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Bibliography--Esoteric history

This is a bibliography of books and articles covering issues relevant to an esoteric interpretation of history

Andrews, Richard & Schellenberger, Paul
The Tomb of God: The Body of Jesus and the Solution to a 2,000-year-old Mystery
(New York: Little, Brown, 1996)

Original interpretation of the sacred geometry found in the (faked) parchments found at Rennes-le-Château and in the features of the surrounding landscape.

Baigent, Michael, et.al. 
Holy Blood, Holy Grail
(New York: Dell Publ.Co., 1982)

Original but flawed work of investigative journalism finding a surprising common thread between the Holy Grail, Knights Templar and Jesus. Later it became clear that the three British writers Baigent, Lincoln and Leigh were coached and hoaxed by the three French writers Plantard, de Chérisey and de Sede and probably knew so.

Baigent, Michael, et.al.
The Messianic Legacy
  (New York: Dell.Publ.Co., 1986)

Sequel to Holy Blood, Holy Grail, exploring the political side of Jesus and his followers, and more about the secretive Priory of Sion.

Baigent, Michael & Leigh, Richard
The Temple and the Lodge
  (London: Corgi Books, 1990 [1989])

Charting the birth of Freemasonry through the surviving Templar tradition in Scotland. `A worthy conclusion to their investigations into secret societies.'

Baigent, Michael & Leigh, Richard
The Elixir and the Stone: The Tradition of Magic and Alchemy (London: Viking, 1997)

Informative journalistic study of the influence of Hermeticism throughout the intellectual history of the west.

Bevir, Mark
"Theosophy as a Political Movement", in A. Copley, Gurus and their Followers: New Religious Reform Movements in Colonial India (Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2000).

Illuminating article on the role Theosophy played as a Neo-Hindu reform movement and its influence on Indian nationalist ideology and politics.

Blavatsky, H.P.
Isis Unveiled
  (Los Angeles: The Theosophy Company, 1982. Original edition published in 1877)

Many teachings about Jesus, Krishna, Buddha and other World Teachers (see its index). Valuable source for HPB’s thoughts on the Templars, Jesuits and Masons.

Blavatsky, H.P.
The Esoteric Writings of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
(Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980. Originally published in 1897 as the third volume to The Secret Doctrine)

Veritable goldmine of Theosophical interpretations of the history of religion and occult thought. (See article by D.H. Caldwell on the controversial status of this volume.)

Blavatsky, H.P.
The Key to Theosophy
(Pasadena, CA: Theosophical University Press, 1995 [1889])

Theosophy made accessible with questions and answers. Last chapter (304-307) on the future of the TS contains her teaching on "centennial efforts" (306) and the announcing of a coming “Torch bearer of Truth.” (307)

Burgess, Bruce and René Barnett
Bloodline (Los Angeles: Bluebook Films, 2008)

A film adding some more fabricated twists and turns to the Priory of Sion / Rennes-le-Chateau / Jesus' bloodline issue. (Review)

Campbell, Bruce F. 
Ancient Wisdom Revived: A History of the Theosophical Movement
 (Los Angeles:Univ. of California Press, 1980)

Subtitle says all.

Charpentier, Louis
The Mysteries of Chartres Cathedral
   (New York: Avon Books, 1975 [1966], Trslt. from French)

Are the cathedrals, pyramids and Stonehenge build according to ancient occult concepts of measurement and numbers? And what was the role of the Templars and Cistercians in the building of the cathedrals?

Cooper-Oakley, Isabel
The Count of Saint-Germain
(New York: Steiner Publications, 1970 [1912])

Biography of one of the most mysterious persons of the Age of Enlightenment. Mystic, philosopher, scientist, diplomat, Adept and a prime mover behind the scenes of 18th century esoteric societies.

Cooper-Oakley, Isabel 
Masonry & Medieval Mysticism: Traces of a Hidden Tradition
(London: Theosophical Publishing House, 1977 [1900])

Documented evidence linking occult schools and brotherhoods throughout the Middle Ages and later, like the Alchemists, Rosicrucians, Knights Templars, Troubadours. Special chapter on the Holy Grail.

Cranston, Sylvia
The Extraordinary Life & Influence of Helena Blavatsky: Founder of the Modern Theosophical Movement
   (New York: Putnam's Sons, 1994)

'Unlike sensationalistic biographies of Blavatsky, this book avoids unwarranted speculation by basing itself solidly on the documented facts of the life of this remarkable woman.'

Dobbs, B.J.T.
The Foundations of Newton's Alchemy
(Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1975)

Revealing study about Newton, his associates, their preoccupation with alchemy, and the historical context.

Godwin, Joscelyn
The Theosophical Enlightenment
(New York: SUNY, 1994)

An intellectual history of occult and esoteric currents, which temporarily united in Blavatsky's Theosophy.

Goodrick-Clarke, Nicholas
The Occult Roots of Nazism: Secret Aryan Cults and their Influence on Nazi Ideology
(New York: New York Univ. Pr., 1985)

`An extensive survey of Theosophy, astrology and Aryan-racist-occult theories.'

Goodrick-Clarke, Nicholas
Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism and the Politics of Identity (New York: New York University Press, 2002)
"... about the proliferation of fascist ideology in post-war culture, especially since 1990. ... weaves in and out of occult beliefs and myths without falling prey to exaggeration or fascination. (Review)

Guirdham, Arthur
The Cathars and Reincarnation: The Record of a Past Life in 13th Century France 
(Wheaton,Ill.: Theos. Publ. House, 1978 [1970], Transl. from French)

Record of a psychiatrist and his patient, who remember their 13th century lives as Cathars in the south of France.

Guirdham, Arthur
The Great Heresy: The history and Beliefs of the Cathars
(Saffron Walden UK: C.W.Daniel, 1977)

About a Gnostic sect, flourishing in the south of France in the 12th century, which then was viciously persecuted by the Catholic Church.

Hall, Manly P.
The Secret Destiny of America
(Los Angeles: Philosophical Research Society, 1944)

Writer's thesis is that the historical roots of American democracy goes back to Egypt and that the vision for a nation of free men was kept alive by many initiates and secret societies.

Hancock, Graham
The Sign and the Seal: The Quest for the Lost Ark of the Covenant
(New York: Crown, 1992)

Author allegedly located the Ark and found many connections between this object and many western esoteric groups and traditions.

Hanegraaff, Wouter. J., et el (Eds.)
Dictionary of Gnosis and Western Esotericism (Leiden: Brill, 2005)

"This is the first comprehensive reference work to cover the entire domain."

Hanegraaff, Wouter. J.,
New Age Religion and Western Culture: Esotericism in the Mirror of Secular Thought (Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1998)

A "comprehensive and authorative survey of its major themes and most important leaders." (J. Gordon Melton)

Howard, Michael
The Occult Conspiracy: Their Influence and Power in World History 
(Rochester, VT: Destiny, 1989)

`For thousands of years secret societies and occult groups--guardians of ancient esoteric wisdom--have exercised a strong and often crucial influence on the destiny of nations.'

Knight, Christopher and Lomas, Robert
The Hiram Key: Pharaohs, Freemasons and the Discovery of the Secret Scrolls of Jesus (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1997)

Insightful speculation about the meaning of certain Masonic rituals, connecting them with pharaoic Egypt, Jesus and Rosslyn Chapel.

Le Roy Ladurie, Emmanuel
Montaillou: Cathars and Catholics in a French Village 1294-1324
   (London: Penguin, 1981 [1978]. Transl. from French)

A fascinating sociological study of a Pyrenean village, where Gnostic Cathars and Catholics lived side by side, with the dark hand of the Inquisition looming in the background.

Leadbeater, Charles W.
Ancient Mystic Rites
  (Wheaton, IL: TPH, 1986 [1926], original title: Glimpses of Masonic History)

Study of the mystery schools of Egypt, the Middle East, the Middle Ages and up to Operative and Speculative Masonry.

Life of Science Fellowship
"Secret Tradition of Islam" in New Dawn, No. 48 (July-August 1998).

Illuminating article on the esoteric side of Islam, the Sufis and its influence on European esoteric writers and organizations.

Lincoln, Henry
The Holy Place
  (New York: Little, Brown, 1991)

Co-author of Holy Blood, Holy Grail decodes secret message of the Saunière parchments.

Lutyens, Mary
Krishnamurti: The Years of Awakening
   (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1975)

Story of the involvement of the Theosophical Masters in a most ambitious project--the coming of the World-Teacher.

Marrs, Jim
Rule by Secrecy: The Hidden History that Connects the Trilateral Commission, the Freemasons, and the Great Pyramids (New York: HarperCollins, 2000)

"painstakingly examines the world's most closely guarded secrets, tracing the history of secret societies and the power they have welded, from the ancient mysteries to modern-day conspiracy theories." Good overview and well researched. (review)

Meyer, Thomas H.
The Bodhisattva Question: Krishnamurti, Rudolf Steiner, Annie Besant, Valentin Tomberg, and the Mystery of the Twentieth-Century Master
  (London: Temple Lodge, 1993)

This study, pro-Anthroposophical and well-referenced, contains valuable contributions towards understanding Steiner's thoughts and actions in connection with the Theosophical Society, the Order of the Star in the East and the founding of his own Anthroposophical Society.

Partner, Peter
The Knights Templar and their Myth
New York: Destiny Bks., 1990 [198], original title: The Murdered Magicians)

Two-part study about 1) the historical Order of Knights of the Temple and 2) the myths that developed around it after its dissolution.

Patton, Guy and Mackness, Robin
Web of Gold: the Secret Power of a Sacred Treasure (London: Macmillan, 2000)

Another flawed study on Rennes-le-Chateau and the Priory of Sion. Review by Alan Scott and comments by Guy Patton.

