The Modernity of Occultism: Reflections on Some Crucial Aspects

Abstract

In this article the author analyzes a number of popular concepts about the relationship between occultism and various phenomena of social life in the end of the 19 ^th and in the early 20 ^th century. The author shows that the idea of a link between occultism and fascism, which was popular in the middle of the 20 ^th century, is largely false. As an alternative, the author suggests a perspective in which occult societies are described as a virtual space for social and cultural experimentation and innovation.