Includes index.

Contents:
Part 1. A Survey of the Subject : Magic, the science of the future
The dark side of the moon
The poet as occultist
Part 2. A History of Magic : The evolution of man
The magic of primitive man
Adepts and Initiates
The world of the Kabbalists
Adepts and impostors
The nineteenth century; magic and romanticism
The beast himself
Two Russian mages
Part 3. Man's Latent Powers : Witchcraft and Lycanthropy
The realm of spirits
Glimpses

The Occult is in three parts. In the first, Wilson argues the connection between creativity and psychic sensitivity, the tapping of the subconscious mind for the forces that are normally inaccessible to consciousness. The second part is a history of mages and adepts--among them Nostradamus, Dr. John Dee, Cagliostro, Anton Mesmer, Aleister Crowley, Gurdjieff--set in their historical background. The third part concerns witchcraft, werewolves and vampirism, the history of spiritualism, the problem of ghosts and poltergeists. The last chapter, "Glimpses," takes up the metaphysical questions that arise out of occultism, as well as the problem of time, and gives concluding statements on the nature of man's latent powers.--From publisher description

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