Ravenscroft, Trevor
The Spear of Destiny: The Occult Power behind the Spear that Pierced the Side of Christ
(New York: Bantam Bks., 1973)

Hard to confirm account of Anthroposophist W.J. Stein, his acquaintance with Hitler, their shared interest in the spear, which had pierced the side of Christ, and other occult subjects. Speculative, but from an esoteric point of view very interesting.

Richardson, Robert
"
The Priory of Sion Hoax" Gnosis, No. 51, Spring 1999.
Article exposing French extreme right-wing forces behind the Priory of Sion myth. A plausible answer to the many questions raised by Michael Baigent et.al. in their bestseller Holy Blood, Holy Grail. [50KB]

Richardson, Robert
"Dream of the Sages" New Dawn, No. 64, January-February 2001.

Inspiring article about the influence of esoteric groups from Pharaoic Egypt till Renaissance Europe with a very strong paragraph on the influence of the Knights Templar. "He shows that the common characteristic of all these groups is their spiritually-orientated goal of positively impacting the entire direction of society." [71KB]

Roberts, J.M. 
The Mythology of the Secret Societies
 (Frogmore, Great Britain: Paladin, 1974 [1972])
'The most lucid available guide through the jungle of this ideological and political underworld: Masons of the Scottish Rite, of Strict Observance, Martinists, Illuminati, Rosicrucians, Carbonari, Decisi, Sublime Perfect Masters and the rest.'

Robinson, John J. 
Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry
New  (York: M.Evans, 1989)

`Fascinating account of the Knights Templar after the death of DeMolay in 1313, to the establishment of the Grand Lodge in 1717.'

Roszak, Theodore.
The Making of a Counterculture: Reflections on the technocratic society and its youthful opposition (New York: Doubleday, 1969)

In-depth overview of the many strands feeding into the counter-culture; Eastern spirituality, Beatniks, Frankfurter Schule, and much more.

Schuller, Govert
"The Abiding Communist Threat in its Open and Hidden Manifestations." Alpheus, July 4, 2004

Article on the long-term threat of a hidden Sino-Russian alliance.

Sinclair, Andrew
The Sword and the Grail: Of the Grail and the Templars and a True Discovery of America
(New York: Crown, 1992)

Study about the author's ancestor Prince Henry St.Clair, his seafaring explorations and esoteric connections.

Richard Smoley
Forbidden Faith: The Gnostic Legacy from the Gospels to The Da Vinci Code (New York: Harper Collins, 2006)

An "insightful and accurate work" (Stephen Hoeller) on the history, revival and influence of Gnosticism.

Smoley, Richard
"Academe and Esotericism: The Problem of Authority" Talk presented at the Association for the Study of Esotericism at Davis, California in June 2006.

The author makes the case that academicians are unnecessarily reticent in partaking of experiences enabled by the esoteric tradition. It is as if, he states, academia is collecting and classifying all printed works about wine, but never venturing into tasting it and have a first-hand experience of its many facets.

Smith, Paul
"Priory of Sion Misconceptions: Robert Richardson and Steven Mizrach"

Richardson's research finds ample confirmation in the research done by Paul Smith, but also receives some critical comments in this article. Also received Robert Richardson's response.

Starbird, Margaret
The Woman with the Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalen and the Holy Grail (Santa Fe: Bear & Company, 1998)
A Roman Catholic scholar setting out to refute Holy Blood, Holy Grail, finds evidence for the existence of Jesus' bride.

Starbird, Margaret
The Goddess in the Gospels: Reclaiming the Sacred Feminine (Santa Fe: Bear & Company, 1998)

"A truly moving account of the author's soul-searching quest for the Lost Bride of Christendom." (Review)

Stasulane, Anita
Theosophy and Culture: Nicholas Roerich. Interreligious and Intercultural Investigations Series, Volume 8 (Rome: Editrice Pontificia Universita Gregoriana, 2005)
"... remarkably even-handed job delineating essential aspects of the Roerich approach to theosophy and culture at large." (Review)

Wajenberg, Earl
Book Report: Occult Underground & Establishment

This is a book report on The Occult Underground and The Occult Establishment by James Webb.

Webb, James
The Occult Underground: The Dawn of the New Age
  (La Salle, IL: Open Court,  1974)

About the occult revival in the west from the mid-nineteenth century till the 1920s. Solid facts, biased outlook. (Book report)

Webb, James
The Occult Establishment
(La Salle, IL: Open Court, 1976)

About the occult in society and politics from 1918 till the 60s from the perspective of a skeptic.

Yates, Frances
Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition
  (Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Pr., 1964)

Landmark study of the rational philosopher and Renaissance magus Bruno. Gives a clear overview of the different esoteric traditions converging during the Renaissance.

Yates, Frances
The Occult Philosophy in Elizabethan England
  (London: Ark, 1983 [1979])

`explores the secret magical philosophy that underlies the great Renaissance works of art and literature.'

Yates, Frances
The Rosicrucian Enlightenment
(London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1972)

`Uncovers the considerable international political influence of Rosicrucianism, and puts key figures of science in a wholly new perspective.

 

 

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