I’m wanting to read up on real world occult groups and organizations that more or less studied magic(k). Tracking source texts like Crowley’s *Book of the Law* is easy enough, but I’m not sure what’s out there in terms of in-depth histories and ethnographies regarding these beliefs and their practitioners, particularly in regards to quality and credibility. Does anyone have any suggestions or list of suggestions?
by NukaJack
8 Comments
If i say it it will start war among religions…
So ill say something else “Necronomicon” some say there is secret behind book so they needed to rewrite it for modern time…
Someone already mentioned the Necronomicon, but that’s a forgery largely cribbed from *Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament* by James B. Pritchard and *The Devils and Evil Spirits of Babylonia* by R.C. Thompson with a bit of Lovecraftian nonsense thrown in.
Pritchard and Thompson might actually be good answers to your question, if you’re interested in really old occult ideas.
You could try ‘The Occult Underground’ and ‘The Occult Establishment’ by .James Webb.
He describes the evolution of the Occult movement, cults and churches from 1850 until the ‘70s
It is nearly exhaustive and well written with, at times, a sharp wit. The bibliography gives a lot of pointers if you want to go deeper into some specific subjects.
If you are interested in Aleister Crowley, you could consider the biographical series written by Tobias Churton.
Exhaustive (at times exhausting…) and informative.
Check out ‘Occult America’ by Mitch Horowitz. It talks about how mysticism and occult groups influenced the development of US culture. Surprisingly good and well-researched book.
agrippa
Kenneth Grant, the Magical Revival
The Book of English Magic by Philip Car-Gomm and Richard Heygate is an excellent book and very readable. I would get a book like that from the library and then comb through its bibliography.