

Johannes Kepler

A key figure in the 17th-century scientific revolution, best known for his laws of planetary motion and his attempts to find mathematical harmony in the cosmos.

45 books · 1962 mentions

Jesus

The central figure of Christianity, interpreted in esoteric traditions as the Logos or the Divine Man who bridges the human and divine spheres.

43 books · 2132 mentions

Jericho

An ancient city in the Jordan Valley, famously described in the Bible as the first city conquered by the Israelites. In mystical literature, its falling walls often symbolize the triumph of divine power over material obstacles and the destruction of the old self.

38 books · 679 mentions

Juno

The queen of the Roman gods and goddess of marriage, frequently associated with the element of air and the preservation of the state in classical and alchemical literature.

38 books · 655 mentions

Judas

One of the twelve original disciples of Jesus, known for his betrayal, often appearing in theological texts as a figure of spiritual failure.

34 books · 656 mentions

Jupiter

The largest planet in the solar system, associated in astrology with expansion, benevolence, and the metal tin.

30 books · 775 mentions

Jason

The mythological leader of the Argonauts whose quest for the Golden Fleece was often interpreted by alchemists as a veiled description of the Great Work.

30 books · 538 mentions

Justinian I

29 books · 485 mentions

Jonah

A biblical prophet whose narrative involving a great fish was interpreted by esotericists and alchemists as a symbol of spiritual death and rebirth or the process of transmutation. His story appears frequently in Christian mystical literature and Paracelsian works.

23 books · 338 mentions

Justin Martyr

An early Christian apologist and philosopher who sought to reconcile Christian revelation with Greek philosophical concepts, particularly the Logos.

22 books · 499 mentions

John (Apostle)

One of the Twelve Apostles, traditionally credited with the Fourth Gospel and the Book of Revelation, making him a central figure in Christian mysticism and apocalypticism.

22 books · 347 mentions

Johannes Regiomontanus

A German mathematician and astronomer whose work was instrumental in the development of Renaissance trigonometry and the reform of the calendar. His Epitome of the Almagest provided a critical foundation for the Copernican revolution.

20 books · 494 mentions

John Calvin

A French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation, whose system of Christian theology, known as Calvinism, significantly influenced Western religious and political thought.

20 books · 410 mentions

Juvenal

A Roman poet of the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD, known for his 'Satires' which were frequently quoted in early modern literature for their moral critiques of society.

20 books · 370 mentions

John the Evangelist

Traditionally identified as the author of the Fourth Gospel and the Book of Revelation, often revered in mystical traditions as the 'Beloved Disciple.'

20 books · 236 mentions

Jacob Boehme

A German Christian mystic and theologian whose visionary writings on the nature of God and the cosmos profoundly influenced Western esotericism.

19 books · 932 mentions

James

Usually referring to James, son of Zebedee or James, brother of Jesus, both central figures in early Christianity and the New Testament.

19 books · 500 mentions

Japan

An East Asian island nation that appeared in early modern Western texts as a distant land of unique customs, often discussed in Jesuit relations and early global geographies.

19 books · 426 mentions

Jean Bodin

A French jurist and political philosopher known for his theory of sovereignty and his controversial works on demonology and natural philosophy.

19 books · 412 mentions

Justice

One of the four cardinal virtues, representing the moral principle of giving each their due, often personified in emblem books and philosophical treatises.

19 books · 354 mentions

Johannes Trithemius

A German Benedictine abbot and polymath known for his contributions to lexicography, steganography, and his influence on later occultists like Agrippa.

18 books · 845 mentions

Johannes Mesue

18 books · 604 mentions

Julian

The last non-Christian Roman Emperor, known as Julian the Apostate, who sought to restore traditional polytheism and Neoplatonism. His philosophical works were highly influential to Renaissance humanists like Marsilio Ficino.

18 books · 185 mentions

John Dee

An English mathematician, astronomer, and occultist who served as an advisor to Queen Elizabeth I and is famous for his 'Monas Hieroglyphica' and angelic conversations.

