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The renowned lawyer and journalist Henry Steel Olcott (1832-1907) published this work in 1885. In this work Olcott carefully lays out his arguments for the basis of theosophy, arguing for the truth of all religions because they share the same ancient roots or 'ur-religion'. As a founding member and the first president of the Theosophical Society, Olcott uses the work to set out the aims and objectives of the Society and attempts to reconcile his spiritual beliefs with science, reason and modernity. The work also includes accounts of his attempted empirical investigations into hypnotism, mesmerism and other spiritualist activities. The final chapters include discussions of India, Buddhism and Zoroastrian religion. The work was deeply influenced by Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891), then Olcott's close friend but later his opponent. It is a key text of the nineteenth-century theosophical movement and is an indispensable source for research into Victorian occult philosophy.

Occultism. --- Art, Black (Magic) --- Arts, Black (Magic) --- Black art (Magic) --- Black arts (Magic) --- Occult, The --- Occult sciences --- Occultism --- Supernatural --- New Age movement --- Parapsychology

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Belief in magic was, until relatively recent times, widespread in Britain; yet the impact of such belief on determinative political events has frequently been overlooked. In his wide-ranging new book, Francis Young explores the role of occult traditions in the history of the island of Great Britain: Merlin's realm. He argues that while the great magus and artificer invented by Geoffrey of Monmouth was a powerful model for a succession of actual royal magical advisers (including Roger Bacon and John Dee), monarchs nevertheless often lived in fear of hostile sorcery while at other times they even attempted magic themselves. Successive governments were simultaneously fascinated by astrology and alchemy, yet also deeply wary of the possibility of treasonous spellcraft. Whether deployed in warfare, rebellion or propaganda, occult traditions were of central importance to British history and, as the author reveals, these dark arts of magic and politics remain entangled to this day.

Occultism --- Art, Black (Magic) --- Arts, Black (Magic) --- Black art (Magic) --- Black arts (Magic) --- Occult, The --- Occult sciences --- Supernatural --- New Age movement --- Parapsychology --- Political aspects --- History.

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This volume brings together thirteen studies by as many experts in the study of one or more ancient or medieval magical traditions, from ancient Mesopotamia and Pharaonic and Greco-Roman Egypt to the Greek world, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It lays special emphasis on the recurrence of similar phenomena in magical texts as far apart as the Akkadian cuneiform tablets and an Arabic manuscript bought in Egypt in the late-twentieth century. Such similarities demonstrate to what extent many different cultures share a “magical logic” which is strikingly identical, and in particular they show the recurrence of certain phenomena when magical practices are transmitted in written form and often preserve, adopt and adapt much older textual units.

Magic --- History --- Magick --- Necromancy --- Sorcery --- Spells --- Occultism --- Art, Black (Magic) --- Arts, Black (Magic) --- Black art (Magic) --- Black arts (Magic) --- Occult, The --- Occult sciences --- Supernatural --- New Age movement --- Parapsychology --- Magic - History - Congresses

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Between 1999 and 2009, the chair for History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents at the University of Amsterdam succeeded in establishing itself as the most important centre for study and teaching in this domain, and strongly contributed to the establishment of Western esotericism as a recognised academic field of research. This volume was published at the occasion of the 10th anniversary. It contains a history of the creation and development of the chair, followed by articles on aspects of Western esotericism by the previous and current staff members, contributions by students and Ph.D. students about the study program, and reflections by international top specialists about the field of research and its academic development.

Hermetism. --- Hermeticism --- Occultism --- Universiteit van Amsterdam. --- GHF --- Occultism. --- Art, Black (Magic) --- Arts, Black (Magic) --- Black art (Magic) --- Black arts (Magic) --- Occult, The --- Occult sciences --- Supernatural --- New Age movement --- Parapsychology --- Esoteric sciences --- Western world

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The Benedictine monk & biblical scholar Antoine Augustin Calmet published this work in 1746; it was translated into English in 1850 by Henry Christmas. It examines a wide selection of supernatural tales & beliefs from across Europe. Taking the stance of a scientific enquirer, Calmet sought to understand the truth behind stories of good & bad angels, vampires, witchcraft, possession by demons, & the dead who come back to life. He compiled accounts of the supernatural from official reports, newspapers, eyewitness accounts & travel writing, & this two-volume anthology of his collected data analyses the material, noting problems & inconsistencies. Volume 1 investigates the appearance of good & bad angels, magic among the Greeks & Romans, sorcerers & witches, & possession by demons. Covering a vast repertory of legends, the work paints a vivid picture of the beliefs entertained in an ostensibly Christian era.

Occultism --- Apparitions --- Magic --- Demonology --- Phantoms --- Specters --- Spirits --- Ghosts --- Visionaries --- Art, Black (Magic) --- Arts, Black (Magic) --- Black art (Magic) --- Black arts (Magic) --- Occult, The --- Occult sciences --- Supernatural --- New Age movement --- Parapsychology