Christopher McIntosh Book order

An exploration of German esoteric history from prehistory to the present

In this in-depth look at occult and esoteric traditions in Russia, Christopher McIntosh explores the currents of mysticism, myth, magic, and the spiritual to which the Russian soul has always been attuned.

"The North" is simultaneously a location, a direction, and a mystical concept. Although this concept has ancient roots in mythology, folklore, and fairy tales, it continues to resonate today within modern culture. McIntosh leads readers, chapter by chapter, through the magical and spiritual history of the North, as well as its modern manifestations, as documented through physical records, such as runestones and megaliths, but also through mythology and lore. This mythic conception of a unique, powerful, and mysterious Northern civilization was known to the Greeks as "Hyberborea"--the "Land Beyond the North Wind"--which they considered to be the true origin place of their god, Apollo, bringer of civilization. Through the Greeks, this concept of the mythic North would spread throughout Western civilization. In addition, McIntosh discusses Russian Hyperboreanism, which he describes as among "the most influential of the new religions and quasi-religious movements that have sprung up in Russia since the fall of Communism" and which is currently almost unknown in the West.

The book explores the intricate connections between various forms of Rosicrucianism and Enlightenment philosophy. It delves into how these mystical traditions influenced and were influenced by the intellectual currents of the Enlightenment, highlighting their shared themes of knowledge, reason, and spiritual exploration. Through this examination, the author sheds light on the interplay between esoteric beliefs and rational thought during a pivotal era in Western thought.

"The Swan King" is the biography of one of the most enigmatic figures of the 19th century, described by Verlaine as 'the only true king of his century'. A man of wildly eccentric temperament and touched by a rare, imaginative genius, Ludwig II of Bavaria is remembered both for his patronage of Richard Wagner and for the fabulous palaces which he created as part of a dream-world to escape the responsibilities of state. In realization of his fantasies, he created a ferment of creativity among artists and craftsmen, while his neglect of Bavaria's political interests made powerful enemies among those critical of his self-indulgence and excesses. At the age of 40, declared insane in a plot to depose him, Ludwig died in mysterious circumstances.

An exploration of the symbolic language of garden design. The text explores the gardens of China, the Zen gardens of Japan, the paradise gardens of Islam and those of Renaissance Italy. It offers suggestions for creating a garden of meaning and lists plants with mythological associations.

Ludwig II was one of the most enigmatic figures of the 19th century--an eccentric remembered for his patronage of composer Richard Wagner and for the fabulous palaces in which he hid from state responsibilities. Author Christopher McIntosh investigates the rumors of the king's madness and homosexuality and pieces together the story of his downfall. 16 illustrations.