Encyclopedia

Naples

A major Italian city and center of Renaissance learning, home to influential figures like Giambattista della Porta and a hub for the study of natural magic and Neapolitan Platonism.

78 books · 1946 mentions

Nuremberg

A prominent German imperial city that served as a major center for Renaissance humanism, printing, and the development of scientific instruments and astronomical observation.

64 books · 1293 mentions

North

One of the four cardinal directions, often associated in esoteric symbolism with darkness, the element of earth, or the 'midnight sun' of initiation. In early modern science, it was the primary point of orientation defined by the lodestone and the Pole Star.

64 books · 934 mentions

New York

A major North American city that became a significant center for the publication and preservation of esoteric and mystical texts during the 19th and 20th centuries.

64 books · 870 mentions

Nero

The fifth Roman emperor, often depicted in esoteric and historical texts as a figure of tyranny or associated with the Antichrist in apocalyptic literature.

54 books · 1054 mentions

Natural Magic

A branch of magic that seeks to utilize the hidden, innate powers of the natural world and celestial influences without recourse to demonic intervention.

52 books · 889 mentions

Nicolaus Copernicus

The Renaissance astronomer who proposed the heliocentric system, placing the Sun at the center of the universe and initiating a paradigm shift in science.

45 books · 2587 mentions

Nebuchadnezzar

A powerful king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire whose dreams and interactions with the prophet Daniel are frequently analyzed in esoteric texts for their prophetic significance.

44 books · 861 mentions

Necromancy

A form of divination involving communication with the dead, often condemned in theological texts but explored in grimoires and natural philosophy as a branch of black magic.

41 books · 861 mentions

Natural Philosophy

The philosophical study of nature and the physical universe that was the precursor to modern science, encompassing physics and cosmology.

39 books · 554 mentions

Narada

A divine sage in Hindu mythology and a central figure in various Puranas and Upanishads, often depicted as a traveling musician and storyteller who imparts wisdom. In Western esoteric contexts, he represents the transmission of ancient Vedic knowledge.

34 books · 756 mentions

Netherlands

A region in Northwestern Europe that became a major center for scientific inquiry, printing, and religious tolerance during the 17th century. It was a hub for the publication of emblem books and the development of modern natural philosophy.

33 books · 535 mentions

Neptune

The Roman god of the sea and water, frequently used in alchemical and emblematic literature to symbolize the element of water or the 'philosophical sea'.

31 books · 559 mentions

New Jerusalem

A symbolic or eschatological city described in the Book of Revelation, frequently interpreted in mystical and alchemical traditions as a state of spiritual perfection or the final restoration of the world.

26 books · 637 mentions

Nineveh

An ancient Assyrian city on the eastern bank of the Tigris, often used in biblical and historical texts as a symbol of imperial power and divine judgment.

26 books · 456 mentions

Nakshatras (Lunar Mansions)

A system of 27 or 28 lunar mansions in Indian astrology used to track the Moon's passage and determine auspicious timings for rituals and events.

25 books · 493 mentions

Nakshatra (Lunar Mansion)

One of the 27 or 28 sectors along the ecliptic in Hindu astrology, used to track the moon's path and determine auspicious timing.

24 books · 485 mentions

Natural History

The systematic study of the natural world, encompassing biology, geology, and mineralogy, often viewed in the early modern period as a means to uncover the divine order of creation.

23 books · 336 mentions

Nicodemus

A Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin mentioned in the Gospel of John who visited Jesus by night to discuss spiritual rebirth. He became a symbol of the 'hidden' or inward seeker in later Christian mystical and Pietist traditions.

22 books · 392 mentions

Nimrod

A biblical figure described as a mighty hunter and king of Shinar, traditionally associated with the construction of the Tower of Babel and the origin of languages in Hermetic and Masonic lore.

21 books · 437 mentions

Natural Law

A system of right or justice held to be common to all humans and derived from nature or divine reason rather than from the rules of society.

21 books · 269 mentions

Narcissus

A figure from Greek mythology known for his beauty and self-absorption, often used in Renaissance literature and alchemy as a symbol of the soul's entrapment in material reflection.

20 books · 288 mentions

Navamsha

A fundamental concept in Hindu astrology representing the ninth division of a zodiac sign, used to determine the hidden strength and fruitfulness of planets.

19 books · 529 mentions

Numenius the Pythagorean

19 books · 262 mentions

Nazareth

A town in Galilee identified in the New Testament as the childhood home of Jesus, holding central importance in Christian pilgrimage and sacred geography.

18 books · 453 mentions

Northwest

A cardinal direction known in Sanskrit as Vayavya, associated with the wind god Vayu and holding specific significance in Vastu Shastra and horary astrology.

18 books · 270 mentions

North Pole

The northernmost point on Earth. In esoteric geography and natural philosophy, it was often associated with magnetic phenomena and the spiritual axis of the world (axis mundi).

18 books · 247 mentions

Natural Heat

A vitalistic concept in pre-modern medicine and natural philosophy, referring to the innate warmth of a living organism that drives digestion, growth, and life itself. It was often contrasted with elemental heat and linked to the spiritus or pneuma.

