Occult Confessions

Paschal Beverly Randolph was a pioneer of American occultism. He began his career as a medium before branching out with his own occult philosophy involving Rosicrucianism and sex magic. The African American Randolph studied medicine and was also involved in efforts to educate recently liberated slaves in the southern United States. Randolph expressed his technique and ideology in fictional novels as well as non-fiction manuals. A tragic figure, he died young, shot in the head in an apparent suicide.

In this episode we analyze the life story of one of America's most famous mystics, Helena Blavatsky. We consider her world travels, training in Tibet, theories about the soul and afterlife, Egyptian inspirations, and Indian occultist connections.

Occult Confessions explores the history of magical belief and practice across time and cultures. Welcome to the podcast.

In this episode we consider four possible candidates to be the Chevalier: the aide de camp for Maximilian the First of Mexico, a prominent early Theosophist, the Spiritist Marie, Countess of Caithness and her son, and the German Ernest de Bunsen. This episode considers gender, Christianity, and more.