April 2026

Dear Reader,

Welcome back! Tulips are blooming here in our beautiful garden and with them, the Spring weather is lifting our spirits here at the Embassy. In one of the most creatively inventive editions thus far, in this month’s Codex we have some wonderful stories to share with you.

We lead with José's piece, which - as per usual - blew me away. She highlights an incredible Amsterdam publication from the 17th century which was put on the earliest forbidden book list, and a rather scandalous story of the Catholic church exhuming the bones of who they thought was the author, just to burn them!

My (Corey's) piece concerns the culmination of more than a year’s curiosity being finally satisfied in the discovery and acquisition of an incredible chapter of Western esoteric history – in large part thanks to the great and powerful José who I’m happy to follow this month, no spoilers here!

Next, I am thrilled to feature the research of Zico Jackson, a student in the Research Master’s program at the University of Amsterdam’s center for the History of Hermetic Philosophy. Zico has contributed a piece about the ‘Faust Manuscript’, a work which we highlighted before but finally it has received some proper analysis from an expert on the Solomonic tradition – a warm welcome for Zico to the Codex!

Charlotte’s piece takes us back, putting us into the shoes of a 16th century student pursuing mathematics, astronomy, and astrology – one of my favorite pieces she has written and definitely a highlight for this month’s edition. I really appreciated each of the pieces this month, and Sarah and I both sincerely appreciate your continued attention! Enjoy!

-Corey

Merge yourself with the community and know the joy of the soul.
Enter the streets of ruin with those who drink to the dregs.
Empty the glass of your desire so that you are not disgraced.
Close both eyes in your head and find the inner eye.
Open your arms if you want an embrace.
Break the idol of clay and behold the radiance!
Why get tied to a hag like this world, and for such a price?
Come into the circle, sit down beyond the turning of time.
Here is a bargain: give one life and receive a hundred…
Abandon life and the world, and find the life of the world.

- Rumi, The Ruins of the Heart, Helminsky: Threshold Books, (1981): p. 33. Quoted in Gnosis, Journal of the Western Inner Traditions, Vol. 1. 1985, p. 38.

Each issue of the Codex contains a selection of articles written by our contributors, exploring the themes and traditions at the heart of the hermetic world.