Occult: Decoding the Visual Culture of Mysticism, Magic & Divination

Peter Forshaw
Thames & Hudson

Searching for the philosophers’ stone in the pursuit of transmutation and immortality; harnessing the properties of the natural world to cast magic spells; seeking visionary experiences to connect with the spiritual world; conjuring demons to enact our desires; using the tarot and astrology to divine the future – the quest to understand the mysteries of the universe and to tap into its powers has fuelled manifold occult philosophies from the early esoteric traditions of the ancient Egyptians to the practices of modern occultists.

The latest in a line of fascinating books from T&H this books is a deep dive into the visual language of the occult as represented in art and mysticism.  Here we take a whistlestop tour through time from Ancient Egypt to modern video games and across nine aspects of the various incarnations of occult lore with chapters on Astrology, Alchemy, Kabbalah, Natural Magic, Astral magic, Ritual Magic, Occultism, Tarot and New Age & Occulture.

For folks like me who look terrible in a robe or a black polo neck, who cannot rock a mystical medallion and who could, at best, be considered a tourist in this sort of stuff with no interest in the practicalities of a magical life but with a love of it as a narrative or artisitic tool this makes for excellent eye candy and an engrossing read that'll sit happilly on my shelves proving itself a handy resource for a long time to come

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