Knowledge of the occult is knowledge of the immeasurable, the paranormal, the spiritual, and the arcane. Its origins are shrouded in mystery. History of the Occult delves deep into the past to investigate the hidden history of all things cryptic, mystic and other-worldly. Read about the lives of famous and controversial occultists, including possible prophet Nostradamus, and Aleister Crowley, denounced in the popular press as “the wickedest man in the world”. Uncover spellbinding secrets about how astrology was used to find the best date for a coronation, how alchemists believed they could turn lead into gold, why seances became so popular, or how tarot cards could divine a person’s future. Explore the mythic origins of the occult’s most influential practitioner, Hermes Trismegistus, and how his spells and teachings have spread worldwide, along with the runes, rituals and star signs behind the rise and fall of Hitler’s Third Reich. Packed with incredible illustrations and insights, this is the perfect guide for believers and sceptics alike.
Welcome to HISTORY of the OCCULT
Thoth, magic, and Hermes Trismegistus • A mythical figure. An ancient prophet. The figure of Hermes Trismegistus is shrouded in mystery, but where did the founder of Hermeticism really come from?
Gods of writing and magic
The mysterious Book of Thoth
Meet the gods of Egypt • Almost 1,500 deities are known by name and many of them combine with each other and share characteristics. Here are some of the most important
Crowley’s Thoth tarot deck
Haruspicy • People see signs in everything, including animal entrails. The ancient Romans searched through the bodies of sacrificed animals to see what the future held…
Renaissance magic • The passion for knowledge and how to use it led thinkers deep into a mysterious world where the boundaries between nature, supernature and religion were far from clear
England’s most famous magus
The School of Night
Kabbalah • Drawing upon Judaism, Kabbalah is a mystical tradition that centers on receiving knowledge of God and guidance for everyday living
Syncretism
Nostradamus • One of the most infamous oracles of all time, was Nostradamus a divine prophet or a fraud?
Enlightenment and occultism • Enlightenment was not the triumph of rationality over religion and superstition
Elias Ashmole
Horoscopes
Palmistry • You can tell a lot from a person’s face, and even more from their hands if you just so happen to be a skilled chirologist…
The ghoul next door • Revered and feared in villages across Europe, cunning folk and their magic were part of everyday life until a new move against witches led many to their deaths
Why witches were usually women
Home of a cunning woman • The tools of the trade for a folk healer England, 17th century
The witch’s spellbook • Witches have recorded their spells and incantations and referred to them throughout history as ancient texts survive to influence modern practices
Djinn • Djinn are so much more than wish-granting, lamp-inhabiting genies, especially as far as Arabian and Islamic mythology is concerned
Rosicrucianism • When ancient manifestos telling of a secret brotherhood emerged after being ‘hidden’ for decades, a new spiritual movement began
The symbol of the Rose Cross
Origins of Louisiana voodoo • Louisiana voodoo is an offshoot from Haitian vodou, the older West African vodun, and is distinguished by its own set of specific innovations and rituals
Baron Samedi
Congo Square and voodoo
Voodoo’s musical influence
Marie Laveau The voodoo queen • New Orleans’ most famous daughter reigned over the city for decades, with both rich and poor seeking her mystic...
