Occult Germany

An exploration of German esoteric history from prehistory to the present. No country is richer in occult and esoteric traditions than Germany. In this magical journey through the inner history of Deutschland, Christopher McIntosh explores many of these traditions from prehistory to the 21st century. Recounting the longstanding magical tradition of Germany, McIntosh investigates the numerous prehistoric sacred sites that point to a nearly-forgotten ancient shamanic civilization. He examines the survival and revival of the old pre-Christian gods in folklore, customs, and practices as well as witchcraft. He looks at Germany’s rich and many-faceted spiritual heritage and explores Christian mysticism and theosophy as exemplified by Meister Eckhart, Hildegard of Bingen, and Jakob Boehme. Examining Rosicrucianism, which originated in Germany, the author also looks at other secret societies that flourished in Germany such as speculative Freemasonry, the Fraternitas Saturni, and the Golden and Rosy Cross. He explores how the Church sought to stamp out the old gods and pagan beliefs, as well as how periods of the Church’s heaviest oppression produced immortal poets, philosophers, theologians, artists, and mystics. He examines the distinctive forms adopted by astrology, alchemy, and the Kabbalah in Germany as well as the esoteric influences on Romanticism. Exploring more recent centuries, the author looks at the Nordic revival in the 19th century and the influence of Theosophy and the movements that grew out of it, such as Steiner’s Anthroposophy. Examining the esoteric traditions of the 20th century, he looks at the work of neo-Nordic occultists and esoteric writers like Meyrink and Hesse. He explores certain occult aspects of the Third Reich, which resulted in a backlash against the occult. He also looks at modern occult practices and the rise of neopaganism. Revealing both the enlightened and the dark sides of occult Germany, the author shows how this country has long been a cauldron in which esoteric ideas have flourished, spread, been condemned, and lauded, leaving an enduring mark.

Christopher McIntosh is a British-born writer and historian who has lived in Germany for more than 30 years. He has a doctorate in history from Oxford University, a degree in German from London University, and a diploma in Russian from the United Nations Language School. The author of many books, including Occult Russia, he lives in Lower Saxony, North Germany.

Preface Acknowledgments INTRODUCTION Sky-God Land 1 Heidelberg: An Enchanted Gateway 2 Places of Power 3 Following Ancient Footprints 4 Fall and Rise of the Old Gods 5 Mystics, Magicians, and Witches 6 Rosicrucians, Freemasons, and Alchemists 7 Symbol-Strewn Spaces 8 Seers and Somnambulists 9 Seekers of the Light 10 Journey to the Self 11 Interbellum and Armageddon 12 Postwar Perspectives 13 Pagan Pathways 14 Spirit and Matter 15 Soul of the Landscape 16 Occult Germany Today Notes Bibliography Index