Modern Occultism: History, Theory, and Practice

Summary

From Cleopatra to Chaos Magic: A Vibrant, Epic History of Occultism in Thought and Practice In his most sweeping historical work, occult scholar and widely known voice of esoteric ideas Mitch Horowitz presents a lively, intellectually serious historical exploration of modern occultism, from astrology and alchemy to the dawn of Theosophy and modern witchcraft—and the spiritual revolutions that followed. In this lively, full-circle history, Mitch explores:

• Preservation of “hidden wisdom” in late-ancient Hermeticism.
• Rebirth of esoterica during the Renaissance, including Kabbalah, ceremonial magick, alchemy, Gnosticism—and the backlash culminating in the Thirty Years’ War.
• Rise of the modern “secret society,” such as Rosicrucians, Freemasons, and Illuminati.
• Migration of religious radicalism to the New World, including how enslaved people devised the magickal system of hoodoo.
• Wave of occultism ignited by John Dee, the Romantics, Franz Anton Mesmer, Eliphas Lévi, and P.B. Randolph.
• The revolution brought by occult explorer Madame H.P. Blavatsky.
• Growth of New Thought and mind metaphysics.
• How fin de siècle scientists devised clinical protocols to study the supernatural.
• Occult influences in politics: a delicate topic weighed maturely.
• Heterodox movements and figures such as The Process Church, TOPY, Michael Aquino, and Anton LaVey.
• Pioneering voices including Manly P. Hall, Aleister Crowley, Rudolf Steiner, Edgar Cayce, Carl Jung, Gerald Gardner, Jack Parsons, Annie Besant, G.I. Gurdjieff, Alice Bailey, Austin Osman Spare, and Carlos Castaneda.
• Surprising occult influences on wide-ranging modern icons such as Frederick Douglass, Sigmund Freud, and Isaac Newton.
• How models of interdimensionality are loosening the hold of materialism on modern thought.