The Philosophical Research Society is proud to preserve and promote Manly P. Hall's mission of creating a space for independent study for all who seek to expand their knowledge and satiate their curiosity.

​In addition to hosting a variety of talks and lectures in our monthly programming, we offer a wide range of online courses, weekly remote workshops, and in-person study groups that are free (donations welcome!) and open to the public. Scroll down for our full list of offerings!

Current & Upcoming Online Courses

We're thrilled to regularly offer new online classes via Zoom to expand access to our content!

Splendor Solis
​& The Making of the Philosopher’s Stone in 22 Enigmatic Images​

​4-PART ZOOM CLASS SERIES: 
Sundays, November 2nd, 9th, 16th, & 23rd


Splendor Solis, 1530-35, attributed to Salomon Trismosin, is the most magnificent alchemical illuminated manuscript that depicts the Great Work, i.e., the making of the Philosopher’s Stone in 22 enigmatic images.

Over four evenings, we will open and unpack each of the seven treatises and the 22 images and do an initial review and interpretation of both the text and the individual image and how they relate to each other as they elucidate an actual 16th-century alchemical practice. We’ll also consider the larger structure of the work, that is, how the images are shaped and grouped as a whole.

Early Bird Class Price:
$25 individual class / $100 for all 4

Recordings of the classes will be sent a few days after the event date and will be available for 2 weeks.
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​INSTRUCTOR: BRIAN COTNOIR

The Experiment of Being: Esalen and the Human Potential Movement​

​4-PART ZOOM CLASS SERIES:
Mondays, November 3rd, 10th, 17th, & 24th


Esalen became known as a place where the boundaries of self and society could be questioned and reimagined. This part lecture/part interactive participatory course traces that arc, from the wild seeds of the 1960s, through the new age and feminist awakenings of the 1970s, to the international bridge-building and embodied creativity of the 80s and 90s, and into the contemporary era of trauma work, ecology, and intergenerational healing.

During these 4 courses, participants (seekers) will take part in the practices that defined them, from Gestalt awareness circles to guided breathwork. The Experiment of Being offers a window into cultural history and a living taste of the methods that continue to shape how we imagine human growth, belonging, and possibility.

Early Bird Class Price: $100 for all 4 Classes
Regular Price: $35 individual class / $125 for all 4
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​INSTRUCTOR: SAM STERN

These Are Strange Teachings: The Magic of Mary Magdalene

​2-PART ZOOM CLASS SERIES:
Saturday, December 6th & Saturday, December 13th


This two-part lecture explores the evolving images of Mary Magdalene—from the “hairy Marys” of the medieval imagination, to her fierce autonomy in H.D. 's The Flowering of the Rod, and her portrayal as wife and mother in The Da Vinci Code.

In the second session, we’ll closely read sections of the Gospel of Mary, where she shares a vision of the world not as fallen or broken, but as inherently good and worthy. In getting close to our images of Mary Magdalene, in taking her words into our heart, we can get closer to the ethics and emotions that color our own love if this world.

Ticket Price: $45 (2-Class Package)

​INSTRUCTOR: ELIZA SWANN

PRS On-Demand Courses

​Independently learn at your own pace, on your schedule, and with a guided structure that can be accessed and revisited as you please. Register anytime!

The Basics of Esoteric Philosophy as Told Through
'The Initiates of the Flame'
​

In this on-demand course (register and go at your own pace), participants will go line-by-line through Manly Hall's first book, The Initiates of the Flame, to gain a clear understanding of the work's psychological, mythological, and spiritual ideas.

By the end, participants will not only understand the book better, but they will also be well-versed in the core theses of the world's prominent philosophies, secret societies, and religions. The goal of this class is literacy in wisdom traditions, stories, and symbols—which will make future exploration into esoteric ideas easier—and a greater appreciation for the book.

This class is great for newcomes and lifelong fans alike.

ON SALE! 15% OFF WITH CODE INITIATES15

INSTRUCTOR: STEPHEN REEDY

Jung, Myth, and the Archetypal Imagination

This 5-module course explores the myths that have guided, shaped, and reflected the human experience from antiquity to today.