17 books · 407 mentions

John of Damascus

A Syrian monk and priest who was a key defender of icons during the Iconoclastic Controversy and a major systematic theologian of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

17 books · 196 mentions

Jehovah

A Latinization of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton, the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, extensively analyzed in Kabbalistic and esoteric Christian traditions.

15 books · 399 mentions

Justification

A central theological concept in Christianity concerning the process by which a sinner is declared righteous before God, a pivotal point of contention during the Reformation.

15 books · 340 mentions

John Chrysostom

An influential Early Church Father and Archbishop of Constantinople known for his eloquent preaching and extensive biblical commentaries.

15 books · 282 mentions

Jove

The Roman king of the gods, frequently used in Renaissance literature and alchemy to represent the planet Jupiter and the metallic principle of tin.

15 books · 179 mentions

Judah

The fourth son of Jacob and Leah and the eponymous ancestor of the Tribe of Judah, frequently discussed in Kabbalistic and biblical commentaries regarding the messianic lineage.

14 books · 273 mentions

J. Dumoulin

A 19th-century French figure associated with architectural and physiognomic sketches and technical drawings.

13 books · 427 mentions

Jacob Böhme

A German Christian mystic and theologian whose visionary writings on the nature of God and the cosmos influenced later Romanticism and German Idealism. His work synthesized alchemical symbolism with profound spiritual insights.

13 books · 267 mentions

Julian the Apostate

The Roman Emperor who attempted to revive traditional polytheism in opposition to Christianity, a figure of great interest to Renaissance Neoplatonists and humanists.

13 books · 192 mentions

Jove (Jupiter)

The Roman deity Jupiter, who in astrological and alchemical contexts governs the sphere of expansion, authority, and the metal tin.

13 books · 185 mentions

Jammu & Kashmir

12 books · 321 mentions

Judas Iscariot

One of the twelve original apostles of Jesus, known for his betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane, often discussed in relation to divine providence and free will.

12 books · 310 mentions

John the Apostle

One of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, traditionally identified as the author of the Fourth Gospel and the Book of Revelation. In esoteric traditions, he is often viewed as a figure of profound mystical insight and hidden wisdom.

12 books · 232 mentions

Janus

The Roman god of beginnings, gates, transitions, and endings, typically depicted with two faces; in esoteric contexts, he represents the duality of time and the threshold between worlds.

12 books · 188 mentions

Japheth

One of the three sons of Noah, traditionally regarded in early modern ethnography as the ancestor of the European and Indo-European peoples.

11 books · 308 mentions

Judith

A biblical heroine who saved her people by beheading the Assyrian general Holofernes, frequently cited as a symbol of virtue and divine intervention.

11 books · 215 mentions

Jena

A German university town famous for its role in the development of German Idealism and as a center for printing and scientific inquiry.

11 books · 191 mentions

James (Apostle)

One of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, traditionally associated with the Epistle of James and often discussed in mystical literature regarding the relationship between faith and works.

11 books · 160 mentions

Judicial Astrology

A branch of astrology concerned with predicting specific future events and the fate of individuals based on celestial configurations. It was a subject of intense debate in the early modern period, often distinguished from 'natural astrology' and criticized by theologians like Pico della Mirandola.

11 books · 141 mentions

Josiah

A king of Judah who instituted major religious reforms based on the discovery of a 'Book of the Law,' often cited as a model of the righteous restorer of true worship.

10 books · 276 mentions

Jezebel

A Phoenician princess and Queen of Israel in the Hebrew Bible, often invoked in early modern theological and demonological texts as a symbol of idolatry and false prophecy.

10 books · 212 mentions

Jakob Böhme

A German Christian mystic and theologian whose visionary writings on the nature of God, evil, and the cosmos profoundly influenced later Romanticism and esotericism.

9 books · 522 mentions