1) Ficino wasn't a Cabalist, he was a student of the Hermetic tradition, which only later got blended with the Cabala. Pico and Johannes Reuchlin were the ones who set the Christian Cabala in motion.
2) Dion Fortune advised against it -- she held that if you start working with one of those saints, they'll inevitably lead you toward their church. The great exceptions are the saints, especially mythological ones, who were recognized before the year 1000 or so. Since the Christian church hadn't broken apart into quarreling sects yet, there's less pull toward any one church.
3) That's one of the sources of power saints have.
4) That doesn't surprise me at all. So many children have put so much emotional energy and belief into the image of Father Christmas that it's surprising he hasn't become more of a folk religious figure than he is already!
no subject
2) Dion Fortune advised against it -- she held that if you start working with one of those saints, they'll inevitably lead you toward their church. The great exceptions are the saints, especially mythological ones, who were recognized before the year 1000 or so. Since the Christian church hadn't broken apart into quarreling sects yet, there's less pull toward any one church.
3) That's one of the sources of power saints have.
4) That doesn't surprise me at all. So many children have put so much emotional energy and belief into the image of Father Christmas that it's surprising he hasn't become more of a folk religious figure than he is already!