​Drawing from The Odyssey and other myths to reflect on personal and collective journeys, it invites the participant to consider myth as hero and a civilizing force that liberates us from our inner confusion and its outward manifestations. Based in the mythologically-informed Jungian and archetypal depth psychology, it introduces CG Jung, the man of science and visionary, and key concepts such as archetypes, the shadow, individuation, and the anima mundi, the soul of the world.

​INSTRUCTOR: SANDRA DEL CASTILLO

The Basic Keys to 'The Secret Teachings of All Ages'

​In this on-demand course (register and get ongoing access the materials on your own schedule), participants will have access to 14 original video lectures and a wealth of curated supplemental materials that will help them gain a deeper understanding of and appreciation for Manly Hall's masterpiece as well as other dense symbol-laden images and esoteric paradigms they explore in the future.

As beloved as The Secret Teachings of All Ages has been for almost 100 years, some of its most profound wisdom and teachings have gone untapped, as it was written for audiences who already had important contextual information about the symbols, myths, and metaphors permeating the text. In the present day, this context is not so commonly known and therefore a lot of the meaning is lost on contemporary readers. To remedy this, we are offering an online course to unpack several core ideas, the understanding of which will help readers' experiences with the book blossom and deepen.

Even if you do not own or intend to read the book, this course will elucidate the depth and meaning of comparative philosophy, religion, myth, science, and secret societies.

INSTRUCTOR: STEPHEN REEDY

The Seeker's Guide Series: 'The Secret Teachings of All Ages'
​& 'The Initiates of the Flame' with Mitch Horowitz

This video series includes two sets of lectures on Manly Hall's greatest works. The first is a brilliant 12-part lecture series on Manly P Hall's magnum opus 'The Secret Teachings of All Ages.' The second is a 4-part series on 'The Initiates of the Flame,' the book that inaugurated Manly P. Hall’s emergence at age 21 as the twentieth century’s premiere scholar of the esoteric and occult.
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For both first-time readers and longtime enthusiasts, this series filmed inside Manly P. Hall's library provides new inroads into these landmark compendiums of esoteric and symbolic philosophy. The videos introduce, survey, and expand upon the core subjects of the first book and the 'Great Book.'
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​INSTRUCTOR: MITCH HOROWITZ

Air and Wind:
​Perspectives from Alchemy, Chinese Medicine, and Phenomenology

In this on-demand course (register and get ongoing access the materials on your own schedule), participants explore one of the most fundamental elements through two ancient traditions and one more recent philosophical movement.

Discover how ancient alchemy viewed air and wind on a metaphorical and symbolic level, producing rich images and intriguing chemical operations. Delve into the ways that Chinese medicine works with wind on a practical-empirical level, informing theories of medicine, diagnosis, and treatment with acupuncture and herbs. Finally, examine how humans have dealt with air and wind as an object of direct experience, using phenomenological evidence which reveals our varied experiences of air and wind.

INSTRUCTOR: BRIAN FALK PHD

Ordinary Ritual: Making Meaning in Everyday Life

For many cultures in the world, ritual is part of everyday life. Time is taken for even the most mundane experiences in order to acknowledge and incorporate them into our lives. There is communication with the elements, with ancestors and with the phenomenal world around us. The communities that do this have done so since the beginning of humanity. This act of ritual helps us make meaning of everyday experiences, helps us to let go of things we are holding onto and helps us live in our world in a different way.

Through exploring the role of ritual in various cultures & wisdom traditions, this class aims to help participants make meaning out of everyday experiences and live a more interconnected & inspired way.

The aspiration of this course is to encourage a deeper exploration into the role of ritual and sacred view for each of us, as well as provide some tools on how to do that. 

INSTRUCTOR: CARLYLE COASH

The Psychology of Scent

For thousands of years scent has helped us to understand and navigate our environment, attract or avoid others, learn and remember, and make meaning. On a fundamental level, our sense of smell is one way the human psyche experiences itself and the world around us.

Exploring the connections between scent, emotions, memories, social relationships, & our ability to navigate our environment, participants will find that in a profound sense, aromas are part of who we are.

​The sense of smell helps the human psyche experience itself and the world around it. This course focuses on six facets of the psychology of scent: Sensation & Perception; Emotions; Memory; Imagination; Meaning; and Social/Cultural Scents.​

INSTRUCTOR: BRIAN FALK PHD

The Esoteric Symbolism of the Movie GRAVITY: Suffering, Purpose and the Formula for Transformation

This course uses the film 'Gravity' as a way to explore profound ideas about trauma and aimless drifting through life. We will also use the movie’s metaphors to help illuminate a handful of ancient symbols—as well as a few modern ones.

