The History of Magic in the Modern Age: A Quest for Personal Transformation

by Nevill Drury

Traces the transformation of this primordial human practice through the great religious traditions to the present, and profiles key figures.

Genres: Magic, Nonfiction, Magick, History

288 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 2000

About the author

Nevill Drury PhD is an independent historical researcher whose specialist interests include modern Western magic, shamanism, transpersonal psychology and visionary art. His most recent publications include The Varieties of Magical Experience (co-authored with Lynne Hume; Praeger, January 2013), Dark Spirits: The Magical Art of Rosaleen Norton and Austin Osman Spare (Salamander, 2012); Stealing Fire from Heaven: the Rise of Modern Western Magic (Oxford University Press 2011); Homage to Pan (Creation Oneiros 2009), The Dictionary of Magic (Watkins 2005) and The New Age: the History of a Movement (Thames & Hudson 2004). He received his Ph.D from the University of Newcastle in 2008 for a dissertation on the visionary art and magical beliefs of Rosaleen Norton (awarded 'Best Humanities Ph.D'. in that year).

Born in England in 1947 but resident in Australia since 1963, Nevill has worked as an international art-book publisher, lecturer and magazine editor and is now a full-time writer. He is the author/co-author/editor of seventy books covering a range of subjects like contemporary art (Images in Contemporary Australian Painting, New Sculpture, Australian Painting Now, Fire and Shadow: Spirituality in Contemporary Australian Art), Aboriginal culture (Wisdom from the Earth), holistic health (The Healing Power, Inner Health) and the magical traditions (Dark Spirits; Stealing Fire from Heaven: Sacred Encounters; Homage to Pan, Inner Visions). He is also the author of a work of mythic fiction, The Shaman's Quest, which was described by Publisher's Weekly as a 'poetic' book that 'could become a classic'. His work has been published in 26 countries and 19 languages.

Reviews

[Min · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about Modern Age Magic should have those that followed in Dion Fortune footsteps that were built upon, yet diverged significantly from Golden Dawn teachings, including William G. Gray, and Gareth Knight, then those that succeeded them such as Jacobus Swart, Alan Richardson, R.J. Stewart, and more. If nothing else, a mention of their contribution to the body of occult literature would be appreciated even as an appendix to round out a tome that admits the scope is too limited to cover "all the diverse metaphysical philosophies and organizations that currently present themselves"; particularly, when the goal is "detail the key activities and concepts of the most influential groups and individuals who have contributed to the twentieth-century magical thought". Her descendants assuredly fall into that category. By appearances, Lodge work ends, and Neo-Pagan begins; leaving out those that continue the Work of Ritual Magic; it is those names that few know today, and should know for a more rounded history. If nothing else, examining the history from other nations, not only the U.K.. The French, Russians, Germans, Italians, and Spanish all have long, diverse traditions. For example, Franz Bardon's role is important with his different view from a German perspective. Inclusion of the lesser-known Rosaleen Norton is appreciated to bring balance of information, especially from a polytheist whose views differed from the author's she admired.

The influence of the printed word on the modern Occult revival cannot be under-estimated. Once Levi, Crowley, and Fortune became known, they remain the works most often cited, and read first by Occult and Esoteric explorers. Repeating them reminds us of whence we came, however, a disservice is done to imply by omission, that no further progress has been made.
The Pagan revival section does a better job of following the lineages of influence.

Released in 2000, much shifting of emphasis and meaning has occurred within these communities he does discuss, the de rigueur subject of Golden Dawn, and Crowley are undeniably pertinent sparks, however, other groups, and thinkers need to be placed in their rightful positions, especially in regards to the blooming practice spawned by Chaos Magic, and the more recent inclusion of work with spirits akin to the African/Diasporic Traditional Religions. At least the author offers attention to how Jung and Joseph Campbell inspired a new generation of teachers, and movements such as Jean Bolen, and Jean Houston. From that point, the development of a modern animist/shamanism idea growing in strength.

While it is interesting to have the Outer Court rituals in the G.D., and a chapter dedicated to many of the symbols of the Golden Dawn, those sections could be found in other books. The author offers equal time to a side bar of information about Pagans, from a British Traditional Witchcraft point of view, as he did for the Golden Dawn regarding chants for the circle, Charge of the Goddess, ritual tools, the Seasons, and the three degree initiations. A brief chapter addresses Satanism through LaVey's Church of Satan, and the Temple of Set. Again, I feel would be better served being in another book. The final chapter on Cyberspace didn't make much sense to me; perhaps being 18 years on from writing, it attempted to predict what couldn't be foreseen.
If the title says 'History', I want that to be the focus of the book; with so much potential material to include, that should be very easy.

For all the complaints, it is a framework upon which to build one's knowledge. The inclusion of years offers a clearer timeline than most histories of the movements offer.

[Israel Morrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Later chapters focus perhaps too strongly on the author's personal interests, to the neglect of more significant movements in magickal history. The book nevertheless remains very informative. Drury gives a particularly excellent summary of Gnosticism and Kabbalah. This book informed my own occult research in Gods of the Flesh.