Episode 158 - Felix John Taylor - The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

Hello listeners!

My guest for this episode is author Felix John Taylor, who joined me to discuss his new book The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn: Magic Arts and the Occult Revival.

It is the first full-length narrative history of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secretive group which was a focal point for the late 19th and early 20th century rise of interest in the occult. Devoted to the study and practice of ceremonial magic, it attracted a long list of eminent writers, actors and visual artists to its ranks, including W.B Yeats, Florence Farr, Arthur Waite, Pamela Coleman Smith and Arthur Machen.

In the book, Felix explores the origins of the order, it’s founders, traditions and practices and the variety of creative, esoterically minded people it drew in to its membership.

In the interview I talk with him about his background and how the idea for the book came about, after which go over the story of an organisation which was simultaneously egalitarian and hierarchical, hidden and performative, sublime and ridiculous.

You can find out more about Felix and his new book at https://felixtaylor.org/.

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The podcast theme music is by The Night Monitor, from his album, ‘Close Encounters of the Pennine Kind’. You can find out more about The Night Monitor's music at https://thenightmonitor.bandcamp.com/.