SCULLY: Like evidence of conjury or the black arts or shamanism, divination, Wicca or any kind of pagan or neo-Pagan practice. Charms, cards ….familiars, bloodstones, or hex signs or any of the ritual tableaux associated with the occult, Santeria, Voudoun, Macumba, or any high or low magic?
MULDER: Scully …
SCULLY: Yes?
MULDER: Marry me.
–The X Files, Season 5, “Chinga”
Whether your interest in the occult and its history is academic or functional, there are some fantastic resources on the internet that are indispensable to your studies and interests. These websites outlined below offer a wide-ranging array of information: downloadable, classic, full-length texts, contemporary scholarly articles, and many other offerings.
At the immaculately maintained “Internet Sacred Texts Archive”, you will find an absolute library of information. Dozens of diverse categories, both off-the-wall and mainstream, including UFOs, Mormonism, Theosophy, Prophecy, and Nostradamus, contain all manner of full texts for browsing or downloading. Also, there are many links, articles, and even novels. The regularly updated “Notable Recent Additions” feature includes selections such as “Proofs of a Conspiracy”, John Robinson’s 1798 manifesto that points a finger at the Bavarian Illuminati as responisbile for the excesses of the French Revolution. This work is said to be the groundwork for the modern conspiracy theory-the great grandfather to the New World Order, and the Da Vinci Code. The entire manuscript is available, as is “Nostradamus, The Man Who Saw Through Time”, “The Comte St. Germaine”, and “History of Philosophy in Islam”.
At “The Alchemy Website”, there are hundreds of full length alchemical texts available. The site is easily navigable, and categories include Inner, Indian, Islam, and Chinese Alchemy, among others. There is a lovely “Alchemical Emblems Project”, hand-coloured artwork, and a gallery of traditional esoteric alchemical imagery and renderings. Free scholarly articles, moderately priced courses (around $40), such as ” Study Course on Early English Alchemy,” “How to Read Alchemical Texts: A Study Course for the Perlexed”, and “Advanced Study Course on the Metamorphosis of the Planets.” All courses are taught by Adam Mclean, “the well known authority on alchemical texts and symbolism, author and publisher of over 50 books on alchemical and Hermetic ideas.
Another database of occult texts is contained in the sublime website “Twilit Grotto: Archives of Western Esoterica” which includes a plethora of Renaissance era full length texts, articles, and other information. Offerings include “Ebenezer Sibly, A New and Complete Illustration of the Occult Sciences, Book 4″, and “Discoverie of Witchcraft 1584, Reginald Scot Booke XV” in which clickable chapters include “How to Enclose a Spirit in a Christall in a Stone”, “Other Gross Absurdities of Witchmongers,” and “When to Talk to Spirits to Find Out Theft.” Also present is a fantastic timeline, and a good collection of links.
Whether you are writing a paper, doing some research for your website, or just interested in a serious study of the occult and history, you are certain to find a treasure trove information within these three superbly maintained, regularly updated websites.
Reference:
- The Internet Sacred Texts Archives, www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm
