August 2026

I’m sorry to write that the mood is a bit heavy at the library as of late. Many of you are likely aware how we recently lost our founder, the namesake of our library, Joost Ritman. Sadly, this month we also unexpectedly lost our chairman Jons Hensel. Jons was the nephew and lifelong business partner of Joost, who commercially supported and led the organizational structure of the library and museum for many years. Needless to say, it is an enormous loss. In honor of both of these colossal figures who helped inspire countless scholars, visitors, and researchers for many decades, Sarah and I would like to dedicate this issue of the Codex to their joint memory.

Turning to our content this month we have three pieces. First, I continue and conclude my piece from last month looking into Some Deeper Aspects of Masonic Symbolism, by Arthur Edward Waite. Then, we are happy to have returning contributor, the great and powerful Kyra Gerber, whose piece concerns Maria the Jewess, an Alexandrian alchemist who lived in the first centuries of the common era. Then, we have the third and final installment of Dr José Leitáo’s article on our ‘Faust grimoire’, which contains an enlightening discussion of its place within the broader grimoire tradition.

That’s all from me, enjoy!!

Warmest regards,
Corey

Reader's Note: Please note that to provide the best reading experience on our website, Dr. José Leitão’s complete three-part series has been compiled and published in full within the June issue archive. Similarly, both parts one and two of Corey Andrews's analysis of A.E. Waite are available together within the July issue archive.

Hermes: It rises from the earth to the sky and descends again to the earth, and receives the power of things above and things below.

- Augustin Anton Pocquieres de Jolyfief, Der Compas der Weißen (The Compass of the Wise), 1779.

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.