The Occult - A Sourcebook of Esoteric Wisdom

Once exclusively associated with the black arts, today the term "occult" encompasses many esoteric disciplines, including ESP, reincarnation, astrology, and meditation. Some as old as humanity itself, occult movements ebb and flow through history, thriving on the cross-pollination of ideas and practices. Even so-called New Age beliefs are hardly "new," being rooted in ancient wisdom and Eastern mysticism. This elegantly written, lavishly illustrated sourcebook is the perfect introduction for anyone wishing to explore the powerful connections among mind, body, and spirit. Six chapters sort out the most confusing concepts, discussing them within the themes of magic, witchcraft, schools of mystical belief, divination systems, inner experience, and esoteric culture. A fascinating "Who's Who in the Occult" portrays such figures as Andrew Jackson Davis, "the 19th century "Seer of Poughkeepsie;" psychic Jeane Dixon; silverware savant Uri Geller, skeptical magician Harry Houdini; Lafayette Ronald Hubbard of Scientology fame; Satanist Charles Manson; and dozens of others. Clear text, a comprehensive index, and a bibliography keyed to subject matter help unravel mysteries that have engaged our curiosity from the beginning of time itself. 8 1/2" x 11". Color & b&w illus.

 

Nevill Drury PhD is an independent historical researcher whose specialist interests include modern Western magic, shamanism, transpersonal psychology and visionary art. His most recent publications include The Varieties of Magical Experience (co-authored with Lynne Hume; Praeger, January 2013), Dark Spirits: The Magical Art of Rosaleen Norton and Austin Osman Spare (Salamander, 2012); Stealing Fire from Heaven: the Rise of Modern Western Magic (Oxford University Press 2011); Homage to Pan (Creation Oneiros 2009), The Dictionary of Magic (Watkins 2005) and The New Age: the History of a Movement (Thames & Hudson 2004). He received his Ph.D from the University of Newcastle in 2008 for a dissertation on the visionary art and magical beliefs of Rosaleen Norton (awarded 'Best Humanities Ph.D'. in that year).

Born in England in 1947 but resident in Australia since 1963, Nevill has worked as an international art-book publisher, lecturer and magazine editor and is now a full-time writer. He is the author/co-author/editor of seventy books covering a range of subjects like contemporary art (Images in Contemporary Australian Painting, New Sculpture, Australian Painting Now, Fire and Shadow: Spirituality in Contemporary Australian Art), Aboriginal culture (Wisdom from the Earth), holistic health (The Healing Power, Inner Health) and the magical traditions (Dark Spirits; Stealing Fire from Heaven: Sacred Encounters; Homage to Pan, Inner Visions). He is also the author of a work of mythic fiction, The Shaman's Quest, which was described by Publisher's Weekly as a 'poetic' book that 'could become a classic'. His work has been published in 26 countries and 19 languages.