Modern Occultism: History, Theory, and Practice

Modern Occultism traces the long history of occult thought and practice, beginning with the late-ancient Hermeticists who sought to preserve hidden wisdom. Mitch Horowitz follows the revival of esoteric ideas in the Renaissance, including Kabbalah, ceremonial magic, alchemy and Gnosticism, and the backlash against them.

The book then covers the rise of secret societies such as the Rosicrucians, Freemasons and Illuminati, and the carrying of radical religious ideas to the New World, including hoodoo, a magical system devised by enslaved people. It discusses the influence of figures such as John Dee, Mesmer, Eliphas Levi and Madame Blavatsky, the growth of New Thought, and the clinical study of the supernatural by scientists at the end of the nineteenth century.

Later chapters look at occult influences in politics, at heterodox movements, and at pioneering voices from Aleister Crowley and Rudolf Steiner to Carl Jung and Gerald Gardner. Horowitz also examines the occult interests of figures such as Isaac Newton and Sigmund Freud.

Edition note: published by Gildan Media Corp in 2023, ISBN-13 9781722506261.