Modern Occultism

Modern Occultism

By Mitch Horowitz
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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.