The Occult Rejects The Rosicrucian Counterculture with Ronnie Pontiac
Jun 22, 2025
Join Ronnie Pontiac, an independent scholar and author focused on esoteric studies, as he delves into the rich tapestry of Rosicrucianism. He shares transformative experiences with Manly P. Hall and explores the historical roots of Rosicrucian thought, tracing connections to figures like Ficino and Paracelsus. Pontiac uncovers how satirical manifestos galvanized cultural change, discusses astrology's relevance to ethics, and examines modern interpretations versus the original intents of the movement. Dive into a world where mysticism and cultural critique intertwine!
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Library Vaults Spark A Lifetime Project
- Pontiac describes exploring PRS's vaults with Manly Hall and discovering rare items like bound copies of The Platonist that inspired his book American Metaphysical Religion.
- Hall invited Pontiac to lunch in the vault and assigned bibliographic editing work that launched his research career.
A $100 Book That Started A Career
- Pontiac and Tamara bought a bound Platonist for $100 that became central to his research and book formation.
- That serendipitous find and subsequent archive hunts led to decades of scholarship on American metaphysical currents.
Renaissance Roots Of The Rosicrucian Wave
- Rosicrucian manifestos emerged from Renaissance currents: Ficino, Pico, Paracelsus, and a culture hungry for universal reformation.
- The Fama (c.1609–1614) acted like a generational manifesto that galvanized scattered esoteric thinkers into a movement.
