Modern Occultism

An Enthralling History of the People, Ideas, and Practices that Shaped Today’s Occult

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 erudite, vibrant, and full-circle history, Mitch explores:

• The roots of “hidden wisdom” in the late-ancient philosophy of Hermeticism, a marriage of classical Egyptian and Hellenic thought.
• The rebirth of pre-Christian spiritual ideas during the Renaissance, along with variations of Kabbalah, alchemy, gnosticism, and other esoteric traditions—and the backlash culminating in the Thirty Years’ War.
• The rise of the modern “secret society” including the Rosicrucians, Freemasons, Illuminati, and Enlightenmen