Modern Occultism: History, Theory, and Practice

From Cleopatra to Chaos Magic: A Vibrant, Epic n History of Occultism in Thought and Practicen nIn 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. n nn In this lively, full-circle history, Mitch explores: nn nn n- Preservation of hidden wisdom in late-ancient Hermeticism. n- Rebirth of esoterica during the Renaissance, including Kabbalah, ceremonial magick, alchemy, Gnosticism--and the backlash culminating in the Thirty Years' War. n- Rise of the modern secret society, such as Rosicrucians, Freemasons, and Illuminati. n- Migration of religious radicalism to the New World, including how enslaved people devised the magickal system of hoodoo. n- Wave of occultism ignited by John Dee, the Romantics, Franz Anton Mesmer, Eliphas Lévi, and P.B. Randolph. n- The revolution brought by occult explorer Madame H.P. Blavatsky. n- Growth of New Thought and mind metaphysics. n- How fin de siècle scientists devised clinical protocols to study the supernatural. n- Occult influences in politics: a delicate topic weighed maturely. n- Heterodox movements and figures such as The Process Church, TOPY, Michael Aquino, and Anton LaVey. n- 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. n- Surprising occult influences on wide-ranging modern icons such as Frederick Douglass, Sigmund Freud, and Isaac Newton. n- How models of interdimensionality are loosening the hold of materialism on modern thought. n nn nn n nn n n nn nn