Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor: Initiatic and Historical Documents of an Order of Practical Occultism

by Joscelyn Godwin

Book Overview

The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor , active in the last decades of the 19th century, was the only order of its time that taught practical occultism in the Western Mystery Tradition. This is the first... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0877288380
• ISBN13: 9780877288381
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: Weiser Books
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful Book. Well-Researched and documented. Important.

This is a Wonderful Book, although it burst my Bubble a few years ago. I consider this book to be a *very* important addition to any Occultist or Esoteric Freemason's library.In 1991, I joined "The Brotherhood of Light," based in CA, (currently going by the name of "The Church of Light") and I thought I had joined a prestigious Occult organization. Their history was documented back to T.H. Burgoyne and the organization was "reformed" by C.C. Zain (aka Elbert Benjamine), but prior to this time period, they claimed lineage from "The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor."The BofL newsletters had pictures of Max Theon, etc., and the organization was supposedly founded upon "The Light of Egypt, Vol. I & II," by T.H. Burgoyne, after a period of time in-which they were supposedly named "The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor." However, "The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor: Initiatic and Historical Documents of an Order of Practical Occultism," by Joscelyn Godwin, et al, disputes the CofL/BofL connection to "The Hermetic Brotherhood of Light." With all this Pedigree stuff, I thought I was a member of a Big Deal occult organization.... then, when the internet age hit, I was utterly baffled by the fact that NO ONE took the CofL/BofL seriously..... ....until, I read this book! Basically, all the bizarre and nonsensical aspects of the organization I had Previously held afiliation with suddenly made-sense. "The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor: ....," by Joscelyn Godwin, et al, really opened my eyes and saved me a lot of money. Luckily, I had not sunk much money into the organization--a very small amount, in fact, due to scepticism on a local level. I strongly recommend this book to Occult Practitioners and Esoteric Freemasons. Waite's "Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry" is also very enlightening in regards to these organizations and "T.H. Burgoyne" and "Max Theon." Apparently, Mr. T.H. Burgoyne was quite a shyster ! This historical account of "The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor" really helped me out, prevented numerous headaches, and saved me a lot of money. It seems that "T.H. Burgoyne's" motto of "Omnia Vincit Veritas" was rather self-defeating.

A delight!

This book really goes back to the beginnings of occultism. I would suggest reading Paschal Beverly Randolph: A Nineteenth-Century Black American Spiritualist, Rosicrucian, and Sex Magician (Suny Series in Western Esoteric Traditions)first, however; as you will get more out of it if you have a context to put it in.Enjoy!

The Most Complete Work on the HBL Ever!

The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor has become "en vogue" lately among certain circles of occultists and occult historians. This book, unlike others written by persons of questionable academic reputation, gives a complete and unbiased account of the HBL, its structure, system, and personalities. Complete and concise, contains several useful documents including sources for high degree OTO materials, this book is a must-have in the library of any serious occultist.

Fascinating Record of a 19th Century Fraternal Order

The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor was a fraternal order founded in the 19th century by the enigmatic Max Theon. People like Max Theon are usually described as 'enigmatic' or 'shadowy' and with good reason. But this book goes a long way toward shedding some light on Theon, Peter Davidson, Paschal Beverly Randolph, Emma Hardinge Britten, and others, all of whom had a great deal to do with the channeling of the American current of Magick. The research conducted by the authors' is truly impressive, although it simply left me hungry for more information. (Mr. Deveney has also written a marvelous biography of the mystic and seer, P.B. Randolph.) Read carefully, however, this book provides the background to the secret history of our times.