M is for Mysticism

April A-to-Z: must-read books

The Morning of the Magicians (1960)

By Louis Pauwels (1920-1997)

and Jacques Bergier (1912-1978)

France

I’m a little pissed off with myself for putting this book on the list this month. It needs to be here to satisfy the purpose of this year’s A-to-Z project, but it’s hard to know what the heck to say about it.

To me, Morning of the Magicians is a great collection of historic testimony, presented in such a way that it invites contemplation of many different forms.

The greatest impact that the book made on me was in the realization that so many phenomena, while largely understood today, would have been interpreted as mystical or supernatural (or simply not believed) when (or if) witnessed in past ages—and that the scientists of today have still not explained everything. Thus, quite logically, I must not entirely dismiss all contemporary claims of mystical/supernatural/fantastic natures as certain fiction, as science may still one day discover their validity and mundane causality. It marks a significant growth in my own manner of logical and philosophical exploration.

What makes the work so useful and prone to trustworthiness in that Pauwels and Bergier were Physicists and were plainly courageous enough to explore the cracks in their own work; in essence to hinder their own reputation in pursuit of knowledge, and that is a noble sacrifice.

No matter what sorts of ideas intrigue you in your own journey, you will find some good stuff in these pages! This is a must-read book for anyone who would rather develop their brain than watch TV.

Some observations:

In a generalized and wide ranging overview of the occult or paranormal, the book presents a collection of "raw material for speculation of the most outlandish order", discussing conspiracy theories, ancient prophecies, alchemical transmutation, a giant race that once ruled the Earth, and the Nazca Lines.

Adams, Deborah (2009). Review of "The Morning of the Magicians"

It also includes speculations such as German occultism and supernatural phenomena conspiracy theory that the Vril Society and the Thule Society were the philosophical precursors to the Nazi party.

Hodapp, Christopher; Alice Von Kannon (31 March 2008). "18". Conspiracy Theories & Secret Societies For Dummies

Some brief passages from which I took much comfort in:

Human consciousness is like an iceberg floating on the ocean: the greater part is beneath the water.

Psychology in depth has shown that a man's apparently rational actions are in reality governed by forces of which he himself knows nothing, or which are closely linked with a symbolism having nothing in common with ordinary everyday logic.

Deep down in ourselves our dreams are never completely effaced, any more than the stars are when daylight returns. They continue to shine, as it were, behind our feelings, our thoughts and our acts.

There are no governments, only limited liability companies, with humanity as their capital, whose mission is not to make history, but to express the various aspects of historic fatality.

When all American families possess two cars, they will then have to buy a third. When the market for television sets is saturated, motor-cars will then have to be equipped with them.

It is not cracked mirrors that bring bad luck, but cracked brains.