The Theosophical Enlightenment

by Joscelyn Godwin

This is an intellectual history of occult and esoteric currents in the English-speaking world from the early Romantic period to the early twentieth century. The Theosophical Society, founded in 1875 by Helena P. Blavatsky, holds a crucial position as the place where all these currents temporarily united, before again diverging. The book's ambiguous title points to the author's thesis that Theosophy owed as much to the skeptical Enlightenment of the eighteenth century as it did to the concept of spiritual enlightenment with which it is more readily associated.

The author respects his sources sufficiently to allow that their world, so different from that of academic reductionism, has a right to be exhibited on its own terms. At the same time he does not conceal the fact that he considers many of them deluded and deluding.

In the context of theosophical history, this book is neither on the side of the blind votaries of Madame Blavatsky, nor on that of her enemies. It may, therefore, be expected to mildly annoy both sides.

Genres: History, Religion, Theosophy, Occult, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Esoterica

462 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Composer, musicologist and translator, known for his work on ancient music, paganism and music in the occult.

Reviews

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great overview of the theosophical and theosophically adjacent movement of the early-modern to modern period in western esotericism.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Theosophical Enlightenment is an intellectual history of esoteric ideas and the key individuals who promoted them between the late seventeenth and early twentieth century. Godwin kicks off with an engaging portrait of Richard Payne Knight and other gentleman-enthusiasts of "phallic worship" in the late 18th century, and examines various emerging esoteric movements - Spiritualism and the Theosophical Society for instance - as well as charting the development of orientalism in its various forms, as well as the early history of Western Buddhism. Godwin makes it clear he's not a 'believer', but neither does he follow the orthodox historians' tendency to dismiss occultism as irrational. Godwin doesn't have much to say about the Golden Dawn as such, but focuses more on its precursors (such as The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor ) and contemporaries. If you're interested in occult history, it's definitely worth a look.

[Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting overview of the occult in the English speaking world, but a little to wed to the biographies of the few and the notable.

[lisa_emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting history of the fringe spiritual movements in the early part of the century. It's been awhile since I've read it, I should read it again.

[J.G. Keely]

Bah, I lost my copy of this in the move--and I was enjoying it, too.