Hermetic American Spiritual Classics

Discover the American Hermetic tradition through the visionary works of Alan Hovhaness and Morris Graves—a composer and a painter who each sought transcendence beyond the visible world. Hovhaness’s mystical music, rooted in Eastern modes and cosmic harmony, resonates with Graves’s spiritual imagery of birds, light, and inner silence. Together, they reflect a uniquely American search for the sacred...

Explore the profound vision of Black Elk, the Oglala Lakota holy man whose sacred dreams and teachings resonate deeply with the American Hermetic tradition. His spiritual insight bridged the worlds of earth and sky, community and cosmos, offering a path of harmony and hidden wisdom that continues to inspire seekers today. This is the last in a series of 13 presentations that explores Hermetic Amer...

Dive into the American Hermetic tradition through the haunting worlds of William Faulkner and Andrew Wyeth—two artists who, across words and images, revealed the layered, symbolic depths of rural life, memory, and the unseen forces shaping identity. This presentation explores how Faulkner’s Southern gothic landscapes and Wyeth’s solitary, inward-looking scenes both channel a hidden metaphysical di...

Explore the hidden currents of the American Hermetic tradition through the lives and works of Henry Adams and Winslow Homer—two towering figures who, in very different ways, grappled with nature, mystery, and the unseen forces shaping modern life. From Adams’s Dynamo and the Virgin to Homer’s haunting seascapes, this presentation traces how both men tapped into a spiritual undercurrent beneath Ame...

William James—philosopher, psychologist, and pioneer of American pragmatism. From the stream of consciousness to the varieties of religious experience, James redefined how we understand truth, belief, and the human mind. This is the ninth in a series of 13 presentations that explores Hermetic American history by focusing on a diverse group of hermetic figures spanning architecture, poetry, drama,...

Discover the threads of the Hermetic American tradition woven through the works of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and architects Greene and Greene, two seemingly distant figures united by a shared reverence for symbolism, nature, and the spiritual imagination. Longfellow’s poetic invocations of myth, morality, and the unseen world echo Hermetic ideals of inner transformation and universal wisdom....

How did Walt Whitman transform American poetry—and how did the Civil War reshape his voice and vision? In this lecture, Roger explores Whitman’s groundbreaking work, including Leaves of Grass, and his deep, compassionate reflections on democracy, the body, and national identity. Discover how his experiences as a Civil War nurse influenced his writing and legacy. This is the seventh in a series of...

Have you ever read Melville? What struck you most? What drives a man to chase a white whale across the oceans — and what does that say about the human soul? In this presentation, Roger dives into the life and legacy of Herman Melville, author of Moby-Dick and one of America’s most profound literary voices. Discover how his works, once overlooked, came to define a major chapter in American literatu...

Have you ever read the works of Henry David Thoreau or explored the transcendentalist movement of the 19th century? Ralph Waldo Emerson and Thoreau were two pioneering voices at the heart of this influential spiritual and philosophical movement. In this presentation, Roger examines their writings, their personal lives, and the lasting impact they had on American culture. This is the fifth in a ser...

Have you read any works from James Fenimore Cooper? Or have you seen one of James McNeill Whistler's paintings? These two men, born in early America, captured the "Age of Revolution" spirit in their work and helped shape the landscape of literature and art in the 19th century. This is the fourth in a series of 13 presentations that explores Hermetic American history by focusing on a diverse group...

What was Thomas Jefferson's role as a carrier of the hermetic tradition and hermetic wisdom in early America? The transmission of hermetic wisdom from Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Jefferson is an often overlooked aspect of American history – here it is illuminated. Through an exploration of Jefferson's life, influence, wisdom, and philosophical mind, Roger Weir seeks to provide insights that are co...

This presentation discusses, sayings, endeavors, philosophy, metaphysical backgrounds of Benjamin Franklin and his autobiography. This is the second in a series of 13 presentations that explores American history by focusing on a diverse group of figures spanning architecture, poetry, drama, religion, esoteric philosophy, and speculative fiction. These presentations were delivered by Roger Weir in...

This presentation discusses the original, indigenous American wisdom in mythology: The Wyoming Sun Wheel, the Anasazi, and mounds. This is the first presentation in this series which explores the cultural history of America through a person by person examination spanning from the pre-colonial era and on into the twentieth century. These presentations were delivered by Roger Weir in the spring of 1...