January 21st, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink
Here’s more occult fun with Mitch Horowitz, author of Occult America, and tour guide of New York City’s mystical history.
I posted Occult NYC part 1 back in October. Take a look below at part 2 of the Midnight Archive series.
In it Horowitz talks about the former home of Madame Blavatsky’s Theosophical Society, Grand Central Station, and the architecture of Fred F. French.
There’s magic all over the streets of New York City. It’s easy to see, you just have to know where to look.
July 1st, 2011 § 0 comments § permalink
Occult America
Take a look at this video of Mitch Horowitz talking about the emergence of liberalism, occultism and the feminist movement in the United States. It’s part of the Big Think series.
In it, he argues that it’s no surprise these movements grew together, as all three were rooted in radical ideologies of democracy, equality and personal empowerment.
Horowitz is the author of Occult America: White House Seances, Ouija Circles, Masons and the Secret Mystic History of Our Nation. I wrote about in January.
The book chronicles the history of spiritualism and the occult in the US starting in the 1770s, and focusing on the Burned-over District in Upstate New York.
This video is a quick overview of some of the main themes in the book.
Take a look, and if you get chance, read the book. It’s fascinating.
January 6th, 2011 § 2 comments § permalink
Occult America
Though often ignored, the United States has quite a long and profound mystical history. In Occult America: White House Seances, Ouija Circles, Masons and the Secret Mystic History of Our Nation, Mitch Horowitz takes us on a very entertaining tour of that history.
Starting in 1774 with Ann Lee, aka Mother Ann of the Shaking Quakers, he traces the American Occult movement through to the present-day New Age scene. Horowitz examines the influence of groups like the Freemasons, Rosecrucians, and Spiritualists on not only religion in America, but politics as well.
Victoria Woodhull
He frequently points to the close connections between the American occult, abolitionists and suffragette movements. Philosophies of equality, democracy and personal strength ran deeply through them all and have been part of American culture from its very inception.
Horowitz details the history of the Burned-Over District and the Psychic Highway. He introduces us to characters like Andrew Jackson Davis, the Poughkeepsie Seer, and Jemima Wilkinson, who was the first American-born woman to found a spiritual order.
Henry A Wallace
Joseph Smith, Manley P. Hall, Victoria Woodhull, Henry A. Wallace, and the Ouija board are just a few of the many occult pioneers described in this book. And there are so many more.
Students of American social, religious or political history should take a look. But if you’re in the psychic or occult field, especially if you’re American, Occult America should be on your must-read list.
Not only are you likely to learn a lot, you’ll have a great time doing it.