The Occult Book: A Chronological Journey from Alchemy to Wicca

by John Michael Greer

Explore the occult from ancient times to the modern day with one of its most respected scholars and practitioners.
Take an enlightening journey through occult history, exploring 100 dramatic incidents, arcane knowledge, and key historical figures from around the world. John Michael Greer delves into two millennia of tradition, from the earliest alchemists to pagan rituals; from the Philosopher’s Stone to Cabala, the first tarot, and the Knights Templar; and from the first horoscopes to fortune-telling trials and the birth of modern witchcraft, or Wicca. Each entry features a stunning image or intriguing item of ephemera.

Genres: Nonfiction, Occult, History, Witchcraft, Religion, Spirituality, Magick

212 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2017

About the author

John Michael Greer is an author of over thirty books and the blogger behind The Archdruid Report. He served as Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America. His work addresses a range of subjects, including climate change, peak oil, the future of industrial society, and the occult. He also writes science fiction and fantasy. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife.

Reviews

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the bathroom book of the occult. It is a series of short entries about the major figures and movements in Western Occultism, arranged chronologically. I can imagine a BBC series with David Attenborough doing the voice over. If you're looking for detail and inclusiveness, then you want Greer's New Encyclopedia of the Occult, though that is arranged alphabetically and not written for the casual reader. It was interesting, breezy and seeing the info put down chronologically was a nice touch. It suffered, for me, from already having been exposed to most of this information before, but I expected that. This book ends at 2012, not because any of the prophecies came to pass, but like his Encyclopedia, he shies away from writing about people who are still living. If you've ever read a comments thread on an internet forum devoted to the occult, you will understand why. Come to think of it, if you've ever read a comment thread on the internet you will understand why.
And re-reading in 2020, I enjoyed it even more. Is October just read about the occult month? Apparently.
Re-read Jan 2023. This is a history of western occultism. It's a minimalist one, given the amount of space it has, but it does a pretty good job of putting the major currents and people front and center. I don't know why this never struck me as strongly until this reading.

[Jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5

This book is a nice chronological overview of the occult throughout history. Each chapter is quite short and tries to summarize occult movements and beliefs as best as possible through different time periods.

It touches on key events, which does not bother me per se, as I can always go ahead and research different topics further myself. I also liked that the author seemed rather unbiased.

However, the lack of women in the book bothered me. Granted, there have been mentions of great women in the occult throughout history. In my opinion, the book was too focused on white men and failed to mention how the oppression of marginalized groups and minorities heavily influenced occultism and traditions.

[Hanna Kylin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A list of men, erasing women from history

This is one of those history books that make it seem as if men multiplie via vegetative reproduction. Spiritual practices performed by women have for a great part of history been regarded as occult, as anything conducted by women were outside of the norm. This book completely fails to even mention how the victims during "the burning times" were mostly nonconforming people, i.e. women or non-binary individuals. It does not even mention how the spiritualistic movement consisted mostly of women, who found a way to excel in something as they were regarded as more "sensible", and thus more susceptible to travels into a spiritual realm.

If you are seeking historical information, I suggest you look for other resources, e.g. Toil and Trouble: A Women's History of the Occult by Lisa Kröger and Melanie R. Andersson.

[Carrie (The Butterfly Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know that I hung, on the windy tree. Nine full nights. Pierced by a spear, offered to Odin. Myself to myself, Upon that tree, of which none knows. Where its roots run....

I love this book. It gives you just enough about a topic for you to decide if you want to look up more about a certain topic and subject and it's short enough that if you don't care about a topic that you don't have to read a lot about it. So it works out well.

Also the book sis simply beautiful. Outside and inside. Every single entry has pictures of what the topic is and they are stunning. Such an easy read and simple history of the occult. Great for anyone whose just getting into the occult and wanting to know the basic history of it.

[Lisa Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a historical timeline of how Wicca came to be basically. How ancient Egyptians, Scandinavian Vikings and puritans all played an essential role in the New Age Movement.
I just have to say I found it hilarious that two Neo Pagans released books on each US coast on the same day, yes October 31st 1979, about witchcraft 😂 oh how the super religious folks must have been hysterical. Hopefully they didn’t burn no innocent women at the stakes….again. 🫠

[Romelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Para empezar a hablar de este libro quiero leer el significado de lo que es el “Ocultismo” porque por ahí empecé yo antes de lanzarme con esta lectura, ya que la verdad no tenía muy claro el concepto.

“El ocultismo es el estudio de las artes, prácticas o ciencias ocultas como la magia, la alquimia, la percepción extrasensorial, la astrología, el espiritismo y la adivinación, entre otras.
El ocultismo tiene sus bases en una forma religiosa de pensar, cuyas raíces se remontan a la Antigüedad y pueden ser descritas como la tradición esotérica de Occidente.”

