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74 * NEXUS REVIEWS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: POLITICS AND THE OCCULT The Power and Influence of Secret by Gary Lachman Societies Quest Books, Illinois, USA, 2008 by Michael Streeter ISBN 978-0-8356-0857-2 (276pp tpb) New Holland Publishers, UK, 2008 Available: Aust—Brumby Books, tel ISBN 978-1-84537-937-7 (272pp hc) (03) 9761 5535; USA—questbooks.net Available: newhollandpublishers.com; he occult or hidden, esoteric www.amazon.com aspect of politics is not the umankind throughout its history exclusive domain of the right wing, has valued secrecy and privacy, nor is it associated only with fascism. so it's no wonder that secret societies Countercultural critic Gary Lachman have flourished for various purposes, _ proposes that there is also a whether to hold ideas dear, to foment progressive, left-wing occult political revolution or to protect spiritual or stream that has sought to influence religious truths. Here, investigative the fate of societies. However, journalist Michael Streeter takes us nothing is clear-cut in this occult "behind closed doors” to examine world, where even spiritually oriented how secretive groups have played individuals can hold right-wing views heir part in shaping the world in and where radical extremes of left heir times and beyond. and right may share a common Secret societies in many cases have disdain for modernity and believe been feared and misinterpreted, that an elite vanguard must steer the often unjustifiably and sometimes masses towards a new golden age. with due cause says Streeter in this Lachman selects key occult movers serious and sensible examination. and shakers from the early 1600s ncluded in his coverage are the onwards, including the Rosicrucians, sacred mystery schools of the the British Royal Society, the Egyptian priests and of the Greek Freemasons, Swedenborg and his mathematician Pythagoras, the erotic esoterica, the Illuminist Adam nights Templar and the Cathars who Weishaupt, occultists on both sides so incensed the Roman Catholic of the American and French Church, the Freemasons (the most revolutions, Theosophist Helen amous, he suggests, being George Blavatsky, Nicholas Roerich and his Washington), apparently enlightened mystically inspired peace initiatives, magicians like John Dee and his ilk, and Nazis steeped in esotericism. He and the so-called Illuminati warns of the rising tide of Christian established by Adam Weishaupt. fundamentalism in America, and His overview of more modern times _ favours the pursuit of personal includes Cecil Rhodes with his elitist freedom even amidst a numbing British imperialist ambitions, the popular culture. A fascinating work Bilderberg Group, the orthodox that's a breath of fresh air. Catholic Opus Dei, benevolent Odd Fellows, the so-called Church o} Scientology and criminal societies such as the Mafia, whether in Italy, America or Russia. As for the Bilderbergers, Streeter questions the motives of its wealthy, powerfu members in comparison with other secret societies that formed to counter the actions of the wealthy and influential of their day. Streeter's exposé is thoughtful, stripping away the paranoia to try to get to the truth of the matter. POLITICS AND THE OCCULT by Gary Lachman Quest Books, Illinois, USA, 2008 ISBN 978-0-8356-0857-2 (276pp tpb) Available: Aust—Brumby Books, tel (03) 9761 5535; USA—questbooks.net he occult or hidden, esoteric aspect of politics is not the exclusive domain of the right wing, nor is it associated only with fascism. Countercultural critic Gary Lachman proposes that there is also a progressive, left-wing occult political stream that has sought to influence the fate of societies. However, nothing is clear-cut in this occult world, where even spiritually oriented individuals can hold right-wing views and where radical extremes of left and right may share a common disdain for modernity and believe that an elite vanguard must steer the masses towards a new golden age. Lachman selects key occult movers and shakers from the early 1600s onwards, including the Rosicrucians, the British Royal Society, the Freemasons, Swedenborg and his erotic esoterica, the Illuminist Adam Weishaupt, occultists on both sides of the American and French revolutions, Theosophist Helen Blavatsky, Nicholas Roerich and his mystically inspired peace initiatives, and Nazis steeped in esotericism. He warns of the rising tide of Christian fundamentalism in America, and favours the pursuit of personal freedom even amidst a numbing popular culture. A fascinating work that's a breath of fresh air. www.nexusmagazine.com APRIL - MAY 2009