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Element Encyclopedia
The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Hidden History: The Ultimate A-Z of Ancient Mysteries, Lost Civilizations and Forgotten Wisdom
Behind the ordinary history of the world lies a second, hidden story of secret societies, lost civilizations, sinister conspiracies, and mysterious events. Alternative visions of history have been around for nearly fifty years and popular culture has rapidly fed into this growing obsession, from The X-Files to the phenomenon of Dan Brown's novel, The Da Vinci Code. But how secret are these secret societies and what traces do the murky events of hidden history leave behind?
The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Hidden History holds all the information you've been looking for to guide you through the shadows of this mysterious world. Here you'll find the facts, arguments, important figures, and theories surrounding key questions being asked by many today: Do secret societies actually control the world, and if so, what do they plan to do with it? What were the real origins of Christianity, the Freemasons, or the French Revolution? What is the significance of King Arthur, Leonardo da Vinci, and Adolf Hitler to the world's secret societies? Like the quest for the Holy Grail of legend, the truth behind the shadowy side of history is easier to seek than to find. John Michael Greer is a unique guide: using a wealth of research, he also draws upon personal knowledge of secret societies and the occult underground world to guide you through the fascinating labyrinth of conspiracy theories, unsolved historical mysteries, lost arcane sciences, and secret organizations.
The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Hidden History holds all the information you've been looking for to guide you through the shadows of this mysterious world. Here you'll find the facts, arguments, important figures, and theories surrounding key questions being asked by many today: Do secret societies actually control the world, and if so, what do they plan to do with it? What were the real origins of Christianity, the Freemasons, or the French Revolution? What is the significance of King Arthur, Leonardo da Vinci, and Adolf Hitler to the world's secret societies? Like the quest for the Holy Grail of legend, the truth behind the shadowy side of history is easier to seek than to find. John Michael Greer is a unique guide: using a wealth of research, he also draws upon personal knowledge of secret societies and the occult underground world to guide you through the fascinating labyrinth of conspiracy theories, unsolved historical mysteries, lost arcane sciences, and secret organizations.
704 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2006
60 people are currently reading
1157 people want to read
About the author
John Michael Greer
205 books503 followersJohn Michael Greer is an author of over thirty books and the blogger behind The Archdruid Report. He served as Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America. His work addresses a range of subjects, including climate change, peak oil, the future of industrial society, and the occult. He also writes science fiction and fantasy. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 24, 2008
Encyclopaedias of whatever size are not usually read through. And it’s not usually done largely for entertainment. Yet that’s exactly what I did with this one, enjoying myself thoroughly in the process in fits and starts over a year and a half. Coherence, accurate information and cross-referencing are not normally associated with books about secret societies, alternative histories and rejected knowledge, yet John Michael Greer deserves a standing ovation for painstakingly researching his material, putting together a unique reference that holds up all the way through. There’s serious scholarship throughout here, but Greer also has a great sense of humour evident in discussing some of the fringier elements that the human consciousness can come up with. One shouldn’t be keeping a straight face when writing an entry about the Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo, either.
Greer also recognizes the dangers inherent in delusional thought patterns reinforced through paranoia and hatred, something reflected when he delineates the occult bases of the SS and the neo-Nazi movement and groups such as the Solar Temple. The ironic lesson repeated throughout is that falsehoods and pure fabrications often don’t cause the most damage at their point of inception. They ferment throughout the years as some people choose to believe them as unassailable fact and move their errors from wrong thought to wrong action. Proof that the documents are completely fictitious does not deter these true believers. The Protocols of the Elders of Zion’s continued existence is a shameful example of this. But then there’s always the Church of the Sub-Genius to remind us when we take some things too seriously.
Alphabetical would not quite describe the way I read this. I did start with A, but then followed related articles throughout, keeping track on what became two pages of very small and cramped writing branching out like some kind of evil fungus. Once all interconnections were tapped out, I skimmed through the whole volume, reading orphaned articles of which there were surprisingly few. The core was Freemasonry, barrelling throughout with a heavy dose of Theosophy and Blavatsky radiating to the stranger modern incarnations. The surprise was to realize how much room the Priory of Sion fuelled by Holy Blood and Holy Grail and of course the Da Vinci Code took up here. It’s always stunning to realize how many people would rather not be confused by what we know of factual history once they’ve gotten a hold of a juicy conspiracy.
