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THE SHINING ONES : The World's Most Secret Society Revealed
'The Shining Ones' is the story of the mysterious, ancient priesthood with a mission to preserve their secret knowledge to help humanity - but also to control the development of the world.
- GenresNonfictionOccultHistory
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 3, 2026
Read at the behest of a close mentor.
Where The Shining Ones succeeds is in drawing from a large array of spiritual and historical sources in order to construct a broad tapestry of shared cultural hallmarks and lineages. It does a good job of reaching at the core of an idea (e.g. taking the meaning of a spiritual idea and not just it's surface level features) and then finding the similarities reflected in that concept as it is presented in a completely separate cultural context.
It also throws forward some ideas for how a reader could embody a form of spirituality in their lives, following in the path of all this supposed ancient knowledge, that the book posits, was once as innate to us as breathing. While that might be compelling in a way, I felt the flaws in the writing undermined my ability to engage with it.
Firstly, this is now a particularly well written book. The eclectic format, the stream of thought sentence construction, and liberal use of jargon just make for a very disjointed reading experience. Connections are made but without any particularly deep analysis, and much trust is placed in the reader to agree that connections invite deeper meaning without much to justify it.
Perhaps the worst aspect though is just the blatant misinformation. The book makes authoritive claims such as 'angels are only represented as human'...which is just blatantly untrue. Or says that Behemoth and Tiamat are one and the same, when they're quite distinctively different. And claims to authority like the above diminishes the level of trust I'm able to place in the book.
Read if the subject matter is of interest, but approach with caution in order to pick the value out from it.
Where The Shining Ones succeeds is in drawing from a large array of spiritual and historical sources in order to construct a broad tapestry of shared cultural hallmarks and lineages. It does a good job of reaching at the core of an idea (e.g. taking the meaning of a spiritual idea and not just it's surface level features) and then finding the similarities reflected in that concept as it is presented in a completely separate cultural context.
It also throws forward some ideas for how a reader could embody a form of spirituality in their lives, following in the path of all this supposed ancient knowledge, that the book posits, was once as innate to us as breathing. While that might be compelling in a way, I felt the flaws in the writing undermined my ability to engage with it.
Firstly, this is now a particularly well written book. The eclectic format, the stream of thought sentence construction, and liberal use of jargon just make for a very disjointed reading experience. Connections are made but without any particularly deep analysis, and much trust is placed in the reader to agree that connections invite deeper meaning without much to justify it.
Perhaps the worst aspect though is just the blatant misinformation. The book makes authoritive claims such as 'angels are only represented as human'...which is just blatantly untrue. Or says that Behemoth and Tiamat are one and the same, when they're quite distinctively different. And claims to authority like the above diminishes the level of trust I'm able to place in the book.
Read if the subject matter is of interest, but approach with caution in order to pick the value out from it.
January 8, 2009
The authors Gardiner and Osborn never get around to trulely revealing any secret society.They do however bring to light some interesting observations with regards to the Kundalini process and how it ties into the mystical side of all religions throughout the ages. It should be read in conjunction with The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manly P. Hall.
August 5, 2019
I'm about halfway through and finding this book only mildly interesting. I have to confess that, after decades of reading books, I'm very sick of supposed "scholars" claiming that certain things represent or symbolize other things. To me that is pure unadulterated horseshit and the people who say it are too arrogant to admit THEY JUST DON'T KNOW.
When "quack-a-demics" say this about something it means they haven't got one bloody clue WHAT it means.
RIP, John Anthony West.
PS: If I hear "chakra" one more time I'm going to puke.
When "quack-a-demics" say this about something it means they haven't got one bloody clue WHAT it means.
RIP, John Anthony West.
PS: If I hear "chakra" one more time I'm going to puke.
January 17, 2023
Total gibberish
Author has misinterpreted quoted authors, waded deeply into vague, irrelevant myths and applied criticism of far more renowned and respected authors.
Author has misinterpreted quoted authors, waded deeply into vague, irrelevant myths and applied criticism of far more renowned and respected authors.
August 19, 2020
Very enlightened book
This is an amazing book for those looking for the Truth to set them free!!!
I learned so much and they are giving us the puzzle pieces, for those who choose to go on the journey of awakening!!
Thank you
This is an amazing book for those looking for the Truth to set them free!!!
I learned so much and they are giving us the puzzle pieces, for those who choose to go on the journey of awakening!!
Thank you
October 29, 2017
Another history from another direction for why there is control of society and how it developed.
February 10, 2021
The Truth is Out There
Very interesting! Follows the path of the Shining Ones throughout history. If this is your genre, then you will love this book!
Very interesting! Follows the path of the Shining Ones throughout history. If this is your genre, then you will love this book!
November 2, 2022
Some great, well researched points but missing out crucial pieces of evidence.
August 11, 2016
Breathtaking and Magical . You will flip rapidly through the pages and love the diagrams and illustrations included. Chapters will just fly by reading this book.
Although, I did get the impression that the authors tried to cram a lot of information in a very small book.I got lost a couple of times reading it and had to reread previous chapters. Nevertheless, I recommend you read this book. You will enjoy it immensely.
I especially loved the rule of 7, like the 7 chakras and the 7 heavens. symbolic meanings of the cross and swatsika, and I got to know more about kundalini and ancient symbols like that of fish and snakes. Overall, an intriguing book especially the first few chapters and the last chapter.
Although, I did get the impression that the authors tried to cram a lot of information in a very small book.I got lost a couple of times reading it and had to reread previous chapters. Nevertheless, I recommend you read this book. You will enjoy it immensely.
I especially loved the rule of 7, like the 7 chakras and the 7 heavens. symbolic meanings of the cross and swatsika, and I got to know more about kundalini and ancient symbols like that of fish and snakes. Overall, an intriguing book especially the first few chapters and the last chapter.
August 3, 2018
Love this book
As soon as I finger reading the Serpent Grail which I thought was fantastic, I bought this book and again it’s a superb read. The author has done a thorough research and the logic in linking all the parallels make so much sense.
Love this topic and wish there were more book by the same author as I’d read them all.
Can’t recommend them enough, really among some of the best books I’ve ever read!
Look forward to new releases as I’m a big fun now.
As soon as I finger reading the Serpent Grail which I thought was fantastic, I bought this book and again it’s a superb read. The author has done a thorough research and the logic in linking all the parallels make so much sense.
Love this topic and wish there were more book by the same author as I’d read them all.
Can’t recommend them enough, really among some of the best books I’ve ever read!
Look forward to new releases as I’m a big fun now.
July 23, 2014
An amalgamation of twisted gnosticism at its finest. Despite the author's opposition to sound biblical doctrine, this is still a truly fascinating read.
August 8, 2015
One of the most fascinating books I've ever read. Opened my eyes to Kundalini symbolism everywhere.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews