First Published in 1986. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The author presents with this intellectual biography of the Lutheran alchemist Count Michael Maier an academic study of western esotericism in general and to the study of alchemy and rosicrucianism in particular. The author charts the development of Maier's Hermetic worldview in the context of his service at the courts of Emperor Rudolf II and Moritz of Hessen-Kassel. The problem of the nature of early Rosicrucianism is addressed in detail with reference to Maier's role in the promotion of this "serious jest" in the years immediately prior to the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War. The work is set in the context of ongoing debates concerning the nature of early modern alchemy and its role in the history of Western esotericism.

This is Volume IV of the selected works of Frances Yates. In the early 17th century, a new movement was proclaimed throughout Europe, announcing the universal reform of religion, science, art, and society. The main proponents of this movement were the esoteric Rosicrucians. Europe was a world in transition and Rosicrucianism was but the latest movement to capture the public imagination. Concerned with spiritual illumination and intellectual knowledge the movement continued to have widespread influence long after it was supposedly over, as can be traced in the works of Isaac Newton and Fraof modern science and medicine, The Rosicrucian Enlightenment has had a tremendous impact on our understanding of the western esoteric tradition.

For more than three hundred years the practice of Masonic rituals of initiation has been part of Western culture, spreading far beyond the boundaries of traditional Freemasonry. Henrik Bogdan explores the historical development of these rituals and their relationship with Western esotericism. Beginning with the Craft degrees of Freemasonry—the blueprints, as it were, of all later Masonic rituals of initiation—Bogdan examines the development of the Masonic High Degrees, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn—the most influential of all nineteenth-century occultist initiatory societies—and Gerald Gardner's Witchcraft movement of the 1950s, one of the first large-scale Western esoteric New Religions Movements.

THIS BOOK makes no claim to literary merit. It is simply a work of research and documentation, giving evidence and facts which will help the reader in drawing his own conclusions. The book is not complete simply because it will never be complete. But for the present it is the best study of the root conditions which have led to present day subversive upheavals and the overthrow of the principles of Christian civilization. The book is a fascinating journey into the various occult traditions from the 16th century to the early 20th century and reveals secrets that have long been hidden. The author died under very mysterious circumstances and has taken much of the secrets with her into the grave. Did she find out too much? If you want to know everything about secret societies and conspiratory brotherhoods, this is yours. Be prepared for knowledge that reaches far beyond your current imagination. Excerpt from Contents: Contents: Foreword Chapter I - The Religion Of The Secret Chapter Ii - The Meaning Of Occultism Chapter Iii - Brahminism Chapter Iv - Mazdeism (Zoroastrianism) Chapter V - Confucianism And Taoism Chapter Vi - Egyptian Esoterism Chapter Vii - Judaism (The Pharisees) Chapter Viii - Orpheism And The Pagan Mysteries Chapter Ix - The Druids Chapter X - Christianity Chapter Xi - Manicheism Chapter Xii - Witchcraft Chapter Xiii - The Gnostics (The Heretics) Chapter Xiv - Lamaism Chapter Xv - The Yezidees (Devil Worshippers) Chapter Xvi - Orthodox Islam Chapter Xvii - Unorthodox Islam, The Ishmaelites. The Lodge Of Cairo Chapter Xviii - The Druses Chapter Xix - The Assassins Chapter Xx - The Knights Templar Chapter Xxi - Knights Of Malta Chapter Xxii - The Rosicrucians Chapter Xxiii - Cathares, Albigenses, Waldenses Chapter Xxiv - The Moravians Chapter Xxv - The Anabaptists Chapter Xxvi - Grand Lodge Of England (Founded 1717) Chapter Xxvii - The Gospel Of Revolution Chapter Xxviii - The Preparation Chapter Xxix - General Pepe And The " One Big Union " Chapter Xxx - Albert Pike And Giuseppe Mazzini Chapter Xxxi - Practical Politics Chapter Xxxii - Adriano Lemmi Chapter Xxxiii - The Interlocking Directorate Associations Of The 16th Century Chapter Xxxiv - The Illuminati Of Spain (Founded 1520) Chapter Xxxv - The Order Of The Jesuits (Founded 1541) Chapter Xxxvi - The Defenders (Roman Catholic) (Founded 1562) Associations Of The 17th Century Chapter Xxxvii - Ancient Order Of Hibernians (A. O. H.) (Roman Catholic) (Founded 1641) Chapter Xxxviii - Jansenism (Founded 1638) Chapter Xxxix - Camisards Of The Cevennes (Originating 1688) Associations Of The 18th Century Chapter Xl - The Rite Of Swedenborg Or Illuminati Of Stockholm (Founded 1721) Chapter Xli - Supreme Conseil And Grand Orient De France (Founded 1725) Chapter Xlii - The Convulsionaries Of St. Medard (Founded 1731) Chapter Xliii - The Royal Order Of Scotland (Founded 1750) Chapter Xliv - The Strict Observance (Founded 1751-52) Chapter Xlv - The Martinist Order (Founded 1754) Chapter Xlvi - The Illuminati Of Avignon (Founded 1760) Chapter Xlvii - Antient And Accepted Scottish Rite (America). — Chapter Xlviii - The Order Of The Mopse (Founded 1763) Chapter Xlix - The Rite Of Zinnendorf (Founded 1766) Chapter L - The Philaletes (Chercheurs De La Verite) (Founded 1773) Chapter Li - The Illuminati Of Bavaria (Founded 1776) Chapter Lii - The Tugendbund (Founded 1786) ... and much more ...