Regardless of prior interest in the film, using three landmark texts of philosophical, psychological, & spiritual thought, this class further illuminates themes of Gravity, such as purpose, duty, distraction, & free will. ​

INSTRUCTOR: STEPHEN REEDY

Astrology of the Psyche

Astrology of the Psyche Part 1: Planetary Intensive

This is the first in a series of courses that will cover the basic astrological building blocks. All levels of astrology students are welcome—even intermediate students can benefit from demonstrations of how concepts are applied in practice. 

Thea blends psychological astrology with karmic astrology in her practice, and understands the natal chart as one’s “cosmic homework assignment.” 
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​INSTRUCTOR: THEA WIRSCHING

Astrology of the Psyche

Astrology of the Psyche Part 2: Elements, Modalities, and Signs

This is the second in a series of courses that introduce participants to the astrology of the psyche. This 4-module course focuses on the bedrock of astrological interpretation: the Zodiac, the wheel of twelve signs which function as 'adjectives' in the grammar of astrology. 

​Go deep with Thea in this upcoming class, and understand each sign according to its element and modality. Each of the twelve signs is a unique combination of one of the four elements and one of the three modalities (cardinal, fixed, and mutable), and this technical language will assist you in making distinctions between the signs.
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​INSTRUCTOR: THEA WIRSCHING

Astrology of the Psyche

Astrology of the Psyche Part 3: Houses Intensive

This course focuses on the astrological houses, the "where" of planetary action. Houses are the most controversial topic in astrology, so we will cover the philosophy behind ancient house systems to arrive at a holistic view. 

​Participants will learn about the polarity of the natural wheel, or how each house is best understood in relation to its opposite. Each class will cover an opposing pair of houses, such as the 1st and 7th, the 2nd and 8th, etc. 
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​INSTRUCTOR: THEA WIRSCHING

The Basics of Esoteric Symbolism

This course helps students gain literacy in the stories, diagrams, and images of the world's various belief systems. These basic tools will help you navigate the world of esoteric myths, symbols, and art with ease. 

This 4-module course helps students gain literacy in the stories, diagrams, and images of the world’s various belief systems. The course provides basic tools of symbolic interpretation to help navigate the world of esoteric art and myths with ease.
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​INSTRUCTOR: STEPHEN REEDY

The Psychology of the Five Elements

The Five Elements is an ancient Chinese cosmology that understands all aspects of life by looking at phenomena through five primary forces or processes. We will see how these forces affect our psychology. 

​This course will investigate how the Elements inform our psychological life through inquiry into our emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and dreams. Both theoretical and practical, this course offers a comprehensive, complex, yet manageable schema for understanding yourself and others.
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INSTRUCTOR: BRIAN FALK

Walking the Dragon: Norse Myth, Folklore, Runes, and Magic

Explore the interior shores of the Norse imagination and its relationship to the runic symbols. The runes will be examined, not as linguistic letters of an extinct language, but as symbols which are alive to different forces and principles in the Universe and in our psyche, similar to the notion of primordial images such as archetypes. 

We will explore the myths and rune symbols which are said to originate from within the Tree of Life, named Yggdrasil.
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​INSTRUCTOR: ANDREAS KORNEVALL

Weekly Online Workshops

Sign up at your convenience and find virtual community in our regular online offerings!

Tools for Being Human: Buddhist Practices
Every Monday, 7:30PM PST, ZOOM

Bring more kindness and joy to yourself and the world with this donation-based weekly workshop. Focus on practical and everyday applications so they can apply directly to when you need them most.

INSTRUCTOR: CARLYLE COASH

​Peace Class with Mandy Kahn
Every Wednesday, 6PM PST, ZOOM

Each hour-long class includes a collective peace meditation, teachings about pioneer peace builders, and the opportunity to share one's personal peace-building discoveries with the group.  

INSTRUCTOR: MANDY KAHN

In Person Study Groups & Classes

Connect with a community of like-minded seekers on our campus with these weekly and monthly meet-ups!

​Questions? Email [email protected] ​