16 books · 322 mentions

Norway

A Nordic country in Northern Europe, often cited in early modern geographical and occult texts as a land of extreme natural phenomena and ancient lore.

16 books · 255 mentions

Nicomachus

A Neo-Pythagorean mathematician whose 'Introduction to Arithmetic' became the standard textbook on number theory, emphasizing the mystical significance of numbers.

15 books · 225 mentions

Northeast

In the context of Vastu Shastra and Indian astrology, this direction is known as Ishanya and is considered the most auspicious quarter, associated with spiritual energy.

15 books · 204 mentions

Northern Hemisphere

The half of the Earth north of the Equator. In early modern cosmography, its mapping and the observation of its celestial constellations were essential for navigation and the development of the heliocentric model.

14 books · 377 mentions

Nakshatra (Lunar Mansions)

A system of 27 or 28 sectors along the ecliptic used in Indian astronomy and astrology to track the Moon's path. They represent a distinct lunar-based zodiacal system central to Vedic timekeeping and divination.

14 books · 240 mentions

Necessity

A fundamental philosophical and cosmological principle, often personified as Ananke, representing the immutable laws of the universe and the deterministic constraints on the material world.

13 books · 175 mentions

Nicolas Flamel

A French scribe and manuscript seller who posthumously gained a reputation as an alchemist believed to have discovered the Philosopher's Stone.

12 books · 253 mentions

New Birth

A central concept in Christian mysticism and theosophy, particularly in the works of Jacob Boehme, referring to the spiritual regeneration and transformation of the soul.

12 books · 190 mentions

Numa Pompilius

The legendary second king of Rome, often cited in esoteric literature as a wise lawgiver and a figure initiated into sacred mysteries and natural magic.

12 books · 161 mentions

Nola

An Italian city in Campania, notable as the birthplace of Giordano Bruno, who frequently identified himself as 'The Nolan'.

10 books · 245 mentions

Non-being

A metaphysical concept referring to the absence of existence or the ontological status of that which is not. In Neoplatonism and negative theology, it often describes the absolute transcendence of the Divine beyond all categories of being.

10 books · 143 mentions

Numidia

An ancient Berber kingdom in North Africa, later a Roman province, frequently mentioned in classical and Renaissance texts as a source of historical figures and exotic lore.

10 books · 127 mentions

Northern regions

Geographically referring to the lands of the North, often associated in early modern cosmology with the Hyperboreans or specific astrological influences of the pole.

10 books · 121 mentions

Niobe

A figure from Greek mythology who boasted of her children to Leto, leading to their slaughter by Apollo and Artemis and her own transformation into a weeping stone. She is frequently used in Renaissance literature as an archetype of excessive pride and inconsolable grief.

10 books · 102 mentions

Natural Theology

A branch of theology that seeks to provide arguments for the existence and attributes of God based on reason and the observation of nature. It gained prominence during the Enlightenment as a way to reconcile science with religious belief.

9 books · 208 mentions

Navarre

9 books · 160 mentions

Neoplatonism

A philosophical system originating in the 3rd century CE that synthesized Platonic thought with Aristotelian and Stoic elements, emphasizing a hierarchical cosmos. It profoundly influenced Western mysticism, Christian theology, and Renaissance Hermeticism.

9 books · 138 mentions

Nigredo (Blackness)

9 books · 114 mentions

Nilakantha

A prominent Indian astronomer and mathematician of the Kerala school, known for his significant contributions to planetary models.

8 books · 678 mentions

Natural Reason

The human capacity for logical thought and understanding of the world independent of divine revelation or supernatural assistance. In early modern philosophy, it was often contrasted with faith and explored as the 'lumen naturale' or natural light of the mind.

8 books · 183 mentions

Natural Light

8 books · 173 mentions

Narayana

A major deity in Hinduism, often identified with Vishnu or the Supreme Being who pervades the universe. In the context of early modern Indian texts, he is frequently invoked in the opening of astrological and philosophical works.

8 books · 153 mentions

Nanjing

A prominent Chinese city and former capital that served as a key point of contact for Jesuit missionaries transmitting Chinese knowledge to Europe.

8 books · 140 mentions

Nebulous stars

8 books · 129 mentions

Nestor

The legendary King of Pylos in Greek mythology, renowned for his great age and wisdom; in Renaissance humanism, he served as a symbol of prudent counsel and longevity.

8 books · 125 mentions

Nakshatras

The 27 or 28 lunar mansions or sectors along the ecliptic in Hindu astrology, used to track the Moon's movement and determine auspicious timings.

8 books · 103 mentions

Nicaea

An ancient city in Bithynia, famous as the site of the first and second Ecumenical Councils which established key Christian doctrines. It is frequently referenced in theological and historical texts regarding the development of the Nicene Creed.

8 books · 100 mentions

Nadab

7 books · 171 mentions

New World

7 books · 171 mentions

Nehemiah

A central figure in the Hebrew Bible credited with rebuilding Jerusalem's walls, often discussed in esoteric contexts regarding the restoration of the Temple.

7 books · 166 mentions