Greer also recognizes the dangers inherent in delusional thought patterns reinforced through paranoia and hatred, something reflected when he delineates the occult bases of the SS and the neo-Nazi movement and groups such as the Solar Temple. The ironic lesson repeated throughout is that falsehoods and pure fabrications often don’t cause the most damage at their point of inception. They ferment throughout the years as some people choose to believe them as unassailable fact and move their errors from wrong thought to wrong action. Proof that the documents are completely fictitious does not deter these true believers. The Protocols of the Elders of Zion’s continued existence is a shameful example of this. But then there’s always the Church of the Sub-Genius to remind us when we take some things too seriously.
Alphabetical would not quite describe the way I read this. I did start with A, but then followed related articles throughout, keeping track on what became two pages of very small and cramped writing branching out like some kind of evil fungus. Once all interconnections were tapped out, I skimmed through the whole volume, reading orphaned articles of which there were surprisingly few. The core was Freemasonry, barrelling throughout with a heavy dose of Theosophy and Blavatsky radiating to the stranger modern incarnations. The surprise was to realize how much room the Priory of Sion fuelled by Holy Blood and Holy Grail and of course the Da Vinci Code took up here. It’s always stunning to realize how many people would rather not be confused by what we know of factual history once they’ve gotten a hold of a juicy conspiracy.
January 18, 2015
Just as wonderful as the others in the series that I own, I find it quiet helpful and yes while your not suppose to read it cover to cover. I did, as I have the others, and I loved it. Hopefully helpful with many stories yet to come.
July 29, 2014
The only encyclopedia I ever read and it was worth it. Great reference!
October 14, 2020
Finally a fact heavy book on secret societied separating alternate reality, rejected knowledge and retrospective recruitment from the known facts. As secret societies (especially magical ones) are full of those, this makes s good companion to read next to other books on the subject.
December 31, 2021
Useful.
October 13, 2018
Its not very often i get defeated by a book but this one has defeated me. Ive found it so hard to read. I know it says its an encyclopaedia but i didnt expect it to be so vague and text book like. There wasnt much information at all and there was a lot of repetition. I managed to get about 60% of the way through and i cant read anymore which is sad because i was so looking forward to this
March 11, 2016
this series is a good starter pack. it contains brief information on a lot of different things, and is a good place to do beginner reference and expand further from there. i'm also a sucker for the format and style of the books - they just look good, and i can't help but think of how good they'd look together on my bookshelf. as a bibliophile, i really like this series.
obviously, don't consult these for in-depth research. but, again, they're a good place to start broad, wide-ranging consultation. not to be crass but they'd be good bathroom/coffee table reading, too. it's kind of like wikipedia - great place to dip your feet in, but it's just the surface, and should be taken with a grain of salt. very useful if used properly.
obviously, don't consult these for in-depth research. but, again, they're a good place to start broad, wide-ranging consultation. not to be crass but they'd be good bathroom/coffee table reading, too. it's kind of like wikipedia - great place to dip your feet in, but it's just the surface, and should be taken with a grain of salt. very useful if used properly.
February 10, 2016
Wow. What a superbly comprehensive book. I must commend the author for maintaining a purely objective view throughout, despite himself being involved in secret societies.
Honestly, I must say this book was a shock in many regards. A violent slap in the face, giving a more realistic view of secret societies and almost anything that has to do with them. So much information that I previously took for fact was clarified in a new light. The difference between the theories surrounding secret societies and their actual histories is ridiculous.
An eye-opener in many regards, this book really had me hooked all throughout reading. An excellent reference.
Honestly, I must say this book was a shock in many regards. A violent slap in the face, giving a more realistic view of secret societies and almost anything that has to do with them. So much information that I previously took for fact was clarified in a new light. The difference between the theories surrounding secret societies and their actual histories is ridiculous.
An eye-opener in many regards, this book really had me hooked all throughout reading. An excellent reference.
May 28, 2011
Really big, tons of information. It's an encyclopedia, so one really more flips through it, then truly reads it, but it will be well-used in the future on my shelf. I really enjoy the "Element Encyclopedia" series as a whole.
December 20, 2010
What can I say it's an encyclopedia
September 11, 2012
Informative to say the least. This heavy book is a great reference to all secret societies. It is well written and well organized.
April 25, 2013
Great, simple resource
August 15, 2013
Its a reference as the title sugguests.... & Really detailed and informative and some what inspiring....
October 5, 2015
Some societies are missing. Not an accurate encyclopedia.
October 6, 2016
Another brilliant book in this series!
Very interesting.
Great for reasearch.
Very interesting.
Great for reasearch.
January 8, 2012
The. Best. Book. Ever.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews