Infinite Fire - The Ritman Library

The Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica or J. R. Ritman Library is a private Dutch library founded by Joost Ritman. The Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica brings together manuscripts and printed works in the field of Hermeticism, more specifically the 'Christian-Hermetic' tradition. It is located on the Bloemgracht in the center of Amsterdam.

The Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica was founded in 1984 by Joost Ritman and is not linked to any public organisation or library. The Bibliotheca does co-operate with international libraries and organizations, such as the Russian Rudomino Library for Foreign Literature in Moscow, the Herzog August Bibliothek in Wolfenbüttel, the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana in Florence, and the Biblioteca Marciana in Venice.

To date, the library holds more than 23,000 volumes on Rosicrucianism, alchemy, mysticism and western esotericism, and has great scientific and artistic value. There are ca. 4,500 manuscripts and books printed before 1800, and ca. 17,000 books (primary and secondary sources) printed after 1800.[1] Among the treasures of the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica are the Corpus Hermeticum published in 1471, the first illustrated edition of Dante's La Divina Commedia from 1481, and Cicero's "De officiis" printed in 1465.

* Exhibition - Infinite Fire - A tour by Joost R. Ritman:

A tour by library founder Joost R. Ritman through the Infinite Fire exhibition with which the Ritman Library reopened its doors in December 2011. In the exhibition works are presented of Jacob Boehme, Abraham von Franckenberg, Giordano Bruno, Marsilio Ficino, Comenius, Spinoza and many more. At the end of the tour a bibliography is integrated mentioning all exhibition works.

The tour with Joost R. Ritman has been recorded in order to make the Infinite Fire exhibition available online also after its finissage for everyone, who did not had the chance to visit the library. Secondly it gives an insight in that what is at the heart of the Ritman library, what represents the core of its ungoing development: the infinite fire.

* The Infinite Fire Webinar Series - Introduction Dr. P.J. Forshaw:

Introductory video of the Infinite Fire Webinar Series with dr. P.J. Forshaw - assistant professor at the Center for History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents (GHF) speaking about his background and the Hermetically Open project, a collaboration between de library and the GHF.

With the Infinite Fire Webinar Series, the Ritman Library and the Center for Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents of the University of Amsterdam (GHF) have joined forces and are planting the seed for a Scholarly Hermetic Circle . The series represents an initiative to transform the ideal into the real: opening up the living tradition by relating that which is being preserved in the academy to that which is being preserved in the library. Written sources meet living voices, wisdom meets knowledge, ancient tradition meets contemporary thinking: together they create a new story to share, accessible online for anyone interested.

* Infinite Fire Webinar I - The Alchemy of the Amphitheatrum by Dr. P.J. Forshaw:

The Ritman Library and The Center for the History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents present the Infinite Fire Webinar Series. In this first webinar Dr. P. J. Forshaw shares his knowledge on Heinrich Khunrath or dr. Henricus Khunrath as he was called, who was a physician and Hermetic alchemist.

In the webinar a focus is put on Khunrath's Amphitheatrum Sapientiae Aeternae - The Amphitheatre of Eternal Wisdom (originally published in 1595), which has traditionally been considered to be a strange mix of Christianity and Magic. Peter elaborates on the alchemical symbolism of 4 circular and 5 rectangular engravings integrated in the Amphitheatrum. A famous plate is the Tabula Smaragdina or The Emerald Tablet, to be considered one of the main inspirational works for alchemists, Hermetic philosophers and Rosicrucians.

* Infinite Fire Webinar II - The Emblemata of the Atalanta Fugiens by Dr. Peter J. Forshaw:

The second webinar is online featuring dr. Peter J. Forshaw, who shares with us his knowledge on Michael Maier (1568--1622), a Renaissance alchemist, composer, physician and counsellor to Habsburg Emperor Rudolf II Habsburg. The webinar focusses in particular on Maier's Atalanta Fugiens (1618), a multimedia work containing 50 engraved emblems visualizing the alchemical stages and including corresponding epigrams, discourses and musical symphonies 'fugues', which he composed himself.

Nothing is known about Maier's ideas on how to perform the fugues, though some believe they serve as auditory support during corresponding alchemical work in the laboratory. Since Maier served as counsellor to Rudolph II, it might even be the case that the music was performed at his court. Besides discussing a selection of the emblemata of the Atalanta Fugiens at length, Peter Forshaw also highlights other works by Michael Maier, as well as other related sources.

* Infinite Fire Webinar III - Peter Forshaw on John Dee's Monas Hieroglyphica:

The third webinar is online featuring dr. Peter J. Forshaw, who shares with us his knowledge on the English alchemist and occultist John Dee and his Monas Hieroglyphica.

* The Infinite Fire Webinar Series - Introduction by Wouter J. Hanegraaff:

Wouter J Hanegraaff is Professor at the Center for the History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents at the University of Amsterdam. In the video he introduces how he came to the field of study as discusses his vision for the future of the library and the Hermetically Open Project

* Infinite Fire Webinar IV - Wouter J. Hanegraaff on Platonic Orientalism:

In the fourth Infinite Fire Webinar series, Professor Wouter J Hanegraaff discusses the revival of Ancient Wisdom in the Renaissance with a focus on Plethon and Marsilio Ficino.

* Infinite Fire Webinar V - Prof. Dr. Wouter J. Hanegraaff on The Real Hermetic Tradition:

In Infinite Fire Webinar IV, prof. dr. Wouter Hanegraaff explained that Gemistos Plethon and Marsilio Ficino are strong examples of a "Zoroastrian" interpretation of Platonic Orientalism, while Giovanni Pico della Mirandola is representative of a "Mosaic" interpretation.

In this 5th Webinar he continues the narrative by discussing the "Hermetic" variant, according to which the true wisdom goes back to Hermes Trismegistus in Egypt.

Video List:

* Exhibition - Infinite Fire - A tour by Joost R. Ritman(With English Subtitle)
* Founder Joost R. Ritman about the collection of The Ritman Library
* The Infinite Fire Webinar Series - Introduction Dr. P.J. Forshaw
* Infinite Fire Webinar I - The Alchemy of the Amphitheatrum by Dr. P.J. Forshaw
* Infinite Fire Webinar II - The Emblemata of the Atalanta Fugiens by Dr. Peter J. Forshaw
* Infinite Fire Webinar III - Peter Forshaw on John Dee's Monas Hieroglyphica
* The Infinite Fire Webinar Series - Introduction by Wouter J. Hanegraaff
* Infinite Fire Webinar IV - Wouter J. Hanegraaff on Platonic Orientalism
* Infinite Fire Webinar V - Prof. Dr. Wouter J. Hanegraaff on The Real Hermetic Tradition

More information visit here: http://www.ritmanlibrary.com/

Watch online:

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheRitmanLibrary/videos

Note: all the videos are in english except for "Exhibition - Infinite Fire - A tour by Joost R. Ritman". Use VLC Player to load the subtitle file which is already provided in this upload content.