Así que como pueden ver, el concepto engloba muchísimos temas e historia, por lo que es difícil hablar de algo en específico en esta reseña así que solo les voy a describir un poco de la estructura del contenido.
En este libro se presentan cien eventos importantes para la historia del Ocultismo, desde lo que creían y estudiaban las antiguas culturas hasta lo que hoy en día sigue estando en tela de juicio acerca de su veracidad. Por poner un ejemplo la astrología que es tan común hoy en día o el Tarot que está tan de moda. Es interesante leer de los inicios de estas creencias y cómo han evolucionado después de ser analizadas por diversas escuelas de estudio y también saber que algunas no se remontan a tanto tiempo como imaginamos y que incluso con el tiempo se han refutado como fraude.
Los eventos que se presentan en la publicación aparecen de forma cronológica, empezando con las enseñanzas de Pitágoras en el siglo VI a. c. y termina en el año 2012 con el fin de ciclo del calendario maya que muchos profetizaron como el final de la sociedad conocida.

Aconsejo leer de poco a poco este libro para disfrutar y digerir mejor la información, ya que son muy variados los temas, las artes, las culturas y personajes mencionados. La verdad es que si aprenderás muchas cosas pero no me pareció suficientemente desmenuzada la información porque me quedé con dudas acerca de lo que mencionaba y al ser tan breves los textos creo que el autor no alcanza a explicar de qué van algunos conceptos. A favor, el libro viene muy bien ilustrado a color con fotografías, mapas, ilustraciones antiguas, extractos de libros, portadas, obras de arte, arquitectura, etc.

Para concluir creo que es un buen libro para irse adentrando en el tema pero si quieres ahondar necesitarás leer publicaciones que se especialicen en cada rama del Ocultismo que te interese estudiar porque los datos que aquí te vas a encontrar son muy en general.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that, regardless of the content, makes a good Halloween coffee table read. The cover is beautiful, and every other page is covered in an illustration. The content itself consists of bite sized summaries of major figures, works, moments and ideas in occult studies, arranged in chronological order and cross referenced. As with any encyclopedic book, some entries are more interesting than others, but overall it makes for a brief and interesting look at how occult studies have developed over time.

[Gabrijela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise account of occult history. The book helped me make sense of some unfamiliar esoteric teachings. It's a shame the author didn't reflect on occult traditions in East Asia, South America, or Africa. There's a brief mention of such influences, but the book mainly deals with western practices of forbidden art. Would appreciate is someone could recommend similar historical accounts concerning previously mentioned cultures!

[El ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun and easy read with brief but informative passages. The quick overviews allow for a jumping off point for future research on sections that interest you while also being short enough that you don't feel bogged down while reading on subjects that are less compelling. Learned some very interesting things.

[J.C. Pillard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a beautiful hardcover book, and this one was no exception. It was given to me not that long ago, and I finally started reading it before bed, which was the ideal time to read it. The chapters are all one-page long, making it perfect to pick up and put down at one's leisure. Each entry also contains quick references to other pertinent information. So, if you're reading about the origins of Tarot, you can also check out the origins of the Rider-Waithe deck, as well as Wicca going mainstream. There are far more comprehensive occult books on the market, but this is a good overview, and it's extremely pretty, to boot.

[Emily St. Amant · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good overview of the history of what religious ideas and practices are deemed “occult.” It’s incredibly brief in the accounts of long term and complex events, but I guess that’s the purpose, to give a general overview. Some things were really interesting and other parts boring and tedious. Other reviewers note how predominantly male characters are featured, and yes there are several women’s stories told, but I wish the author was more intentional about representing those that history has chosen to erase.

[Brian Choate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice high-level survey of the many major people, events, and writings from western occultism. It was very interesting to look at the subjects n a sort of timeline. Not specifically trying to draw direct links from one to the order, but placing them in a historical flow.

[Mateicee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ich mag die Bucher aus dem Libero-Verlag sehr, aber hier habe ich langsam das Gefühl das sich die ganzen Bücher über Okkultistische Themen gegenseitig kopieren. Das macht das Leseerlebnis etwas kaputt, man hat durchgehend das Gefühl das man es schon gelesen hat.

An sich ist das Buch, wie alle aus dem Libero-Verlag schön gestalten mit kurzen, knappen Texten und schönen, qualitativ hochwertigen Bildern.

Trotzdem es las sich wie bereits schonmal gelesen.

