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Book Reviews 155 BOOK REVIEWS 155 Book Reviews Henrik Bogdan and Gordan Djurd- ogy aims to ‘understand how oc- jevic (eds): Occultism in a Global cultism changes when it “spreads” Perspective. Durham: Acumen (now to new environments, placing oc- Routledge), 2013, 288pp. cultism in its cultural, political and social context’ (p. 5). Hence, the Reviewing anthologies always im- volume seeks to address the his- plies a choice: should the book be torical, typological, and (not least) addressed as a general argument or geographical preferences prevalent as individual contributions? Usu- in studies on Western esotericism. ally, one of three scenarios follows: By juxtaposing similarities and first, a celebration of the originality differences between the occult as a or importance of the project as an global and local phenomenon, they intervention in or contribution to a seek to ‘acknowledge that occultism field of inquiry, while accepting a is not merely a French or British certain unevenness to the book as phenomenon, but rather a Western a collection; second, a lamenting of esoteric current that has travelled a missed opportunity, while com- around the world, having been re- mending individual chapter authors interpreted in a number of different or even the collection as a whole as ways’ (p. 6). Given the status and noteworthy; or third, a recognition current development of the study of of a rare anthology which succeeds Western esotericism in institutions, in furthering a single coherent ar- journals, networks, publications, gument, while also providing an conferences, and scholars both grey interesting collection of voices in and green, this is a very timely and their own right. Occultism in a Global appropriate venture. Employing a Perspective is definitely an anthology wider perspective, a relatively recent of the third type, even if it has a few timeframe, and fresh case studies rough spots. Editors Henrik Bogdan not only broadens the field, it also and Gordan Djurdjevic have done a opens it to neighbouring disciplines great job in taking a disparate selec- and new theoretical angles at an op- tion of contributions and weaving portune moment. them into a whole with a common Having discussed concepts such thread, namely the necessity of a as the occult, the West, and the ‘global turn’ in the study of esoteri- global in the introduction, the an- cism, where global influences and thology takes an appropriately theo- currents provide an important con- retical turn with Kennet Granholm’s text to the traditional, near-sighted chapter on ‘the Western’ as a concept studies of single authors, groups, or ‘both within and beyond the study source material. of esotericism and occultism’ (p. 17). As the editors state in their pro- Granholm embarks on a stimulating grammatic introduction, this anthol- journey through postcolonial theory 156 BOOK REVIEWS and the sociology of late modernity ways, exhibiting varying degrees of to undertake a discursive analysis of specificity in time and space. our conceptual blind spots, issuing a The first and largest group stud- critique of the field’s homogenising ies examples from Europe, South discourse and hegemonic assump- America, and Australia, all of which tions. Here, ‘Western’ as an emic are influenced by, yet stand outside, category is part of the field of study, the common core of French and not the framework of the discipline; British cases studied in previous it is simply too vague and dysfunc- textbooks and anthologies. Three tional to work in a postcolonial and contributors, Hans Thomas Hakl, postsecular context. While I support Francesco Baroni, and Nevill Drury, the call to focus on more ‘specific lo- offer straightforward presentations, calities and the connections between tackling the German occult group these’ (p. 32), it seems to me that Fraternitas Saturni, the Christian Granholm’s conclusion sidesteps esotericism of the Italian Tommaso Wouter Hanegraaff’s argument that Palamidessi, and the Australian the ‘Western’ in Western Esotericism witch and trance-artist Rosaleen is not part of a whole, but the fieldas Norton, respectively. These chapters a whole (see the editors on page 6). are interesting in their own right, Hence, it makes sense to maintain an yet their historical and descriptive umbrella category precisely to facili- focus comes across as somewhat tate complex descriptions in terms of narrow when viewed in the light transmission, appropriation, and the of the broader argumentation of construction of a sense of identity the anthology itself. The remain- in relation to others. ‘Western’ can ing contributions in this group, by be both an emic category to study Per Faxneld, Arthur Versluis, and and an etic analytical construct with PierLuigi Zoccatelli, offer more in which to demarcate and reflect on terms of theoretical reflection and the field in specific and global per- links to global processes. All three in- spectives. clude a past and a present as well as The chapters that follow discuss a development outside the confines particular cases under this umbrella. of the