Iamblichus A great Theosophist and an Initiate of the third century. He wrote a great deal about the various kinds of demons who appear through evocation, but spoke severely against such phenomena. His austerities, purity of life, and earnestness were great. He is credited with having been levitated ten cubits high from the ground, as are some modern Yogis, and mediums.

Illusion In Occultism everything finite (such as the Universe and all in it) is called Illusion or Maya.

Individuality One of the names given in Theosophy and Occultism to the human Higher Ego. We make a distinction between the immortal and divine and the mortal human Ego which perishes. The latter or "Personality" (personal Ego) survives the dead body but for a time in Kamaloka: the Individuality prevails forever.

Initiate From the Latin Initiatus. The designation of anyone who was received into and had revealed to him the mysteries and secrets of either Masonry or Occultism. In times of antiquity they were those who had been initiated into the arcane knowledge taught by the Hierophants of the Mysteries; and in our modern days those who have been initiated by the adepts of mystic lore into the mysterious knowledge, which, notwithstanding the lapse of ages, has yet a few real votaries on earth.

Isvara (Sans.) The "Lord" or the personal god, divine spirit in man. Literally Sovereign (independent) existence. A title given to Siva and other gods in India. Siva is also called Isvaradeva, or sovereign deva.

Iu-Kabar Zivo Gnostic term. The "Lord of the Aeons" in the Nazarene system. He is the procreator (Emanator) of the seven holy lives (the seven primal Dhyani-Chohans or Archangels, each representing one of the cardinal virtues), and is himself called the third life (third Logos). In the Codex he is addressed as the Helm and Vine of the food of life. Thus he is identical with Christ (Christos) who says: "I am the true vine and my Father is the husbandman." It is well known that Christ is regarded in the Roman Catholic Church as the "Chief of the Aeons," as also is Michael, "who is as God." Such also was the belief of the Gnostics.

Javidan Khirad (Pers.) A work on moral precepts.

Jñana (Sans.) Knowledge: Occult Wisdom.

Josephus Flavius A historian of the first century; a Hellenized Jew who lived in Alexandria and died at Rome. He was credited by Eusebius with having written the 16 famous lines relating to Christ, which were most probably interpolated by Eusebius himself, the greatest forger among the Church Fathers. This passage, in which Josephus, who was an ardent Jew and died in Judaism, is nevertheless made to acknowledge the Messiahship and divine origin of Jesus, is now declared spurious both by most of the Christian Bishops (Lardner among others) and even by Paley (See his Evidence of Christianity). It was for centuries one of the weightiest proofs of the real existence of Jesus, the Christ.