[C.N. Harrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book, since I saw another person in here reading it, and I thought, this is something that interest me the subject at hand, both for personal interest but also as idea or reference book.

The cover is lovely and I really like the way it looks and feels, and lovely indented imprint on it (I love books with this feel to them!)

Sadly as I started to read through the book, something was bogging me, there is pictures on each left hand side with the subject at hand, so a nice visual to what is being written. The layout is fine too, and the paragraph and editing is nicely done I find.

Once I came half way in the book, I final figured out what it was that was naggin me. The book was dragging, it explains shortly about the history of the subject from different times and the overall idea, but there is never anything in it that goes deeper, it is as a google search summery is the best way I can explain it.

It does explain the history, it does tells the story about the different subjects, but nothing goes deeper, nothing gets nice and gritty or anything. I am almost on the brink of saying my 10 year old daughter could read it and be safe in that aspect.

I am hard to please in this matter here, since I deep dive into grimiors and many other traditional works here there is more teeth (lesser key of Solomon, Red Dragon, book of Enoch, Nag hammaid etc) so yes I am very hard to please, but I did not expect a google book, when the title makes it a bit more “ omniscient” then it really is. It’s a soft history book if anything.

The layout is nice, the cover is nice, there is nothing wrong in the written words, it is just to flat for me.

Will someone that tries to risk a tour into the occult find it interesting? I don’t think so as such, since they can google the history and possible get more details.

[Verónica Fleitas Solich · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a chronological line of events that shape what could be called the occult.
I guess it's good but I was hoping for something with a little more substance.

[ThePagemaster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows the same setup as ”Death and the Afterlife”, which appears to be in the same series. The authors are not the same though, but if you’ve read one of the books, you know what you’re in for. It’s a nice little journey through the ages, this time dealing with the history of occult traditions and phenomena. There is one page per topic, each and every one of which comes with a picture, painting, or image connected to that subject.

The content is definitely relevant, beginning from the ancient Greeks, moving through the Platonists and the Neo-Platonists, continuing through the middle ages, and all the way up to the recent 2012 speculations. I particurlarly enjoyed reading about the late middle ages and the renaissance, where we become familiar with some highly influential, yet relatively unknown names. Giordano Bruno, Marsilio Ficino, Tomasso Campanella, and Paracelsus are a few examples, all being important figures in their times.

We also follow the known beginnings and evolution of Tarot, as well as some sections on the rosecruzians (probably didn’t spell that right). Individuals such as Manley P. Hall, Madame Blavatsky, and Aleister Crowly also get some space. There is even a section on Freud and his split with Carl Jung, the latter who gets a much more favorable mention in occult contexts.

Just like with any book with a similar layout, it’s good for anyone who wants an introduction to a subject, but that is not it’s main attraction if you ask me. Rather, it’s the visual aspects with its vivid and epic pictures that really leaves a trace in one’s memory. In other words, it’s one of those books you just want to have in your bookshelf; a show and tell kind of thing. Bring it out whenever you have a friendly visit of an intellectual nature.

4 hidden deities out of 5 possible

[Edward Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read that shows the linear progression of what became the study of the occult over the centuries. Not keeping with one party or ecumenical rede, the author instead shows you all of the sides of the historical trappings from Plato and the birth of what is known today as philosophy to the Mayan Eschatology of 2012. Greer sites historical record, never deviating from the facts as widely known to the world but also shows a deft hand when it comes to what subjects are included.

To sum up, it is very similar in prose and form to reading the opening paragraph of a Wikipedia entry on some of the most noted and prolific bits of occult history. My only gripe is that he sort of skipped over things like the presidential ties to spiritualism of the early parts of the 20th century and the dawn of man-made religions (well technically they all are man-made) such as the mythos of Lovecraft and his circle to Hubbard and his Thetians.

[林月 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro sumamente interesante, lástima que la traducción sea deficiente.
Aura es una palabra femenina pero para evitar la cacofonía se utiliza un artículo masculino, cosa que no hace la traductora.
Ejemplos de esta regla vienen con "el agua, el águila, el ánfora...", todas ellas sustantivos femeninos precedidos de artículos masculinos.
De todos modos, ni siquiera se llama "Aura Dorada", es la "Orden Hermética de la Aurora Dorada". También aparece la palabra "copperplate" sin traducir, que vendría a ser una plancha de grabado.
Son errores normales cuando se trata de un borrador, pero he de suponer que una editorial cuenta con personal que ha de supervisar el trabajo de traducción antes de la impresión final.
Dejando eso a un lado, es un libro instructivo si bien se trata de una introducción. La maquetación y el diseño son también un atractivo, así que mi única pega es la traducción de éste.