original group or individual Some contributions examine specific under scrutiny. In Faxneld’s case we groups or individuals in ‘the West’, move from the Danish fin-de-siecle mainly in a historical-descriptive Satanist Ben Kadosh to the modern mode; others attend to regions on Neo-Luciferian Church, with some the boundary (both geographically thought-provoking discussion of the and imaginary) of ‘the West’, or selective appropriation of the past to salient themes highlighting inter- gain legitimacy. Versluis offers some relations between ‘the West’ and its insight into the esoteric Hitlerism of others. Consequently, the case stud- Savitri Devi and the South American ies invite the global perspective out- ‘neo-esotericism’ of Chilean author lined in the introduction in various Miguel Serrano. Finally, Zoccatelli’s BOOK REVIEWS 157 discussion of Colombian sex gnostic perspective, centred on processes Samael Aun Weor examines how the of migration and influence between work of G. I. Gurdjieff has spread geographically separate regions. and developed throughout the new Henrik Bogdan offers a fascinating world, offering new insights on both exposition of the ‘pizza effect’ by fronts by bringing them together. showing how The Holy Order of A second group of contributions Krishna first appropriate Aleister focuses on occultism in regions Crowley’s Thelema into a Hindu which by their very nature shed context and, conversely, influ- light on ‘the West’, namely former ence Crowley and Kenneth Grant Yugoslavia and Turkey. While Gor- through British occultist David Cur- dan Djurdjevic’s survey of occultism wen and his guru Swami Pareswara in former Yugoslavia initially comes Bikshu. This web of relationships, across as a bewildering collection based on manuscripts, initiations, of individuals, groups, and liter- and possible meetings, complicates ary outputs, it is in fact organised the traditional image of sexual around certain themes and currents magic, tantra, and carnal alchemy in prevalent in the occult milieu in this the East and West by contextualising region, culminating in presentations similarities. Even more intricately of Z. M. Slavinski and J. Trobentar, woven is Emily Aoife Somers’s both of whom are connected to post-structural discussion of neo-nô Thelema and the OTO. It is interest- stage plays in Ireland and Japan as ing to learn how this specific current strategic epistemologies utilising contributes to global developments, the twilight and ‘in-between-ness’ and how former Yugoslavia is of folklore to re-centre and subvert in turn affected by global flows. political narratives of time and Similarly, Thierry Zarcone’s study space. Here, the ‘necromantic’ per- of occultism in Turkey examines formances of W. B. Yeats and Izumi exchanges between Europe and Kyôka can be read as both esoteric Turkey in an Islamic context, thus and political interventions which, highlighting not only specific organ- when seen together, work on the na- isations and spokespersons relevant tional in a transnational perspective. to the region, but also the dangers As should be obvious, Occult- of homogenising ‘Christian Europe’ ism in a Global Perspective travels far and ‘Islamic Turkey’, as well as ste- and wide to substantiate its central reotyping ‘Christian’ and ‘Muslim’ thesis. One could argue that the esoteric trends. Batinism, Muslim strong emphasis on historical de- occult sciences, and contemporary velopment and regional specificity trends illustrate the harmonisation obscures possible insights based processes at work on the boundary. on contemporary perspectives and The final group of chapters global flows; here, general atten- examines the development of oc- tion to theories of transnationalism cult ideas and practices in a global and globalisation such as Thomas 158 BOOK REVIEWS Tweed’s ‘crossing and dwelling’ or Arjun Appadurai’s ‘scapes’ and ‘flows’ might counteract the tempta- tion to fall back on traditional modes of analysis. But this only proves that there is room for another volume built on different intentions and areas of interest. By linking specific sites, by theorising on global per- spectives, or simply by shedding light on neglected corners of the global ‘esoscape’, the editors and contributors succeed in building a case for an increased sensitivity to, and interest in, the global and the local in the study of esotericism and occultism. That is more than enough. Jesper Aagaard Petersen NTNU, Trondheim, Norway JESPER AAGAARD PETERSEN is Associ- ate Professor at the Programme for Teacher Education, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). E-mail: jesper. [email protected] BOOK REVIEWS 159 Bengt-Ove Andreassen and James and periphery. Indeed, as Jonathan R. Lewis (eds): Textbook Gods: Genre, Z. Smith has more generally ob- Text and Teaching Religious Studies. served concerning the metaphor of Sheffield: Equinox, 2014, 252pp. the map, researching and writing about religion is like making a map, This anthology, edited by Bengt-Ove which should not be confused with Andreassen and James R. Lewis, territory (p. 1–6).
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