modern mystic

“Discover and inspire discovery” was the personal mission statement that I declared for myself fifteen years ago. I developed it with the help of the book “The Path,” by Laurie Beth Jones. It was nice to have it put so succintly with such fitting words, however it was something I had already been doing for most of my life… the first part at least. Before this declaration and the choice wording, I hadn’t recognized what I was doing wrong about the second part. I was trying to show people. To tell them. Inspiration doesn’t work like that. It’s like the difference between telling your children what to do, and showing them with your own actions, which is another thing I’ve since learned.

One area of discovery that I would like to commit more of my time and attention is that which is generally classified as esoteric or occult. Merriam Webster defines the esoteric as:

Esoteric adjective

es·​o·​ter·​ic, e-sə-ˈter-ik  

1a: designed for or understood by the specially initiated alone

1b: requiring or exhibiting knowledge that is restricted to a small group

broadly : difficult to understand

2a: limited to a small circle

2b: private, confidential

3: of special, rare, or unusual interest

And the definition of occult, also by Merriam Webster:

Occult adjective

oc·​cult, ə-ˈkəlt  

1: not revealed : secret

2: not easily apprehended or understood : abstruse, mysterious

3: hidden from view : concealed

4: of or relating to the occult

5: not manifest or detectable by clinical methods alone; also: not present in macroscopic amounts

While all of these definitions apply, definition 3 of esoteric and definition 2 of occult resonate most with my own use of the words. Until recently, I’ve mostly explored such topics on my own in books. Now I would like to explore in practice with others. To faciliate, I am hosting the Esoteric Book Club every second and fourth Monday of each month beginning the 27th of October, 2025.

What’s the Esoteric Book Club about? Exploring material presented in some notable esoteric works, and sharing twice each month about independent practice and experiences on teams.

The first book selected for study and practice is “How to Know Higher Worlds” by Rudolf Steiner, spiritual scientist and founder of Anthroposophy and Waldorf Education. The work was originally published in German as, “Wie Erlangt Man Erkenntnisse der Hoeheren Welten?“. The work first appeared in English in two volumes published in 1904, “The Way of Initiation or How to Attain Knowledge of the Higher Worlds” and “Initiation and Its Results”. Extensively rewritten, a new English version appeared in 1923 with the title “Knowledge of Higher Worlds and Its Attainment.”

“This book, perhaps the most controversial of Steiner’s extensive literary legacy, suggests the possibility of a person in the 20th century developing sufficient skills of concentration, empathy, etc. to be able to obtain first-hand knowledge of spiritual realities consciously.”

– Rudolf Steiner Archive

This book presents many guidelines and practices to develop one’s supersensible perception, perhaps the most important of which to one’s pursuit the conditions to develop esoteric knowledge, each of which are expanded upon in the book.

seven conditions to develop esoteric knowledge

1. Lead a healthy life. “Sound knowledge can alone proceed from sound human beings.”
2. Know self as a link to all of life, and a sharer in the responsibility for all that occurs. The Nehiyaw wisdom concept of wahkohtowin, “kinship,” applies perfectly here.
3. Know that thoughts and feelings are as important as actions. Every thought and feeling produces an effect, just as does every action.
4. The real being of a human lies within. That we are beings of soul and spirit form the very basis of this work.
5. Carry through with plans once made. Do not hesitate to take action. Every resolution is a force which must be applied lest it work on in its own way.
6. Show gratitude for everything one is favoured. Our existence is a gift; we owe much to nature and to our fellow human beings.
7. Fully regard life as described by these conditions.

Without the will to fulfill these conditions, it is of no use for one to pursue esoteric study and practice. However, if you do have the will to fulfill these conditions and you’d like to join me in the study and practice of this book beginning Monday, the 27th of October, sign up for the Esoteric Book Club below! The book is available for free online at the Ruldolf Steiner Archive, and as an ebook or in print (check your local used book store or online at thriftbooks.com or awesomebooks.com.

esoteric book club RSVP

• WHEN: 7:30pm, Monday, 27 October, 2025; continuing every 2nd and 4th Monday of each month.
• WHERE: Microsoft Teams (RSVP for meeting invite)