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book to read for the person interested in the Occult. John Michael Greer covers the usual suspects but there are gems in this book well worth pursuing, for example Andrew Jackson Davis, who I had never heard of, and found fascinating. And I was especially happy to see Greer, in the entry on the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, mention Pamela Colman Smith, the unsung, and often unappreciated artistic genius, behind the deck. It's a shame it isn't known as the "Rider-Waite-Colman Smith" deck...it should be.
Also refreshing is Greer's attention to detail and what can be reliably substantiated. Rare with books on the Occult. Fun and Fascinating read for a pleasant afternoon.

[BJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Occult Book is a fantastic source for interesting footnotes and personalities in the history of The Occult. It's a great place to start deeper research on the subject or to find reference material for specific aspects of The Occult that interest you.

I initially purchased the audio version to listen to during my commute to and from work, but I will definitely be purchasing a print version for easy reference.

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

While a bit brief, Greer does provide an ample overview of various occult traditions and roots. It includes both well-known and lesser-known aspects of occult history and is a very interesting primer.

[BooksFromMiddleEarth · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are a lot better history books out there about wiccah and the occult. It was fun but it could be way better.

[C. Varn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

This is a historical book on the occult which is an informative and breezy, Greer is clearly occult sympathetic but is skeptical about completely unsubstantiated claims. Fun.

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

At times it reads like a timeline, or list of events. I wish it had gone into a bit more detail, but still interesting.

[Karla Cabcam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estoy encantada con el diseno de este libro. La pasta dura en negro con el contraste en dorado queda muy bonito en la estantería. Se compone de un tema por hoja y una imagen relacionada que le da mucha vista al contenido del libro.

Sobre el contenido del libro, me gusto y creo que es útil para quien esta en sus comienzos en lo relacionado con el ocultismo. Pero no creo que le sirva a alguien que busca profundizar en el tema ya que todos los temas se tocan demasiado superficialmente y no da demasiados detalles de nada. Creo que es mas como un resumen de puntos de interés que puedes usar para guiarte sobre que temas te gustaría investigar mas después.

Ojala las personas se interesaran mas en la historia que hay detrás de las religiones.

[Samantha León Puerta · Rating 4 out of 5]

El libro está interesantísimo. Realmente es un resumen cronológico de la evolución de lo oculto, cada página es un personaje diferente y no indagan mucho en ellos, solo te señalan lo más relevante; ya si tienes una duda puedes investigar o leer aparte, pero es una buena introducción para los que apenas empezamos a conocer de este mundo. Sí noté lo que he visto en otras reseñas, que es que casi no aparecen mujeres y todo se centra en hombres, me tocará investigar ese tema aparte.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a notable encyclopedic introduction to a chronological history ranging a global exploration of Occult practices from BCE to 2012. Each section is summarized in similar length and context which allowed the content for each topic/figurehead easier to absorb as a reader. I learned a significant amount of new information and ended up purchasing a copy of the book for person use as reference upon further research explorations.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

¡Lo ame! Informativo y lleno de datos muy interesantes. A pesar de haberme demorado mucho en terminarlo siempre que tenía un ratito para leer lo tomaba.

Me hubiera gustado un poco más de información. Quizás más detalles y no tan general pero supongo que si fuese así sería otra clase de libro jejeje

Si te gusta el tema y lo vives, te va a encantar este libro. Plus, es hermoso visualmente.

[AGOT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recorrido histórico por los elementos ocultistas que conservamos. En ocasiones se pierden mucho en datos o fechas y no amplían mucha historia sobre leyendas o eventos que resumen únicamente en una cara.
Un buen punto es que dan bibliografía para aumentar información.

[Just Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Occult Book is a chronological journey of the impact of the occult throughout our history.

The book dates back to the 6th century BCE, and touches on subjects such as tarot cards, Plato, Jesus, Runes, Hitler and other less known, but important figures in occultism (for a new reader as myself).
It is written by John Michael Greer, a man highly invested in the occult scene, and author of more than forty books.

The book is a visually stunning piece, and shares just enough information about each subject to give an overall view of the impact of each person/item. I adore the added visual effects of portraits, bookcovers, etc. added to give more insight.

Overall a very pleasing read, and I will not shy away from Greer´s other books, as this is such a fascinating topic.
The history of the world is a fascinating topic, and I adore how many different aspect there is to it. Most of this information was unbeknownst to me, and I highly enjoy how this book made me view our history in a new light.

Read: 30.03.2025
1st rating: 4 stars
Genre/tropes: Classic-occult-history-religion
Cover: 5 stars
Will I recommend: Yes