Granholm K. Dark Enlightenment: The Historical, Sociological, and Discursive Contexts of Contemporary Esoteric Magic

Brill Academic Publishers, 2014. — 243 p. — (Aries Book Series: Texts and Studies in Western Esotericism 18)In Dark Enlightenment Kennet Granholm explores the historical, sociological, and discursive contexts of contemporary esoteric magic. The book is focused on the Sweden-originated Left-Hand Path magic order Dragon Rouge in particular, but through a detailed contextualizing examination of this case study it offers a broader visage of contemporary esotericism in general. The author takes cue from both the historiography of Western esotericism and the sociological study of new religions and religious change, aiming to provide a transdisciplinary framework for a comprehensive study of esotericism in late modernity.The Structure of the BookThe Study of Contemporary Magic
What is Magic?
The Study of Esotericism: Historiographical Approaches
The Study of Esotericism: Sociological Approaches
An Emerging ‘New Paradigm’ in the Study of Esotericism
Social Constructionism, Discourse, and Discourse Analysis
Esoteric Currents as Discursive ComplexesMajor Trends in Post-Enlightenment Esotericism
The Theosophical Society
The Nineteenth Century ‘Occult Revival’
Aleister Crowley and Ordo Templi Orientis
Neopaganism
Satanism and the Left-Hand Path
The ‘New Age Movement’ and the Popularization of EsotericismDragon Rouge: History, Philosophy, Structures
History
Basic Tenets
StructuresEthnographies of Dark Magic
Course on Dark Ceremonial Magic
The Ceremonial Opening of Lodge Sinistra
Initiation into Degree 2.0
The Nature of Dragon Rouge Ritual PracticeThe Discursive Formation of Dark Magic
The Left-Hand Path Discourses in the Context of Dragon Rouge 129
The Ideology of Individualism
The Goal of Self-Deification
Antinomianism
The Complex of Left-Hand Path DiscoursesThe Impact of Broader Societal Discourses
The Primacy of Nature
The Dark Feminine Divine
Discursive Realities
Ultimate Authority and Degree Structures - Non-Hierarchical Hierarchy?
Vegetarianism, Animal Rights, and Environmentalism
Feminism and Gender EqualityEsotericism in Late Modernity
Modernity and Esotericism
Late Modernity, Esotericism, and Dragon Rouge
Concluding Remarks